Patent EP0339781A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0339781A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Automated capillary injector
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A pressure integrated apparatus and process for the measured injection of sample into a capillary (Q) for electrophoresis is disclosed. Preferably the capillary (Q) is mounted in a serpentine path to a cartridge body (C) having a bottom. The capillary (Q), previously filled with electrolyte depends a distance below the bottom of the cartridge (C) and has its periphery sealed to the cartridge. Typically, the cartridge is registered at the depending capillary to a vial of sample. The vial of sample is moved into substantial gas tight relation with the cartridge so that the depending capillary is below the surface of liquid within the sample vial. The vial is then communicated to a source of substantially constant fluid pressure in the order of 1 lb./inch². At the same time, a pressure gauge (60) monitors the pressure of the vial and outputs a signal to integration apparatus (I) such as a microprocessor. By time integration of the area under a pressure curve, precise monitoring of the amount of fluid introduced into a capillary occurs. Assuming a total capillary capacity of several microliters, injections of sample in the order of 5 nanoliters with an accuracy of plus or minus 2% is possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Paul Burolla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44704; G01N27/44743
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A process for injecting an electrolyte filled capillary with sample, said capillary protruding from the bottom of a holding body and sealed around the periphery of said capillary to said body adjacent the bottom thereof, said process comprising the steps of: providing a vial; filling said vial to a predetermined level with contained sample; immersing said capillary as protruding from the bottom of said body in sample within said vial; sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said capillary with said capillary still immersed in said sample; after said sealing, exposing said sample to a substantially constant fluid pressure whereby sample flow from said vial into said immersed end of said electrolyte filled capillary occurs; measuring the pressure on said sample during the time said sample is exposed to pressure; integrating the pressure in said vial with respect to time to determine the volumetric flow of said sample into said electrolyte filled capillary; and, ceasing said exposing step responsive to the determination of volumetric flow at said integrating step to inject a fixed quantity of sample into said capillary.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for injecting an electrolyte filled capillary with sample, said capillary protruding from the bottom of a holding body and sealed around the periphery of said capillary to said body adjacent the bottom thereof, said process comprising the steps of: providing a vial; filling said vial to a predetermined level with contained sample; immersing said capillary as protruding from the bottom of said body in sample within said vial; sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said capillary with said capillary still immersed in said sample; after said sealing, exposing said sample to a substantially constant fluid pressure whereby sample flow from said vial into said immersed end of said electrolyte filled capillary occurs; measuring the pressure on said sample during the time said sample is exposed to pressure; integrating the pressure in said vial with respect to time to determine the volumetric flow of said sample into said electrolyte filled capillary; and, ceasing said exposing step responsive to the determination of volumetric flow at said integrating step to inject a fixed quantity of sample into said capillary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1 and including the step of providing a second vial containing electrolyte; immersing the remaining end of said capillary into said vial containing electrolyte; maintaining said vial containing electrolyte at the same elevation as said vial with sample to maintain equal hydrostatic pressures at both vials independent of said exposing step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
212 words
A process for injecting a capillary with sample, said process comprising the steps of; providing a capillary; mounting said capillary to a body having a bottom so that said capillary protrudes downwardly from the bottom of said body in a depending fashion; sealing the periphery of said capillary to said cartridge adjacent said bottom of said body; filling said capillary as mounted to said body with electrolyte; providing a vial containing a sample; immersing said capillary as protruding from the bottom of said body at one end in said sample within said vial; sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said capillary with said capillary immersed in sample; after said sealing, exposing said sample to a substantially constant fluid pressure as sealed to the bottom of said body whereby sample flow from the vial flows into said one end of said electrolyte filled capillary immersed in said sample; measuring the pressure over said sample during the time said sample is exposed to said fluid pressure; integrating the pressure in said vial with respect to time to determine the volumetric flow of sample into said electrolyte filled capillary; and, relieving said substantially constant fluid pressure responsive to integration to inject a fixed quantity of sample into said capillary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
212 words
A process for injecting a capillary with sample, said process comprising the steps of; providing a capillary; mounting said capillary to a body having a bottom so that said capillary protrudes downwardly from the bottom of said body in a depending fashion; sealing the periphery of said capillary to said cartridge adjacent said bottom of said body; filling said capillary as mounted to said body with electrolyte; providing a vial containing a sample; immersing said capillary as protruding from the bottom of said body at one end in said sample within said vial; sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said capillary with said capillary immersed in sample; after said sealing, exposing said sample to a substantially constant fluid pressure as sealed to the bottom of said body whereby sample flow from the vial flows into said one end of said electrolyte filled capillary immersed in said sample; measuring the pressure over said sample during the time said sample is exposed to said fluid pressure; integrating the pressure in said vial with respect to time to determine the volumetric flow of sample into said electrolyte filled capillary; and, relieving said substantially constant fluid pressure responsive to integration to inject a fixed quantity of sample into said capillary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention of claim 3 and wherein said mounting of said capillary to said body includes providing a cartridge having a serpentine path with two spaced apart exit paths protruding through the bottom of said cartridge; mounting said capillary to said serpentine path within said cartridge with each of the distal ends of said capillary protruding downwardly from said cartridge; sealing each said distal end with respect to said cartridge at said exit path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 4 and including registering a vial of electrolyte to the other distal end of said capillary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 5 and wherein said registered vial of electrolyte is maintained at the same elevation as said vial of sample to maintain equal hydrostatic pressure on said electrolyte filled capillary independent of said exposing of said sample to a substantially constant fluid pressure step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for injecting sample into a capillary, said capillary mounted to and protruding from the bottom of a body and sealed at the periphery of said capillary to the bottom