Patent ID: 6749735
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A liquid-phase electromobility focusing separation system configured to separate at least one discrete analyte species from an analyte sample, comprising:a first separation channel defined by a confinement enclosing an interior channel volume, said first separation channel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, and said first separation channel being configured to contain an electrolyte solution within the interior channel volume, said separation channel providing the only flowpath for both the analyte sample and the electrolyte solution; a continuous electric field intensity gradient generator configured to apply a electric field intensity gradient within the first separation channel along the longitudinal axis over at least a portion of the first separation channel intermediate the first and second ends, the intensity of electric field generated varying as a continuous function of location along the longitudinal axis, whereby electrophoretic migration of an analyte species within the first separation channel is actuated by a force that varies with position along the longitudinal axis as a continuous function of position along the longitudinal axis within said portion of the first separation channel; an electroosmotic flow generator configured to generate an electroosmotic flow along the longitudinal axis of the first separation channel, which electroosmotic flow is variable as to at least one of: (i) the magnitude of the flow, and (ii) the direction of the flow, to enhance separation of said at least one analyte species by enabling separation control of an interaction of forces it created by the continuous electric field intensity gradient generator and the electroosmotic flow generator.