Patent ID: 7261813

Claim:
A liquid chromatography device comprising a monolithic cartridge having a first end and a second end, the monolithic cartridge including a plurality of nominally aligned polymeric fibers, the monolithic cartridge including a nonporous wrap surrounding the plurality of fibers and disposed along the axial length of the nominally aligned fibers from the first end to the second end, wherein the polymeric fibers are the stationary phase of the liquid chromatography device and exhibit a chemical affinity for a component of a liquid phase, at least a portion of the fibers being directly fused to one another at points of contact along the fiber lengths such that the monolithic cartridge includes spot bonds located randomly throughout the entire length of the monolithic cartridge, the monolithic cartridge defining a plurality of capillaries capable of bulk wicking the liquid phase between adjacent fibers from said first end to said second end.