EP0356160A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capillary device
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1989-08-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A cross or T-shaped device (10) for use in capillary electrophoresis or capillary chromatography. The device includes a first capillary tube (12, 14) and a second capillary tube (16) connected to the first tube at a point between the two ends of the first tube so that the contents flowing in the second tube will mix with a fluid flowing in the first tube. The two tubes enclose spaces with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns. The two tubes are connected so that there is substantially no dead space at the connection (20). The device is made by boring a hole at a selected location in the first tube, introducing an elongate guide member (50) into the hole, threading the member into the second tube until the second tube contacts the first tube. The second tube is then permanently connected to the first tube and the guide member is then removed to form a T-shaped device. To form the cross-shaped device, a second hole is drilled at a location opposite to the first hole and a guide member is introduced into the second hole as well. A third tube (18) is threaded onto the guide member on the opposite side of the second tube until it contacts the first tube. The third tube is also permanently connected to the first tube and the guide member is removed to yield a device with a cross-shaped configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard N. Zare
- 👤 Xiaohua Huang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/60; G01N30/6034; G01N30/6039; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44704; G01N27/44717; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44773; G01N30/04; G01N30/16; G01N2030/022; G01N2030/027; G01N2030/162; G01N30/26; G01N30/28; G01N2030/285; G01N30/84; G01N2030/8429; G01N2030/8435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A device (10) for use in capillary electrophoresis or capillary chromatography, said device comprising; a first capillary tube (12, 14) enclosing a first space with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns, preferably from 5 to 200 microns; and a second capillary tube (16) enclosing a second space with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns, preferably from 5 to 200 microns; said second tube being connected to the first tube so that when a first fluid (26) is flowing in the first tube, a second fluid (42) flowing in the second tube will mix with the fluid in the first tube, wherein the two tubes are connected so that there is substantially no dead space at the connection (20).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A device (10) for use in capillary electrophoresis or capillary chromatography, said device comprising; a first capillary tube (12, 14) enclosing a first space with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns, preferably from 5 to 200 microns; and a second capillary tube (16) enclosing a second space with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns, preferably from 5 to 200 microns; said second tube being connected to the first tube so that when a first fluid (26) is flowing in the first tube, a second fluid (42) flowing in the second tube will mix with the fluid in the first tube, wherein the two tubes are connected so that there is substantially no dead space at the connection (20).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the first and second tubes is formed by making a hole in the first tube and attaching the second tube to the first tube at the hole with the aid of a guiding element (50).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, wherein said first fluid includes a plurality of constituents which move at different speeds in an electric field, said device further comprises means for applying an electric field to the first space for causing the first fluid to flow in the first tube along a direction and to separate into its constituents along the tube, wherein the second fluid introduced into the second tube will be mixed with a particular constituent which passes the connection at the time when the second fluid reaches the connection.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first and second tubes are made of an electrically insulating material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
117 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the space enclosed by both the first and second tubes at the connection is the connection space, said device further comprising a third tube (18) enclosing a third space with cross-sectional dimensions less than about 200 microns, preferably from 5 to 200 microns, said third tube being connected to the first tube at the connection so that the second fluid introduced into the second tube flowing towards the connection will enter the connection space and exit through the third space so that only a fraction of the second fluid will enter and be mixed with the first fluid flowing in the first tube.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a device (10) suitable for use in electrophoresis or capillary chromatography, said device comprising a first capillary tube (12, 14) and a second capillary tube (16), said second tube being connected to the first tube so that when a first fluid is flowing in the first tube, a second fluid flowing in the second tube will mix with the fluid in the first tube, wherein the two tubes are connected so that there is substantially no dead space at the connection (20), said method comprising: boring a hole at a selected location into the first tube; introducing an elongate guide member (50) into the hole; threading the member into the second tube until the second tube is in contact with the first tube; permanently connecting the second tube to the first tube; and removing the member from the two tubes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a device (10) suitable for use in electrophoresis or capillary chromatography, said device comprising a first capillary tube (12, 14) and a second capillary tube (16), said second tube being connected to the first tube so that when a first fluid is flowing in the first tube, a second fluid flowing in the second tube will mix with the fluid in the first tube, wherein the two tubes are connected so that there is substantially no dead space at the connection (20), said method comprising: boring a hole at a selected location into the first tube; introducing an elongate guide member (50) into the hole; threading the member into the second tube until the second tube is in contact with the first tube; permanently connecting the second tube to the first tube; and removing the member from the two tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the step of permanently connecting the first and second tubes comprises: masking the member with a masking agent; applying an adhesive to permanently connect the second tube to the first tube; and wherein said removing step includes: heating the connection between the two tubes to melt the masking agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the step of permanently connecting the first and second tubes comprises heating portions of the first and second tubes at the connection until at least some of such portions melt to permanently connect the two tubes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a third tube (18) is connected to the first and second tubes to form a cross-shaped device, said method further comprising: boring a second hole into the first tube at a location substantially opposite to the first hole; introducing the member through the second hole; moving the third tube relative to the member and the first tube so that the member is threaded into the third tube and the third tube contacts the first tube and forms a cross-shaped configuration with the first and second tubes; permanently connecting the third tube to the first tube; and removing the member from the third tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the steps of permanently connecting the first and second tubes and connecting the first and third tubes comprise: masking the member with a masking agent; applying an adhesive to permanently connect the second and third tubes to the first tube; and wherein said step of removing the member from the third tube includes: heating the connection between the first and third tubes to melt the masking agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the steps of permanently connecting the first and second tubes and the first and third tubes comprise heating portions of the three tubes at the connection until at least some of such portions melt to permanently connect the three tubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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