Abstract: The exemplary embodiments may provide a collective insulating sleeve for a plurality of chromatography columns or may provide separate insulating sleeve for each of the chromatography columns in a plurality. As a result, column ovens are not needed, and pre-heaters may not be required for each chromatography column in some exemplary embodiments. Thus, parallel column arrangements in the exemplary embodiments may be more compact than conventional arrangements.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments eliminate the need for column ovens in serial column chromatography arrangements and systems by using insulated sleeves. The insulated sleeves may encase individual chromatography columns or clusters of chromatography columns. The use of the insulated sleeves allows the chromatography columns to be positioned in close proximity to each other. This may decrease the overall size of a serial column chromatography arrangement and may reduce costs by not requiring the column ovens.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for ion source devices with minimized post-column volumes are described. In one embodiment, for example, an ion source assembly may include a chromatography column in fluid communication with an ion source device, the chromatography column arranged within a minimum distance of the ion source, the minimum distance comprising between about 60 mm and about 150 mm.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for diluting a chromatographic sample. The method includes repeating an alternating acquisition of sample fluidic plugs each having an incremental volume of sample and diluent fluidic plugs each having an incremental volume of diluent to obtain a stack of alternating sample and diluent fluidic plugs. The stack is inserted into a flow of a mobile phase in a chromatography system. Alternatively, the method includes repeating the steps of injecting an incremental volume of sample into a chromatographic system flow and providing an incremental volume of mobile phase into the chromatographic system flow. In either implementation, the dilution ratio of the sample equals the sum of the incremental volumes of the sample and the diluent or mobile phase divided by the sum of the incremental volumes of the sample.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the washing, extraction, and separation of a sample in a disposable chromatography cartridge (201) comprising a barrel (204) and a column (205), and especially including reinforcement to the column permitting high-pressure separation.

Abstract: Sample preparation and separation can be performed using a sample cartridge (201). The cartridge includes a barrel (204) with a first and second end, a column segment (209) connected to the second end of the barrel, and a column (205) containing a sorbent material. The sorbent material includes particles that have antibodies attached to them to selectively retain analytes, proteins attached to them to retain certain classes of antibodies, or enzymes attached to them to perform specific modifications to certain classes of molecules. The column segment can be in thermal communication with a temperature control device in order to control the temperature of the column.

Abstract: A method may include reducing fluid flow between a rotor and a microfluidic device. The method may further include reducing a sealing force between the rotor and the microfluidic device. The method may also include rotating the rotor relative to the microfluidic device, at the reduced sealing force, to change a fluid pathway therebetween. The method may additionally include reestablishing the sealing force to produce a fluid tight seal between the rotor and the microfluidic device. Moreover, the method may include reestablishing the fluid flow between the rotor and the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for diluting a chromatographic sample. The method includes repeating an alternating acquisition of sample fluidic plugs each having an incremental volume of sample and diluent fluidic plugs each having an incremental volume of diluent to obtain a stack of alternating sample and diluent fluidic plugs. The stack is inserted into a flow of a mobile phase in a chromatography system. Alternatively, the method includes repeating the steps of injecting an incremental volume of sample into a chromatographic system flow and providing an incremental volume of mobile phase into the chromatographic system flow. In either implementation, the dilution ratio of the sample equals the sum of the incremental volumes of the sample and the diluent or mobile phase divided by the sum of the incremental volumes of the sample.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for ion source devices with minimized post-column volumes are described. In one embodiment, for example, an ion source assembly may include a chromatography column in fluid communication with an ion source device, the chromatography column arranged within a minimum distance of the ion source, the minimum distance comprising between about 60 mm and about 150 mm.

Abstract: A method may include reducing fluid flow between a rotor and a microfluidic device. The method may further include reducing a sealing force between the rotor and the microfluidic device. The method may also include rotating the rotor relative to the microfluidic device, at the reduced sealing force, to change a fluid pathway therebetween. The method may additionally include reestablishing the sealing force to produce a fluid tight seal between the rotor and the microfluidic device. Moreover, the method may include reestablishing the fluid flow between the rotor and the microfluidic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems, apparatus, kits, and microfluidic separation devices based on separation columns and restrictors that are matched and bundled together for distribution as a unit, where the mobile phase flow rate and post-column pressure are specified based on this combination of matched separation column and restrictor.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a chromatography system includes a microfluidic substrate having a fluidic channel configured as an analytical chromatographic column and a fluidic port on one side of the microfluidic substrate. The fluidic port opens at a head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A dried blood spot (DBS) collection device holds one or more dried biological samples. The DBS collection device is directly coupled to the microfluidic substrate whereby one of the biological samples is placed into fluidic communication with the fluidic channel of the microfluidic substrate and an extraction of that biological sample flows toward the head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A diluent source fluidically coupled to the fluidic port supplies a solvent to the head end of the analytical column to dilute the extracted biological sample before the biological sample flows into the analytical chromatographic column.

