Pressurized microfluidic devices with optical detection regions
First Claim
1. A microfluidic analytical device comprising:
- a microfluidic separation column containing stationary phase material and adapted to perform a pressure-driven chromatographic separation process;
an optical detection region disposed downstream of the microfluidic separation column, the optical detection region being substantially free of stationary phase material and being bounded by at least one substantially optically transmissive material; and
a substantially planar porous membrane disposed downstream of the optical detection region, the porous membrane permitting liquid flow therethrough at an operating pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microfluidic analytical devices and systems have at least one porous element disposed downstream of one or more optical detection regions in a pressure-based separation system. A porous element elevates the backpressure within an optical detection region, thus suppressing bubble formation and enhancing optical detection. Various types of porous elements include porous membranes, packed particulate material, and polymerized monoliths. Preferred devices may be fabricated with substantially planar device layers, including stencil layers, that are directly bonded without adhesives to form a substantially sealed microstructure suitable for performing pressure-based chromatographic separations at elevated operating pressures and with organic solvents.
57 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A microfluidic analytical device comprising:
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a microfluidic separation column containing stationary phase material and adapted to perform a pressure-driven chromatographic separation process;
an optical detection region disposed downstream of the microfluidic separation column, the optical detection region being substantially free of stationary phase material and being bounded by at least one substantially optically transmissive material; and
a substantially planar porous membrane disposed downstream of the optical detection region, the porous membrane permitting liquid flow therethrough at an operating pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A microfluidic analytical device comprising:
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a plurality of microfluidic separation columns each containing stationary phase material;
a plurality of optical detection regions, each optical detection region of the plurality of optical detection regions being disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with a different microfluidic separation column of the plurality of separation columns, being substantially free of stationary phase material, and being bounded by at least one substantially optically transmissive material; and
at least one porous membrane disposed downstream of the plurality of optical detection regions, the at least one porous membrane permitting liquid flow therethrough at an operating pressure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A microfluidic device comprising:
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a plurality of substantially planar device layers defining a separation region, an impedance region, and an optical detection region disposed in a fluid flow path between the separation region and the impedance region, the optical detection region being substantially free of stationary phase material and being bounded along at least one surface by a substantially optically transmissive material; and
a substantially planar porous membrane disposed between the first aperture and the second aperture, with the porous membrane permitting liquid flow therethrough and being adapted to permanently elevate the backpressure within the optical detection region. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A liquid chromatography system comprising:
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a plurality of separation columns adapted to perform pressure-driven liquid chromatographic separation;
an illumination source;
an optical detector;
a plurality of optical detection regions disposed downstream of the plurality of separation columns, each optical detection region of the plurality of optical detection regions being in fluid communication with a different separation column of the plurality of separation columns, and each optical detection region being in optical communication with the illumination source and optical detector; and
at least one porous membrane disposed downstream of the plurality of optical detection regions and in fluid communication with the plurality of optical detection regions, the at least one porous membrane being adapted to elevate the backpressure within the plurality of optical detection regions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification