Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110272855 | Techniques For Patterning Valve Components - Described are techniques for fabricating one or more parts of a valve used in a liquid chromatography system. At least one of a rotor and a stator are provided. The rotor is included in the valve and has a first surface facing a stator. The stator is included in the valve and has a second surface facing the rotor. A pattern is formed in at least one of the first surface and the second surface. Forming the pattern includes compressing the at least one surface by applying pressure thereto causing displacement of material to form at least one groove. | 11-10-2011 |
20120024399 | Electrospray Interface To A Microfluidic Substrate - A liquid-chromatography module includes a microfluidic cartridge housing a microfluidic substrate with a channel for transporting fluid. The microfluidic substrate has fluidic apertures through which fluid is supplied to the channel. One side of the cartridge has nozzle openings, each aligning with a fluidic aperture in the microfluidic substrate and receiving a fluidic nozzle. A clamping assembly has a plunger that is movable into a clamped position and an end housing that defines a chamber. One wall of the end housing has a fluidic block with fluidic nozzles extending into the chamber. A second wall has a slot through which the cartridge enters the chamber. When moved into the clamped position while the cartridge is in the chamber, the plunger urges the cartridge against the fluidic block such that each fluidic nozzle enters one nozzle opening and establishes fluidic communication with one fluidic aperture in the microfluidic substrate. | 02-02-2012 |
20120037724 | Electrospray Interface To A Microfluidic Substrate - An apparatus for chemical separations includes a microfluidic substrate having an outlet aperture for outputting an eluent of a sample, a spray unit having an inlet to receive the eluent and an outlet to emit a spray of the eluent, and a force-applying unit. The spray unit has a deformable portion defining the inlet and having an elastic modulus that is lower than an elastic modulus of the microfluidic substrate. The force-applying unit, such as a spring, is disposed to urge the deformable portion in contact with the substrate to form a substantially fluid-tight seal. | 02-16-2012 |
20130019696 | Chromatography Apparatus And Methods Using Multiple Microfluidic Substrates - An apparatus for chemical separations includes a first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a first fluidic port; a second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a second fluidic port; and a coupler disposed between the first and second substrates, the coupler defining a fluidic path in fluidic alignment with the ports of the first and second substrates. The coupler includes a material that is deformable relative to a material of the first substrate and a material of the second substrate. The substrates are clamped together to compress the coupler between the substrates and form a fluid-tight seal. | 01-24-2013 |
20140152003 | REUSABLE FITTING FOR ATTACHING A CONDUIT TO A PORT - Described is a reusable fitting for attaching a conduit to a port. The fitting includes a housing, a spring, a retainer and cap. The retainer is capable of locking and unlocking a conduit in the fitting. The fitting provides a high pressure fluid-tight seal and a substantially zero void volume at the junction of two fluidic conduits. The fitting is removable, reusable and replaceable, and allows a user to make and remake connections of a capillary to a fluidic port without permanently binding a ferrule to a specific capillary and thus to a specific port. The fitting can be replaced if part or all of the fitting is damaged during use. | 06-05-2014 |
20140157988 | CHROMATOGRAPHY APPARATUS HAVING DIFFUSION BONDED COUPLER - Described is a chromatography a chromatography apparatus that includes a microfluidic substrate, a coupler and a sealing fitting. The microfluidic substrate can include one or more chromatography columns, such as analytical columns or trap columns, and an inlet in communication with the one or more chromatography columns. The coupler is diffusion bonded to the surface of the microfluidic substrate so that an opening in the coupler is aligned to the inlet in the microfluidic substrate. The sealing fitting includes a heat-resistant sealant disposed in the opening of the coupler and in contact with the surface of the substrate. The coupler and sealing fitting enable a compact fluid-tight connection to the inlet of the microfluidic substrate that exhibits high tensile and torsional strength, and does not require the use of adhesives. | 06-12-2014 |
20140158599 | LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY CONDUIT ASSEMBLIES HAVING HIGH PRESSURE SEALS - Described is a tubing assembly which includes a permanently deformable outer tube, an intermediate tube and an inner tube. A radial seal is provided by a uniform radial crimp having a non-zero longitudinal length at a longitudinal location on the tubing assembly. In some embodiments one or both ends of the assembly have a uniform radial crimp and are polished so that the ends of two or more of the tubes are substantially flush with each other to thereby block the passage of fluids between the ends of the tubes. In other embodiments the uniform radial crimps are at other longitudinal locations where a high pressure seal is desired. The longitudinal length and the depth of each uniform radial crimp can be formed to accommodate the requirements of a particular application so that leakage along the tubing assembly is prevented and void volume is reduced or eliminated. | 06-12-2014 |
20140174160 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE WITH DRIED BLOOD SPOTS (DBS) CARD INTERFACE - An apparatus for use in a chromatography system includes a first microfluidic substrate having a first fluidic channel. One end of the first fluidic channel terminates at a first fluidic port on a first side of the first microfluidic substrate and an opposite end of the first fluidic channel terminates at a second fluidic port on a second side of the first microfluidic substrate. A second microfluidic substrate has a second fluidic channel. One end of the second fluidic channel terminates at a first fluidic port on a first side of the second microfluidic substrate. The first side of the second microfluidic substrate abuts the second side of the first microfluidic substrate such that the fluidic port of the second microfluidic substrate aligns with one of the fluidic ports of the first microfluidic substrate and the alignment produces a fluidic path comprised of the first and second fluidic channels. | 06-26-2014 |
20140208836 | ANALYSIS OF DRIED BLOOD SPOT SAMPLES IN A MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM WITH DILUTION OF EXTRACTED SAMPLES - An apparatus for use in a chromatography system includes a microfluidic substrate having a fluidic channel configured as an analytical chromatographic column and a fluidic port on one side of the microfluidic substrate. The fluidic port opens at a head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A dried blood spot (DBS) collection device holds one or more dried biological samples. The DBS collection device is directly coupled to the microfluidic substrate whereby one of the biological samples is placed into fluidic communication with the fluidic channel of the microfluidic substrate and an extraction of that biological sample flows toward the head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A diluent source fluidically coupled to the fluidic port supplies a solvent to the head end of the analytical column to dilute the extracted biological sample before the biological sample flows into the analytical chromatographic column. | 07-31-2014 |
20140319042 | ELECTROSPRAY INTERFACE TO A MICROFLUIDIC SUBSTRATE - An apparatus for chemical separations includes a microfluidic substrate having an outlet aperture for outputting an eluent of a sample, a spray unit having an inlet to receive the eluent and an outlet to emit a spray of the eluent, and a force-applying unit. The spray unit has a deformable portion defining the inlet and having an elastic modulus that is lower than an elastic modulus of the microfluidic substrate. The force-applying unit, such as a spring, is disposed to urge the deformable portion in contact with the substrate to form a substantially fluid-tight seal. | 10-30-2014 |
20140345372 | MANAGING FLUIDIC CONNECTIONS TO MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES - A system (e.g., a chromatography system) includes a rotor, a microfluidic device, a rotor driver, a clamping mechanism, and control electronics. The rotor defines a plurality of first fluid-conveying features. The micro fluidic device defines one or more channels and a plurality of second fluid-conveying features, in fluid communication with the one or more channels. The rotor driver is coupled to the rotor and is configured to rotate the rotor, relative to the microfluidic device, between a first position and a second position such that, in each of the positions, at least one of the first fluid-conveying features cooperates with at least one of the one or more channels to provide for fluid communication therebetween. The clamping mechanism is operable to provide a sealing force to establish a fluid-tight seal between the rotor and the microfluidic device. | 11-27-2014 |
20150078962 | MICROFLUIDIC FLAME IONIZATION DETECTOR - The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic flame ionization detector for use in small scale separations, such as, for example, microfluidic gas chromatography and microfluidic carbon dioxide based fluid chromatography. In some arrangements, the microfluidic counter-current flame ionization detector employs a non-parallel arrangement for the introduction of combustion gases into the combustion chamber. In other arrangements, the detector housing is configured to incorporate at least one of the detector electrodes within the housing using electrically isolating fittings. | 03-19-2015 |
20150079691 | CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF POLAR MODIFIERS IN CHROMATOGRAPHIC MOBILE PHASES - The present disclosure relates to an oxidizer, and related methods, for oxidizing polar modifiers in chromatographic mobile phases. The oxidizer enables the use of flame-based detection in chromatographic separations, such as carbon dioxide based chromatography, which employ polar modifiers, such as methanol. Upon exiting a chromatographic column, the mobile phase containing the polar modifier is flowed through an oxidizer that contains a catalyst to oxidize at least a portion of the polar modifier to a species that does not interfere with the function of the flame-based detector. The oxidizer allows for flame-based detection, such as flame ionization detection, in applications in which a polar modifier with a reduced form of carbon is used. | 03-19-2015 |