The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 1991
Filed:
Jul. 14, 1987
Michael M Cassaday, Valhalla, NY (US);
Vito F Christiano, Somers, NY (US);
Bachalli Vasudeva, Princeton Junction, NJ (US);
Technicon Instruments Corporation, Tarrytown, NY (US);
Abstract
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.