of said body, said capillary filled with electrolyte, said apparatus comprising: a vial; liquid sample disposed within said vial and filling said vial to a predetermined level; means for sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said depending capillary with said depending capillary end disposed within and extending below the level of liquid sample in said vial; means for pressurizing said vial whereby flow of sample from said vial at said immersed end of said capillary occurs; means for integrating the pressure on said vial with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample into said immersed capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure means responsive to a determination of the volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for injecting sample into a capillary, said capillary mounted to and protruding from the bottom of a body and sealed at the periphery of said capillary to the bottom of said body, said capillary filled with electrolyte, said apparatus comprising: a vial; liquid sample disposed within said vial and filling said vial to a predetermined level; means for sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said body around said depending capillary with said depending capillary end disposed within and extending below the level of liquid sample in said vial; means for pressurizing said vial whereby flow of sample from said vial at said immersed end of said capillary occurs; means for integrating the pressure on said vial with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample into said immersed capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure means responsive to a determination of the volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 7 and including a second vial filled with electrolyte; means for immersing the opposite end of said capillary in said second vial.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 8 and including means for maintaining said vial of electrolyte at the same elevation as said vial of sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for injecting sample into a capillary filled with electrolyte including a cartridge having a bottom surface for receiving and holding said capillary; a serpentine path disposed within said cartridge; first and second spaced apart exits at opposite ends of said serpentine path extending through the bottom of said cartridge; a capillary threaded to said serpentine path in said cartridge with the distal ends thereof protruding downwardly from said cartridge at a preselected distance below said cartridge; electrolyte filling said capillary; means for sealing said cartridge around the periphery of said capillary at each exit to produce a seal between the bottom of said cartridge and the outside of said capillary; a vial for containing liquid sample disposed within said vial; means for sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said cartridge around said depending capillary at one of said exit paths with said capillary end disposable below said bottom and into said vial; means for pressurizing said vial; means for integrating the pressure on said vial with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample into said immersed capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure means responsive to the determination of volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for injecting sample into a capillary filled with electrolyte including a cartridge having a bottom surface for receiving and holding said capillary; a serpentine path disposed within said cartridge; first and second spaced apart exits at opposite ends of said serpentine path extending through the bottom of said cartridge; a capillary threaded to said serpentine path in said cartridge with the distal ends thereof protruding downwardly from said cartridge at a preselected distance below said cartridge; electrolyte filling said capillary; means for sealing said cartridge around the periphery of said capillary at each exit to produce a seal between the bottom of said cartridge and the outside of said capillary; a vial for containing liquid sample disposed within said vial; means for sealing said vial with respect to the bottom of said cartridge around said depending capillary at one of said exit paths with said capillary end disposable below said bottom and into said vial; means for pressurizing said vial; means for integrating the pressure on said vial with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample into said immersed capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure means responsive to the determination of volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for injecting sample from a vial closed and sealed by a septum into a capillary filled with electrolyte, said capillary mounted to a body having a bottom and sealed to said bottom at the periphery of said capillary, said apparatus comprising: a hypodermic, said hypodermic having an inside diameter exceeding the outside diameter of said capillary; said capillary disposed with respect to said hypodermic for protruding through said hypodemic; means for urging said hypodermic onto said septum for puncturing said septum with said hypodermic; means for threading said capillary through said hypodermic whereby said capillary can extend downwardly and into said vial; means for sealing said hypodermic with respect to the bottom of said body to produce a seal between the inside of said hypodermic and said vial through said hypodemic; means for pressurizing said hypodermic whereby pressure is communicated through said hypodermic to said vial for inducing flow of sample within said vial into said capillary; means for integrating the pressure on said hypodermic with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample within said vial into said capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure on said hypodermic responsive to determination of the volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for injecting sample from a vial closed and sealed by a septum into a capillary filled with electrolyte, said capillary mounted to a body having a bottom and sealed to said bottom at the periphery of said capillary, said apparatus comprising: a hypodermic, said hypodermic having an inside diameter exceeding the outside diameter of said capillary; said capillary disposed with respect to said hypodermic for protruding through said hypodemic; means for urging said hypodermic onto said septum for puncturing said septum with said hypodermic; means for threading said capillary through said hypodermic whereby said capillary can extend downwardly and into said vial; means for sealing said hypodermic with respect to the bottom of said body to produce a seal between the inside of said hypodermic and said vial through said hypodemic; means for pressurizing said hypodermic whereby pressure is communicated through said hypodermic to said vial for inducing flow of sample within said vial into said capillary; means for integrating the pressure on said hypodermic with respect to time to determine the pressure induced volumetric flow of sample within said vial into said capillary; and, means for releasing said pressure on said hypodermic responsive to determination of the volumetric flow by said integration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention of the claim 11 and wherein said hypodermic is mounted to a biased lever arm; said hypodermic protrudes from the bottom of said lever arm to and towards the septum of said vial; said lever arm having at the top thereof said means for sealing with respect to the bottom of said cartridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention of the claim 11 and wherein said sealing means includes means for defining a vertical conduit between the top of said lever arm at said hypodermic and the bottom of said body; said means defining a vertical conduit and including an intersecting conduit; said intersecting conduit including means for supplying fluid under substantially constant pressure and means for monitoring the pressure of said supplied fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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