Abstract: A seal forming a fluid tight connection between a gas chromatography column and a sample inlet assembly is disclosed. The seal is formed by a metal injection molding process. The seal has a first surface adapted for sealing with the sample inlet assembly and a second surface adapted for sealing with the column. The seal has an aperture extending between the first and second surfaces. A method of sealing a connection between a gas chromatography sample inlet assembly and a gas chromatography column is also disclosed. The method includes providing a seal as described above, compressing the first surface of the seal against an end of the inlet assembly, positioning the column in fluid communication with the aperture, and engaging the column with the second surface.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow comprises a first fluid conduit having a length, an inner diameter, an input pressure and an output pressure, and a second fluid conduit having a length, an inner diameter, an input pressure and an output pressure where the output pressure of the first fluid conduit is the input pressure of the second fluid conduit. The system also comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine the output pressure of the first fluid conduit, and a controller configured to control the output pressure of the first fluid conduit, thereby establishing a desired fluid flow through the second fluid conduit based on the length of the second fluid conduit, the inner diameter of the second fluid conduit, the temperature of the second fluid conduit and the type of fluid flowing in the second fluid conduit.

Abstract: A fluid coupling comprises a fitting body, and a chamber within the fitting body, the chamber having at least one fluid conduit receiver bore and a restricted portion, the fluid conduit receiver bore configured to minimize unswept volume in the chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a low mass and size thermal focusing device for a gas phase analytical device. The device has two or more plates bonded together. The device also has at least one channel with an entrance and exit is formed within allowing ingress and egress of a gas stream. The device also has a temperature reduction module in thermal contact with at least one plate of the device. Thermal focusing devices with additional plates and/or channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a low mass and size thermal focusing device for a gas phase analytical device. The device has two or more plates bonded together. The device also has at least one channel with an entrance and exit is formed within allowing ingress and egress of a gas stream. The device also has a temperature reduction module in thermal contact with at least one plate of the device. Thermal focusing devices with additional plates and/or channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping microfluidic devices. An apparatus for pumping microfluidic devices includes a microfluidic pumping device, a pump. The pump includes a reservoir containing a pump fluid when in operation, a heat element situated to apply heat to the pump fluid to produce evaporated pump fluid, and a reservoir outlet sized to operably couple the pump to a microfluidic device and connected to the reservoir to provide an exit from the reservoir for the pump fluid. The evaporated pump fluid increases pressure in the reservoir, causing the pump fluid to flow out of the reservoir outlet at a rate determined by the pressure, the composition, configuration and dimensions the reservoir outlet and of a flow path, and characteristics of the pump fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a low mass and size thermal focusing device for a gas phase analytical device. The device has two or more plates bonded together. The device also has at least one channel with an entrance and exit is formed within allowing ingress and egress of a gas stream. The device also has a temperature reduction module in thermal contact with at least one plate of the device. Thermal focusing devices with additional plates and/or channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for correcting spectral skew in a mass spectrometer by optimizing the mass spectrometer for a mass spectrometry performance parameter, generating measured spectra of a known reference compound, comparing the measured spectra to the known spectra of the known reference compound, generating a correction function from the comparison, and using the correction function to correct subsequent scans on the mass spectrometer. The present invention involves the use of a software correction of spectra (signal processing) to match any reference mass spectral response paradigm (e.g., magnetic sector instruments). By applying a software correction, the performance of the mass spectrometer may then be optimized independently, thereby yielding better overall performance of the system.

Abstract: System and method for improving performance in a mass spectrometer by tuning mass spectrometer parameters for each mass across a mass range, fitting the parameters to respective mathematical functions across the mass range, ramping each of the parameters dynamically according to the respective mathematical functions during a mass spectrometer scan, and correcting spectral distortion. To achieve the best signal or signal-to-noise ratio across the mass range of interest, the mass spectrometer parameters are dynamically ramped.