Abstract: The technology generally relates to tailoring a back pressure regulator in a chromatographic system to reduce unswept volume within the back pressure regulator to achieve better sample detection and a reduction in chromatographic band distortion effects.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a gas liquid separator that includes a chamber for receiving a fluid mixture, a fluid mixture inlet, a solvent outlet, and a gas outlet. The gas liquid separator can include a sensor disposed around or within the chamber for sensing at least one of a solvent level or a gas level. The gas liquid separator can include a regulator connected to at least one of the solvent outlet or the gas outlet for regulating at least one of the solvent level or the gas level within the chamber. Exemplary methods of regulating at least one of the solvent level or the gas level within a gas liquid separator of a CO2-based chromatography flow system are also provided.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to manipulating pressure-related hysteresis in a pressurized flow system by setting the pressure of the system to a predetermined location in the hysteresis band to advantageously minimize an effect of the pressure related hysteresis on the pressure of the system or to advantageously benefit from the effects of the hysteresis on the pressure of the system.

Abstract: Examples of gas liquid separators include a chamber, a fluid mixture inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. The fluid mixture inlet and the gas and liquid outlets are in fluid communication with the chamber. A fluid mixture received at the fluid mixture inlet diffuses inside the chamber and is separated into a liquid and a gas. The separated liquid is gravity-fed to the liquid outlet. The gas liquid separators have reduced dispersion and increased liquid recovery in comparison to conventional gas liquid separators used for chromatographic separations. The reduced dispersion yields an improvement in the shape of chromatographic peaks.

Abstract: A heater assembly used in chromatography includes a thermally conductive base having a chamber extending fully through the base with an opening at a first side of the base and at a second side of the base, and a cavity with an opening at the second side of the base. A heater is disposed within the cavity in thermal communication with the base. A thermistor assembly, having a thermistor within a thermally conductive body is disposed within the chamber. The body has a head region with a planar surface. The planar surface of the head region is exposed at the opening of the chamber at the first side of the base for making thermally conductive contact therewith. The thermistor assembly is thermally isolated from the base.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a gas liquid separator that includes a chamber, a fluid mixture inlet, a solvent outlet and a gas outlet. The gas liquid separator can include a phase-change inducing mechanism disposed in or proximate to the fluid mixture inlet. Exemplary methods of improving separation of a fluid mixture in a gas liquid separator and CO2-based chromatography flow systems including a gas liquid separator are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a C02-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: Methods for transferring a carbon dioxide based separation procedure from a first chromatographic system to a second one involve identifying an average column pressure for the separation in the first system is identified, determining a measured average column pressure for the separation in the second system, and comparing the measured average column pressure with the identified average column pressures. To more closely match the identified average column pressure, the methods involve: (a) altering a cross-sectional area of a column packed with media in the second system; and/or (b) adding makeup fluid along the length of the column in the second system. Columns with the characteristics used in the methods and second chromatographic systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A pierceable self-resealing stopper for a container is disclosed. The disclosed stopper is suitable for sealing a container containing reagents for use in a high-throughput analysis system in which reagents in the container are accessed by an aspirator probe piercing the stopper. The stopper is configured for being pierced and resealing itself a large number of times without degradation of the stopper by coring or fragmentation, for example. A set of protrusions extending from a top surface of the stopper is depressed to stretch a thin diaphragm area between the protrusions prior to and during insertion of the probe. After extraction of the probe, the protrusions are allowed to return to a relaxed state, which discontinues stretching of the diaphragm area and reseals the container.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a CO2-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: Described are a method and an apparatus for delivering a fluid having a desired mass composition. According to the method, temperatures of the fluids to be mixed are sensed and the densities of the fluids at the sensed temperatures are determined. The volume of each fluid is determined so that a mixture of the fluids at the sensed temperatures has the desired mass composition. The determined volumes of the fluids are combined to create the mixture. In one option, combining the determined volumes includes metering flows of the fluids sequentially into a common fluid channel. Alternatively, combining the determined volumes includes controlling a flow rate of each of the fluids and directing the fluids into a common fluid channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for regulating the average mobile phase density or pressure in a carbon dioxide based separation system. The apparatus includes a controller, a set of pressure or density sensors and a set of instructions capable of determining the pressure drop across a column and adjusting at least one system component or parameter to achieve a pre-determined average mobile phase density or pressure in the system.

