Chromatography systems and methods using them
AssigneePerkinElmer U.S. LLC
InventorAndrew Tipler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to chromatography systems that include a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device can be fluidically coupled to a switching valve to provide for selective control of fluid flow in the chromatography system. In some examples, the microfluidic device may include a charging chamber, a bypass restrictor or other features that can provide for added control of the fluid flow in the system. Methods of using the devices and methods of calculating lengths and diameters to provide a desired flow rate are also described.
Claims20
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a laminated wafer comprising an internal microchannel formed from laminating individual metal layers to each other, the laminated wafer comprising a first port, a second port and a third port each fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel, wherein each of the first port, the second port and the third port permits fluid flow into and out of the internal microchannel;
- and
- a bypass restrictor that fluidically couples the second port and the third port to each other and is configured to restrict fluid flow;
- wherein a first end of the bypass restrictor is fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel at a first location of the internal microchannel that is between the first port and the second port;
- and
- wherein a second end of the bypass restrictor is fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel at a second location of the internal microchannel that is between the first port and the third port.
A laminated wafer microfluidic device configured to provide a received sample to a plurality of different ports of the laminated wafer microfluidic device depending on a gas pressure within the laminated wafer microfluidic device, wherein the laminated wafer microfluidic device comprises:
- an internal microchannel;
- an external fluid connection that fluidically couples at least two ports of the laminated wafer microfluidic device;
- a sample inlet port fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel;
- and
- at least one switching gas port fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel, the switching gas port configured to provide a gas into the internal microchannel to control the gas pressure within the laminated wafer microfluidic device to direct flow of the received sample;
- wherein an end of the external fluid connection is fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel at a location of the internal microchannel that is between the inlet port and the switching gas port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.