Bubble-free and pressure-generating electrodes for electrophoretic and electroosmotic devices

An electrochemical cell comprising:

• an anodic reservoir adapted to receive an electrolyte;
• a cathodic reservoir adapted to receive an electrolyte;
• an electrical connection between said anodic reservoir and said cathodic reservoir for permitting communication of electrolyte from at least one of said reservoirs to the other of said reservoirs;
• a first bubble-free hydrogen absorbing electrode disposed within one of said anodic reservoirs and said cathodic reservoir;
• a second electrode disposed within the other of said anodic reservoir and said cathodic reservoir;
• a power source having a positive terminal that is normally in electrical contact with said first electrode, and a negative terminal that is normally in electrical contact with said second electrode;
• and
• a power source polarity inverting device for switching the contacts between the terminals of said power source and said first and second electrodes such that said negative terminal is in electrical contact with said first electrode and said positive terminal is in electrical contact with said second electrode.

A device for separating components of a sample, comprising:

• a channel defined at least in part by one or more inner walls;
• a flow generating device for generating a flow of flow medium through said o channel;
• an electrode pair including at least one electrode disposed at or adjacent said one or more inner walls;
• a power supply for supplying said electrode pair with a power supply of sufficient voltage and/or current to form an electric field that extends between the electrode pair in a direction that is transverse to the direction of flow;
• and
• a controller for controlling said power supply to move charged components of said sample in a direction that is transverse to said direction of flow.

A method of separating components of a sample, comprising:

• providing a channel at least partially defined by one or more inner walls;
• causing a flow of flow medium through said channel in a direction of flow, said flow having a flow profile including regions of faster flow and regions of slower flow;
• disposing a sample having components to be separated in said channel such that said sample is carried by said flow medium in the direction of flow;
• providing an electrode pair and disposing at least one electrode of said pair at or adjacent said one or more inner walls;
• supplying said electrode pair with a power supply of sufficient voltage and/or current to form an electric field that extends between the electrode pair in a direction that is transverse to the direction of flow;
• and
• controlling said power supply to move charged components of said sample in a direction that is transverse to said direction of flow to change the position of one or more of said charged components in said flow from a region of a first speed to a region of a second speed that differs from said first speed.

A method of separating components of a sample, comprising:

• providing a channel at least partially defined by one or more inner walls;
• causing a flow of flow medium through said channel in a direction of flow, said flow having a uniformly cross-sectioned flow profile;
• disposing a sample having components to be separated in said channel such that said sample is carried by said flow medium in the direction of flow;
• providing an electrode pair and disposing at least one electrode of said pair at or adjacent said one or more inner walls;
• supplying said electrode pair with a power supply of sufficient voltage and/or current to form an electric field that extends between the electrode pair in a direction that is transverse to the direction of flow;
• and
• controlling said power supply to move charged components of said sample in a direction that is transverse to said direction of flow, and to hold the position of one or more of said charged components in said flow to affect a concentrating of a charged component at an electrode.

An analytical device comprising:

• a flow pathway;
• a flow manipulating cell adjacent said flow pathway, said flow manipulating cell including a confined reservoir, an exit port in communication with the reservoir, and a pressure generating electrode in said reservoir, said pressure generating electrode generating gas bubbles within said reservoir for increasing pressure within the cell;
• and
• a pressure relief pathway in communication with said flow pathway for affecting a flow through said flow pathway.