Patent Application
20110023976
The present invention relates to a fluidic device for providing fluidic connections, to a fluidic system, and to an interconnection strip for providing fluidic connections. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a fluidic device, and to a method for fluidically connecting a first fluidic device and a second fluidic device.
WO 00/78454 A1, DE 19928412 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,846 by the same applicant Agilent Technologies show different microfluidic chips and applications. Other microfluidic devices and applications are disclosed e.g. in WO 98/49548, U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,589, or WO 96/04547.
EP 1715348 relates to a handling unit adapted for handling a microfluidic device. The handling unit comprises a first clamping element and a second clamping element, and an actuation mechanism adapted for driving at least one of the clamping elements.
The article “Fluidic interconnects for modular assembly of chemical microsystems” by C. Gonzalez et al., Sensors and Actuators B 49 (1998), pages 40-45 discloses an assembly technology which enables the modular interconnection, assembly and packaging of individual microfabricated components and/or modules.
WO 06/07878 A1 relates to a microfluidic arrangement for the optical detection of fluids. The arrangement comprises a microfluidic device having at least one first channel with an opening which is in fluid communication with an optical detection unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,207 B1 relates to fluidic, electrical, electronic, and optical flex circuits, also known as flexible circuits, and connections thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,256 B2 relates to a flow-switching microdevice and to fluid flow control in microdevices. More specifically, the application relates to microdevices that employ a high pressure capable valve structure.
US 2005/0048669 A1 relates to interfaces between microfluidic devices and related instruments or systems, and in particular to a gasketless microfluidic device interface.
WO 05/84808 A1 discloses a frame for a microfluidic chip, the frame being adapted for receiving the microfluidic chip, or for protecting the microfluidic chip, or for positioning the microfluidic chip relative to the frame. Thus, sensitive parts of the microfluidic chip can be protected during handling, storage, and transport.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fluidic coupling technique for fluidically connecting fluidic devices. The object is solved by the independent claim(s). Further embodiments are shown by the dependent claim(s).
A fluidic device according to embodiments of the present invention is adapted for providing fluidic connections and comprises a fluid conduit and a planar coupling member with a fluid port. The fluid port is fluidically connected with the fluid conduit. A contour of the planar coupling member is in a predefined relationship with the fluid port's position.
The contour of the planar coupling member may e.g. be clamped or gripped by some sort of clamping device. Because of the predefined relationship between the fluid port's position and the contour of the planar coupling member, the fluid port is brought to a well-defined position when the planar coupling member is clamped, gripped or fastened. Hence, the position of the fluid port is known. The well-known position of the fluid port may e.g. be used for establishing a fluidic connection with any other fluidic device. Thus, the fluidic coupling technique according to embodiments of the present invention provides a simple standard for establishing fluidic connections between fluidic devices.
In particular, the fluidic coupling technique according to embodiments of the present invention may be used instead of conventional capillaries, whereby the shortcomings of capillary fittings are avoided. For example, by employing planar coupling members for establishing fluidic connections, dead volume of the fittings is reduced, and reliability of the fluidic connection is improved.
According to a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member protrudes laterally from the fluidic device. Further preferably, the planar coupling member is an accessory member that protrudes laterally from the fluidic device. Via the planar coupling member's fluid port, fluidic connections with other fluidic devices can be set up.
According to a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member is realized as a planar multilayer structure. Preferably, the planar coupling member is realized as a stack of two or more bonded sheets. For example, for manufacturing the planar coupling member, microstructured sheets may be stacked on top of one another and bonded. Further preferably, the planar coupling member is realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets. A planar coupling member realized in this way is robust and durable and can withstand high fluid pressures.
Preferably, one or more of the sheets are machined in a way that the fluid conduit is formed in the stack. According to a preferred embodiment, an abrasive process, preferably electrochemical milling or chemical milling, is used for processing the metal sheets. Further preferably, the fluid port is realized as a via hole in an uppermost sheet, or in a lowermost sheet, or in both the uppermost and the lowermost sheet of the planar coupling member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member is realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets, the metal sheets being coated with plastic material or with a hot-melt adhesive before being bonded.
According to a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member is realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets, the metal sheets being bonded by a joining process, preferably by diffusion welding. In diffusion welding, the stack of metal sheets is placed in a vacuum and exposed to heat for a certain period of time, whereby the metal sheets are pressed against one another. As a result, strong bonds are formed between the metal sheets. Preferably, the metal sheets are electroplated before being bonded by diffusion welding.
In a preferred embodiment, the fluidic device as a whole is realized as a stack of two or more bonded sheets. Preferably, the fluidic device is realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets. In this embodiment, the fluidic device as a whole is realized as a planar structure.
According to a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member is realized as a stack of two or more metal sheets, wherein an abrasive process, preferably electrochemical milling or chemical milling, is used for processing at least one of: the fluid conduit of the fluidic device, the outer contour of the sheets.
According to a preferred embodiment, the contour of the planar coupling member is an outer contour. Preferably, the contour of the planar coupling member is provided by the planar coupling member's boundary. By gripping or clamping the outer contour of the planar coupling member, the planar coupling member may e.g. be aligned with another planar coupling member of another fluidic device. According to an alternative embodiment, the contour of the planar coupling member is an inner contour of a cut-out of the planar coupling member. According to a further preferred embodiment, the contour of the planar coupling member is one of: a circular contour, a polygonal contour. Due to the specific shape of the planar coupling member's contour, an alignment of the planar coupling ember is enforced when the planar coupling member is gripped or clamped. Dependent on the particular contour, a specific orientation of the planar coupling member may be enforced as well. The planar coupling member's contour may e.g. enforce an unambiguous alignment with a corresponding contour of another planar coupling member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluidic device is an interconnection strip comprising a first planar coupling member at the interconnection strip's first end and a second planar coupling member at the interconnection strip's second end. Preferably, the first planar coupling member comprises a first fluid port, the second planar coupling member comprises a second fluid port, and the interconnection strip comprises a fluid conduit adapted for fluidically connecting the first fluid port and the second fluid port. The planar interconnection strip is capable of establishing fluidic connections between different fluidic devices and provides the functionality of a conventional capillary. The fittings of conventional capillaries introduce dead volume to a flow path. In contrast, when clamping together planar coupling members according to embodiments of the present invention, no extra dead volume is introduced. Another advantage is that when using a planar connection technique according to embodiments of the present invention, fluidic connections may be detached and re-established as often as desired.
In a preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member comprises a contact surface, the fluid port being located within the contact surface. For example, the contact surface of a first planar coupling member may be pressed against the contact surface of another planar coupling member, whereby a fluidic connection is established. Due to the close contact between the two contact surfaces, a fluid-tight seal is accomplished. Preferably, the fluid port is located within the contact surface, and the contact surface's area is several times as large as the fluid port's cross section.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluidic device comprises a plurality of fluid conduits, and the planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports, the fluid ports being fluidically coupled with corresponding fluid conduits. Hence, a plurality of fluidic connections can be established in parallel.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the planar coupling member is adapted for being clamped together with another planar coupling member of another fluidic device, wherein a fluidic connection is established between the fluid port of the planar coupling member and a corresponding fluid port of said another planar coupling member. Due to the specific relationship between the contour and the position of the fluid port, the fluid ports of the two planar coupling members are both located at a predefined position relative to the contours of the planar coupling members. When the respective contours of the two planar coupling members are aligned, the position of the first planar coupling member's fluid port matches with the position of the second planar coupling member's fluid port. The two fluid ports are positioned directly above one another. By pressing the planar coupling member against the other planar coupling member with a certain contact pressing force, a fluid-tight fluidic connection is accomplished.
Preferably, the fluidic device comprises one of: a switching valve, a reaction chamber, a pumping unit, a heat exchanger, a mixing device.
A fluidic system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a first fluidic device as described above, with the first fluidic device comprising a first planar coupling member. The fluidic system further comprises a clamping device comprising a fitting adapted to the contour of the first planar coupling member, the clamping device being adapted for clamping the first planar coupling member and for bringing the fluid port of the first planar coupling member to a predefined position.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluidic system further comprises a second fluidic device as described above, the second fluidic device comprising a second planar coupling member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device is adapted for clamping together the first planar coupling member of the first fluidic device and the second planar coupling member of the second fluidic device, thereby establishing a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and a corresponding fluid port of the second planar coupling member.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the first planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports, the second planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports, and a plurality of fluidic connections are established between the fluid ports of the first planar coupling member and corresponding fluid ports of the second planar coupling member. By clamping together the first planar coupling member and the second planar coupling member, a plurality of well-defined flow paths may be set up in parallel between the first and the second planar coupling member.
In a preferred embodiment, the first planar coupling member's contour matches with the second planar coupling member's contour.
According to a preferred embodiment, the first planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports, the second planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports, each of the fluid ports' positions being in a predefined relationship with a contour of the respective planar coupling member. By aligning the first planar coupling member with the second planar coupling member, the respective positions of the fluid ports of the first and the second planar coupling member match as well, which is due to the predefined relationship between the contours and the respective positions of the fluid ports.
Preferably, the clamping device is adapted for aligning the first planar coupling member of the first fluidic device with the second planar coupling member of the second fluidic device, to provide for a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and a corresponding fluid port of the second planar coupling member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device is adapted for pressing a contact surface of the first planar coupling member against a corresponding contact surface of the second planar coupling member, thereby establishing a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and a corresponding fluid port of the second planar coupling member. By applying a clamping force to the planar coupling members, a fluid-tight fluidic coupling between corresponding fluid ports of the first and the second planar coupling member is accomplished.
According to a further preferred embodiment, a small plate, preferably a gold plate, is placed between the contact surface of the first planar coupling member and the corresponding contact surface of the second planar coupling member.
In a preferred embodiment, the contact surfaces serve as sealing surfaces.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device is adapted for providing a detachable connection between the first planar coupling member and the second planar coupling member. For establishing a fluidic connection, the first and the second planar coupling member are aligned and pressed against one another. For detaching the fluidic connection, the grip of the clamping device is loosened, and the planar coupling members may be removed. Hence, by clamping and unclamping the planar coupling members, fluidic connections between fluidic devices may be set up and detached as desired. In contrast to conventional capillaries, setting up and detaching fluidic connections between planar coupling members does not impair the planar coupling members.
According to a preferred embodiment, a clamping force of the clamping device is sufficiently strong to provide for a fluid-tight fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and the corresponding fluid port of the second planar coupling member.
Preferably, a clamping force of the clamping device is sufficiently strong to provide for a fluid-tight fluidic connection at fluid pressures of up to 1200 bar.
In a preferred embodiment, for pressing the first planar coupling member against the second planar coupling member, the clamping device comprises one or more of: a screw, a headless screw, a grub screw, a wedge, a clamp lever, a bent lever, a bell-crank lever, a hydraulic cylinder. For example, the first and the second planar coupling member may be clamped together by tightening a screw, or by actuating a clamp lever, etc. In case a hydraulic cylinder is employed for clamping the first and the second planar coupling member, clamping of the planar coupling members may be automated.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device comprises a grub screw adapted for pressing a contact surface of the first planar coupling member against a contact surface of the second planar coupling member when the grub screw is tightened.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device is adapted for clamping the first planar coupling member at different positions relative to the second planar coupling member, wherein in each of the different positions, different fluidic connections are set up between fluid ports of the first planar coupling member and fluid ports of the second planar coupling member. Thus, a switching functionality for switching between different flow paths can be implemented.
In a preferred embodiment, the first fluidic device comprises two or more different channels having different cross-sections, each of the channels being fluidically connected to a corresponding fluid port of the first planar coupling member, wherein one of the two or more different channels may be selected by setting the first planar coupling member to one of a set of different positions relative to the second planar coupling member. In dependence on a respective application, a channel having a suitable cross section may be selected.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device is adapted for clamping together three or more planar coupling members of three or more different fluidic devices, thereby establishing fluidic connections between the three or more planar coupling members.
