Microfluidic devices for electrophoretic analysis of materials
AssigneeCaliper Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorJ. Parce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a microfluidic system for electrophoretic analysis of materials in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology and numerous other fields. Light absorbance signals are received by a photodetector from periodically spaced regions along a channel in the microfluidic system. The signals received by the photodetector are modulated by the movement of species bands through the channel under electrophoretic forces. By Fourier analysis, the velocity of each species band is determined, and identification of the species is made based on its electrophoretic mobility in the channel.
Claims20
A method of detecting species bands in a separation conduit, comprising:
- directing light from a light source through a mask at a plurality of discrete regions of the separation conduit, the plurality of discrete regions containing a plurality of species bands, the light source selected to radiate at a wavelength that is absorbed by the species bands;
- and
- simultaneously detecting light absorbance from said plurality of species bands in said plurality of discrete regions.
A method of detecting species bands in a separation conduit, comprising:
- directing light from a light source at a plurality of discrete regions of the separation conduit, the plurality of discrete regions containing a plurality of species bands, the light source selected to radiate at a wavelength that is absorbed by the species bands;
- and
- simultaneously detecting light absorbance from said plurality of species bands in said plurality of discrete regions.
A system for detecting separated species bands, comprising:
- a separation conduit for separating species bands;
- a light absorbance detection system, comprising:
- a light source for directing light at a plurality of regions of the separation conduit at a wavelength that is absorbed by the species bands;
- a mask positioned between the light source and the separation conduit for directing the light at a plurality of discrete regions of the separation conduit;
- and
- a detector oriented to simultaneously detect light absorbance from the plurality of regions of the separation conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.