Abstract: A fluidic block has a thermally conductive body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body has a cutout portion formed therein between the first and second ends. The cutout portion partitions the body into a first region, a second region, and a thin region between the first and second regions. The cutout portion produces a thermal break between the first and second regions. The thermal break operates to guide a heat flow between the first and second regions through the thin region. A thermally conductive chromatography tube extends through the first, second, and thin regions from the first end to the second end of the body. The tube is in thermal communication with the body. A section of the tube may run in a transverse direction across the body in the thin region of the body.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for controlling the mass flow rate within a CO2 based chromatography system. The pressure within a CO2 pump is measured and received at a computing system, and the computing system retrieves a target temperature value corresponding to the new pressure measurement within the CO2 pump. The computing system then generates a temperature control command that controls a CO2 pump heater or cooler in order to achieve the target temperature value at the CO2 pump. Thus, a target mass flow rate of CO2 from the CO2 pump is achieved by adjusting the temperature of the CO2 pump in response to changes in pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems, apparatus, and kits for controlling fluid flow within a chromatography system. A makeup pump is configured to pump a makeup fluid into the chromatography system downstream of the column. A first restrictor is located upstream of a detector and downstream of both the makeup pump and the column. Decreasing an output volume of the makeup pump can direct an output from the column through the first restrictor to the detector. Increasing an output volume of the makeup pump can direct the output from the column to a second restrictor located downstream of the makeup pump and the column and in parallel with the first restrictor and the detector.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for regulating the average mobile phase density or pressure in a carbon dioxide based separation system. The apparatus includes a controller, a set of pressure or density sensors and a set of instructions capable of determining the pressure drop across a column and adjusting at least one system component or parameter to achieve a pre-determined average mobile phase density or pressure in the system.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing chromatographic band broadening within a separation column include passing a mobile phase through a length of a separation column, and generating a spatial thermal gradient external to and along the length of the separation column. The spatial thermal gradient is specifically configured to counteract a particular change in a property of the mobile phase as the mobile phase passes through the separation column. For example, the particular change counteracted may be a change in density or in temperature of the mobile phase. For analytical-scale columns, for example, the spatial thermal gradient may be configured to produce temperatures external to and along the length of the separation column that substantially matches temperatures predicted to form in the mobile phase along the column length as the mobile phase passes through the separation column, thereby substantially preventing formation of a radial thermal gradient in the mobile phase.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include systems, apparatuses, and methods that are directed to controlling pressure in a pressurized flow system, such as a CO2-based chromatography system or other pressurized flow systems. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure comprise one or more apparatuses, systems or methods for implementing multiple pressure regulators to control pressure. In addition to providing pressure control, apparatuses, systems and methods described herein dampen damaging thermal effects caused by pressure drops of a mobile phase including CO2.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for providing a fluid at an increased pressure. The apparatus has a range of applications including use with carbon dioxide-based chromatography systems to achieve accurate flow rate control for a carbon dioxide pump. The apparatus includes a thermally-controlled chamber, chamber inlet and outlet check valves, and a temperature controller to control a temperature of fluid inside the chamber. The apparatus also includes a capacitance chamber in fluidic communication with the outlet check valve. A flow of gas passes into the chamber through the inlet check valve when a fluid pressure inside the chamber is less than an inlet fluid pressure and out from the chamber through the outlet check valve when the fluid pressure inside the chamber is greater than an outlet fluid pressure. Thermal control of the chamber allows accurate control of the gas flow into and out from the chamber.

Abstract: Described is a coupling seal that includes a polymeric body having a bore extending from a first end to an internal sealing surface and a fluid channel extending from the internal sealing surface to a second end. The bore is configured to receive a tube having a fluid channel so that an endface of the tube engages the internal sealing surface. The second end of the polymeric body is configured to contact a sealing surface of a coupling body that has a fluid channel extending from the sealing surface. A fluidic seal occurs when the coupling seal is compressed between the endface and the sealing surface. A void between an outer surface of the polymeric body and an inner surface of the coupling body receives the deformation of the coupling seal while under compression to thereby prevent the fluid channel of the tube from being crushed or obstructed.