Method and device for the selective withdrawal of components from complex mixtures

US6849461B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Evotec OAI AG · DE

Inventors

• Manfred Eigen · Göttingen, DE
• Rudolf Rigler · Djursholm, SE
• Karsten Henco · Erkrath, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 1995
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2005
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/2575
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The method according to the invention permits a selected withdrawal of one or a few molecularly disperse or cellular components of a system, such as molecules, molecular complexes, vesicles, micelles, cells, optionally together with an associated volume element V having a size of 10−9 l≧V≧10−18 l from a larger sample volume. The selected transfer of the sought component to another environment is effected by defining the space and time of withdrawal by means of a signal correlating with the small component to be withdrawn. The method is particularly useful for the withdrawal of non-abundant components the existence of which can be detected in a preceding step by a scanning process. The method is also useful for the withdrawal of per se unidentified components.