1. A method of incorporating one or more porous polymer monoliths into a fluidic chip, the method comprising:
inserting one or more bare preformed porous polymer monoliths into one or more channels of a channel substrate of the fluidic chip.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising fabricating the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein fabricating the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths comprises fabricating one or more porous polymer monoliths in a mold.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein fabricating the one or more monoliths in the mold comprises:
adding a pre-monolith solution to one or more channels of a molding substrate;
photopolymerizing the pre-monolith solution; and
removing the polymerized solution from the one or more channels of the molding substrate.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising chemically functionalizing one or more porous polymer monoliths, wherein the one or more inserted monoliths comprise the one or more functionalized porous polymer monoliths.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein chemically functionalizing one or more porous polymer monoliths comprises immobilizing a capture probe on the one or more porous polymer monoliths.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the capture probe is an antibody, protein, amino acid, or peptide.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the capture probe is labeled with a fluorescent marker.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the capture probe is chitosan.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the chitosan is immobilized on the one or more porous polymer monoliths using a bifunctional cross-linker.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the chitosan is immobilized on the one or more porous polymer monoliths through a direct reaction of the chitosan with the one or more porous polymer monoliths.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising bonding a capping layer to the channel substrate of the fluidic chip, wherein bonding the capping layer to the channel substrate seals the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths in the one or more channels of the channel substrate of the fluidic chip.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the one or more monoliths into one or more channels of the channel substrate comprises:
depositing a bare porous polymer monolith within a droplet of water onto the channel substrate; and
seating the deposited monolith into a channel of the channel substrate.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
suspending a bare porous polymer monolith in water; and
drawing the suspended monolith into a pipette;
wherein the monolith deposited onto the channel substrate is deposited from the pipette.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
removing the water droplet from the channel substrate; and
drying the channel substrate.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein seating the deposited monolith into the channel comprises agitating the deposited monolith.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more monoliths have cross-sectional dimensions larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the one or more channels.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more monoliths are oversized relative to the one or more channels.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths into the one or more channels of the channel substrate of the fluidic chip comprises:
inserting a first bare porous polymer monolith in a channel of the one or more channels of the channel substrate; and
inserting a second bare porous polymer monolith in the channel of the one or more channels of the channel substrate.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first monolith has a first functionalization, the second monolith has a second functionalization, and the first functionalization is different than the second functionalization.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first monolith comprises a first monolith chemistry, the second monolith comprises a second monolith chemistry, and the first monolith chemistry and the second monolith chemistry are different.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first monolith chemistry is hydrophilic, and the second monolith chemistry is hydrophobic.
23. The method of claim 1, further comprising anchoring the one or more inserted monoliths to walls of the one or more channels.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein anchoring the one or more inserted monoliths comprises softening the one or more channels of the channel substrate of the fluidic chip.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein softening the one or more channels of the channel substrate of the fluidic chip comprises exposing at least a portion of the one or more channels to a solvent.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the solvent comprises decahydronaphthalene (decalin).
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the solvent comprises a solution of decalin in ethanol.
28. The method of claim 23, wherein anchoring the one or more inserted monoliths to the walls of the one or more channels results in mechanical interlocking of the one or more inserted monoliths and the walls of the one or more channels.
29. The method of claim 23, wherein anchoring the one or more inserted monoliths to the walls of the one or more channels does not result in covalent attachment of the one or more inserted monoliths and the walls of the one or more channels.
30. A fluidic chip comprising:
a channel substrate including one or more channels;
one or more bare porous polymer monoliths mechanically anchored to walls of the one or more channels of the channel substrate.
31. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more mechanically anchored bare porous polymer monoliths comprises one or more chemically functionalized porous polymer monoliths.
32. The fluidic chip of claim 31, wherein the one or more chemically functionalized porous polymer monoliths comprise immobilized capture probes.
33. The fluidic chip of claim 32, wherein the immobilized capture probes comprise antibodies, proteins, aptamers, amino acids, peptides, or synthetic capture probes.
34. The fluidic chip of claim 32, wherein the immobilized capture probes are labeled with fluorescent markers.
35. The fluidic chip of claim 32, wherein the immobilized capture probes are chitosan.
36. The fluidic chip of claim 35, wherein the chitosan is immobilized on one or more porous polymer monoliths using a bifunctional cross-linker.
37. The fluidic chip of claim 35, wherein the chitosan is immobilized through a direct reaction of the chitosan with one or more porous polymer monoliths.
38. The fluidic chip of claim 30, further comprising a capping layer bonded to the channel substrate, wherein the one or more monoliths are sealed within the one or more channels of the channel substrate between the channel substrate and the capping layer.
39. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the channel substrate is a thermoplastic substrate.
40. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the channel substrate comprises cyclic olefin copolymer.
41. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more channels of the channel substrate have a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.
42. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more monoliths have a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.
43. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more monoliths have cross-sectional dimensions larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the one or more channels.
44. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more monoliths are oversized relative to the one or more channels.
45. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths comprise:
a first monolith in a channel of the one or more channels of the channel substrate; and
a second monolith in the channel of the one or more channels of the channel substrate.
46. The fluidic chip of claim 45, wherein the first monolith has a first functionalization, the second monolith has a second functionalization, and the first functionalization is different than the second functionalization.
47. The fluidic chip of claim 46, wherein the first and second monoliths are functionalized with different fluorescent markers.
48. The fluidic chip of claim 45, wherein the first monolith comprises a first monolith chemistry, the second monolith comprises a second monolith chemistry, and the first monolith chemistry and the second monolith chemistry are different.
49. The fluidic chip of claim 48, wherein the first monolith chemistry is hydrophilic, and the second monolith chemistry is hydrophobic.
50. The fluidic chip of claim 45, wherein the first monolith is un-functionalized, and the second monolith is functionalized.
51. The fluidic chip of claim 50, wherein the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths further comprise a third monolith in the channel of the one or more channels of the channel substrate, the second monolith is functionalized with covalently-attached immunoglobin-binding protein, and the third monolith is functionalized with a covalently-attached fluorescent marker and immunoglobin conjugate.
52. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein:
the one or more channels of the channel substrate comprise an inlet of a T-junction, a first downstream branch of the T-junction, and a second downstream branch of the T-junction;
the one or more bare porous polymer monoliths comprise first and second monoliths;
the first monolith is in the first downstream branch of the T-junction, is adjacent to the inlet of the T-junction, and comprises a hydrophobic monolith chemistry; and
the second monolith is in the second downstream branch of the T-junction, is adjacent to the inlet of the T-junction, and comprises a hydrophilic monolith chemistry.
53. The fluidic chip of claim 52, wherein the first monolith comprises butylmethacylate, and the second monolith comprises glycidyl methacrylate.
54. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more channels have one or more of a width and a height within a range greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
55. The fluidic chip of claim 54, wherein the one or more channels have one or more of a width and a height within a range greater than or equal to 1 millimeter and less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
56. The fluidic chip of claim 54, wherein the one or more channels have one or more of a width and a height within a range greater than or equal to 100 micrometers and less than or equal to 1 millimeter.
57. The fluidic chip of claim 54, wherein the one or more channels have one or more of a width and a height within a range greater than or equal to 10 micrometer and less than or equal to 100 micrometers.
58. The fluidic chip of claim 30, wherein the one or more monoliths have a length within a range greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
59. The fluidic chip of claim 58, wherein the one or more monoliths have a length within a range greater than or equal to 1 millimeter and less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
60. The fluidic chip of claim 58, wherein the one or more monoliths have a length within a range greater than or equal to 100 micrometers and less than or equal to 1 millimeter.
61. The fluidic chip of claim 58, wherein the one or more monoliths have a length within a range greater than or equal to 10 micrometer and less than or equal to 100 micrometers.
62. A chitosan-functionalized porous polymer monolith comprising:
a porous polymer monolith; and
a chitosan anchored to the porous polymer monolith.
63. The monolith of claim 62, wherein the chitosan is anchored to the porous polymer monolith using a bifunctional cross-linker.
64. The monolith of claim 63, wherein the bifunctional cross-linker is N-\u03b3-maleimidobutyryloxysuccinimide ester.
65. The monolith of claim 62, wherein the chitosan is anchored to the porous polymer monolith through a direct reaction of the chitosan with the porous polymer monolith.
66. The monolith of claim 62, wherein the porous polymer monolith comprises glycidyl methacrylate.
67. A method for manufacturing a chitosan-functionalized porous polymer monolith, the method comprising:
anchoring chitosan to a porous polymer monolith.
68. The method of claim 67, wherein anchoring the chitosan comprises using a bifunctional cross-linker to couple amines from the chitosan with epoxy groups on the porous polymer monolith.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the bifunctional cross-linker is N-\u03b3-maleimidobutyryloxysuccinimide ester.
70. The method of claim 67, wherein the anchoring the chitosan comprises directly attaching chitosan on the porous polymer monolith through a direct reaction of the chitosan with the porous polymer monolith.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A spring balance comprising a top assembly which is securable to a frame member, a bottom assembly which is securable to a sliding sash, a tension spring connected to the top assembly and to the bottom assembly, a spiral rod connected to one of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, a follower bush mounted upon the spiral rod, and a torsion spring connected to the follower bush and to the other of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, whereby movement of the top assembly relative to the bottom assembly causes movement of the follower bush along the spiral rod and consequent rotation of the follower bush to change torsion in the torsion spring, the spring balance further comprising an adjustment mechanism whereby the torsion in the torsion spring is adjustable, the adjustment mechanism comprising a part of the top assembly, adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring being effected by way of rotation of said part of the top assembly, the spring balance additionally incorporating a limit mechanism for limiting the rotation of said part of the top assembly and thereby limiting adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring.
