Patent ID: 7060170

Claim:
An electroosmotic flow (EOF) system comprising (A) a first electroosmotic flow (EOF) element which (a) contains a first liquid throughout its length, (b) has a first terminal portion A 1 and a second terminal portion A 2 , and (c) has a first flux ratio R 1 ; (B) a second EOF element which (a) contains a second liquid throughout its length, (b) has a first terminal portion B 1 and a second terminal portion B 2 , and (c) has a second flux ratio R 2 which is from about 0.95R 1 to about 1.05R 1 ; and (C) a junction (a) at which the terminal portions A 2 and B 1 terminate, and (b) which contains a junction liquid in liquid and electrical communication with the first and second liquids; the first and second EOF elements having different charge ratios, and at least one of the first and second EOF elements having a charge ratio whose magnitude is greater than about 0.1.