Back to results
US 6,231,737 B1Granted
Material transport method and apparatus
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsJ. Michael Ramsey, Roswitha S. Ramsey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrospray apparatus uses a microchannel formed in a microchip. Fluid is pumped through the channel to an outlet orifice using either hydraulic or electrokinetic means. An electrospray is generated by establishing a sufficient potential difference between the fluid at the outlet orifice and a target electrode spaced from the outlet orifice. Electrokinetic pumping is also utilized to provide additional benefits to microchip devices.
Claims10
A microchip apparatus comprising:
- a substrate having a microchannel formed therein said microchannel having first and second ends, and including a separation segment, a first reservoir connected to one end of the microchannel, a crosschannel forming an intersection with the microchannel, a second reservoir connected to one end of the cross channel, and a third reservoir connected to the opposite end of the cross channel, a fourth reservoir connected to the other end of the microchannel, a sidearm segment forming a confluence at one end with the microchannel at a point spaced from the intersection, and a fifth reservoir connected to the end of the sidearm segment opposite the confluence;
- means for inducing electroosmotic flow of buffer introduced into the separation segment in one direction;
- and
- means for inducing electrophoretic migration of a sample introduced into the separation segment in an opposite direction.
1 more element
A method of performing high resolution separation of a sample in a microchip comprising the steps of:
- providing a microchip comprising a substrate having a microchannel formed therein, said microchannel having first and second ends and including a separation segment, a first reservoir connected to one end of the microchannel, a cross channel forming an intersection with the microchannel, a second reservoir connected to one end of the cross channel, and a third reservoir connected to the opposite end of the cross channel, a fourth reservoir connected to the other end of the microchannel, a sidearm segment forming a confluence at one end with the microchannel at a point spaced from the intersection, and a fifth reservoir connected to the end of the sidearm segment opposite the confluence;
- introducing a quantity of a sample into the separation segment of the microchannel;
- introducing a quantity of buffer into the separation segment of the microchannel;
- inducing electroploretic migration of the sample in the separation segment in one direction;
- and
- inducing electroosmotic flow of buffer in the separation segment in the opposite direction, by establishing an electrical potential difference between the fourth reservoir and the fifth reservoir.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.