Protasis Corporation

Waters Investments Limited

Washington State University

Waters Technologies Corporation

David M Strand

Dan M Leatzow

Joseph A Jarrell

Jonathan V Sweedler

David Anthony Barrow

Tim L Peck

Dean Olson

Jim Norcross

Ross Clark Willoughby

Edward William Sheehan

Joseph John Cefai

Cornelius F Ivory

Peter Myers

Tim Myers

Graham Sparey-Taylor

Devices are provided for separating and focusing charged analytes, comprising a separation chamber and two or more electrodes, for example, an electrode array. A membrane separates the separation chamber and the electrodes. The separation chamber of the device is configured, that is, the separation chamber has a shaped geometry, which serves to induce a gradient in an electric field generated by the electrodes in the electrode chamber. Optionally, molecular sieve is included in the separation chamber that is operative to shift the location at which a stationary focused band of a charged analyte forms under a given set of focusing process parameters. Methods are provided for separating and focusing charged analytes comprising introducing a first fluid comprising at least one charged analyte into the separation chamber of a device as just described, applying an electric field gradient to the charged analyte to focus the charged analyte in the electric field gradient.

Electrophoresis devices and methods for focusing charged analytes

Devices are provided for determining the isoelectric point of a charged analyte, comprising a titration chamber and an electrode chamber. The electrode chamber comprises at least two electrodes, for example, an electrode array. Either or both of the titration chamber and the electrode chamber may have a shaped geometry. The electrodes are operative, in conjunction with the shaped geometry of the chamber(s) where appropriate, to generate an electric field gradient in the titration chamber. Permeable material separates the titration chamber and the electrode chamber. A pH Sensor is located in the titration chamber for obtaining the pH of the first fluid. Certain preferred embodiments further include an analyte band detector for detecting the presence and optionally the location of a focused band of charged solute. Methods are provided for determining the isoelectric point of a charged analyte comprising introducing a carrier fluid comprising a Charge analyte into the titration chamber of a device as just described and applying an electric field gradient to focus the charged analyte into a focused band. The pH of the carrier fluid is incremented or adjusted to shift the location of the focused band of charged analyte, and the pH and location of the focused band of charged analyte are obtained for a plurality of locations and pH's and the isoelectric point is determined from such data.

Method and apparatus determining the isoelectric point of charged analyte

Novel fluid logic devices are disclosed. Certain examples of the fluid logic devices include two or more fluid logic gates that are each operative to select and/or direct analytes in a sample into one or more fluid flow channels in communication with the fluid logic gates. The fluid logic device can be part of a larger system, such as a chromatography system, or can be stand-alone device.

Fluid logic device

Fluid-handling methods and devices for ultrasonic manipulation of fluid-borne particles comprise a fluid-handling manifold and an ultrasonic particle manipulator defining an ultrasonic cavity within the manifold. Fluid-borne particles introduced into the manifold are manipulated by controlling ultrasonic standing waves at the ultrasonic cavity. Cavities having non-uniform configurations, asymmetric standing waves and/or multiple ultrasonic cavities within the manifold are operative to control the movement of the fluid-borne particles, optionally including collecting and holding such particles, transferring particles through an intersection from one channel to another, etc. Solid phase extraction (SPE) particles, biological particles and other fluid-borne particles can be manipulated within the fluid-handling manifold.

Method and device for ultrasonically manipulating particles within a fluid

Fluid processing apparatus comprises a fluid-handling manifold comprising a manifold body having at least a first fluid duct and a second fluid duct. The first and second fluid ducts are in fluid communication with each other at a microfluidic junction of the fluid-handling manifold. The manifold body further comprises a transducer operative to generate ultrasonic acoustic traveling wave radiation into fluid in the microfluidic junction from an active surface toward a non-reflective boundary of the microfluidic junction. The microfluidic junction is operative to pass fluid received from the first and second duct, with micro-mixing effected by the traveling wave radiated into the junction during the fluid flow.

Fluid-handling apparatus and methods

An NMR system comprises an NMR probe comprising multiple NMR detection sites. Each of the multiple NMR detection sites comprises a sample holding void and an associated NMR microcoil. The NMR system further comprises a controllable fluid router operative to direct fluid sample to the multiple NMR detection sites.

Microfluidic device with multiple microcoil NMR detectors enabling fluidic series communication

A fluid separation conduit cartridge that is operative to encrypt, decrypt, transmit and receive information is disclosed. The conduit cartridge encrypts information sent to an analytical system or an operating facility in communication with the conduit cartridge and can decrypt encrypted information received from an analytical system or an operating facility in communication with the conduit cartridge.

Fluid separation conduit cartridge with encryption capability

Microfluidic device with multiple microcoil NMR detectors and field gradient focusing

A LC column cartridge comprising a memory component integrally attached to it at the time of its manufacture, as well as a method for producing such a LC column cartridge with an integral memory component is disclosed. The memory component is a semiconductor memory chip. The amount of data stored will depend upon the memory capacity of the component, and how the data is recovered will depend on whether or not a microcontroller is incorporated in the component itself. Components could be read only or read/write or be partitioned with a read only area for manufacturing information and a read/write area for usage data. The information stored could vary from the minimal amount of data required to identify the column and its quality control test performance in text format to a full quality control trace and usage history.

Liquid separation column smart cartridge

An improved method and apparatus for performing Mass spectrometry, in particular, Liquid chromatography/Mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is disclosed. Controlled generation of individual charged droplets enables the subsequent steps of trapping, desolvation and concentration. Miniaturization is also enabled. In contrast, conventional means of forming Electrosprays are chaotic, generating large numbers of charged droplets simultaneously. Additional flows of gas are provided in a nebulization region to effectively remove undesired solvent vapor and concentrate desirable analyte containing droplets and/or analyte ions. A semipermeable structure is used to effectively separate associated gas flow streams. Ions are concentrated or trapped using electrodes which are bound in the nebulization region and are appropriately electrically biased so as to concentrate the ions on one side, or in the center, or in a ring of the laminar gas stream. Additionally, a valve may be used to interrupt the flow gas into a detector region.

Electrospray and other LC/MS interfaces

An improved electrospray (ES) apparatus has a low pressure ES chamber coupled to a desolvation chamber. The desolvation chamber desolvates the incoming analyte ions of the cone-jet with non-conductive energy. The apparatus stabilizes cone-jet formation in the ES chamber. The apparatus receives solvated ions without pressure reduction, produces desolvated ions with non-conductive energy in a low pressure region, and outputs the desolvated ions towards a mass spectrometer as a substantially solvent-free ion beam suitable for mass spectrometer analysis. The apparatus avoids the degree of pressure reduction featured in prior ES techniques.

Growing community of inventors

Sherborn, MA, United States of America

David M Strand