Universiteit Leiden

Heiko Jan Van Der Linden

Paul Vulto

Thomas Hankemeier

Sebastiaan Johannes Trietsch

Jan-Willem Schoonen

Adrianus Theodorus Joore

Adrianus Theodoras Joore

Apparatus for processing life-based organic particles, including particles selected from the list comprising cells, cellular spheroids, tissues, eukaryotes, micro-organisms, organs or embryos, comprises a hollow volume () that (a) is internally divided into at least first (), second () and third () sub-volumes by at least two phaseguides () formed inside the volume and (b) includes parts that are relatively upstream and relatively downstream when judged with reference to the movement of a meniscus or a bulk liquid in the volume (). The apparatus includes at least first, second and third fluid conduits () connected to permit fluid communication between the upstream exterior of the volume () and a respective said sub-volume (); and at least one further conduit () connected to permit fluid communication between the downstream exterior of the volume () and a said sub-volume. The first sub-volume () contains one or more life-based particles supported in or by a gel or gel-like substance; and the second sub-volume () communicates with the first sub-volume so as to permit transport of substances between the first and second sub-volumes () and contains at least one gel or gel-like substance.

Apparatuses for and methods of processing cells and related structures

Apparatus for processing liquids or liquid-based substances includes a plurality of volumes at least two of which are defined at least in part by one or more phaseguides inside the volume and/or in a conduit connected thereto for controlling aliquoting of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances inside the volume. Each volume has an upstream and downstream side with respect to meniscus advancement direction via which it may be filled with or emptied of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances. The apparatus also includes at least one common upstream-side conduit connected to supply a liquid or liquid-based substance via a plurality of the inlet or extraction conduits, a plurality of the phaseguides exhibiting a predetermined level of stability and one or more of the phaseguides exhibiting a predetermined different stability compared with the stability of at least one of the other phaseguides whereby to control the preference order in which the volumes fill and/or empty. The stability is determined by the value and radius of an acute angle along a said phaseguide at the downstream side of the phaseguide.

Apparatus for and methods of processing liquids or liquid-based substances

The present invention relates to a device and an arrangement for selective solvent evaporation from a liquid feed, the feed comprising one or more components diluted in at least a first solvent or a solvent blend, comprising: a) a first tubular vessel having a distal end or a channel suitable for the formation of a droplet of a first volume, at an inflow rate n, at the tip or in the lumen of the tubular vessel, and b) means for subjecting the droplet to a solvent removal step at an evaporation rate rto evaporate at least part of the first solvent or solvent blend, to accumulate the components in the feed in the droplet during the evaporation process at an accumulation rate r, to obtain a concentrated feed volume in a concentrated droplet, wherein the evaporation and/or inflow rates are continuously adjusted to achieve a desired accumulation rate. The invention further relates to a method for selective solvent removal from an analyte mixture obtained in a chromatographic separation process.

Growing community of inventors

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Heiko Jan Van Der Linden