Abstract: The present disclosure describes a sample cell, method, and a computer implemented method of characterizing particles via an analytical flow field. In an exemplary embodiment, the sample cell includes (1) a sample cuvette including a top sample membrane, a sample container to contain a sample, and a bottom sample membrane, (2) a reference cuvette including a top reference membrane, a reference container to contain a solvent, and a bottom reference membrane, (3) where the sample cell is configured to allow a concentration boundary to form within the sample cell, and (4) where the sample cell is configured to allow the concentration boundary to move toward a bottom of the sample cell until equilibrium is reached in the sample cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus, method, and system of measuring attributes of a viral gene delivery vehicle sample via separation. In an embodiment, the method, system, and computer program product include executing a set of logical operations analyzing a viral gene delivery vehicle sample on a set of analytical instruments, where the set includes at least one separation instrument, at least one static light scattering instrument, and at least two concentration detectors, resulting in a capsid protein mass of the sample, mA, a modifier mass of the sample, mB, and a modifier molar mass of the sample, MB, receiving a capsid protein molar mass of the sample, MA, from a capsid protein molar mass data source, receiving an injection volume of the sample, v, from an injection volume data source, and executing a set of logical operations calculating a total VGDV particle concentration of the sample, CA.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus of measuring dynamic light scattering of a sample. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a platen, a light source underneath the platen and configured to emit emitted light through the platen and into the sample, collector optics underneath the platen and configured to capture scattered light, and an optical absorber configured to be in contact with the sample, configured to absorb transmitted light, and configured to redirect reflected light away from the collector optics. In an embodiment, the method includes depositing a sample on a platen, emitting emitted light from a light source underneath the platen through the platen and into the sample, capturing via collector optics underneath the platen scattered light, contacting the sample with an optical absorber, absorbing via the absorber transmitted light, and redirecting via the absorber reflected light away from the collector optics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which enable the reduction of sample carryover in the measurement cell of an analytical instrument. A sample cell is defined as a region sealed within a first o-ring. Located outside of said sample region is another o-ring which seals and defines a seal wash region as the region between the first and second o-ring. After the fluid sample is injected into the measurement cell a pressure is applied to the seal wash region, forcing the first o-ring to the innermost extent of the groove in which it sits, expelling any trapped solvent and removing from the measurement cell a significant dead volume while the cell is flushed and prepared for a new sample and corresponding measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for the high throughput measurement of optical properties of liquid samples placed into the wells of a multiwell plate is disclosed. An optical fiber within a fiber bundle containing no corrective optics between the fiber ends and the well plate bottom illuminates the sample in order to induce fluorescence, and multiple fibers collect emission radiation and transmit it to a fluorescence detector such as a spectrometer. Other embodiments involve a light scattering illumination source with detection fibers located in either the same bundle containing the fluorescence monitoring fibers or an independent light scattering detection bundle for the measurement of static and/or dynamic light scattering. Some embodiments of the invention permit the measurement of phase analysis light scattering. Thus the measurement of multiple optical properties of a liquid sample may be made simultaneously or in succession. A method for these measurements is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method, a system, and a computer program product of analyzing data collected by analytical instruments. In an embodiment, the method, the system, and the computer program product include receiving set-up information, running at least one incomplete analytical method on at least one known sample on at least one analytical instrument with respect to the set-up information, resulting in known sample data, processing the at least one incomplete analytical method with respect to the known sample data, resulting in at least one validated analytical method, and running the at least one validated analytical method on at least one unknown sample on the at least one analytical instrument with respect to the set-up information, resulting in analyzed sample data.

Abstract: One or more homogenizing elements are employed in a flow through, multi-detector optical measurement system. The homogenizing elements correct for problems common to multi-detector flow-through systems such as peak tailing and non-uniform sample profile within the measurement cell. The homogenizing elements include coiled inlet tubing, a flow distributor near the inlet of the cell, and a flow distributor at the outlet of the cell. This homogenization of the sample mimics plug flow within the measurement cell and enables each detector to view the same sample composition in each individual corresponding viewed sample volume. This system is particularly beneficial when performing multiangle light scattering (MALS) measurements of narrow chromatographic peaks such as those produced by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the collection of light scattered from a liquid sample contained within a multiwell plate for which evaporation from the wells is mitigated by the application of a barrier between the liquid sample and the environment. A vertical thermal gradient is applied across the vessel so that condensation is inhibited from forming on the interior surface of the barrier, thus permitting clear illumination of the sample for visual imaging, fluorescence studies and light scattering detection.

