Technicon Instruments Corporation

Vito F Christiano

Michael M Cassaday

Bachalli Vasudeva

John L Smith

Apparatus and method are provided for the substantial separation on a continuous flow basis of immiscible liquids flowing as a common stream, with one of the liquids substantially encapsulating another of the liquids, in a flow conduit. The conduit comprises an inner surface which is selectively 'wettable' by one of the liquids to the substantial exclusion of another of the liquids; and the liquid separator apparatus are disposed in the conduit and operate to substantially separate the liquids, or at least a portion of one of the liquids, from the common liquids stream as that stream flows into contact with the separator apparatus in the conduit. Apparatus and method for the introduction of a liquid on a continuous flow basis into a flowing stream of another liquid which is immiscible therewith and is flowing in a flow conduit are also provided. The conduit again comprises an inner surface which is selectively 'wettable' by one of the liquids to the substantial exclusion of the other of the liquids; and the liquid introduction apparatus are disposed in the conduit and operate to form a common stream of the liquids for continued flow in the conduit, with one of the liquids being substantially encapsulated by another of the liquids, as the liquids are merged at the liquid introduction apparatus in the conduit.

Method for the separation and/or formation of immiscible liquid streams

Apparatus and method are provided for the substantial separation on a continuous flow basis of immisicible liquids flowing as a common stream, with one of said liquids substantially encapsulating another of said liquids, in a flow conduit. The conduit comprises an inner surface which is selectively 'wettable' by one of the liquids to the substantial exclusion of another of the liquids; and the liquid separator apparatus are disposed in the conduit and operate to substantially separate the liquids, or at least a portion of one of the liquids, from the common liquids stream as that stream flows into contact with the separator apparatus in the conduit. Apparatus and method for the introduction of a liquid on a continuous flow basis into a flowing stream of another liquid which is immisicible therewith and is flowing in a flow conduit are also provided. The conduit again comprises an inner surface which is selectively 'wettable' by one of the liquids to the substantial exclusion of the other of the liquids; and the liquid introduction apparatus are disposed in the conduit and operate to form a common stream of the liquids for continued flow in the conduit, with one of the liquids being substantially encapsulated by another of the liquids, as the liquids are merged at the liquid introduction apparatus in the conduit. A liquid processing system including the conduit is provided wherein the liquid introduction apparatus are utilized to form the common liquids stream with one of the liquids being substantially encapsulated within the other of the liquids at a first location in the system; and the liquid separator apparatus are utilized to substantially separate the liquids, or at least a portion of one of the liquids, from the common liquids stream at a second location in the system which is downstream of the first location. As representatively configured in the herein disclosed preferred embodiments, the apparatus and method are applied to automated continuous flow sample liquid analysis systems wherein one of the liquids is an aqueous sample liquid, and the other of the liquids is an isolation liquid which selectively 'wets' the hydrophobic inner surface of the flow conduit to the substantial exclusion of the aqueous sample liquids, and which functions to substantially encapsulate the aqueous sample liquids in the common liquids stream; and, for such application, the apparatus and method provide for significant increase in the accuracy of the sample liquid analysis results.

Apparatus and method for the separation and/or formation of immicible

The integral reagent dispenser disclosed comprises a reagent dispenser component provided with a reagent dispenser well having an opening adapted to present a liquid reagent for withdrawal therethrough and means to position a lens of liquid immiscible with said reagent between the reagent and the opening of said well. For example, the dispenser can have suitable dimensions and an inner surface which combine with the wetting characteristics of the reagent to form a concave reagent meniscus suitable to reliably position a lens of immiscible liquid thereon. The lens so formed is centrally located by the concave shape of the meniscus. Preferably, the reagent dispenser further includes an integrally associated source of reagent.

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Somers, NY, United States of America

Vito F Christiano