Electro-kinetic separation with enlarged input mixing capillary

A chemical analysis system comprising

• sample path means for defining a longitudinally extending sample path, said sample path means including:
• a capillary separation section having a sample input end and an output end:
• a capillary mixing section having an input end:
• a coupling element for coupling between said output end of said capillary separation section and said input end of said capillary mixing section, said coupling element having fluid introduction means for introducing detection fluid into said mixing section for mixing said detection fluid and effluent from said separation section before movement into a detection section,
• said fluid introduction means including a flared input of said capillary mixing section defining an annular gap between said separation section and said mixing section:
• said detection section being positioned along said sample path after said capillary mixing section;
• a detection fluid path coupled to said coupling element for introducing said detection fluid into said coupling element;
• detection means for detecting the presence of at least one sample component in the detection fluid within said detection section;
• and
• electrode means for establishing an electric field to move said sample component from said separation section toward said detection section.

A chemical analysis system for separating a sample solution into components, said system comprising:

• sample path means for defining a longitudinally extending sample path and a downstream direction along said sample path, said sample path means including
• a separation capillary having a separation input end and a separation output end, and
• a detection capillary generally downstream relative to said separation capillary, said detection capillary having a detection input end and a detection output end, said detection capillary having a mixing section adjacent to said detection input end and a detection section downstream of said mixing section, said detection capillary being enlarged radially at said detection input end and at said mixing section, said detection input end longitudinally overlapping said separation output end so as to define an annular gap therebetween;
• power supply means for establishing an electric field between said separation input end and said detection output end, said electric field extending across said annular gap;
• fluorogenic reagent introduction means for introducing a fluorogenic reagent into said mixing section through said annular gap so as to react with sample components eluting from said separation output end so as to produce fluorescent labelled sample components;
• and
• fluorescence detection means for detecting said fluorescent labelled sample components, said detection means being located at said detection section.