According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first planar coupling member and the second planar coupling member comprises interlocking features that enforce a well-defined alignment of the first planar coupling member relative to the second planar coupling member. In case the first and the second planar coupling member are arranged at a predefined position and orientation relative to one another, interlocking features of the first planar coupling member engage with corresponding interlocking features of the second planar coupling member. Thus, a predefined positioning and alignment of the planar coupling members is enforced. Preferably, the interlocking features comprise one or more of: a protrusion, a nose, a catching recess, a cut-out. Further preferably, a protrusion or a nose of one of the planar coupling members is adapted for engaging with a corresponding catching recess or a cut-out of the respective other planar coupling member, to enforce a well-defined alignment of the first planar coupling member relative to the second planar coupling member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device comprises a fitting for a tubing or for a capillary, the clamping device being adapted for clamping the first planar coupling member of the first fluidic device in a way that a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and an inlet of the tubing or the capillary is established. A clamping device according to this embodiment is capable of establishing a fluidic connection between the planar fluidic coupling technique according to embodiments of the present invention and conventional capillaries and tubings of the prior art.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device comprises a stator element of a switching valve, the stator element comprising a set of stator ports, the clamping device being adapted for pressing the first planar coupling member against the stator element, thereby establishing fluidic connections between fluid ports of the first planar coupling member and corresponding stator ports of the stator element. Preferably, the fluidic system further comprises a rotor element pivotably mounted on the stator element.
According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping device comprises a fitting for a detection cell, the clamping device being adapted for clamping the first planar coupling member of the first fluidic device in a way that a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and an inlet of the detection cell is established.
According to a preferred embodiment, at the first planar coupling member, the fluid conduit of the first fluidic device branches out into a plurality of ramified fluid conduits, each fluid conduit being adapted for supplying fluid to a detection cell. Thus, fluid may be supplied to the detection cell in a way that any kind of turbulence is avoided, and disturbances of the measurement result are prevented.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the clamping device comprises a fitting for a separation column, the clamping device being adapted for clamping the first planar coupling member of the first fluidic device in a way that a fluidic connection between the fluid port of the first planar coupling member and an inlet of the separation column is established.
In a preferred embodiment, the first planar coupling member is adapted for supplying fluid to a separation column. Preferably, the first planar coupling member comprises a plurality of fluid ports adapted for supplying fluid to an inlet of a separation column, the plurality of fluid ports being adapted to provide for a homogeneous supply of fluid to the separation column.
An interconnection strip according to embodiments of the invention is adapted for providing fluidic connections. The interconnection strip is realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets and comprises a first planar coupling member at the interconnection strip's first end, the first planar coupling member comprising a first fluid port, a second planar coupling member at the interconnection strip's second end, the second planar coupling member comprising a second fluid port, a fluid conduit adapted for fluidically connecting the first fluid port and the second fluid port.
A method for manufacturing a fluidic device for providing fluidic connections is discloses, the fluidic device comprising a planar coupling member. According to embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises microstructuring one or more metal sheets; stacking the microstructured metal sheets; bonding the metal sheets by subjecting the metal sheets to a joining technique to form a multilayer structure.
According to a preferred embodiment, diffusion welding is used as a joining technique for bonding the metal sheets.
A method for fluidically connecting a first fluidic device and a second fluidic device is disclosed, each of the first and the second fluidic device comprising a fluid conduit and a planar coupling member with a fluid port, the fluid port being fluidically connected with the fluid conduit. According to embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises aligning the planar coupling member of the first fluidic device with the planar coupling member of the second fluidic device in a clamping device and pressing the planar coupling member of the first fluidic device against the planar coupling member of the second fluidic device, whereby a fluidic connection is established between the fluid port of the first fluidic device and the corresponding fluid port of the second fluidic device.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments in connection with the accompanied drawing(s). Features that are substantially or functionally equal or similar will be referred to by the same reference sign(s).
The planar coupling member 101 is adapted for being pressed against another planar coupling member of another fluidic device. Thus, a fluidic connection is established between the fluid ports of the two planar coupling members.
The connecting piece 100 and the planar coupling member 101 may for example be realized as a multilayer structure comprising two or more bonded plastic sheets or metal sheets. For example, the planar structure shown in
After the metal sheets 106, 107 have been processed, the upper metal sheet 107 is bonded with the lower metal sheet 106.
