| US 7,537,680 B2 | ||
| Mixing reactions by temperature gradient focusing | ||
| David J. Ross, Silver Spring, Md. (US); Michael J. Tarlov, Bethesda, Md. (US); and Karin M. Balss, Basketing Ridge, N.J. (US) | ||
| Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce the National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, D.C. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 24, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/39,904. | ||
| Application 11/039904 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/197331, filed on Jul. 18, 2002, granted, now 7,029,561. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/588237, filed on Jul. 15, 2004. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/323404, filed on Sep. 19, 2001. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/307691, filed on Jul. 25, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0145495 A1, Jul. 07, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G01N 27/447 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 204—450 [204/452] | 29 Claims |
| 1. A method for analyzing the interaction between a first material and a second material in a fluid, said interaction giving
rise to a third material, said method comprising the steps of:
introducing a first material to a fluid;
applying an electric field to said fluid thereby causing said first material to move electrophoretically with an electrophoretic
velocity;
establishing a temperature gradient in said fluid having a significant component substantially aligned with the electrophoretic
motion of said first material, thereby generating a gradient of the electrophoretic velocity of said first material;
producing a flow of said fluid having a significant component substantially aligned in a direction opposite a direction of
the electrophoretic motion of said first material;
wherein magnitudes of said electric field, said temperature gradient, and said flow are such that said first material will
accumulate or be focused at a first position along said temperature gradient; and
introducing a second material to said fluid so that said second material moves through said first position, thereby interacting
with said first material to form a third material;
whereby said third material of said interaction is then focused at a second position along said temperature gradient.
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