Apparatus and method for handling fluids at nano-scale rates

US8021130B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AB Sciex LLC · US

Inventors

• Gregory A. Votaw · Durham, US
• Charles A. Buckner, III · Chapel Hill, US
• Daniel M. Hartmann · Arlington, US
• William Karsh · Plainsboro, US
• Frank Anthony Montefusco · Durham, US
• Joshua Tanner Nevill · Corona, US
• Mehul N. Patel · Ambler, US
• David W. Wyrick · Livermore, US
• Hugh Charles Crenshaw · Durham, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 10, 2006
• Grant date: Sep 20, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 12, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2035/00158
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus and Method for Handling Fluids at Nano-Scale Rates. A linear displacement pump produces non-pulsatile liquid flow rates as low as the nl/mm range. The pump includes a servo motor, a gear reduction, a lead screw, a linear stage, a barrel, and a plunger extending into the barrel and coupled to the stage. A microfluidic interconnect device can be coupled to the barrel. One or more of these pumps can be disposed in a thermally controlled pump assembly that includes a pump housing, a thermally conductive body disposed in the housing and including first and second opposing sides, and a temperature regulating element such as a thermoelectric device disposed in thermal contact with the thermally conductive body on a side thereof opposite to the barrel or barrels of the pumps.