Multi-channel capillary electrophoresis device including sheath-flow cuvette and replaceable capillary array

Abstract

A multi-channel capillary electrophoresis apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a capillary array assembly comprising a plurality of capillaries, each capillary having a capillary outlet, and an outlet support for supporting the capillary outlets. The apparatus further includes a cuvette defining a receiving slot, a gap region and a detection zone, where the receiving, slot is adapted to removably receive the outlet support, and wherein when the outlet support is inserted into the receiving slot, the capillary outlets are positioned in the gap region in proximity to the detection zone, and a flow channel is formed by the outlet support and the receiving slot such that the flow channel is in fluid communication with the gap region. In addition, the apparatus includes a front plumbing block in fluid communication with the flow channel for supplying a fluid flow through the gap region sufficient to transport material downstream the capillary outlets to the detection zone.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A multi-channel capillary electrophoresis apparatus comprising: 
 a capillary array assembly comprising a plurality of capillaries, each capillary having a capillary outlet, and an outlet support for supporting the capillary outlets;    a cuvette defining a receiving slot, a gap region, and a detection zone;    where the receiving slot is adapted to removably receive the outlet support;    wherein when the outlet support is inserted into the receiving slot, the capillary outlets are positioned in the gap region in proximity to the detection zone, and a flow channel is formed by the outlet support and the receiving slot such that the flow channel is in fluid communication with the gap region; and    a front plumbing block in fluid communication with the flow channel for supplying a fluid flow through the gap region sufficient to transport material downstream from the capillary outlets to the detection zone.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capillaries are in the form of discrete capillary tubes.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the discrete capillary tubes have a cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an inner radius of the capillaries is from 20 to 200 μm.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capillary array assembly comprises between 20 and 200 capillaries.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an inlet support.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the inlet support comprises a body, a registration feature, and a plurality of capillary alignment grooves.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the capillary alignment grooves are V-shaped grooves.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the alignment grooves have a pitch that is an integral fraction of 9 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the capillary inlets are arranged in a multi-tier configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the capillaries are potted into the inlet support with a potting material.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the outlet support comprises a platform having a support surface.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the support surface has capillary alignment grooves located thereon.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the capillary alignment grooves are V-shaped grooves.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capillary outlets are arranges in a linear array.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the platform further comprises two or more guide rails.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein at least one surface of the guide rails includes one or more flexure features located thereon.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the guide rails include a chamfer feature.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the platform is divided into a first portion and a second portion such that the first and second portions are connected by the capillaries.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a detector in optical communication with the detection zone.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the detector is a protomultiplier tube, a photodiode or a charged coupled device.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the detection zone is located between about 20 μm and 2000 μm from the capillary outlets.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the detection zone is located between about 100 and 500 μm from the capillary outlets.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein walls of the cuvette bounding the detection zone include a window that is substantially transparent to light.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cuvette is formed from glass, quartz or fused silica.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cuvette is formed from fused silica.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a heater located in thermal contact with the cuvette.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cuvette is mounted in a clamping block.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the clamping block comprises: 
 a first support for contacting a first external surface of the cuvette;  
 a second support for contacting a second external surface of the cuvette; and  
 a clamp for urging the first support and the second support against the first and second external surfaces of the cuvette.  
 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the first support and/or the second support includes a window.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front plumbing block comprises an inlet port, an inlet channel, a front plenum, an outlet channel, and an outlet port.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a rear plumbing block in fluid communication with the gap region.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the rear plumbing block comprises a rear plenum, a rear plenum exit channel, a waste valve port, a weir, waste channel, a fill channel, and a fill port.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the weir has a height such that there is substantially no pressure drop between the inlets and outlets end of the capillary tubes.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further including an electrode reservoir in fluid communication with the waste valve port and the weir.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  further including any electrode located in the electrode reservoir.  
     
     
         37 . A multi-channel capillary electrophoresis apparatus of a type including a capillary array assembly comprising a plurality of capillaries, each capillary having a capillary outlet, and outlet support for supporting the capillary outlets, the apparatus comprising: 
 a cuvette defining a receiving slot, a gap region, and a detection zone;    where the receiving slot is adapted to removably receive the outlet support,    wherein when the outlet support is inserted into the receiving slot, the capillary outlets are positioned in the gap region in proximity to the detection zone, and a flow channel is formed by the outlet support and the receiving slot such that the flow channel is in fluid communication with the gap region.    
     
     
         38 . A multi-channel capillary electrophoresis apparatus of a type having a cuvette defining a receiving slot, a gap region, and a detection zone, where the receiving slot is adapted to removably receive a capillary array, the apparatus comprising: 
 a capillary array assembly comprising a plurality of capillaries, each capillary having a capillary outlet, and an outlet support for supporting the capillary outlets, wherein when the outlet support is inserted into the receiving slot, the capillary outlets are positioned in the gap region in proximity to the detection zone, and a flow channel is formed by the outlet support and the receiving slot such that the flow channel is in fluid communication with the gap region.