Abstract: Flow through pressure sensors for use in fluid chromatography systems include a planar device formed from diffusion bonding of a plurality of metallic sheets and at least one sensing element. The planar device has a top surface, a bottom surface and a flow through channel. A diaphragm formed from a portion of one of the top or bottom surfaces is located adjacent to a sensing region of the flow through channel and is attached to the sensing element. The diaphragm is sized to deflect a distance in response to fluid pressure in the sensing region, which has an internal volume of less than about 25 microliters. The diaphragm and attached sensing element form a pressure sensor that measures strain or deflection of the diaphragm to calculate a pressure within the sensing region.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for adapting to volume variations in microfluidic chromatography columns. A column is calibrated by comparing a parameter of the column with a same parameter of a reference column and generating, by a processor, an adjustment factor in response to the comparison between the parameter of the column with a same parameter of the reference column. Volume differences between the calibrated column and the reference column are compensated for by integrating the generated adjustment factor into a sample separation involving the calibrated column.

Abstract: The invention provides interfaces between analytical instruments, e.g., between chromatography systems and mass spectrometers. In an exemplary embodiment, an ion source is provided for connecting a carbon dioxide-based chromatograph device to a mass spectrometer. The ion source includes a first conduit for receiving eluent from the chromatography device, a heater for heating at least a portion of said first conduit, a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, an inlet for receiving eluent from said second conduit and introducing the eluent into an ion source region to form a plume of gas and/or liquid in the ion source region, and an ionization promoting inlet for injecting an ionization promoting fluid into the ion source region to interact with the plume to promote ionization of at least some of the plume.

Abstract: Described are techniques for use in connection with analyzing a droplet. One or more droplets of a sample are formed on a surface of a digital microfluidic device. The droplets are manipulated to perform processing using said one or more droplets generating one or more resulting droplets. The one or more resulting droplets may be transferred from the microfluidic device to another device for analysis. The one or more droplets may also be provided to the digital microfluidic device from yet another device or analysis instrument.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a flow sensing apparatus including: a fluid channel that allows a fluid to flow in a first direction; a first temperature sensor arranged at a first position along the fluid channel; a second temperature sensor arranged at a second position along the fluid channel and separated from the first sensor by a predetermined distance along the fluid channel; a heating element arranged between the first and second thermoelectric sensors, the heating element being substantially equally spaced from the first and second thermoelectric sensors; a heating element temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heating element; and a control device configured to maintain the heating element at a substantially uniform temperature.

Abstract: An electrokinetic pump can be used to deliver calibrant (“lock mass”) ions to a mass spectrometer for calibration of a mass spectrometry system. Electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can help to eliminate the need for the more cumbersome mechanisms that are often used for ion delivery. In addition, electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can provide for a more user-friendly system in which a calibrant solution can be packaged into a disposable cartridge. Furthermore, when implemented in a microfluidic format, electrokinetically controlled calibrant delivery can be coupled with an electrokinetically controlled separation system, such as capillary electrophoresis (CE), to allow efficient solid-state switching between analytical and calibrant sprays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling nano-scale flow rate of fluid in the operating flow path of a HPLC system provide fluid flow without relying on complex calibration routines to compensate for solvent composition gradients typically used in HPLC. The apparatus and method are used to correct the flow output of a typical, analytical-scale (0.1-5 mL/min) HPLC pump to enable accurate and precise flow delivery at capillary (<0.1 mL/min) and nano-scale (<1 ?L/min) HPLC flow rates.

Abstract: Flow through pressure sensors for use in fluid chromatography systems include a planar device formed from diffusion bonding of a plurality of metallic sheets and at least one sensing element. The planar device has a top surface, a bottom surface and a flow through channel. A diaphragm formed from a portion of one of the top or bottom surfaces is located adjacent to a sensing region of the flow through channel and is attached to the sensing element. The diaphragm is sized to deflect a distance in response to fluid pressure in the sensing region, which has an internal volume of less than about 25 microliters. The diaphragm and attached sensing element form a pressure sensor that measures strain or deflection of the diaphragm to calculate a pressure within the sensing region.