US 2015/0021186 A1 · Devices for Flow Step Focusing (FSF)

Abstract

Flow step focusing isolates and concentrates a molecule of interest by flowing a liquid comprising a molecule of interest through a main channel having an inlet and an outlet with application of a first pressure at the inlet; applying a voltage along the channel during the flowing, wherein the voltage is configured to have a polarity such that it drives the molecule of interest in a direction opposite the flow of the liquid; controlling the first pressure and/or the voltage in a manner so as to trap and concentrate the molecule of interest in a region of the main channel; and removing the concentrated molecule of interest from the channel by recovering a portion of the liquid from a side channel diverging from the main channel, wherein the side channel is maintained at a pressure lower than the first pressure. Also disclosed is an apparatus for such.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus configured to isolate and concentrate a molecule of interest, the apparatus comprising:

a main channel having an inlet and an outlet;
a side channel intersecting the main channel and having a side channel outlet;
a first pressure controller operably connected to the inlet and configured for pumping fluid into the inlet;
a second pressure controller operably connected to either the main channel outlet or the side channel outlet and configured to apply a pressure thereto;
and
electrodes at each of the inlet and the outlet operably connected to a voltage controller configured to generate a voltage between the electrodes so as to generate an electric field along the channel, wherein the electric field is sufficiently strong to drive a molecule of interest in a direction opposite to flow of a liquid from the inlet to the outlet.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices for Flow Step Focusing (FSF)

Life of this patent

Devices for Flow Step Focusing (FSF)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9