Balanced asymmetric electronic pulse patterns for operating electrode-based pumps
First Claim
1. A method of operating an electrode-based pump to pump a liquid, the method comprisingperiodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes of the pump with a frequency of at least 10 Hz while maintaining a net flow of liquid in a desired direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a method of operating an electrode-based pump to pump a liquid, the method comprising periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes of the pump while maintaining a net flow of liquid in a desired direction. Further provided is an apparatus for pumping liquid with an electrode-based pump comprising: a channel of capillary dimensions; a pump comprising at least two electrodes inserted into the channel; a controller for controlling the voltages applied to the electrodes such that the pumps operate under a sequentially repeated pattern of polarity cycles, and such that over the period of the repeated pattern either (a) a first ratio of a voltage-integrated area A1 associated with a first polarity to a voltage-integrated area A2 associated with the other polarity or (b) a second ratio of a charge q1 carried by the current associated with a first polarity to a charge q1 carried by the current associated with the other polarity is between about 1:1/2 and about 1/2:1. Additionally provided are apparatuses and methods for electrophoresis.
150 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of operating an electrode-based pump to pump a liquid, the method comprising
periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes of the pump with a frequency of at least 10 Hz while maintaining a net flow of liquid in a desired direction.
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14. An apparatus for pumping liquid with an electrode-based pump having a liquid flow pathway, the apparatus comprising:
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a channel of capillary dimensions forming at least part of the flow pathway; a pump comprising at least two electrodes inserted into the flow pathway; a controller for controlling the voltages applied to the electrodes such that the pumps operate under a sequentially repeated pattern of polarity cycles, and such that over the period of the repeated pattern either (a) a first ratio of a voltage-integrated area A1 associated with a first polarity to a voltage-integrated area A2 associated with the other polarity or (b) a second ratio of a charge q1 carried by the current associated with a first polarity to a charge q1 carried by the current associated with the other polarity is less than 1;
1/2 and more than about 1/2;
1. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a capillary electrophoresis apparatus having at least one electrode at each end of an electrophoresis pathway and operating with an electrophoresis liquid, the method comprising
periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes while maintaining a net electrophoretic migration of one or more solutes in a desired direction; - wherein the periodic reversal of the voltage polarity comprises a pattern of polarity reversals and an associated voltage amplitude profile selected to reduce or eliminate the nucleation of gas at the electrodes, wherein the frequency of the polarity cycle is at least 100 Hz.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating an electrophoresis apparatus having at least one electrode at each end of an electrophoresis pathway and operating with an electrophoresis liquid, wherein the electrodes are enclosed within a microfluidic device such that nucleations of gas at the electrodes interfere with current flow between the two electrodes, the method comprising
periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes while maintaining a net electrophoretic migration of one or more solutes in a desired direction, wherein a pattern of polarity reversals and an associated voltage amplitude profile are selected to reduce or eliminate the nucleation of gas at the electrodes, and wherein the voltage polarity reversals are applied by repeating a defined pattern with a frequency of at least 100 Hz.
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25. An electrophoresis apparatus having at least one driving electrode at each end of an electrophoresis pathway comprising:
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two driving electrodes situated such that the distance between them encompasses the electrophoretic pathway, in which pathway electrophoretic separation is anticipated to occur; additional driving electrodes at one or both ends of the electrophoretic pathway; and
,a controller for controlling the voltages applied to the electrodes such that the electrodes operate under a sequentially repeated pattern of polarity cycles, and such that over the period of the repeated pattern either (a) a first ratio of a voltage-integrated area A1 associated with a first polarity to a voltage-integrated area A2 associated with the other polarity or (b) a second ratio of a charge q1 carried by the current associated with a first polarity to a charge q2 carried by the current associated with the other polarity is between about 1;
1/2 and about 1/2;
1, and wherein the maximum voltage applied of the first polarity, which first polarity causes electrophoresis in the desired direction of one or more solutes in an electrophoresis liquid, is greater than the maximum voltage applied of the second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of operating an electrode-based pump to pump a liquid, the method comprising
periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes of the pump while maintaining a net flow of liquid in a desired direction; - wherein over an operating period of time encompassing at least one polarity cycle either (a) a first ratio of a voltage-integrated area A1 associated with a first polarity to a voltage-integrated area associated with the other polarity or (b) a second ratio of a charge q1 carried by the current associated with a first polarity to a charge q2 carried by the current associated with the other polarity is less than 1;
1/2 and more than about 1/2;
1. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
- wherein over an operating period of time encompassing at least one polarity cycle either (a) a first ratio of a voltage-integrated area A1 associated with a first polarity to a voltage-integrated area associated with the other polarity or (b) a second ratio of a charge q1 carried by the current associated with a first polarity to a charge q2 carried by the current associated with the other polarity is less than 1;
- 31. A method of operating a liquid distribution system comprising, in a substrate, channels of capillary dimensions for conveying liquids and, for moving the liquids, one or more electrode-based pumps each such pump comprising electrodes in electrical contact with one of said channels, the method comprising periodically reversing the voltage polarity applied to the electrodes of a given said pump while maintaining a net flow of liquid in a desired direction in the corresponding channel, wherein the voltage polarity cycles are applied by repeating a defined pattern with a defined frequency of at 10 Hz.
Specification