Miniaturized planar columns for use in a liquid phase separation apparatus

A miniaturized column device comprising:

• a substrate having a first substantially planar surface, wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide;
• a separation channel comprising a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface, wherein said separation channel has an upstream and a downstream terminus;
• and
• a makeup flow channel extending substantially along the length of the separation channel, comprising a duct laser-ablated in the first planar surface and having an upstream terminus and a downstream terminus, wherein the downstream terminus of the makeup flow channel is in communication with the downstream terminus of the separation channel;
• a first cover plate arranged over the first planar surface that respectively defines a separation compartment in combination with the separation channel, and a makeup flow compartment in combination with the makeup flow channel;
• and
• an inlet port in communication with the upstream terminus of the separation channel, an outlet port in communication with the downstream terminus of the separation compartment, said ports enabling passage of fluid from an external source through the separation compartment, and a makeup compartment inlet in communication with the upstream terminus of the makeup flow channel.

A liquid phase separation apparatus comprising:

• (a) a miniaturized column, comprising (i) a substrate having a first substantially planar surface, wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide, (ii) a separation channel comprising a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface, (iii) a first cover plate arranged over the first planar surface, whereby said cover plate defines a separation compartment in combination with the separation channel, and (iv) at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port communicating with the separation compartment, said ports enabling the passage of fluid from an external source through the separation compartment;
• (b) associated containment means for housing a sample to be separated;
• (c) injection means for introducing the sample into the column from the associated containment means;
• (d) means for applying a motive force along the column such that the sample is moved therethrough;
• and
• (e) detecting means for detecting separated analytes of interest contained in the sample.

A liquid phase separation apparatus comprising:

• (a) a miniaturized column, comprising (i) a substrate having a first substantially planar surface, wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide, (ii) a separation channel comprising a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface, (iii) a first cover plate arranged over the first planar surface, whereby said cover plate defines a separation compartment in combination with the separation channel, (iv) at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port communicating with the separation compartment, said ports enabling the passage of fluid from an external source through the separation compartment, and (v) a bypass microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface, wherein the first cover plate in combination with the bypass microchannel defines a volumetric sample compartment having first and second ends;
• (b) associated containment means for housing a sample to be separated;
• and
• (c) injection means for introducing the sample into the column from the associated containment means, comprising a manifold in fluid communication with the containment means and in divertable fluid communication with the volumetric sample compartment and the inlet port.