459 results about "Dead volume" patented technology

A pneumatic valve for use in laminated plastic microfluidic structures. This zero or low dead volume valve allows flow through microfluidic channels for use in mixing, dilution, particulate suspension and other techniques necessary for flow control in analytical devices.

Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules.

This invention describes a multi-stage pre-concentrator device for use with a detector system. One pre-concentrator stage is detachable and may be used to collect sample remotely from the detection system. The detachable pre-concentrator stage mates with the detector system and can transfer its desorbed sample to another pre-concentrator stage which also incorporates the functions of a sample loop serving as an injection volume to the separation column of an analytical instrument. In one embodiment the fixed pre-concentrator stage serves as a sample loop that preferably integrates suitable valves with sorbent materials onto the same structure to minimise dead volume, maximise sensitivity, improving column loading efficiency, reducing duty cycles and minimising detection system response time.

Microfluidic systems including a principal microfluidic conduit (24), an adjacent dead volume (1) and a drain conduit (70) which mitigates the adverse effects of the dead volume on the operation of the system.

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device is described. A substrate having at least one device thereon is provided, wherein the device includes at least one channel. Next, a region beside the channel is heated, and then the substrate is pulled to neck the region such that at least one capillary connecting with the channel is formed. The present invention also provides a microfluidic device including a substrate and at least one capillary. In particular, the substrate has at least one device thereon, and the device has at least one channel. The capillary is connected with the channel, wherein the substrate and the capillary are a unity structure such that the interface between the capillary and the channel is dead-volume free.

An integrated cantilever sensor array system that accurately detects and measures the presence of target substances in various environmental conditions. The integrated cantilever sensor array system comprises a cantilever sensor measurement head, a cantilever sensor system for measuring the oscillatory properties of the cantilevers and a measurement chamber. The measurement head includes a cantilever array having at least one cantilever, a light source and a detector positioned to detect incoming light reflected by the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The cantilever sensor system measures the oscillatory properties generated by the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The system includes the cantilever array and a detection system that measures a signal related to the bending of the cantilever. In addition, optional components such as a high frequency clock, Q-Control, may be added to more accurately measure the oscillation of the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The measurement chamber includes a flow cell, a cantilever sensor array mounted within the flow cell. The flow cell is designed to minimize dead volume and unwanted air bubbles within the cell, which may reduce accuracy of measurement.

Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules.

In a method and device for reducing the carbon dioxide content in a dead volume intended for connection to the respiratory system of a patient, and an anesthesia apparatus embodying such a device, a flow of gas is generated from an outlet associated with the dead volume and the gas is conducted through a carbon dioxide absorber, and the gas after passing through the carbon dioxide absorber is returned to an inlet associated with the dead volume.

The invention provides extraction columns for the purification of an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein or nucleic acid) from a sample solution, as well as methods for making and using such columns. The invention is characterized by the use of low dead volume columns, which is achieved in part by the use of low pore volume frits (e.g., membrane screens) to contain a bed of extraction media in the column. Low dead volume facilitates the elution of the captured analyte into a very small volume of desorption solution, allowing for the preparation of low volume samples containing relatively high concentrations of analyte.

Improved fluid reservoir designs providing for little or no dead volume or un-swept volume while providing efficient heat exchange are disclosed. Representative fluid reservoirs can have a serpentine flow passage with a cross-section selected such that fluid flow sweeps the entire cross-sectional volume while reducing or eliminating dead volume. The cross-sectional shape of the flow passage can be selected to have a larger surface contact with the cooling environment relative to circular cross-sections. The fluid reservoirs can be molded from two sheets of polymer material that are joined to form the fluid reservoir. Alternatively, the fluid reservoir can be formed from flexible polymer materials that are bonded along seams to demarcate a flow channel. Fluid reservoirs can be located either upstream or downstream of a filtering system to provide chilled filtered liquid. Fluid reservoirs can be associated with an appliance, such as a refrigerator. Methods of fabricating the fluid reservoirs are also disclosed.

A convenient and efficient method for heating or cooling the mobile phase fluid of a chromatographic system prior to its entry into the chromatographic column is described. The “preheating” or “precooling” process is carried out using an apparatus containing a short length of tubing where the mobile phase is heated or cooled. The heating or cooling is performed using a heating or cooling element that is in intimate thermal contact with the exterior of the tubing. The temperature change of the mobile phase is measured downstream by a non-invasive, low-mass sensing element on the exterior of the tubing. With a low mass heating or cooling element, the device can be very responsive and allows for rapid equilibration and convenient temperature programming of the mobile phase. This configuration also requires only a short mobile phase contact time, is non-invasive, adds no dead volume, and allows for use of columns over a wide range of internal diameter, flow rates and temperatures.

This disclosure relates to mass flow verification systems for and methods of measuring and verifying the mass flow through a mass flow measurement device such as a mass flow controller. A mass flow verification system comprises a preset volume, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. The measured verified flow determined by the mass flow verification system can be adjusted to compensate for errors resulting from a dead volume within the mass flow measurement device.

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device is described. A substrate having at least one device thereon is provided, wherein the device includes at least one channel. Next, a region beside the channel is heated, and then the substrate is pulled to neck the region such that at least one capillary connecting with the channel is formed. The present invention also provides a microfluidic device including a substrate and at least one capillary. In particular, the substrate has at least one device thereon, and the device has at least one channel. The capillary is connected with the channel, wherein the substrate and the capillary are a unity structure such that the interface between the capillary and the channel is dead-volume free.

The static mixer comprising mixing elements for separating the material to be mixed into a plurality of streams and a mechanism for the layered junction of the same, a transversal edge and guide walls that extend at an angle to said transversal edge, as well as deflecting elements arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis and provided with openings, includes mixing elements comprising a transversal edge and a following transversal guide wall and at least two guide walls with lateral end sections and at least one bottom section disposed between said guide walls, thereby defining at least one opening on one side of said transversal edge and at least two openings on the other side of said transversal edge. In addition to a high mixing efficiency and a low pressure drop, a mixer of this kind provides reduced dead volumes and is thus more effective than mixers of the prior art.

A negative dead volume syringe comprising a body defining a chamber, a syringe tip disposed at a distal end of the chamber and having a tip passageway therethrough in open communication with the chamber, a rod extending from a first end within the chamber to a second end coupleable to a motor to produce bidirectional motion of the rod, and a plunger tip having a proximal portion coupled to the first end of the rod, a medial portion distally extending from said proximal portion and shaped to complement the tip passageway, and a tip extension distally extending from said medial portion and shaped to be received within a dead volume defined by a passageway of a valve coupleable to the syringe tip wherein the plunger tip ensures evacuation of fluid and air from the chamber, syringe tip, and dead volume of the valve upon distal displacement of the rod.

A rotary valve is designed to include a stator with multiple pairs of ports for connection to flow-through components and a rotor with elongated recesses that form flow channels with minimal dead volume and that permit a reversal of flow direction through any component by rotation of the valve through a very small angle.

The invention provides a method for measuring the capillary pressure and wettability of a rock core, which comprises the following steps of: cleaning a rock specimen, drying, evacuating and saturating a first fluid; putting the saturated rock core into a rock core clamp holder of rock core displacement equipment, setting the experience temperature, saturating the dead volume of pipe lines at upstream and downstream ends of the rock core completely, and simultaneously, setting the pressure to maintain that the first fluid is injected under constant pressure; when the differential pressure of the upstream and downstream and the flow of the outlet end of the rock core are stabilized, injecting a second fluid under the condition of the same injection pressure; after the second fluid flows into the end face of the inlet end of the rock core, shutting a valve at the downstream end of the rock core, and recording the variation of the pressure and differential pressure of the upstream and the downstream ends of the rock core; and judging the capillary pressure and wettability of the rock core according to the pressure or differential pressure of the upstream and the downstream ends of the rock core. In the method, the capillary pressure and wettability of the rock core can be measured simultaneously under the condition of formation temperature and pressure, so the method has a simple process and is easy, quick and accurate to operate.