Compound capillary assembly and use in separative transport

Abstract

A compound capillary can provide different sizes and configurations for central and outer passages to suit a variety of process applications, in particular methods of separative transport of multi-component samples and precise heat control of fluid streams on a micro scale. The compound capillary can be formed from ductile glass material into an assembly that typically provides a central passageway for retaining one fluid or material and single or multiple outer passages for retaining different fluids or materials. One or more of the different passages may also retain one more different stationary phase to tailor the separative transport to the material of particular sample streams. The compound capillary has particular application to the field of capillary electrophoresis where the multiple capillary passages in a single capillary tube may be used to increase sample through, or used for different function such as cooling and/or the establishment of transverse electrical potentials.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.