Abstract: A cryogenic trap for a thermal desorber includes a hollow quartz tube having a tube wall, a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and an interior passageway between the tube inlet and the tube outlet. A sorbent material is within the interior passageway, and a metal covering surrounds at least a portion of the quartz tube. The metal covering may be a metallic coating on an outer surface of the tube wall or a metal tube fitted around the quartz tube. The metal covering may be around a portion of the quartz tube adjacent the tube inlet and/or around a portion of the quartz tube adjacent the tube outlet. The metal covering may be around substantially an entirety of the quartz tube.

Abstract: A setting tool is disclosed for setting an acoustic telemetry unit in tubing such as wellbore tubing. The setting tool comprises an anchor motor for driving an expandable anchor, a control unit for controlling the anchor motor, and an acoustic receiver. The control unit is arranged to determine whether an acoustic signal is successfully received by the acoustic receiver and to control the anchor motor in dependence thereon. By providing the setting tool with the acoustic receiver and determining whether an acoustic signal is successfully received by the acoustic receiver, it can be judged whether an acoustic signal from another acoustic telemetry unit in the tubing can be successfully received by the acoustic telemetry unit which is being set. This may facilitate deployment of a repeater unit at an optimum distance from another acoustic telemeter unit which is already in the tubing.

Abstract: Certain configurations are described of column heaters that can be used in gas chromatography applications to provide individual heating zones along a gas chromatography column. The column heater may comprise a plurality of inductive elements that can be used to provide heating zones. A thermally conductive support can be used with the gas chromatography column and the inductive elements if desired. The column heater can be used to provide a travelling wave, a thermal gradient or other heating profiles.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph (GC) column connection device includes a housing including first and second opposite ends, the housing including a housing bore extending therethrough between the first and second ends of the housing. The device includes: a piston in the housing bore; a ferrule at least partially in the housing bore at a second end of the piston; a biasing mechanism in the housing bore at a first end of the piston; and a retaining member in the housing bore between the first end of the housing and the biasing mechanism, with the retaining member spaced apart from the first end of the housing. The retaining member is configured to retain the biasing mechanism such that the biasing mechanism urges the piston axially toward the second end of the housing.

Abstract: An autosampler includes a sample carrier for receiving first and second sets of sample containers each having a top end, a side wall, and a visible indicium on its side wall. The autosampler includes: an optical sensor to read the visible indicia and to generate a corresponding output signal; a controller to receive the output signal; and a sampling system to withdraw a sample. The sample carrier supports the first and second sets of sample containers at different heights such that the indicia of the sample containers of the second set are located above the top ends of the sample containers of the first set, whereby the indicia of the sample containers of the second set are exposed to the optical sensor over the top ends of the sample containers of the first set, thereby enabling the optical sensor to read the indicia of the second set of sample containers.

Abstract: Certain configurations are described of column heaters that can be used in gas chromatography applications to provide individual heating zones along a gas chromatography column. The column heater may comprise a plurality of inductive elements that can be used to provide heating zones. A thermally conductive support can be used with the gas chromatography column and the inductive elements if desired. The column heater can be used to provide a travelling wave, a thermal gradient or other heating profiles.

Abstract: A gas chromatographic system includes a gas chromatographic (GC) subsystem and an autosampler. The autosampler includes a carrier including a plurality of seats and a plurality of sample holders disposed in respective ones of the seats. Each of the sample holders includes: a container defining a chamber configured to hold a sample; and visible indicium on the container; wherein the container is positioned in its seat such that the visible indicium is visible. The autosampler further includes an optical sensor, a controller, at least one mirror, and a sampling system. The optical sensor is configured to read the visible indicia and to generate an output signal corresponding thereto. The controller is configured to receive the output signal. The at least one mirror is arranged and configured to simultaneously reflect images of the visible indicia of a set of the sample holders in the seats to the optical sensor.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the technology, an automated thermal desorption system includes a sample tube including a chamber to contain an analyte, visible indicia on the sample tube, a thermal desorption apparatus, and a sample tube monitoring system. The thermal desorption apparatus is configured to receive the sample tube and includes a heating device. The heating device is configured to heat the sample tube in the thermal desorption apparatus and thereby desorb the analyte from the sample tube. The sample tube monitoring system includes: an optical sensor configured to read the visible indicia on the sample tube and to generate an output signal corresponding thereto; and a controller configured to receive the output signal corresponding to the visible indicia from the optical sensor and to determine an orientation of the sample tube with respect to the thermal desorption apparatus based on the output signal.

