Elution and detection
Inventors
LYFORD, Graham William • Smith, Michael • WEBB, Alistair Stuart • CUSICK, Adam John • RYAN, Leigh • Sohn, Ian Emil
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11668674-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
An elution apparatus and a detection apparatus are described. The elution apparatus includes: a sample trap for trapping a sample; and one or more pumps and/or valves to move a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent. The detection apparatus includes: a capillary having a low-voltage (LV) end portion to receive a sample; and a conductivity detector coupled to a high-voltage (HV) end portion of the capillary to generate signals based on conductivity of a monitored portion of the capillary in the HV end portion, wherein the conductivity detector is electrically isolated from the LV end portion.
Core Innovation
The document describes an automated elution apparatus that traps a sample on a sample trap configured to trap or adsorb the sample, where the sample trap includes a trapping material with surface characteristics for trapping or adsorbing the sample. A liquid eluent is moved by one or more pumps and/or valves to extract an extracted portion of the sample into a liquid eluate.
The eluate is processed to prepare it for capillary electrophoresis. One or more filters filter the eluate of large particulates and debris, and a degassing system degas the eluate. The degassed eluate is then moved to the Low-Voltage (LV) end of a capillary for capillary electrophoresis, under control by an electronic controller configured to control the one or more pumps and/or valves to move the eluate.
The document further describes a system that performs conductivity-based detection at a High-Voltage (HV) end portion of the capillary while maintaining electrical isolation from the LV end. A detection apparatus includes a conductivity detector coupled to the HV end portion and configured to generate signals based on conductivity of a monitored portion of the capillary in the HV end portion.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes four independent claims. Across the independent claims, the inventive features are concentrated in sample trapping/extraction, positive displacement eluent mobilising past a swabbed area, eluate filtration and degassing, delivery to the LV end of a capillary for capillary electrophoresis, and HV-end conductivity detection electrically isolated from the LV end.
Sample trapping and extraction into eluate using an eluent
A sample trap configured to trap a sample, and one or more pumps and/or valves configured to move a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent.
Positive displacement pump through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area
A positive displacement pump configured to mobilise a first volume of the eluent through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area that includes a portion of the sample trap.
Filters for eluate of large particulates and debris and a degassing system
One or more filters configured to filter the eluate of large particulates and debris, and a degassing system configured to degas the eluate.
Delivery of degassed eluate to the LV end for capillary electrophoresis
One or more pumps and/or valves configured to move the degassed eluate to the LV end of the capillary for capillary electrophoresis.
Trapping material with surface characteristics for trapping or adsorbing
The sample trap includes a trapping material with surface characteristics for trapping or adsorbing the sample.
Absorbing sample via sample-trap surface structure
The sample trap has a surface structure configured to absorb the sample.
HV-end conductivity detection electrically isolated from the LV end
A detection apparatus including a conductivity detector coupled to a high-voltage (HV) end portion of the capillary and configured to generate signals based on conductivity of a monitored portion of the capillary in the HV end portion, wherein the conductivity detector is electrically isolated from the LV end.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on trapping a sample using a sample trap with trapping, adsorbing, or absorbing surface characteristics, extracting an eluate via a positive displacement pump mobilising a first volume of eluent through/over/past a swabbed area, processing the eluate with filtration and degassing, and delivering degassed eluate to the LV end of a capillary for capillary electrophoresis. The system claim additionally includes HV-end conductivity detection of a monitored capillary portion with electrical isolation from the LV end.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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