Capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical detection microchip device and supporting circuits

1. A capillary electrophoresis device, comprising:

(1) a substrate;

(2) a first channel in the substrate, and having a buffer arm and a detection arm;

(3) a second channel in the substrate intersecting the first channel, and having a sample arm and a waste arm;

(4) a buffer reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm;

(5) a waste reservoir in fluid communication with the waste arm;

(6) a sample reservoir in fluid communication with the sample arm; and

(7) a detection reservoir in fluid communication with the detection arm;

wherein the detection arm and the buffer arm have a balanced flow rate upon application of a first voltage to the buffer reservoir, the detection reservoir, and the sample reservoir; and a second voltage to the waste reservoir.

2. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is ground.

3. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 further comprising a voltage receiving reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm.

4. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 further comprising three electrodes in the detection reservoir, at least two of said three electrodes are electrochemical detector electrodes.

5. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 further comprising three electrodes in the detection reservoir.

6. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 further comprising a CE-Aux electrode in the detection reservoir, wherein the CE-Aux electrode functions as both the auxiliary electrode for a detector and capillary electrophoresis cathode.

7. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 further comprising a CE-Aux electrode in the detection reservoir, wherein the CE-Aux electrode functions as both the auxiliary electrode for a detector and capillary electrophoresis cathode.

8. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a first substrate, and further comprising a second substrate adjacent to and facing the first substrate, a shelf defined in the second substrate proximate to an outlet of the first channel and to the detection reservoir, the shelf configured to at least partially contain fluid in the detection reservoir.

9. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a first substrate, and further comprising

at least one electrode in the detection reservoir;

a second substrate facing the first substrate; and,

a shelf defined in the second substrate proximate to an outlet of the first channel and to the detection reservoir, the shelf configured to at least partially contain fluid in the detection reservoir and in contact with the at least one electrode in the detection reservoir.

10. A method for performing capillary electrophoresis comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate having:

a first channel having a buffer arm and a detection arm;

a second channel intersecting the first channel and having a sample arm and a waste arm;

a sample reservoir for receiving a sample in fluid communication with the sample arm;

a buffer reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm;

a waste reservoir in fluid communication with the waste arm;

a detection reservoir in fluid communication with the detection arm;

wherein the first and second channels are filled with an electrolyte solution;

applying a first voltage to the buffer, sample, and detection reservoirs and a second voltage to the waste reservoir to cause a balanced flow of the electrolyte solution from the buffer arm, the sample arm, and the detection arm towards the waste reservoir and to thereby form a pinched plug; and

flowing the pinched plug along the detection arm to the detection reservoir.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the substrate further has a voltage receiving reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of flowing the pinched plug along the detection arm to the detection reservoir comprises the steps of:

using a first electrode in the detection reservoir to apply a potential to the detection reservoir and cause the pinched plug to flow towards the detection reservoir; and,

using second and third electrodes in the detection reservoir to perform electrochemical analysis of the pinched plug.

13. A method for manufacturing a capillary electrophoresis device comprising:

forming, in a first substrate:

a first channel having a buffer arm and a detection arm;

a second channel intersecting the first channel and having a sample arm and a waste arm;

a sample reservoir for receiving a sample in fluid communication with the sample arm;

a buffer reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm;

a waste reservoir in fluid communication with the waste arm; and

a detection reservoir in fluid communication with the detection arm;

forming, in a second substrate:

a waste reservoir electrode;

a sample reservoir electrode;

a buffer reservoir electrode; and

at least three detection reservoir electrodes;

aligning the first substrate with the second substrate; and

bonding the first substrate to the second substrate,

wherein forming a waste electrode, a sample electrode, a buffer electrode, and at least three detection electrodes comprises forming recesses in the second substrate and filling the recesses with conductive material.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein bonding the first substrate to the second substrate comprises applying pressure to the first and second substrates; and heating the first and second substrates.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein bonding the first substrate to the second substrate is carried out without applying an adhesive.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming, in the first substrate, a voltage receiving reservoir in fluid communication with the buffer arm.

17. A capillary electrophoresis device, comprising:

(1) a capillary channel;

(2) a detection reservoir in fluid communication with the capillary channel;

(3) a CE-Aux electrode in the detection reservoir wherein the CE-Aux electrode functions as both the auxiliary electrode for a detector and capillary electrophoresis cathode;

(4) a reference electrode in the detection reservoir; and

(5) a work electrode in the detection reservoir.

18. The capillary electrophoresis device of claim 17 and further comprising a shelf proximate to an outlet of the first channel and to the detection reservoir, the CE-Aux electrode, work electrode, and reference electrode at least partially positioned proximate to the shelf whereby the shelf at least partially contains fluid in the detection reservoir and in contact with the CE-Aux electrode, the work electrode, and the reference electrode.