Patent ID: 8454895

Claim:
A continuous flow device suitable for detecting and/or removing at least one contaminant in a liquid stream, comprising: a) at least one cartridge wherein the circumferential wall of said cartridge comprises at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet for said liquid stream and further comprises at least one radiation incident wall portion and at least one radiation emerging wall portion; wherein said cartridge further comprises an optically transparent support material; wherein said optically transparent support material is packed in said cartridge such that a liquid stream can pass between voids formed within and/or by said optically transparent support material; wherein said optically transparent support material comprises one or more capture molecules for capturing said at least one contaminant, wherein the capture molecules specifically bind to the contaminant, wherein said capture molecules are immobilized on the surface of said support material; wherein at least one reporter group is connected to each of said capture molecules, wherein said reporter group emits a signal upon binding of said at least one contaminant; b) at least one radiation source for emitting a radiation beam for excitation of said reporter group; c) at least one detector for detecting said signal emitted by said at least one reporter group.