Patent ID: 9683994
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: B01L,G01N

Claim:
1. A method of detecting an interaction between a first molecule and a second molecule in a microfluidic device having a microchannel, the microchannel having a first end, a reaction channel region operably connected between the first end and a junction, and a separation channel region operably connected between the junction and a second end, the method comprising: a) applying a differential pressure between the first end and the second end; b) intermittently injecting the first molecule with a first electrophoretic mobility into the reaction channel region, the first molecule having a label; c) intermittently injecting the second molecule with a second electrophoretic mobility into the reaction channel region, the intermittent injection of the second molecule partially and not completely overlapping the intermittent injection of the first molecule; d) from the application of the differential pressure, flowing the first molecule and the second molecule through the reaction channel region, through the junction, and into the separation channel region; e) applying a pulsed electric field through the separation channel region simultaneously with the application of the differential pressure, the simultaneous application of the differential pressure and the pulsed electric field being limited to the separation channel region without application of the pulsed electric field to the reaction channel region; f) from the simultaneous application of the differential pressure and the pulsed electric field in the separation channel region, flowing the first molecule and the second molecule through the separation channel region to separate the first molecule and the second molecule; and g) detecting a level of the label or a level of signal from the label in the separation channel region immediately adjacent the junction over a select time period to detect the interaction between the first molecule and the second molecule.