Patent ID: 7722817

Claim:
An injector fluid pump for pushing a sample fluid along a sample fluid flow path of a sample fluid analysis device, the injector fluid pump comprising: an initially closed integral injector fluid reservoir containing an aqueous injector fluid having a preselected electrolyte concentration; an initially dry microporous injector fluid flow path having an injector fluid application end for accepting the injector fluid from the reservoir and an injector fluid effluent end for connecting to the sample fluid containing flow path of the sample fluid analysis device, the injector fluid flow path automatically filling with the injector fluid up to the effluent end upon supply of the injector fluid to the application end; a valve for opening the reservoir and selectively supplying the injector fluid from the reservoir to the application end; an isolator for preventing passive injector fluid flow from the effluent end of the injector fluid flow path into the sample fluid flow path when the injector fluid flow path includes the injector fluid; driving means for electro-osmotically pumping the injector fluid in the injector fluid path across the isolator to force the injector fluid into the sample fluid flow path, when the sample fluid flow path includes the sample, for advancing the sample fluid in the sample fluid flow path by hydraulically pushing the sample along the sample flow path with the injector fluid; and a sealing element for sealing the injector fluid flow path along a perimeter thereof to prevent flow of the injector fluid from the injector fluid flow path at the perimeter during electro-osmotic pumping of the injector fluid.