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:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 08, 1996
Fritz Bek, Waldbronn, DE;
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for mixing liquids using electroosmotic flow. Multiple capillaries (100, 104, 106) or microchip channels meet at a common junction (102). One capillary (100) is used for mixed liquids and each of the remaining capillaries (104, 106) are used for supplying a liquid (112, 114) to be mixed. Each of the supply capillaries (104, 106) has a free end that is immersed into a vial (108, 110) of liquid (112, 114). A first power supply terminal (112) is attached to a free end of the mixed liquid capillary (100). The liquid in each vial has an electrode that is switchably connected to a second power supply terminal. Closing a switch (116, 118) causes liquid to flow from a vial through the common junction and through the mixed liquid capillary. Each switch is independent and each may be closed continuously, switched at a constant duty cycle, or switched at a variable duty cycle. As a result, continuous mixing or variable ratio mixing may be achieved.