Abstract: A new liquid flow cell assembly for light scattering measurements is disclosed which utilized a floating manifold system. The assembly operates with minimal stacked tolerances by aligning the cell to the windows within a manifold and independently aligning the cell to the read head directly. This configuration enables the ability to replace the flow cell or the flow cell/manifold assembly within a light scattering instrument without the need to realign the flow through elements with the light scattering illumination source while still maintaining reproducible, quality data. Some embodiments employ wide bore cells which enable the measurement of process analytic technology (PAT) including online monitoring of reactions.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus, method, and system of regulating a detector flow of a field flow fractionator. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes (1) a detector flow meter, where the detector flow meter is configured to measure a detector flow from the field flow fractionator, (2) a channel pressure meter, where the channel pressure meter is configured to measure a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator, (3) at least one control valve, where an inlet of the at least one control valve is connected to an outlet of the channel pressure meter, (4) where the detector flow meter is configured to set a channel pressure set point of the channel pressure meter, and (5) where the channel pressure meter is configured to actuate the at least one control valve to maintain a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator at the channel pressure set point.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a field flow fractionator (FFF). In an embodiment, the FFF includes a spacer including a core, and a coating covering the core. In an embodiment, the FFF includes a spacer including a core, and a coating covering the core, a bottom block including pins, and a top block including mating holes to receive the pins, where the spacer is configured to be positioned between the top block and the bottom block. In an embodiment, the FFF includes a spacer including a core including an opening, a top side, and a bottom side, a first coating covering the top side, and a second coating covering the bottom side, a top block configured to press on the first coating along a first periphery of the opening, and a bottom block configured to press on the second coating along a second periphery of the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the physical properties of a drug formulation suspended in a pressurized liquid propellant and a system to enable such measurements is disclosed. Drug formulations suspended in pressurized liquid propellant used in Pressurized Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs) are propelled in their native liquid state into an analytical instrument with a measurement cell capable of withstanding the pressure required to retain the sample in liquid form by employing a device to rapidly release the contents of the pMDI canister into the measurement instrument wherein the sample's electrophoretic mobility and size may be determined by MP-PALS or other techniques. A series of valves permits the maintenance of the high pressure in the system. Once the measurements are made, the pressurized liquid is allowed to pass to waste or another analytical instrument by opening an exit valve.

Abstract: An improved version of the capillary bridge viscometer that compensates for the effect of solvent compressibility is disclosed. A novel, yet simple and inexpensive modification to a conventional capillary bridge viscometer design can improve its ability to reject pump pulses by more than order of magnitude. This improves the data quality and allows for the use of less expensive pumps. A pulse compensation volume is added such that it transmits pressure to the differential pressure transducer without sample flowing there through. The pressure compensation volume enables the cancellation of the confounding effects of pump pulses in a capillary bridge viscometer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the collection of light scattered from a liquid sample contained within a multiwell plate for which evaporation from the wells is mitigated by the application of a barrier between the liquid sample and the environment. A vertical thermal gradient is applied across the vessel so that condensation is inhibited from forming on the interior surface of the barrier, thus permitting clear illumination of the sample for visual imaging, fluorescence studies and light scattering detection.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a flow cell, a read head, and a skid attachment for measuring real-time molecular weight for downstream process control. In an embodiment, the flow cell comprises a hollow cylindrical tube, an inlet flange connected to an inlet of the tube, and an outlet flange connected to an outlet of the tube. In an embodiment, the read head comprises at least one push rod, at least two line contacts, where the at least one push rod is configured to push an outer side wall of a flow cell against the at least two line contacts. In an embodiment, the skid attachment comprises a plurality of arms connected to an enclosure configured to house at least a multi-angle light scattering instrument comprising a read head.

Abstract: A method to filter out pump pulses from data collected with a chromatography system is disclosed. Baseline data is collected as a pump delivers solvent to an analytical instrument, which may be the IP signal of a capillary bridge viscometer. A Fourier transform is applied to the data to generate the power spectrum of the baseline signal. Fundamental and harmonic frequencies are determined and a comb filter is constructed therefrom and applied to sample collected from all of the affected instruments. The comb filter may be correlated to the pump and flow rate and stored in data analysis software or database. Other systems using other pumps may also generate associated comb filters, and the resulting filters and the flow rates at which they were generated may be stored in a database accessible to the data analysis software.

Abstract: An improved version of the capillary bridge viscometer that compensates for the effect of solvent compressibility is disclosed. A novel, yet simple and inexpensive modification to a conventional capillary bridge viscometer design can improve its ability to reject pump pulses by more than order of magnitude. This improves the data quality and allows for the use of less expensive pumps. A pulse compensation volume is added such that it transmits pressure to the differential pressure transducer without sample flowing there through. The pressure compensation volume enables the cancellation of the confounding effects of pump pulses in a capillary bridge viscometer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method, a system, and a computer program product of indicating a status of an analytical instrument on a screen of the analytical instrument. In an embodiment, the method, the system, and the computer program product include receiving data from an analytical instrument monitoring a liquid sample, segmenting the received data into data segments for at least two characteristics of at least one of the instrument, the sample, and an operating environment of the instrument, analyzing each of the data segments for the at least two characteristics, retrieving threshold values for the at least two characteristics from a computer data source, calculating at least one status of at least one of the instrument, the sample, and the operating environment, with respect to the analyzed data segments and the threshold values, and displaying the at least one status on a display of the instrument.

Abstract: An electrode for use in instruments capable of measuring the electrophoretic mobility of particles in solution is disclosed. The electrode is comprised of an inexpensive support member, generally made of titanium, onto a flat surface of which has been connected, generally by microwelding, a flat electrically conductive but chemically inert foil member, preferably platinum. A uniform texture can be generated on the exposed surfaces of the electrode by various means including tumbling the electrode with an abrasive. An oxide layer can be generated on the support member by soaking the composite electrode in an appropriate medium, protecting the exposed surface of the support member from fluid contact with the sample solution, while the foil member, unaffected by the oxidation process, is able to contact the sample solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the collection of light scattered from a liquid sample contained within a multiwell plate for which evaporation from the wells is mitigated by the application of a barrier between the liquid sample and the environment. A vertical thermal gradient is applied across the vessel so that condensation is inhibited from forming on the interior surface of the barrier, thus permitting clear illumination of the sample for visual imaging, fluorescence studies and light scattering detection.