EP0107631A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Integrated microconduits for continuous flow analysis
Assignee: INFLOW APS
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Filing: 1983-09-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A miniaturized system of conduits formed in integrated, monolithic structure includes a first plate (4) of rigid, nonporous material on one face of which is formed one or more channels (8), and a second plate (12) bonded to the one face of the first plate to cover the channel. Ducts (18) are formed in either the first or second plate to extend perpendicularly from the channel to the exterior of the plates to allow introduction of solution into and withdrawal of solution from the channel. Additional plates, with channels formed in the faces thereof, may be bonded to the first and second plates in a stacked relationship to provide multiple levels of channels, selectively connected by perpendicular ducts.
Inventors
- 👤 Jaromir Ruzicka
- 👤 Elo Harald Hansen
- 👤 Jiri Janata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/08; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/0093; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00781; B01J2219/00783; B01J2219/00819; B01J2219/00822; B01J2219/00824; B01J2219/00831; B01J2219/00833; B01J2219/00851; B01J2219/00853; B01J2219/00889; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/06; B01L2200/0605; B01L2200/12; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0627; B01L2300/0645; B01L2300/0654; B01L2300/0663; B01L2300/0681; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0816; B01L2300/0861; B01L2300/0867; B01L2300/0874; B01L2300/0887; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; G01N2035/00178; G01N2035/00326; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/60; G01N30/6095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
Integrated microconduit system for flow-through analysis of gases and liquids, consisting of a channel system of a shape-stable material, characterized in that the channel system is arranged between two surfaces as open grooves in one or both of the surfaces, and the sealing of the grooves is accomplished by placing the two surfaces together to form a unit with a channel system which can comprise a number of sections or flow channels for carrying out various functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
Integrated microconduit system for flow-through analysis of gases and liquids, consisting of a channel system of a shape-stable material, characterized in that the channel system is arranged between two surfaces as open grooves in one or both of the surfaces, and the sealing of the grooves is accomplished by placing the two surfaces together to form a unit with a channel system which can comprise a number of sections or flow channels for carrying out various functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the surfaces are flat and disposed on plane parallel plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 2, characterized in that the channels are connected to external means, containers, sensors, pumps etc. via channels through the plates at an angle to the common surface or lying in the surface and opening at the edges of the plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Microconduit system according to Claims 1 - 3, characterized in that transducers, sensors, reference electrodes, indicator electrodes and the like are arranged inside the channel system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of units are placed in contact with and in communication with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the communication between the various units is effected through porous structures, semipermeable membranes or the like.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the reference electrode is placed in the same flow channel as the indicator electrode and that the carrier flow contains an ionic species which ensures a defined potential on the reference electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Microconduit system according'to Claim 4, characterized in that the reference electrode and the indicator electrode are placed in separate flow channels and communicate with each other and with the reference electrode supplied with a solution containing an ionic species which ensures a defined potential on the reference electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sensors are thermistors for measuring the temperatures in the flows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Microconduit system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the transducers are LED diodes and the sensors are photosensors for photometric detection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims for introducing a defined sample volume, characterized by channels coupled in parallel to each other and separated from each other by membranes permeable to gases of dissolved molecules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
Method of manufacturing microconduit systems according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that ' grooves are made by stamping, pressing, milling, etching or the like in a surface and a tight sealing of the grooves to channels or conduits is effected by placement together with another surface with a corresponding shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the other surface is also provided with grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Use of integrated microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims,for continuous flow analysis, the microconduit system being provided with indicator and reference electrodes, through which alternately an aqueous stream of carrier solution and sample solution is propelled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for continuous measuring of pH, where the indicator electrode is a miniaturized potentiometric PVC-based membrane pH-sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for continuous measuring of pK, where the indicator electrode is a miniaturized potentiometric PVC-based membrane potassium sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for continuous measuring of pCa, where the indicator electrode is a miniaturized potentiometric PVC-based membrane calcium sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for continuous measuring of the partial pressure of oxygen, where the indicator electrode is a miniaturized amperometric oxygen electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for introducing a defined volume of sample solution by means of an external valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, where part of said conduit system of defined volume is reserved for metering off a defined volume of sample solution and said sample solution is subsequently introduced by means of the hydrodynamic injection principle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for introducing a defined sample volume, where the microconduit system is so designed that at least part of the introduced sample zone is undiluted by the carrier stream solution, thereby allowing the measurement of one or several parameters of the sample itself.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, where the carrier stream is a solution of defined composition and fixed pH, thus allowing both the measurement of the pH of the sample itself and of one or several segments on the gradient of the dispersed sample zone, the buffering capacity of the sample by means of the recorded pH-values of said segments corresponding to defined mixing ratios of carrier solution and sample solution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which said membrane selectively allows passage of carbon dioxide, ammonia or some other gas, where the sample is introduced into the carrier stream which passes on one side of the membrane, while a recipient stream passes on the other side of said membrane, said recipient being of such a composition that the gas passing the membrane causes a detectable chemical reaction in the recipient stream.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
Use of a microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for simultaneous measurement of species, where the system is equipped with two or more indicator electrodes sharing a common reference electrode, where each of the indicator electrodes respectively are sensitive to one of the species to be measured.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for extracorporal clinical monitoring of body fluids, such as blood.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for coulometric detection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for determination of poisonous or other substances in air or other gases, whereby the gas mixture is inserted in a suitable carrier stream, for absorption or reaction of the substance, and the rest of the gas is separated and the substance is determined.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
Use of microconduit system according to anyone of the preceding claims, for degassing of fluid streams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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