Abstract: A gas chromatographic system includes a gas chromatographic (GC) subsystem and an autosampler. The autosampler includes a carrier including a plurality of seats and a plurality of sample holders disposed in respective ones of the seats. Each of the sample holders includes: a container defining a chamber configured to hold a sample; and visible indicium on the container; wherein the container is positioned in its seat such that the visible indicium is visible. The autosampler further includes an optical sensor, a controller, at least one mirror, and a sampling system. The optical sensor is configured to read the visible indicia and to generate an output signal corresponding thereto. The controller is configured to receive the output signal. The at least one mirror is arranged and configured to simultaneously reflect images of the visible indicia of a set of the sample holders in the seats to the optical sensor.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the technology, an automated thermal desorption system includes a sample tube including a chamber to contain an analyte, visible indicia on the sample tube, a thermal desorption apparatus, and a sample tube monitoring system. The thermal desorption apparatus is configured to receive the sample tube and includes a heating device. The heating device is configured to heat the sample tube in the thermal desorption apparatus and thereby desorb the analyte from the sample tube. The sample tube monitoring system includes: an optical sensor configured to read the visible indicia on the sample tube and to generate an output signal corresponding thereto; and a controller configured to receive the output signal corresponding to the visible indicia from the optical sensor and to determine an orientation of the sample tube with respect to the thermal desorption apparatus based on the output signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes of interest are disclosed. A plurality of probes is immobilized on a planar waveguide. The probes comprise sequences complementary to a wildtype sequence of the gene of interest and complementary to a sequence of a known SNP in the gene of interest. A fluorescently-labeled analyte is flowed over the planar waveguide. The binding between the labeled analyte and each of the probes causes a change in the fluorescence signal. The SNP is detected by comparing the hybridization kinetics of the analyte with each of the probes. A method of detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms in a gene of interest by sequencing by hybridization is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes of interest are disclosed. A plurality of probes is immobilized on a planar waveguide. The probes comprise sequences complementary to a wildtype sequence of the gene of interest and complementary to a sequence of a known SNP in the gene of interest. A fluorescently-labeled analyte is flowed over the planar waveguide. The binding between the labeled analyte and each of the probes causes a change in the fluorescence signal. The SNP is detected by comparing the hybridization kinetics of the analyte with each of the probes. A method of detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms in a gene of interest by sequencing by hybridization is also disclosed.

Abstract: Genetic polymorphisms can change protein structure and function, altering dispositions to diseases and conditions. A single nucleotide polymorphism is the smallest genetic mutation and the most difficult to detect. However, single nucleotide polymorphisms also make up 90% of known genetic mutations, thus identifying such polymorphisms is essential. Single base extension uses the affinity of one base for its complementary base to detect polymorphisms, including single nucleotide polymorphisms. Planar waveguides are used as the platform for single base extension enabling rapid, real time detection of genetic polymorphisms. Detection limits in the picomolar range can be obtained. Signals from the non-matched DNA bases are in the range of the blank signal. Detection times of 5 minutes are reported.

Abstract: A single set of electrodes, wherein different electrical potentials are applied to the single set of electrodes at different times in order to perform both ion mobility-based spectrometry and mass spectrometry (MS) on a sample of ions, wherein the ions are processed by performing ion mobility-based spectrometry and mass spectrometry in any sequence, any number of times, and as isolated or superposed procedures in order to trap, separate, fragment, and/or analyze charged particles and charged particles derived from atoms, molecules, particles, sub-atomic particles and ions.