Method and apparatus for maintaining multiple planar fluid flows
US7314718B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01L2400/0487
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of performing analyses and assays involving multiple interactions of reagent-containing fluid flows with liquid and solid target substances. The methods of the invention allow the simultaneous manipulation of different fluids on a small planar surface. The invention also provides a flow cell and method of use thereof for analyzing fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interactions in a substantially planar system. The flow cell contains at least one chamber and a plurality of inlets thereto allowing the introduction of a plurality of fluids in fluidic contact. The cell depth is the smallest dimension of the flow cell, and is of a magnitude, from about 50 to about 1000 microns such that any mixing of adjacent fluids in the chamber is substantially limited to mixing by passive diffusion. Interactions between reagents in fluids and target substances maintained in the fluid cell, or interactions between diffusion-mixed reagents in adjacent fluids, may be analyzed by standard analysis methods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.