Apparatus and method for performing microfluidic manipulations for chemical analysis
OwnerJ. Michael Ramseyinventor
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Abstract
A microchip apparatus and method provide fluidic manipulations for a variety of applications, including sample injection for microchip liquid chromatography. The microchip is fabricated using standard photolithographic procedures chemical wet etching, with the substrate and cover plate joined using direct bonding. Capillary electrophoresis is performed in channels formed in the substrate. Injections are made by electro-osmotically pumping sample through the injection channel that crosses the separation channel, followed by a switching of the potentials to force a plug into the separation channel.
Claims58
A method of sample injection, comprising:
- a. providing a microchip, the microchip comprising an interconnecting channel structure and a cover enclosing the interconnecting channel structure, the interconnecting channel structure comprising first, second, third, and fourth channel segments, the first, second, third, and fourth channel segments communicating at an intersection, the first and third channel segments opposing one other, and the second and fourth channel segments opposing one other;
- b. moving a first material from the first channel segment into the intersection;
- and
- c. subsequently moving at least a portion of the first material in the intersection into the second channel segment and simultaneously moving at least a portion of the first material in the first channel segment away from the intersection.
A method of sample injection, comprising:
- a. providing a substrate comprising an interconnecting channel structure, and a cover bonded to the substrate enclosing the interconnecting channel structure, wherein the interconnecting channel structure comprises first, second, third and fourth channel segments, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth channel segments communicate at a confluence region;
- b. moving a first material from a first channel segment into the confluence region;
- and
- c. subsequently moving the first material in the confluence region into the second channel segment and simultaneously moving the first material in the first channel segment away from the confluence region.
A method of sample injection, comprising:
- a. providing a substrate comprising an interconnecting channel structure, and a cover bonded to the substrate enclosing the interconnecting channel structure, wherein the interconnecting channel structure comprises first, second, third and fourth channel segments, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth channel segments communicate at a first microscale channel region;
- b. moving a first material from the first channel segment into the first microscale channel region;
- and
- c. injecting the first material in the first microscale channel region into the second channel segment while simultaneously moving the first material in the first channel segment away from the first microscale channel region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.