Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Arthur Schleifer

Carol T Schembri

Michael P Caren

Phillip W Barth

Andreas N Dorsel

Kenneth Lawrence Staton

William H McAllister

Steven Michael Fischer

Hongfeng Yin

Joel Myerson

Curt Alan Flory

Bo U Curry

Kevin P Killeen

Douglas A Amorese

SueAnn C Dahm

Gershon Perelman

Reid Alyn Brennen

Carl A Myerholtz

Michel G M Perbost

Jian Bai

Leslie Anne Leonard

James Alexander Apffel, Jr

Rolfe C Anderson

May Tom-Moy

Randall Scott Urdahl

Nigel P Gore

David Dutton

Charles Z Hotz

Viorica Lopez-Avila

Paige Anderson

Jean L Truche

Magdalena Anna Ostrowski

Laurakay Bruhn

Karen L Seward

Carl A Meyerholtz

One or more liquids are transferred from a source array to one or more remotely positioned destination sites such as chambers by utilizing one or more movable transfer elements, such as contact pins or capillaries. The source array may include a predetermined organization of addresses at which materials are positioned. One or more materials may be selected for transfer. Based on the selection, one or more addresses may be accessed by the transfer element(s). The addresses may correspond to spots on a surface of the source array. Each spot may be a feature containing one or more (bio)chemical compounds. At the chamber(s), the material(s) may be processed, such by reaction with one or more reagents. The reaction(s) may entail synthesis of one or more desired products. Alternatively, reaction(s) may be performed at the source array, and the product(s) then transferred to the chamber(s).

Systems and methods for transferring liquids

A droplet-based microfluidic device having a first confining plate, a second confining plate, and an actuator. Each confining plate includes a respective substrate and hydrophobic layer having a planar major surface. The first confining plate additionally includes a common electrode between its hydrophobic layer and substrate. The second confining plate includes an electrode array between its hydrophobic layer and substrate. The confining plates are disposed opposite one another with their major surfaces separated from one another by a gap. The actuator is to impart oscillatory sliding motion between the confining plates in a direction principally parallel to the major surfaces. The oscillatory sliding motion effectively allows voltages applied between the common electrode and the electrodes of the electrode array to move a microfluidic droplet located in the gap across the major surfaces without sticking.

Droplet actuation enhancement using oscillatory sliding motion between substrates in microfluidic devices

A sample sprayer includes a first conduit for conducting a liquid sample, a second conduit surrounding the first conduit to define an annular passage for conducting a gas, a sprayer tip in which a fluid interaction region receives the liquid sample and the gas. The sprayer tip is configured to produce a sample spray by contact between the liquid sample and the gas in the fluid interaction region and emit the sample spray from the orifice. An adjustable positioning device is configured to translate the first conduit along the longitudinal axis in response to adjustment of the positioning device, wherein an axial position of the first conduit is adjustable relative to the orifice.

Sample sprayer with adjustable conduit and related methods

A sample droplet generator transforms a segmented array of sample material into a continuous stream of droplets containing analytes. The droplets may serve as a sample source for a wide range of detectors and analytical instruments. As one example, the droplets may be introduced into an ion source of a spectrometer that measures ions produced from the droplets or photons emitted from the droplets.

Sample droplet generation from segmented fluid flow and related devices and methods

An apparatus for changing relative concentrations of first and second analyte substances in an analyte sample comprises a sample cell defining a sample chamber therewithin, and a semipermeable boundary member disposed in the sample chamber to define first and second sides of the sample chamber. Sample flow input and sample flow output ducts direct an analyte sample containing respective initial concentrations of the first and second analyte substances into the first side of the sample chamber. The semipermeable boundary member permits diffusion therethrough of the first and second analyte substances to the second side of the sample chamber at different rates. An analyte sample in the second side of the sample chamber, and an analyte sample exiting the first side via the sample flow output duct, have respective concentrations of the first and second analyte substances that are different from the initial concentrations.

Method and apparatus for changing relative concentrations of gases present within a gaseous sample for mass spectrometry

An aerosol is produced by flowing a liquid sample through a gas-assisted nebulizer. The liquid exits from an outlet into a coaxial flow of gas. The outlet includes a sharp edge that inhibits or prevents accumulation of precipitates from the liquid, thereby reducing or eliminating clogging, which is particularly useful for a samples containing high concentrations of dissolved particles. The aerosol may be introduced into a plasma such that molecules are broken into atoms. The atomization may be followed by an analysis such as by optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry.

Sample atomization with reduced clogging for analytical instruments

The present invention includes a heat sealable capsule adapted for use in analysis devices such as GCs, and methods for using the capsules to perform analysis in such devices. The capsules include a tube having an end that is heat-sealed to contain a sample that is to be analyzed at an injection temperature. The tube includes a heat sealable medium having a heat seal that closes the end, the tube having an inner and outer surface, both of the surfaces being substantially chemically inert with respect to the sample. The tube is substantially free of any material that outgases at the injection temperature. The tube is openable without breaking into pieces, and remains intact at the injection temperature. The capsule can include a programmable tag that stores information related to the sample contained therein.

Capsule injection system for gas chromatography

Assay chambers that include a form-in-place gasket between a substrate and a cover, and methods of forming such assay chambers, are described. The assay chambers may further be associated with an analysis site for analyzing a sample solution contained within the assay chamber.

Form in place gaskets for assays

A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed.

Method and an ion source for obtaining ions of an analyte

Aspects of the invention include sample ionizing devices and methods of use thereof. Embodiments of the sample ionizing devices include a microplasma generation source with a plasma generation region, a sample input port for delivering a sample to the plasma generation region, and a gas flow element configured to flow gas through the microplasma generation source independently of the sample input port. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of different applications, including analyte detection applications.

Microplasma-based sample ionizing device and methods of use thereof

A method of testing multiple fluid samples with multiple biopolymer arrays. A cover is assembled to a contiguous substrate carrying on a first side, multiple arrays each with multiple regions of biopolymers linked to the substrate, such that the cover and the substrate together form a plurality of chambers each containing a biopolymer array and each being accessible through its own port. Multiple fluid samples are introduced into respective chambers through a port of each such that the fluid samples contact respective arrays. A binding pattern of the arrays is observed. An apparatus and kit useful in such methods, are also provided.

Method of testing multiple fluid samples with multiple biopolymer arrays

A multiple array substrate having multiple assay chambers, each assay chamber containing one or more arrays. The assay chambers include a form-in-place gasket between a substrate and a cover. Methods of forming such multiple array substrates are described. The assay chambers may further be associated with an analysis site for analyzing a sample solution contained within the assay chamber. Each assay chamber is in fluid communication with a port, and the ports are positioned in a spatial format adapted to interface to standard laboratory equipment for handling multiple fluids in parallel.

Multiple array format

Methods and sub-systems for substantially optimizing the absorbance measurement in optical instruments are provided. A method comprises forming a liquid sample into a droplet extending between two opposing surfaces, passing a light beam through the sample, and varying the distance between the two opposing surfaces until a distance substantially corresponding to a optimum absorbance is obtained.

Methods and systems for selecting pathlength in absorbance measurements

A fluid containment structure that includes a substrate with a gasket surface and a form-in-place gasket disposed on the gasket surface and a method for forming the fluid containment structure are described. The form-in-place gasket is disposed around and marks the perimeter of an interior area on the substrate. The interior area and the form-in-place gasket define a well that is adapted for retaining a fluid. The fluid containment structure may be associated with or form a portion of an analysis site where a sample fluid retained in the fluid containment structure may be analyzed.

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Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Arthur Schleifer