2. A spring balance according to claim 1 wherein the said part of the top assembly is a gear.
3. A spring balance according to claim 2 wherein the limit mechanism limits rotation of the gear to a predetermined amount to prevent over-adjustment of the torsion spring.
4. A spring balance according to claim 1 wherein the torsion spring is connected to the top assembly and the spiral rod is connected to the bottom assembly.
5. A spring balance according to claim 1 wherein the limit mechanism moves during adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring, and wherein the limit mechanism can engage a stop whereby further adjustment is prevented.
6. A spring balance comprising a top assembly which is securable to a frame member, a bottom assembly which is securable to a sliding sash, a tension spring connected to the top assembly and to the bottom assembly, a spiral rod connected to one of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, a follower bush mounted upon the spiral rod, and a torsion spring connected to the follower bush and to the other of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, whereby movement of the top assembly relative to the bottom assembly causes movement of the follower bush along the spiral rod and consequent rotation of the follower bush to change torsion in the torsion spring, the torsion in the torsion spring being adjustable by way of rotation of a part of the top assembly, the spring balance incorporating a limit mechanism for limiting the rotation of said part of the top assembly and thereby limiting adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring, wherein the said part of the top assembly is a gear, and wherein the limit mechanism is a threaded member which is in threaded engagement with the gear.
7. A spring balance according to claim 6 wherein the threaded member is substantially non-rotatable so that rotation of the gear causes axial movement of the threaded member, and wherein the threaded member engages parts of the top assembly to limit its axial movement.
8. A spring balance comprising a top assembly which is securable to a frame member, a bottom assembly which is securable to a sliding sash, a tension spring connected to the top assembly and to the bottom assembly, a spiral rod connected to one of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, a follower bush mounted upon the spiral rod, and a torsion spring connected to the follower bush and to the other of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, whereby movement of the top assembly relative to the bottom assembly causes movement of the follower bush along the spiral rod and consequent rotation of the follower bush to change torsion in the torsion spring, the torsion in the torsion spring being adjustable by way of rotation of a part of the top assembly, the spring balance incorporating a limit mechanism for limiting the rotation of said part of the top assembly and thereby limiting adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring, wherein the top assembly has a ratchet mechanism and an over-ride mechanism, the ratchet mechanism permitting an increase the torsion in the torsion spring, and the over-ride mechanism being adapted to allow the ratchet mechanism to be disabled and allow a reduction in the torsion of the torsion spring.
9. A spring balance comprising a top assembly which is securable to a frame member, a bottom assembly which is securable to a sliding sash, a tension spring connected to the top assembly and to the bottom assembly, a spiral rod connected to one of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, a follower bush mounted upon the spiral rod, and a torsion spring connected to the follower bush and to the other of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, whereby movement of the top assembly relative to the bottom assembly causes movement of the follower bush along the spiral rod and consequent rotation of the follower bush to change torsion in the torsion spring, the torsion in the torsion spring being adjustable by way of rotation of a part of the top assembly, the spring balance incorporating a limit mechanism for limiting the rotation of said part of the top assembly and thereby limiting adjustment of the torsion in the torsion spring, wherein the bottom assembly has a pivoting mounting for the sliding sash, and a braking mechanism controlled by the pivoting mounting.
10. A spring balance according to claim 9 wherein the bottom assembly has a mounting bracket for the sliding sash, the mounting bracket being mounted upon the pivoting mounting.
11. A spring balance comprising a top assembly which is securable to a frame member, a bottom assembly which is securable to a sliding sash, a tension spring connected to the top assembly and to the bottom assembly, a spiral rod connected to one of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, a follower bush mounted upon the spiral rod, and a torsion spring connected to the follower bush and to the other of the top assembly and the bottom assembly, whereby movement of the top assembly relative to the bottom assembly causes movement of the follower bush along the spiral rod and consequent rotation of the follower bush to change torsion in the torsion spring, the torsion in the torsion spring being adjustable by way of rotation of part of a gearbox within the top assembly, the gearbox having a ratchet mechanism and an over-ride mechanism, the ratchet mechanism permitting an increase in the torsion in the torsion spring, and the over-ride mechanism allowing the ratchet mechanism to be disabled whereby to allow a reduction in the torsion in the torsion spring.