Abstract: The present invention relates to laminate comprising a first thermoplastic polymer layer with a first melt flow index, adjacent a thermoplastic polymer second layer with a second melt flow index, the first and second layer comprising the same thermoplastic polymer, characterized in that the first melt flow index is lower than the second melt flow index. The invention also relates to a microfluidic device comprising the laminate and a method for incorporating an ink pattern in the laminate.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure ionization apparatus includes a chamber, an ion inlet structure, an electrode, a sample emitter, and a gas passage. The ion inlet structure includes a sampling orifice. The electrode includes an electrode bore. An ionization region is defined between the ion inlet structure and the electrode. The flared structure is coaxially disposed about the ion inlet structure, and extends along an outward direction that includes a radial component relative to the sampling axis. The sample emitter is oriented at an angle to the sampling axis for directing a sample stream toward the ionization region. The gas passage directs a stream of gas from a gas source to the chamber. The flared structure and the wall cooperatively form an outward-directed portion of the gas passage that extends annularly about the sampling axis and along the outward direction. The gas flows through the outward-directed portion, around the flared structure, and toward the ionization region and the electrode bore.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method for making microfluidic structures in bulk titanium is disclosed. Specific microfluidic structures include HPLC structures.

Abstract: A compact, ultra-broadband antenna with doughnut-like radiation pattern is provided as including a first assembly having first and second ends; a second assembly having first and second ends, the first and second ends each configured to have a substantially hemispherical shape; and a cable configured to extend through the first and second assemblies and out each of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A tunable laser comprises a first tuner configured to select an emission wavelength of the laser a second tuner configured to adjust a cavity mode of the laser by modifying the cavity optical path length. The second tuner is constrained by a finite tuning range. The tunable laser also comprises a controller configured to control the first and second tuners to select the emission wavelength and adjust the cavity mode in synchronization to perform phase-continuous tuning across a range larger than supported by the finite tuning range of the second tuner.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for back pressure regulator used in liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, or supercritical fluid extraction allows very fine automated control over a very wide range of pressures by combining a linear actuator compressing a spring, pushing a pin. The nozzle assembly of the regulator comprises a flow through chamber containing a diaphragm and a seat, in which the pin pushes the diaphragm against the seat, together with an upstream pressure sensor and electronic feedback control to the motor of the actuator. The BPR of the embodiments exhibits high pressure stability and extremely low pressure noise, even at moderate to high pressures. The exemplary BPR can be use at either constant pressure or to generate pressure programs where the pressure is varied versus time. Further, the nozzle assembly has a field-replaceable head, requiring no mechanical adjustment on replacement.

Abstract: A system for measuring residual phase noise of a device under test (DUT) includes first and second signal sources, first and second receivers, and a processor. The first signal source generates a first signal to be input to the DUT as a stimulus signal and provides a second signal that is phase coherent with the first signal. The second signal source receives the second signal and generates a reference signal based on the second signal, which is phase coherent with the stimulus signal. The first receiver measures an output signal from the DUT responsive to the stimulus signal, and the second receiver measures the reference signal from the second signal source. The processor mathematically suppresses a carrier of the output signal by determining a difference between the measured output signal and the measured reference signal, and determines the residual phase noise of the DUT based on the difference.

Abstract: Ion sources for use in mass spectrometry (MS) systems are described. The ion sources each comprise an ion funnel and an ionization source configured to ionize neutral analyte molecules.

Abstract: The present invention includes a heat sealable capsule adapted for use in analysis devices such as GCs, and methods for using the capsules to perform analysis in such devices. The capsules include a tube having an end that is heat-sealed to contain a sample that is to be analyzed at an injection temperature. The tube includes a heat sealable medium having a heat seal that closes the end, the tube having an inner and outer surface, both of the surfaces being substantially chemically inert with respect to the sample. The tube is substantially free of any material that outgases at the injection temperature. The tube is openable without breaking into pieces, and remains intact at the injection temperature. The capsule can include a programmable tag that stores information related to the sample contained therein.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a digital representation of a time difference between a periodic reference signal having a reference signal period and a periodic input signal having an input signal period. The apparatus includes a free-running finite state machine (FSM) that traverses a multiplicity of states in a predetermined order, the state having corresponding state vectors, each of which is held for a state dwell time. A timing circuit receives the reference signal, the input signal and the FSM state vectors, and determines a state transition count equal to a number of FSM state transitions that occur during a counting interval, which corresponds to the time difference between the reference and input signals. A digital low-pass filter receives the state transition counts and provides an output value including weighted sums of the state transition counts, proportional to the time difference between the reference and input signal. A period of the FSM is independent of the reference signal period.

