Capillary clip, capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and method for using capillary clip

A capillary electrophoresis apparatus, comprising a capillary clip including:

• a clip body comprising an inlet segment clip portion, a detection portion, and an outlet combination portion;
• at least two capillary channels defined by the clip body, each of the at least two capillary channels being configured to accommodate a capillary;
• and
• a refrigerant channel defined by the clip body, the refrigerant channel and each capillary channel being combined at the inlet segment clip portion and the outlet combination portion, and the refrigerant channel and each of the at least two capillary channels being separated at a detection window of the detection portion, wherein
• the refrigerant channel comprises a refrigerant inlet channel formed in the inlet segment clip portion, a channel branch formed in the detection portion, and a refrigerant outlet channel formed in the outlet combination portion;
• for each of the at least two capillary channels,
• the capillary channel comprises a first channel defined by the inlet segment clip portion, a second channel defined by the detection portion, and a combined channel defined by the outlet combination portion, and the first channel, the second channel, and the combined channel are sequentially in communication with each other;
• the refrigerant inlet channel is in communication with the first channel, and the first channel is configured to be filled with a refrigerant, so that the refrigerant channel merges with the first channel;
• the refrigerant outlet channel is in communication with the combined channel, and the combined channel is configured to be filled with the refrigerant, so that the refrigerant channel merges with the combined channel;
• and
• the channel branch is separated with the second channel, and the second channel is configured to allow only the capillary disposed in the capillary channel to pass through;
• and
• the at least two capillary channels and the refrigerant channel are configured to allow the refrigerant to enter the first channels of the at least two capillary channels through the refrigerant inlet channel, sequentially converge into the channel branch, then diverge into the combined channels of the at least two capillary channels.

A method for using a capillary clip, the capillary clip comprising:

• a clip body comprising an inlet segment clip portion, a detection portion, and an outlet combination portion;
• at least two capillary channels defined by the clip body, each of the at least two capillary channels being configured to accommodate a capillary;
• and
• a refrigerant channel defined by the clip body, the refrigerant channel and each capillary channel being combined at the inlet segment clip portion and the outlet combination portion, and the refrigerant channel and each of the at least two capillary channels being separated at a detection window of the detection portion, wherein
• the refrigerant channel comprises a refrigerant inlet channel formed in the inlet segment clip portion, a channel branch formed in the detection portion, and a refrigerant outlet channel formed in the outlet combination portion;
• for each of the at least two capillary channels,
• the capillary channel comprises a first channel defined by the inlet segment clip portion, a second channel defined by the detection portion, and a combined channel defined by the outlet combination portion, and the first channel, the second channel, and the combined channel are sequentially in communication with each other;
• the refrigerant inlet channel is in communication with the first channel, and the first channel is configured to be filled with a refrigerant, so that the refrigerant channel merges with the first channel;
• the refrigerant outlet channel is in communication with the combined channel, and the combined channel is configured to be filled with the refrigerant, so that the refrigerant channel merges with the combined channel;
• and
• the channel branch is separated with the second channel, and the second channel is configured to allow only the capillary disposed in the capillary channel to pass through;
• and
• the at least two capillary channels and the refrigerant channel are configured to allow the refrigerant to enter the first channels of the at least two capillary channels through the refrigerant inlet channel, sequentially converge into the channel branch, then diverge into the combined channels of the at least two capillary channels;
• the method comprising:
• assembling and connecting the inlet segment clip portion to the detection portion, the connected inlet segment clip portion and the detection portion forming a first assembled portion;
• guiding one end of a capillary to pass through one of the at least two capillary channels of the first assembled portion, and positioning and aligning a detected section of the capillary with the detection window of the detection portion;
• guiding the other end of the capillary to pass through the one of the at least two capillary channels of the outlet combination portion, and assembling and connecting the first assembled portion to the outlet combination portion;
• and
• mounting an auxiliary positioning element capable of being inserted into the detection window and a sealing assembly capable of sealing an inlet and an outlet of the one of the at least two capillary channels.