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Closed-loop control of electrokinetic processes in microfluidic devices based on optical readings

  • US 6,905,583 B2
  • Filed: 12/10/2003
  • Issued: 06/14/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for performing an electrophoretic process on a microfluidic device comprising a first, second, third, fourth and fifth reservoir and a first channel extending from the first reservoir to the fifth reservoir, said device further comprising a second channel, third channel, and fourth channel and said second channel, third channel and fourth channel being in fluid communication with said first channel at respectively second-channel, third-channel, and fourth-channel intersections and each of said intersections being spaced along said first channel such that, relative to said first reservoir, said second-channel intersection is proximal to the third-channel intersection and the third-channel intersection is proximal to the fourth-channel intersection and the fourth-channel intersection is proximal to the fifth reservoir, and each of said second, third and fourth channels being in fluid communication with the second, third and fourth reservoirs respectively such that materials may be added and removed to the channels via the reservoirs, said method comprising:

  • applying a first voltage difference between the second reservoir and the third reservoir to move a sample from the second reservoir, into a sample region along the first channel and between the second-channel intersection and the third-channel intersection;

    applying a second voltage difference between the first reservoir and the second reservoir to drive a terminating electrolyte from the first reservoir towards the sample in said sample region;

    applying a third voltage difference between the first reservoir and the fifth reservoir to stack components of the sample between the terminating electrolyte and a leading electrolyte;

    automatically applying a fourth voltage difference between the fourth reservoir and the fifth reservoir when the last component of the stacked sample reaches the fourth-channel intersection such that the components of the sample spatially separate while migrating along the first channel towards the fifth reservoir.

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