Abstract: An apparatus and process to effectively create an active drain for high and low pressure gas-liquid separator. The invention accomplishes a deterministic drainage rate of variable volume and viscosity liquid fractions from the separator. The mechanisms and methods thereof create a flow path from the separator that dramatically favors controlled liquid flow over a wide range of flow rates and viscosities while restricting gas flow. The invention is a superior method of drainage over conventional systems that employ pressure, vacuum, isolation valves and/or passive flow restrictors to achieve drainage of the separators. The embodiments are primarily directed to the fields of preparative supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). An advantage of one embodiment allows the economical conversion of typical HPLC systems to state of-the-art supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) systems with minimal modification to system components.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for confirming the nucleotide sequence of an oligonucleotide is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: a) inputting the nucleotide sequence of an oligonucleotide; b) executing an algorithm that provides the predicted molecular formulas of fragments of the oligonucleotide; c) comparing the predicted m/z values of the predicted molecular formulas to experimentally-obtained m/z values obtained by analysis of the oligonucleotide by tandem mass spectrometry to determine if the predicted masses correspond with the experimentally-obtained masses. The method may be used, for example, to confirm the identity of an oligonucleotide after it is synthesized.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma MS/MS mass analyzer (ICP-MS/MS) may include a first vacuum chamber which draws plasma containing an ionized sample into vacuum, a second vacuum chamber which includes a device or means which extracts and guides ions as an ion beam from the ions output from the first vacuum chamber, a third vacuum chamber which has a first ion optical separation device or means, a fourth vacuum chamber which has a cell into which reaction gas is introduced, and a fifth vacuum chamber which has a second optical separation device or means and a detector, wherein the second vacuum chamber and third vacuum chamber are individually evacuated.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe comprises a substrate, a probe coil formed on the substrate and comprising a superconducting material, and a plurality of infrared (IR) reflection patches formed on the substrate around the probe coil.

Abstract: Ion guides for use in mass spectrometry (MS) systems are described. The ion guides are configured to provide a reflective electrodynamic field and a direct current (DC or static) electric field to provide ion beams that are more spatially confined with a comparatively large mass range.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes first to fifth vacuum chambers and a single split-flow turbo molecular pump. The first vacuum chamber draws an ionized sample from atmospheric pressure plasma. The second vacuum chamber includes means for extracting and guiding an ion beam from ions from the first vacuum chamber. The third vacuum chamber includes first ion-optical separator means. The fourth vacuum includes a collision/reaction cell into which collision/reaction gas is introduced. The fifth vacuum chamber includes second ion-optical separator means and a detector. The split-flow turbo molecular pump has multiple inlets for differentially evacuating the second, third, fourth and fifth vacuum chambers. The fourth vacuum chamber is connected to an inlet of the split-flow turbo molecular pump providing a pressure higher than a pressure of an inlet of the split-flow turbo molecular pump to which the third vacuum chamber is connected.

Abstract: A novel chromatographic stationary phase for reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is provided. By using mono and dimethyl silanes as endcapping reagents as compared with the use of traditional trimethyl silanes, an improved blocking of unreacted surface silanols is achieved. The improved blocking of surface silanols results in at least better peak shape and more reproducible retention times in reversed-phase HPLC analyses.

Abstract: A split-band system for processing a broadband input signal is disclosed. A signal divider divides the input signal into at least a higher frequency band and a lower frequency band. The lower frequency band is processed in a lower frequency circuit path. The higher frequency band is processed in a higher frequency circuit path. The higher frequency circuit path has a group delay equal to the lower frequency circuit path. A signal combiner combines the processed lower frequency band and the processed higher frequency band into an output signal.

Abstract: Described herein is an ion slicer that: a) accelerates an ion beam towards a first electrode comprising an ion entrance slit, where the first electrode blocks a portion of ions with high displacement from the axis of the ion beam, thereby slicing the ion beam; and then b) decelerates the ion beam after it is sliced.

Abstract: A system for detecting responses of a MEMS resonator device includes first and second signal sources, a signal divider and a frequency mixer. The first signal source provides a first signal and the second signal source provides a second signal that electrostatically drives the MEMS resonator device, causing mechanical vibration. The signal divider divides the first signal into a probe signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal, the probe signal being applied to the MEMS resonator device and reflected by a capacitance of the MEMS resonator device. A reflection coefficient is modulated onto the reflected probe signal at the mechanical resonance frequency by variations in the capacitance induced by the mechanical vibration of the MEMS resonator device. The frequency mixer mixes the reflected probe signal and the LO signal and outputs an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which represents modulation of the reflection coefficient, providing an image of the mechanical vibration.