Method for determining concentration of a laminar sample stream
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsFred K. Forster, Paul C. Galambos, Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses including programmed computers are provided for determining the initial concentration of diffusible particles in a sample stream introduced into a system wherein the sample stream which contains the diffusible particles flows in adjacent laminar flow with an indicator stream containing an indicator substance capable of exhibiting an observable change at a known concentration of the diffusible particles.
Claims18
A method for determining the initial concentration of diffusible analyte particles in a sample stream entering a laminar flow channel of known dimensions in laminar flow relative to an indicator stream containing an indicator substance capable of exhibiting a detectable change at a known concentration of said diffusible analyte particles, comprising:
- (a) determining the flow ratio of said streams and diffusivity ratio of said analyte particles in said streams;
- (b) selecting detection points in said indicator stream where said indicator substance exhibits a detectable change indicative of a particular concentration of said diffusible analyte particles at said detection point;
- (c) using said known concentration of diffusible analyte particles at said detection points and the locations of said detection points to determine the initial concentration of said diffusible analyte particles in said sample stream.
A method for generating reference data relating positions of points of known concentration of diffusible analyte particles in an indicator stream comprising an indicator substance capable of exhibiting a detectable change at a known concentration of said diffusible analyte particles, in laminar flow with a sample stream, to initial concentrations of said analyte particles in said sample stream, comprising:
- (a) providing a laminar flow channel of known dimensions;
- (b) providing flow rates for said streams and diffusivities of said analyte particles in said streams;
- (c) providing a concentration of said analyte particles in said indicator stream correlated to a specific detectable change in said indicator substance;
- (d) calculating the positions of points of said specific detectable change in said indicator substance which would result from different initial concentrations of said analyte particles in said sample stream.
An apparatus for determining the initial concentration of diffusible analyte particles in a sample stream comprising:
- (a) a laminar flow channel of known dimensions for introduction of said sample stream in laminar flow with an indicator stream containing an indicator substance capable of exhibiting a detectable change at a known concentration of said diffusible analyte particles;
- (b) means for determining the flow rates of said streams in said flow channel whereby said flow rates are known;
- (c) means for detecting a change in said indicator substance at a selected detection point of known coordinates in said indicator stream, said change being indicative of a particular concentration of said diffusible analyte particles at said detection point;
- (d) computerized means for calculating the initial concentration of said diffusible analyte particles in said sample stream using said known channel dimensions, known flow rates, and known coordinates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.