Material transport method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A material transport apparatus comprising:
- a microchip having at least one substantially planar surface;
a first channel formed in the microchip said channel having an outlet orifice disposed in a substantially planar surface of said microchip;
a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first channel at an end opposite the outlet orifice;
a side arm channel connected to the first channel at a point of confluence;
a second reservoir in fluid communication with an end of the side arm channel opposite the point of confluence;
means for moving material through the first channel to the orifice, said means comprising an electrical potential established between the first and second reservoirs; and
means for transporting material from the outlet orifice in the form of droplets that are directed to a receiving device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A material transport apparatus comprising:
-
a microchip having at least one substantially planar surface; a first channel formed in the microchip said channel having an outlet orifice disposed in a substantially planar surface of said microchip; a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first channel at an end opposite the outlet orifice;
a side arm channel connected to the first channel at a point of confluence;
a second reservoir in fluid communication with an end of the side arm channel opposite the point of confluence;means for moving material through the first channel to the orifice, said means comprising an electrical potential established between the first and second reservoirs; and means for transporting material from the outlet orifice in the form of droplets that are directed to a receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A material transport apparatus comprising:
-
a substrate; a microchannel formed in the substrate and having an outlet orifice; means for injecting a discrete amount of material into the microchannel, the means for injecting material comprising an injection segment intersecting with the microchannel, a sample reservoir connected to one end of the microchannel, a first buffer reservoir connected to one end of the injection segment, and a waste reservoir connected to the other end of the injection segment; a sheath flow segment connected to the microchannel, a second buffer reservoir connected to one end of the sheath flow segment, a side arm segment connected to the microchannel and a third buffer reservoir connected to one end of the side arm segment; means for electrophoretically migrating the material along the length of the microchannel to effect separation of said material; and means for electrokinetically transporting the separated material to the outlet orifice. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A material transport apparatus comprising:
-
a substrate; a microchannel formed in the substrate and having an outlet orifice; means for injecting a discrete amount of material into the microchannel, the means for injecting material comprising an injection segment intersecting with the microchannel, a first buffer reservoir connected to one end of the microchannel, a sample reservoir connected to one end of the injection segment, and a waste reservoir connected to the other end of the injection segment; a sheath flow segment connected to the microchannel, a second buffer reservoir connected to one end of the sheath flow segment, a side arm segment connected to the microchannel and a third buffer reservoir connected to one end of the side arm segment; means for electrophoretically migrating the material along the length of the microchannel to effect separation of said material; and means for electrokinetically transporting the separated material to the outlet orifice. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A material transport apparatus comprising:
-
a microchip having at least one substantially planar surface; a first channel formed in the microchip, said channel having an outlet orifice disposed in a substantially planar surface of said microchip, at least a portion of the planar surface disposed adjacent the outlet orifice being coated with an electrically conducting film; means for moving material through the first channel to the orifice; and means for transporting material from the orifice in the form of droplets that are directed to a receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A material transport and analysis method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a microchip comprising a substrate having a microchannel disposed therein and an outlet orifice, a first reservoir in fluid communication with the microchannel at an end opposite the outlet orifice, a side arm channel connected to the microchannel at a point of confluence, and a second reservoir disposed in fluid communication with an end of the side arm channel opposite the point of confluence; moving material, comprising a sample to be analyzed, in said microchannel towards said outlet orifice, the movement of material being effected by hydraulic pressure applied to the microchannel and further includes establishing an electrical potential between the first and second reservoirs; transporting said material from said outlet orifice in the form of droplets that are directed to an analysis device; and analyzing said material. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
-
Specification