Claims
- 1. A miniaturized flow injection analysis system, comprising:
- a substrate having flow channels formed therein;
- a cover member secured to said substrate to cover said flow channels;
- said flow channels including a sample loop section, a mixing and reaction capillary section, and an absorption section;
- a plurality of microvalves operatively connected to sections of said flow channels;
- at least sample, reagent, and waste ports operatively connected to said microvalves; and
- a detector assembly operatively connected to said absorption section, said detector assembly including an optical absorption flow cell, a fiber optic source, and a fiber optic detector, said fiber optic source and detector being operatively connected to said optical absorption flow cell.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a first of said microvalves is operatively connected to a sample inlet port, wherein a second of said microvalves is operatively connected to a reagent inlet port, wherein a third of said microvalves is connected intermediate said sample loop section and said mixing and reaction capillary section, and wherein a fourth of said microvalves is operatively connected to a waste outlet port.
- 3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said microvalves is additionally connected to a vacuum port.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said third and fourth microvalves are operatively connected to said vacuum port.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said optical absorption flow cell, and at least portions of said fiber optic source and detector are positioned intermediate said substrate and said cover member.
- 6. The system of claim 1, additionally including a vacuum port operatively connected to at least said waste port.
- 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said vacuum port is additionally connected through one of said microvalves intermediate said sample loop section and said mixing and reaction capillary section of said flow channels.
- 8. In a flow injection analysis system, the improvement comprising miniaturization of the components thereof which are at least partially located intermediate a substrate and a cover member, said components including:
- flow microchannels formed in at least one of said substrate and cover member;
- said flow microchannels defining a sample loop section, a mixing and reaction capillary section and an absorption flow section; and
- a plurality of microvalves operatively connected to said flow microchannels;
- an optical absorption flow cell operatively connected to an outlet end of said mixing and reaction capillary section of said flow microchannel;
- said absorption flow cell being located within said substrate and cover member; and
- a fiber optics source and a fiber optics detector operatively connected to said optical absorption flow cell.
- 9. The improved system of claim 8, additionally including a sample inlet port, a reagent inlet port, and a waste outlet port, each of said ports being operatively connected to said flow microchannels via one of said microvalves.
- 10. The improved system of claim 9, additionally including a vacuum port operatively connected to at least said waste outlet port.
- 11. The improved system of claim 10, wherein said vacuum port is additionally connected intermediate said sample loop section and said mixing and reaction capillary section of said flow microchannels via one of said microvalves.
- 12. The improved system of claim 10 wherein said sample inlet port is operatively connected to one end of said sample loop section of said flow microchannels, via a first of said plurality of microvalves;
- wherein said reagent inlet port is operatively connected to said sample loop section via a second of said plurality of microvalves;
- wherein said waste outlet port is connected to an outlet end of said absorption flow section of said flow microchannels via a third of said plurality of microvalves; and
- additionally including a vacuum port operatively connected to said waste outlet port and to a fourth of said plurality of microvalves, said fourth of said plurality of microvalves being also connected to said flow microchannels intermediate said sample loop section and said mixing and reaction capillary section.
- 13. The improved system of claim 8, wherein a tube is connected to each of said sample inlet port, said reagent inlet port, and said waste outlet port and vacuum port.
- 14. The improved system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of microvalves comprises four microvalves, each having an inlet port and outlet port, a first microvalve having its inlet port connected to said sample inlet port and its outlet port connected to said sample loop section, a second microvalve having its inlet port connected to said reagent inlet port and its outlet connected to said sample loop section;
- a third microvalve having its inlet port connected intermediate said sample loop section and said mixing and reaction capillary section and its outlet connected to said waste outlet port, wherein said waste outlet port additionally defines a vacuum port, and a fourth microvalve having its inlet port connected to said absorption flow section and its outlet port connected to said waste outlet port, said vacuum port, and said outlet port of said third microvalve.
- 15. The improved system of claim 8, wherein said flow microchannels have a cross-section in the range of 1 to 1000 .mu.m.
- 16. The improved system of claim 8, wherein said substrate is composed of material selected from the group consisting of Pyrex, glass, silicon, plastic, and ceramic; and wherein said cover member is composed of material selected from the group consisting of silicon, Pyrex, glass, plastic, and ceramic.
- 17. The improved system of claim 16, wherein said substrate is composed of Pyrex, wherein said cover member is composed of silicon, and wherein said substrate and said cover member are bonded together to form at least said flow microchannels therein.
Government Interests
The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
US Referenced Citations (2)