According to a first embodiment, diffusion welding is used for bonding the metal sheets. In diffusion welding, a multilayer structure comprising two or more stacked metal sheets is put in a vacuum oven for several hours, whereby the metal sheets are pressed against one another with a contact pressing force. Preferably, the stack of metal sheets is subjected to a temperature below the melting point, and preferably to a temperature between 400° C. and 1050° C. depending on the metals to be bonded. By applying heat, vacuum and a contact pressing force to the stack of metal sheets, diffusion of the metal atoms is enhanced, and strong covalent bonds are formed between adjacent metal sheets. As a result, a multilayer structure with a fluid tight fluidic channel 105 is obtained.
According to a second embodiment, the metal sheets 106, 107, which may for example be made of titanium or stainless steel, are electroplated before being bonded. Preferably, the metal sheets 106, 107 are electroplated with a noble metal, like e.g. gold, platinum, palladium, or with nickel. Then, after electroplating has been performed, the plated metal sheets are subjected to diffusion welding as described above. When using electroplated sheets, the bonding temperature may be lower than the bonding temperature used in the first embodiment. Another advantage of using electroplated sheets is that a chemically inert surface is obtained along the fluid channel 105.
According to a third embodiment, at least one surface of the metal sheets 106, 107 is coated with plastic material, or with a hot-melt adhesive. Alternatively, a thin plastic foil may be placed between the metal sheets 106, 107. Then, the metal sheets are stacked, exposed to heat and pressed together for a certain period of time. After the plastic material or the hot-melt adhesive has been exposed to heat, a robust multilayer structure is obtained. When coating the metal sheets with plastic material, the thickness of the coating must not be too thick, because otherwise plastic material may block the fluid channel 105.
Optionally, a further step of modifying the inner surface of the fluid channel 105 may be carried out. For example, in case the fluidic device is applied in the field of analyzing biochemical compounds, a fluid containing biochemical moieties like for example proteins, RNA, DNA, etc. may pass through the fluid channel 105. To prevent adhesion of these biochemical compounds, a step of modifying the inner surface of the fluid channel 105 may be carried out. For example, to prevent adhesion, the inner surface of the fluid channel 105 may be coated with gold, palladium, platinum or any other noble metal, whereby an electroplating technique or an electroless plating technique may be applied. Alternatively, a chemical surface modification of the fluid channel's inner surface may be carried out.
In
As shown in
The second connecting piece 204 comprises a second planar coupling member 205 having a circular contour 206 that corresponds to the circular contour 202 of the first planar coupling member 201. A fluid port 207 located at the upper side of the second planar coupling member 205 is fluidically coupled with a fluid conduit 208 that extends through the second connecting piece 204. The relationship between the location of the fluid port 207 and the circular contour 206 is also defined by said predefined relationship.
Both the first connecting piece 200 and the second connecting piece 204 are realized as a stack of two or more bonded metal sheets. The first connecting piece 200 is composed of an upper sheet 209 and a lower sheet 210. Correspondingly, the second connecting piece 204 is composed of an upper sheet 211 and a lower sheet 212.
In
Because of the predefined relationship between the respective locations of the fluid ports 203, 207 and the corresponding contours 202, 206, an alignment of the contours 202 and 206 will lead to a corresponding alignment of the fluid ports 203 and 207. By aligning the two planar coupling members 201 and 205, the fluid ports 203 and 207 are aligned as well. Thus, a fluidic coupling between the fluid ports 203 and 207 is established, whereby the respective contact surfaces of the first and the second planar coupling member 201 and 205 are adapted for sealing the fluidic connection. For accomplishing a fluid-tight fluidic connection, the area of these contact surfaces should not be too small. Furthermore, the magnitude of the contact pressing force 213 has to be sufficiently large for sealing the fluidic connection. The contact pressing force 213 may for example be exerted by a suitable clamping device.
In
To provide for an unambiguous alignment, planar coupling members with a polygonal contour may e.g. be employed. For example,
The contact pressing force for pressing a first planar coupling member against a second planar coupling member may for example be exerted by a clamping device. As shown in
For fastening the planar coupling members 402 and 406, a grub screw 411 with a cross recess 412 is screwed into a corresponding internally threaded bore hole 413. When the grub screw 411 is tightened, the lower end 414 of the grub screw 411 presses the second planar coupling member 406 against the first planar coupling member 402, and fluid-tight fluidic connections are established between the fluid ports 404 and the corresponding fluid ports 408. The contact pressing force exerted by the grub screw 411 has to be sufficiently large to prevent leakage of the fluidic connections.
