Liquid chromatograph on a chip
First Claim
1. A chromatograph comprising:
- a first layer, having a thickness and a second layer having a thickness, said second layer having a top side and a bottom side, said first layer in a superimposed relationship with said top side of said second layer;
at least one micro-channel etched into said second layer having a depth into said second layer and a width, wherein the depth of said micro-channel is greater than the width of said micro-channel;
at least one pair of electrodes formed on the chromatograph, at least a portion of said pair of electrodes being exposed to an internal portion of said micro-channel;
a fluid inlet port disposed in said first layer and operatively connected to said micro-channel; and
a fluid outlet port disposed in said first layer and operatively connected to said micro-channel;
whereby fluid passing through said inlet port and into and through said micro-channel will be chromatographically separated into components and pass over said pair of electrodes and out of said micro-channel and to said outlet port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chromatograph fabricated using microelectromechanical techniques. The chromatograph includes a first layer superimposed over a second layer. At least one micro-channel is etched into the second layer to provide the separation column of the chromatograph. The surfaces of the micro-channel are chemically activated in order to separate the components of a sample flowing through the micro-channel by bonded phase chemistry. A third layer is placed in superimposed relationship with the second layer. At least one pair of electrodes is formed to the third layer with at least a portion of the electrodes internal to the micro-channel of the second layer. The electrodes detect separated components flowing through the micro-channel and identify them by their electrical conductivity. The depth of the micro-channel is greater than the width, thereby minimizing pressure drop across the device and allowing the chromatograph to operate with a high degree of speed, sensitivity and accuracy. Good resolution is obtained with narrow integrated electrodes for sensing the separated components of the sample.
75 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A chromatograph comprising:
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a first layer, having a thickness and a second layer having a thickness, said second layer having a top side and a bottom side, said first layer in a superimposed relationship with said top side of said second layer;
at least one micro-channel etched into said second layer having a depth into said second layer and a width, wherein the depth of said micro-channel is greater than the width of said micro-channel;
at least one pair of electrodes formed on the chromatograph, at least a portion of said pair of electrodes being exposed to an internal portion of said micro-channel;
a fluid inlet port disposed in said first layer and operatively connected to said micro-channel; and
a fluid outlet port disposed in said first layer and operatively connected to said micro-channel;
whereby fluid passing through said inlet port and into and through said micro-channel will be chromatographically separated into components and pass over said pair of electrodes and out of said micro-channel and to said outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification