Patent ID: 8518346
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: B01J,B01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for performing multidimensional sequential chemical separations comprising: at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform wherein one or more of said at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform includes a plurality of holes therein having a standard geometry and size suitable for receiving fasteners for attaching components to said one or more of said at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform and at least one adjustable spacer configured to elevate one or more of the components above a surface of said one or more of said at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform; a plurality of interconnected Modular Microfluidic Components attached to said one or more of said at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform by means of fasteners suited for engaging one or more of said plurality of holes wherein said Modular Microfluidic Components are interconnected so as to form a chemical separation system capable of receiving a sample through an input port and capable of delivering one or more fractions to one or more output ports of said separation system, and wherein said plurality of interconnected Modular Microfluidic Components includes three or more Modular Microfluidic Components connected sequentially, and wherein said fasteners engaging said one or more of said plurality of holes in said one or more of said at least one Rapid Prototyping Platform are capable of rapid attachment and detachment from said holes thereby permitting effective system disassembly and reassembly into a different prototype system, optionally including one or more different Modular Microfluidic Components; and a plurality of computer controlled valves, wherein each of the plurality of computer controlled valves are in fluid communication with one of the three or more Modular Microfluidic Components and one of a plurality of waste systems, and wherein each of the plurality of computer controlled valves are capable of automatically controlling, in a first setting, a flow of the sample or one or more fractions between each of the three or more Modular Microfluidic Components, and in a second setting, unwanted materials to one of the plurality of waste systems.