Abstract: A device to enhance sealing is provided. The device includes a body and a pressure cup. The pressure cup includes a channel, a first pressure channel, and a second pressure channel. The channel is formed in a surface of the body to surround a first portion of the surface. The channel is configured to hold an o-ring. The first pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the first portion of the surface. The second pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the channel. Pneumatic pressure within the second pressure channel is controlled to hold the o-ring in the channel when a second pressure within the first pressure channel changes.

Abstract: A carriage holder for support of an apparatus includes identical upper and lower support plates having on their outer edge a number of indentations corresponding to the number of apparatus to be supported, said indentations providing aligned radial horizontal grasping surfaces on one side of said apparatus. The carriage holder also includes a series of vertical spring pivot pins joining said upper and lower support plates, adjacent to each said indentation, each such pin bearing a torsion spring loaded retractable clamp member to provide grasping surfaces in retracted position opposite to the grasping surfaces of said indentations. The carriage holder also includes an unobstructed aperture in each of said aligned support plates for mounting said carriage holder on a shaft. The carriage holder further includes a locking mechanism to hold said carriage in a fixed position on the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for micro-scale simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB) for continuous preparation of analytic quantities of highly pure fractions of target molecules. The present apparatus and method of the invention is adapted in a preferred embodiment to separations by affinity chromatography involving three discontinuous liquid flow loops. An alternative embodiment of affinity chromatography utilizes standard SMB operating under isocratic conditions.

Abstract: A device to enhance sealing is provided. The device includes a body and a pressure cup. The pressure cup includes a channel, a first pressure channel, and a second pressure channel. The channel is formed in a surface of the body to surround a first portion of the surface. The channel is configured to hold an o-ring. The first pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the first portion of the surface. The second pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the channel. Pneumatic pressure within the second pressure channel is controlled to hold the o-ring in the channel when a second pressure within the first pressure channel changes.