Patent ID: 6572750
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A hydrodynamic injector for simultaneously loading fluid samples to be analyzed into multiple capillary tubes of a capillary electrophoresis system, said tubes having first and second ends, said injector comprising:an enclosure defining a pressure chamber for holding multiple receptacles, each containing a fluid sample therein, apertures in the enclosure for passing capillary tubes into a position wherein first ends of the tubes are positioned in said pressure chamber in fluid communication with the samples in respective receptacles, electrodes on the enclosure extending into the pressure chamber for reception in said receptacles; and a pressurization system comprising a gas supply system for supplying pressurized gas to said pressure chamber, said gas supply system comprising a source of pressurized gas, an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet, an accumulator inlet line connecting the source of pressurized gas to the inlet of the accumulator, an accumulator outlet line connecting the accumulator to a gas inlet of the enclosure, and a valve in the accumulator outlet line movable from a closed position to an open position after the accumulator has been pressurized for effecting the transfer of gas under pressure from the accumulator to the pressure chamber of the enclosure.