Alternatively, the contact pressing force for pressing a planar coupling member against another planar coupling member may for example be generated by one of: a wedge, a clamp lever, a bent lever, a bell-crank lever, a hydraulic cylinder. For example, by using a hydraulic cylinder for clamping the first and the second planar coupling member, the clamping operation may be automated.
So far, it has been described that connecting pieces adapted for fluidically coupling different fluidic devices can be realized using the above-described planar fluidic coupling technique. However, the planar fluidic coupling technique may as well be employed for realizing not only the connecting pieces, but a fluidic device as a whole. In
An interconnection strip of the type shown in
The interconnection strip 600 of
Compared to a glass capillary, the interconnection strip 600 shown in
For integrating the separation column shown in
As shown in
So far, fluidic coupling between two connecting pieces has been discussed. However, for realizing more complex flow paths, the planar fluidic coupling technique according to embodiments of the present invention may also be used for fluidically coupling three or more connecting pieces. An example is shown in
The second connecting piece 801 is made of two metal sheets 810 and 811. It comprises two fluid ports 812, 813 located at its bottom side and one fluid port 814 located at its upper side. The fluid port 812 is fluidically coupled with a channel 815, whereas the fluid ports 813 and 814 form a via hole that extends through the second connecting piece 801. The third connecting piece 802 is made of two metal sheets 816, 817 and comprises a fluid port 818 located at its bottom side, the fluid port 818 being fluidically coupled with a channel 819. For fluidically connecting the connecting pieces 800, 801 and 802, the respective planar coupling members of the connecting pieces are aligned with one another and clamped together. Thus, fluid-tight fluidic connections are established between fluid ports 806 and 813, between fluid ports 807 and 812, and between fluid ports 814 and 818. The channel 809 of the first connecting piece 800 is fluidically coupled with the channel 815 of the second connecting piece 801. Furthermore, the channel 808 of the first connecting piece 800 is fluidically coupled with the channel 819 of the third connecting piece 802.
In
In
In
In
By fixing the first connecting piece 900 relative to the second connecting piece 902 at one of the positions shown in
The embodiment illustrated in
In
In the embodiment shown in
The planar coupling technique proposed in embodiments of the present invention is not limited to establishing fluidic connections between two or more planar coupling members. The planar coupling technique may as well be employed for providing fluidic connections between a planar coupling member and a conventional capillary. Capillaries, which may for example be made of glass or stainless steel, are widely used for setting up fluidic connections between fluidic components. The planar coupling technique according to embodiments of the present invention is capable of providing an interoperability between capillaries and planar coupling members.
In general, a connecting piece with a planar coupling member may be used for establishing fluidic connections with a variety of fluidic devices. For example,
In any case, turbulent flow of the fluid passing though the detection cell may have an impact on the detected physical property. Therefore, when supplying fluid to a detection cell, avoiding turbulent flow is an important issue, because turbulent flow may affect the obtained measurement results.
The planar coupling member 1200 shown in
The planar coupling member 1200 may further comprise interlocking features that facilitate an alignment of the planar coupling member 1200 relative to the detection cell. For example, the planar coupling member 1200 may comprise slots 1207 and detents 1208 that may engage with complementary features of a clamping device.
A clamping device 1304 for fixing the planar coupling member 1301 is located at a first end of the separation column 1302. The planar coupling member 1301 is placed on top of an intermediate piece 1305. Then, a grub screw 1306 is tightened, whereby the lower face of the planar coupling member 1301 is pressed against the intermediate piece 1305. The intermediate piece 1305 comprises a set of fluid channels 1307, whereby the location of the fluid channels 1307 corresponds to the respective locations of the fluid ports 1303. The fluid channels 1307 provide fluidic connections between the fluid ports 1303 and the inlet of the separation column 1302. After the fluid has passed through the fluid channels 1307, it still has to pass through a frith 1308 before passing through the separation column 1302.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP08/53985 | 4/3/2008 | WO | 00 | 10/1/2010 |
