Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to improved methods, structures and systems for interfacing microfluidic devices with ancillary systems that are used in conjunction with such devices. These systems typically include control and monitoring systems for controlling the performance of the processes carried out within the device, e.g., controlling internal fluid transport and direction, monitoring and controlling environmental conditions and monitoring results of the processes performed, e.g., detection.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus includes an optical cell having an outlet for fluid and filled with a buffer solution, and a plurality of electrophoresis lanes, each including a separation medium, which separate samples labeled with fluorophores, one end of each of the electrophoresis lanes being disposed in the optical cell to enable the separated samples labeled with the fluorophores to migrate from the electrophoresis lanes into the buffer solution in the optical cell. There is also provided a vessel containing a buffer solution, the vessel being disposed so that a level of the buffer solution in the vessel is higher than the ends of the electrophoresis lanes disposed in the optical cell, a passage connecting the vessel with the optical cell, a light source which emits light which excites the fluorophores to emit fluorescence, and a photodetector which detects the fluorescence emitted by the fluorophores.

Abstract: A multilayered microfluidic device having a substantially monolithic structure is formed by sintering together a plurality of green-sheet layers. The substantially monolithic structure has an inlet port for receiving fluid, an outlet port for releasing fluid, and an interconnection between the inlet port and the outlet port. The substantially monolithic structure may also include a variety of components to enable useful interaction with the fluid, such as electrically conductive pathways, heaters, fluid sensors, fluid motion transducers, and optically transmissive portions. The components are preferably fabricated using thick-film or green-sheet technology and are preferably co-fired with and sintered to the green-sheet layers to become integral with the substantially monolithic structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous flow apparatus and method for purifying charged substances from solutions or suspensions by isoelectric focusing on an industrial scale. The apparatus comprises a separating chamber, a pair of vertical electrodes (9) located at the extremes of the apparatus, an anion- or a cation-selective membrane (10) located near each of the electrodes (9) for separating electrode spaces from a central part of the apparatus, one or more outflow ports (12) for separating liquid fractions at the upper part of the chamber, two secondary outflow ports (11) being provided in the upper part of each of the electrode spaces, one or more vertical wall(s) (6) between each of said outflow ports partitioning the chamber at least at the height of said outflow ports (11,12), and a plurality of vertical permeable partition walls (13) to enable a convection-free upward flow.

Abstract: Capillary columns (102) pass through and are inserted in a rubber plate (14), held and fixed by elastic force of rubber, and two-dimensionally arranged on a sample injection side. It fixes the capillary columns (102) arranged on a plane in close contact by holding the same with a holder plate (6a) from below and with a rubber plate (16) from above on a detection side. In order to press the capillary columns (102) against the holder plate 6a and fix the same with the rubber plate (16), a holder plate (6b) fixing the rubber plate (16) to the holder plate (6a) on both sides of the arrangement of the capillary columns (102) is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemically modifying the retention of a species on a chromatography material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing having an effluent flow channel adapted to permit fluid flow therethrough. The effluent flow channel comprises chromatography material. The apparatus further comprises first and second electrodes positioned such that at least a portion of the chromatography material is disposed between the first and second electrodes, and fluid flow through the apparatus is between, and in contact with, the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement is disclosed for protecting an electrophoresis gel from damage during shipment and storage. The package arrangement includes first and second sheets that are sealed about their respective edges to form an enclosed cavity. The cavity is at least partially evacuated of air. An electrophoresis gel is located within the cavity. A support sheet may be disposed between the electrophoresis gel and the package to facilitate removal of the gel and to further stiffen the package. In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of electrophoresis gels are disposed within the cavity. Each gel is preferably separated from adjacent gels by a spacer. In another embodiment of the invention, the gel is disposed within a tray which, in turn, is located within the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention provides capillary an electrophoresis system and method for multiple simultaneous analysis of a sample. The system and method of the invention allow the ends of a plurality of capillaries to simultaneously contact a single body of electrophoresis sample contained in a compartment of a container, such as a sample contained in a well of a micro-titer tray.

Abstract: The present invention provides for techniques for transporting materials using electrokinetic forces through the channels of a microfluidic system. The subject materials are transported in regions of high ionic concentration, next to spacer material regions of high ionic concentration, which are separated by spacer material regions of low ionic concentration. Such arrangements allow the materials to remain localized for the transport transit time to avoid mixing of the materials. Using these techniques, an electropipettor which is compatible with the microfluidic system is created so that materials can be easily introduced into the microfluidic system. The present invention also compensates for electrophoretic bias as materials are transported through the channels of the microfluidic system by splitting a channel into portions with positive and negative surface charges and a third electrode between the two portions, or by diffusion of the electrophoresing materials after transport along a channel.

Abstract: Novel apparatuses and methods for depositing or placing substances on substrates or plates are described. The invention relates to automated and semiautomated apparatuses and methods for controlled volume and precise placement of substances on substrates. Combinations of applicator tips, applicator tip assemblies, applicator reservoirs, applicator holders and movable racks precisely and accurately place samples and testing chemicals on substrates. Applicator tips particularly useful for dunk transfer and deposit processes and for carrying substances are disclosed. Apparatuses for precisely moving applicator holders, applicator reservoirs and tips are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses also have features for pre-loading substances on applicators and applicator reservoirs and precisely delivering the preloaded substances to substrates.

Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for carrying out a first dimension electrophoresis separation of proteins and other macromolecules includes a supply magazine, an automated transferring device and an electrophoresis tank. The supply magazine includes a carousel for storing sample containers, a bar code reader, a holding device and an arm for transferring the sample container from the carousel to the bar code reader and the holding device. The transferring device includes a reciprocating pipette that is able to remove a sample from a sample container and deliver the sample to a selected gel tube in the electrophoresis tank. The tank includes a rack supporting a plurality of gel tubes and includes a chamber for containing a buffer solution in contact with one end of the gel tubes. The chamber includes a top wall with an opening having a guide surface for guiding the pipette through the chamber to the top end of the gel tubes.

Abstract: The electrophoresis apparatus includes plural capillaries for separating fluorephore-labeled samples by electrophoresis, fluorescence detecting parts provided in a part of these capillaries arranged in the same place for detecting a fluorescence emitted by fluorephore labels when a part of the plural capillaries is scanned and irradiated by a laser beam, and a fluorescence detection system for detecting this fluorescence. The fluorescence detecting parts are scanned and repeatedly irradiated by the laser bean where a scanning period of the fluorescence detecting parts by the laser bean is t1, and the fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence detecting system where an acquisition time of fluorescence signal is t2 (t1≦t2). The laser bean from a laser source is narrowly converged by a light collecting lens, and a galvanomirror is rotated in a rotation directional of the galvanomirror around the rotation axis of the galvanomirror so as to repeatedly scan the fluorescence detecting parts.

Abstract: A parallel capillary electrophoresis system for separating and analyzing the components of multiple chemical samples. The system comprises a bundle of capillary tubes arrayed to have at least portions of the tubes extending generally parallel to one another, a light source for emitting light to pass through the capillary tubes, and a photodetector comprising a linear array of photodetector elements for receiving light passing through the capillary tubes. The improvement involves mounting the photodetector for rotation whereby the angular position of the linear array of photodetector elements can be adjusted to an optimal position for analyzing the light passing through the capillary tubes.

Abstract: An alignment plate is provided with a plurality of holes for guiding a pipette tip toward a sample plate of a MALDI mass spectrometer. Each of the holes is provided with a conical upper contour in order to guide the pipette tip toward a specific location on the sample plate. Two companion alignment plates are used in order to overlay two separate arrays of samples on the sample plate. For instance, a first of two alignment plates is formed with a 10×10 array of holes so that a 10×10 array of samples is deposited by the pipette tip onto the sample plate. The second of the two alignment plates is formed with a 9×9 array of holes so that a 9×9 array of samples is deposited on the sample plate at locations offset from the 10×10 array of samples already on the sample plate. The number of samples loaded on the sample plate is large and the space on the sample plate is more fully utilized.

Abstract: This invention is an integrated instrument for the high-capacity electrophoretic analysis of biopolymer samples. It comprises a specialized high-voltage, electrophoretic module in which the migration lanes are formed between a bottom plate and a plurality of etched grooves in a top plate, the module permitting concurrent separation of 80 or more separate samples. In thermal contact with the bottom plate is a thermal control module incorporating a plurality of Peltier heat transfer devices for the control of temperature and gradients in the electrophoretic medium. Fragments are detected by a transmission imaging spectrograph which simultaneously spatially focuses and spectrally resolves the detection region of all the migration lanes. The spectrograph comprises a transmission dispersion element and a CCD array to detect signals. Signal analysis comprises the steps of noise filtering, comparison in a configuration space with signal prototypes, and selection of the best prototype.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing adsorption in microscale devices are provided. In the methods and apparatus, an electrical current such as an alternating current is applied to materials under pressure-induced flow. Integrated systems for simultaneous control of current and pressure in a channel are also provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic fluid delivery system includes a microfluidic chip having a fluid input. A fluid reservoir is coupled to the fluid input. A gas delivery system has a gas pressure source and a variable amplitude function generator generating an alternating signal. A valve is coupled to the function generator and the gas pressure source. The valve controls the gas pressure pulse in response to said alternating signal. The gas pressure pulse displaces fluid from the fluid reservoir into the fluid input.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of electrophoretically separating macromolecular species, as well as compositions and systems useful in carrying out such methods. Specifically, the methods of the present invention comprise providing a substrate that has at least a first capillary channel disposed therein. The surface of the channel has a first surface charge associated therewith, and is filled with a water soluble surface adsorbing polymer solution that bears a net charge that is the same as the charge on the capillary surface.

Abstract: The filling of an internally coated capillary with a gel in its polymerized state without damaging the gel. The coating prevents bonding of the gel to the inside of the capillary, The gel comprises up to 6% acrylamide and 0-5% crosslinker. The gel can be advantageously and conveniently used in automated electrophoresis systems for automatic replacement of spent gel.