Chromatography apparatus and methods using multiple microfluidic substrates
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorsJoseph D. Michienzi, James P. Murphy, Dennis DellaRovere
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for chemical separations includes a first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a first fluidic port; a second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a second fluidic port; and a coupler disposed between the first and second substrates, the coupler defining a fluidic path in fluidic alignment with the ports of the first and second substrates. The coupler includes a material that is deformable relative to a material of the first substrate and a material of the second substrate. The substrates are clamped together to compress the coupler between the substrates and form a fluid-tight seal.
Claims33
An apparatus for chemical separations, comprising:
- a first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers, a first channel formed between the layers, and a first fluidic port in fluid communication with the first channel;
- a second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers, a second channel formed between the layers, and a second fluidic port in fluid communication with the second channel,
- the layers of the first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate comprising a different material from the layers of the second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate;
- and
- a coupler disposed between the first and second substrates, the coupler defining a fluidic path in fluidic alignment with the ports of the first and second substrates.
A method for performing chromatography, comprising:
- providing a first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers, a first channel formed between the layers, and a first fluidic port;
- providing a second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers and a second channel formed between the layers, and a second fluidic port in fluid communication with the second channel;
- providing a coupler defining a fluidic path;
- disposing the coupler between the first and second substrates, in fluidic alignment with the second fluidic port of the second substrate and the first fluidic port of the first substrate;
- urging the first and second substrates towards each other to compress the coupler between the first and second substrates and form a fluid-tight seal;
- and
- pressurizing the first channel of the first substrate, the second channel of the second substrate, and the fluidic path of the coupler.
A method for fabricating a chromatographic apparatus, comprising:
- providing a first microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers, a first channel between the layers, and having fluidic ports in respective fluidic communication with the first channel;
- providing a second microfluidic substrate comprising a plurality of layers, a second channel between the layers, and having fluidic ports in respective fluidic communication with the second channel;
- providing a coupler defining a fluidic path;
- disposing the coupler between the first and second substrates, in fluidic alignment with a fluidic port of the first substrate and a respective fluidic port of the first substrate;
- and
- providing a housing to mechanically support the first and second substrates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.