Microfluidic sample delivery devices, systems, and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic device, comprising:
- a body structure comprising;
a substrate comprising one or more microscale cavities and at least one flexible capillary element, said at least one capillary element extending from the substrate, said at least one capillary element in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more microscale cavities, said at least one capillary element comprising a tapered spray tip, wherein a segment of said capillary element or at least one of said microscale cavities comprises a conductive coating;
a fluid direction component operably connected to the body structure, which fluid direction component is configured to introduce selected aliquots of a fluidic sample into the tapered spray tip from a sample source located external to the body structure of the microfluidic device and spray the selected aliquots from the tapered spray tip proximal to or within a sample destination; and
at least one device handling system operably connected to the device, said device handling system comprising at least one controller capable of flexing the tapered spray tip of the capillary element between the sample source and the sample destination.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering fluidic materials to sample destinations, including mass spectrometers for analysis are provided. In preferred embodiments, sample aliquots are electrosprayed from tapered spray tips of capillary elements into the orifices of mass spectrometric inlet systems. In certain embodiments, fluidic samples are orthogonally sprayed from capillary elements or other fluid conduits, whereas in other embodiments samples are sprayed after devices are rotated or otherwise translocated from sample sources to sample destinations. In still other embodiments, samples are sprayed from flexed or deflected capillary elements at selected sample destinations.
191 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic device, comprising:
-
a body structure comprising; a substrate comprising one or more microscale cavities and at least one flexible capillary element, said at least one capillary element extending from the substrate, said at least one capillary element in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more microscale cavities, said at least one capillary element comprising a tapered spray tip, wherein a segment of said capillary element or at least one of said microscale cavities comprises a conductive coating; a fluid direction component operably connected to the body structure, which fluid direction component is configured to introduce selected aliquots of a fluidic sample into the tapered spray tip from a sample source located external to the body structure of the microfluidic device and spray the selected aliquots from the tapered spray tip proximal to or within a sample destination; and at least one device handling system operably connected to the device, said device handling system comprising at least one controller capable of flexing the tapered spray tip of the capillary element between the sample source and the sample destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A microfluidic system, comprising:
-
a microfluidic device comprising a body structure including a substrate comprising one or more microscale cavities and at least one flexible capillary element, said at least one capillary element extending from the substrate, said at least one capillary element in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more microscale cavities, said at least one capillary element comprising a tapered spray tip, wherein a segment of said capillary element or at least one of said microscale cavities comprises a conductive coating; a fluid direction component operably connected to the body structure, which fluid direction system is configured to introduce selected aliquots of a fluidic sample into at least the capillary element the tapered spray tip from a sample source located external to the body structure of the microfluidic device and spray the selected aliquots from the tapered spray tip proximal to or within a sample destination; and at least one device handling system operably connected to the microfluidic device, which device handling system is capable of selectively moving the microfluidic device relative to the sample destination, said device handling system comprising at least one controller, which controller is capable of flexing the tapered spray tip of the capillary element between the sample source and the sample destination. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification