Patent ID: 7655477

Claim:
A system for separating a sample comprising: a module containing a first microchannel; a first and a second reservoir located at opposite ends of the first microchannel; a first electrode in electrical contact with the first reservoir and a second electrode in electrical contact with the second reservoir; and an isoelectric focusing buffer having a first ionic strength, which isoelectric focusing buffer is located within the first microchannel; a plurality of second microchannels integrated with the first microchannel on the module along the length of the first microchannel at a first end of each of the plurality of second microchannels; an electrophoresis buffer having a second ionic strength different from the first ionic strength of the isoelectric focusing buffer, which electrophoresis buffer is located within the plurality of second microchannels; a first detector, which first detector is positioned to scan the first microchannel, which first detector is operative to detect isoelectric separation of the sample within the first microchannel; and a third microchannel integrated with the first microchannel and containing a third reservoir at one end thereof, the third reservoir being in electrical contact with a third electrode.