Miniaturized planar columns in novel support media for liquid phase analysis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A miniaturized column device comprising:
- a substrate having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide, said substrate having a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface;
a cover plate arranged over the first planar surface, said cover plate in combination with the microchannel defining an elongate separation compartment; and
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.
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Abstract
Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.
149 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A miniaturized column device comprising:
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a substrate having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide, said substrate having a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface; a cover plate arranged over the first planar surface, said cover plate in combination with the microchannel defining an elongate separation compartment; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 37)
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13. A miniaturized column device comprising:
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a substrate having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces wherein said substrate is comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide; first and second microchannels respectively laser-ablated in the first and second planar surfaces; first and second cover plates disposed respectively over the first and second planar surfaces, said cover plates in combination with the first and second microchannels defining first and second elongate separation compartments; at least one inlet port communicating with the first separation compartment and at least one outlet port communicating with the second separation compartment; and conduit means for communicating the first and second separation compartments with each other thereby forming a single continuous separation compartment, said conduit means comprising a laser-ablated aperture in the substrate having an axis which is orthogonal to the planar surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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20. A miniaturized column device comprising:
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a support body formed from a substrate comprised of a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide, said support body having first and second component halves each having substantially planar interior surfaces; a first microchannel laser-ablated in the interior surface of the first support body half and a second microchannel laser-ablated in the interior surface of the second support body half, wherein each said microchannel is so arranged as to provide the mirror image of the other; a separation compartment comprising an elongate bore formed by aligning the interior surfaces of the support body halves in facing abutment with each other whereby the microchannels define said elongate bore; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39)
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40. A miniaturized column device comprising:
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a support having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces, said support having a microchannel laser-ablated in the first planar surface; a cover plate arranged over the first planar surface, said cover plate in combination with the microchannel defining an elongate separation compartment; 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 a plurality of communication paths arranged adjacent to the separation compartment, said paths enabling detection of changes in the electrical properties of a sample passing through the separation compartment. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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50. A method of forming a miniaturized column device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a support body having first and second component halves, said support body halves having substantially planar interior surfaces; (b) forming a compartment in the support body by;
(i) laser ablating a first microchannel in the interior surface of the first support body half;
(ii) laser ablating a second microchannel in the interior surface of the second support body half, wherein the second microchannel is arranged to provide the mirror image of the first microchannel, such that subsequent alignment of the interior surfaces of the support body halves in facing abutment with each other defines an elongate bore;(c) forming a plurality of ports in the support body, said ports enabling fluid communication between the compartment and associated external fluid containment means, wherein the step comprises laser ablating a plurality of apertures extending from at least one exterior surface of the support body and communicating with at least one microchannel, whereby the apertures permit the passage of fluid therethrough; (d) forming detection means in the support body by laser ablating further apertures through the first and second component halves, whereby the apertures communicate with the compartment; and (e) aligning the interior surfaces of the support body halves in facing abutment with each other, thereby aligning the microchannels, ports and detection means to provide a miniaturized column device. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification