Patent ID: 6387236
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A capillary array assembly comprising:a plurality of capillaries, each capillary having an inlet end and an outlet end; an inlet support fixedly attached proximate the inlet ends of the capillaries, wherein the inlet support comprises a body, and a registration feature; and an outlet support fixedly attached proximate the outlet ends of the capillaries, wherein the outlet support comprises a platform having a support surface with capillary alignment grooves located thereon, and two or more guide rails; wherein the capillary inlets are arranged in a multi-tier configuration, with said multi-tier configuration being defined at least in part by (i) an upper tier comprising a first linear array of capillary inlets and (ii) a lower tier comprising a second linear array of capillary inlets; wherein the first and second linear arrays are disposed parallel to one another, and the inlets of the upper tier are offset laterally relative to the inlets of the lower tier.