Chromatography systems and methods using them

Abstract

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to chromatography systems that include a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device can be fluidically coupled to a switching valve to provide for selective control of fluid flow in the chromatography system. In some examples, the microfluidic device may include a charging chamber, a bypass restrictor or other features that can provide for added control of the fluid flow in the system. Methods of using the devices and methods of calculating lengths and diameters to provide a desired flow rate are also described.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A laminated microfluidic device comprising an internal microchannel formed from laminating individual layers of the laminated microfluidic device to each other, the laminated microfluidic device comprising a first port, a second port and a third port each fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel, wherein each of the first port, the second port and the third port permits fluid flow into and out of the laminated microfluidic device, wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to permit flow of sample into the laminated microfluidic device through the first port and to permit the flow of the sample to a first component fluidically coupled to the second port and to a second component fluidically coupled to the third port depending on a pressure within the laminated microfluidic device. 
     
     
         27 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the internal microchannel comprises a bypass restrictor to restrict fluid flow within the internal microchannel. 
     
     
         28 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the laminated microfluidic device comprises stainless steel layers laminated to each other. 
     
     
         29 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the laminated microfluidic device comprises stainless steel plates laminated to each other. 
     
     
         30 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to a pressure source to provide the pressure within the laminated microfluidic device, the second port is configured to fluidically couple to a first chromatography column and the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second chromatography column to provide sample introduced into the first port to each of the first chromatography column and the second chromatography column. 
     
     
         31 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to a first chromatography column and the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second chromatography column. 
     
     
         32 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to a chromatography column, the second port is configured to fluidically couple to a first detector and the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second detector to provide sample introduced into the first port to each of the first detector and the second detector. 
     
     
         33 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , further comprising a first charging chamber within the laminated microfluidic device. 
     
     
         34 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 33 , further comprising a second charging chamber within the laminated microfluidic device. 
     
     
         35 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to provide sample introduced into the first port of the microfluidic device selectively to the second port of the microfluidic device. 
     
     
         36 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to provide sample introduced into the first port of the microfluidic device selectively to the third port of the microfluidic device. 
     
     
         37 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the second port and the third port are arranged in series in the internal microchannel. 
     
     
         38 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the internal microchannel comprises a first length between the first port and the second port and a second length between the first port and the third part. 
     
     
         39 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 38 , wherein the first length and the second length are the same. 
     
     
         40 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 38 , wherein the first length and the second length are different. 
     
     
         41 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 40 , further comprising an internal restrictor between the first port and the second port. 
     
     
         42 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 40 , further comprising an internal restrictor between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         43 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the internal microchannel comprises a width of 10 microns to 750 microns. 
     
     
         44 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , wherein the internal microchannel comprises a width of 100 microns to 300 microns. 
     
     
         45 . The laminated microfluidic device of  claim 26 , further comprising an internal crossover flow path.