5
`GB 2 097 692 A
`5
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`which each of the discrete volumes of chemical
`reagents is formed by the passing ofthe chemical
`reagentfrom a conduit into one or both oftwo
`conduits which have previously been filled with the
`inert immiscible liquid and which converge with the
`conduit containing the chemical reagent, followed
`by the moving ofthe intert immiscible liquid causing
`a segment ofthe chemical reagent to become
`separated from the chemical reagent which remains
`in the duct from which the chemical reagent was
`introduced.
`5. A method as claimed in claimed in claim (4) in
`which the conduit from which the chemical reagent
`is introduced has a constriction at the point where it
`meets the two conduits which were previously filled
`with inert immiscible liquid, which allows the seg-
`ment of the liquid to be mixed to be separated by a
`less powerful movement ofthe inert immiscible
`liquid, and with a more predictable volume.
`6. A method as claimed in claim (4) in which the
`volume ofthe chemical reagent is estimated before
`separation by assuming said volume is spherical and
`measuing the diameter of such a sphere with a
`microscope of telescope with a graduated eyepiece,
`after which an adjustment of said volume may be
`made and said volume separated.
`7. A method as claimed in claim (4) in which the
`volume ofthe chemical reagent that is passed into
`the conduits which were previously filled with inert
`immiscible liquid is sufficiently large that said
`volume occupies a length of said conduits, which
`length may be used as a measure of said volume
`piror to the adjustment and separation of said
`volume.
`8. A method as claimed in claim (4) in which the
`volume ofthe chemical reagent that is passed into
`the conduits that were previously filled with inert
`immiscible liquid is determined by displacing the
`required volume out ofthe conduit containing the
`chemical reagent by moving a syringe or piston a
`known distance, or by means of a well calibrated
`pump.
`9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in
`which the passage of a segment of chemical reagent
`is preceded by the passage of a segment of cleans-
`ing liquid which is miscible with the reagents, but
`immlsible with the inert immiscible liquid.
`10. A method as claimed in any previous claim in
`which surface acting chemical agents are dissolved
`in the chemical reagents or in the immiscible liquid
`orin both.
`11. A method as claimed in claim (1) in which the
`discrete volumes of the chemical reagents are
`replaced by discrete volumes of liquids containing
`suspended biological micro-organisms.
`12. A method of combining chemical reagents as
`claimed in claim (1) substantially as herein described
`with reference to Figures 3, 7, 8 and 6 of the
`accompanying drawings.
`13. A method of combining chemical reagents as
`claimed in claim (1) substantially as herein described
`with reference to Figures 3, 7, 8 and 9 ofthe
`accompanying drawings.
`14. An apparatus for carrying out any of the
`methods claimed in previous claims comprising two
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`70
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`75
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`80
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`85
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`90
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`95
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`100
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`105
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`110
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`120
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`125
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`plates held in face to face contact, in which one or
`both plates possesses a set of indentations on the
`surface to be mated such that closed conduits are
`formed, said conduits being in communication with
`reservoirs of at least 2 reagents and an immiscible
`liquid.
`15. An apparatus as claimed in claim (1) in which
`valves, pumps, syringes, pistons or flexible sheets or
`tubes are used to produce and control the move-
`ments ofthe liquid components of the system.
`16. An apparatus as claimed in claim (14) in
`which at least one ofthe plates is transparent.
`17. An apparatus as claimed in claims (14), (15)
`or (16) having three or more plates which allows the
`construction of overlapping and crossing over con-
`duits.
`
`18. An apparatus for carrying out the method
`claimed in claim (1) in which tubular elements are
`joined so as to form the conduits for the introduction
`of discrete volumes of at least two chemical rea-
`gents, and zones where at least three conduits meat,
`which zones allow the coalescence of said discrete
`volumes of chemical reagents.
`19. An apparatus as claimed in claims (14) or (18)
`which possesses one or more zones for the coalesc-
`ence of discrete volumes of chemical reagents, each
`zone being characterized by the meeting of at least
`three conduits, preferably in a ‘Y’ or ’T’ configuration
`in the case ofthree conduits, and in which each
`conduit may be of a different width.
`20. An apparatus as claimed in claims (14) or (18)
`which possesses one or more zones for the coalesc—
`ence of discrete volumes of chemical reagents, each
`zone being characterized by a constriction in a
`conduit, which constriction is bypasses by a conduit
`which has a diameter comparable to that of the
`constriction and which runs from shortly before the
`constriction to shortly after it.
`21. An apparatus as claimed in claims (14) or (18)
`which posseses one or more zones for the coalesc-
`ence of discrete volumes of chemical reagents, each
`zone being characterized by a depression in which a
`discrete volume of chemical reagent is held by
`gravity while another discrete volume is moved by
`the inert immiscible liquid towards a nearby open-
`ing, which movement causes the discrete volumes
`to become pressed against each other allowing
`coalescence.
`
`22. An apparatus as claimed in (14) or (18)
`possessing conduits with hydrophobic walls for use
`with aqueous or polar chemical reagents.
`23. An apparatus as claimed in (14) or (18)
`possessing conduits with hydrophilic walls for use
`with hydrophilic or non—polar chemical reagents.
`24. An apparatus for combining chemical rea—
`gents as claimed in claims (14) or (18) substantially
`as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4,
`5 and 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.
`25. An apparatus for combining chemical rea—
`gents as claimed in claims (14) or (18) substantially
`as herein described with reference to Figures 3, 7, 8
`and 9 ofthe accompanying drawings.
`__—_____________.————-—
`Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company
`Limited. Craydon, Surrey, 1982.
`Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,
`WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.
`
`