Abstract: A fluid processing apparatus includes a first fluid separation apparatus including a first fluid pump, configured for driving a first mobile phase, and a first separation unit configured for separating a fluidic sample when within the first mobile phase. A sampling unit includes a modulation buffering unit and a modulation drive, wherein the modulation drive is configured for introducing fluid into the modulation buffering unit. A switching unit is configured, in a first switching state, for introducing fluid into the modulation buffering unit from downstream of the first separation unit, and, in a second switching state, for introducing fluid buffered in the modulation buffering unit in a first flow path between the first fluid pump and the first separation unit.

Abstract: A fluid valve, for a sample separation device such as for liquid chromatography, includes a rotor, a stator, and external terminals for fluidically connecting one or more components. By rotating the rotor, different fluidic coupling and/or decoupling states between components are adjustable. Ports are connectable with one or more external terminals. A first channel is formed along a first circular path. A second channel includes a first coupling point located on the first circular path and a second coupling point located on a second circular path. By rotating the rotor, a fluidic coupling between a first port and a second port can be established, by the first channel being connected with the first port and at least the first coupling point with the second channel, and by the second channel being connected at least via the second coupling point with the second port.

Abstract: A valve may be utilized in a high-performance chromatography system for separating components of a sample liquid introduced into a mobile phase. The valve has a first valve element and a second valve element. By a movement of one valve element relative to the other, a first effective surface of the first valve element is brought into connection with a second effective surface of the second valve element, and a flow path may be produced or suppressed. The second valve element has an elastic region to compensate for an axial angle between the first valve element and the second valve element, such that the first effective surface and the second effective surface may be oriented parallel to each other. This may favorably influence a fluidic leak tightness and/or longevity of the valve.

Abstract: A valve, such as for an analysis device for analyzing a fluidic sample, includes a stator element having a stator boundary surface and a rotor element having a rotor boundary surface. The stator element and the rotor element are arranged in an axial direction. The stator boundary surface and the rotor boundary surface are pressed against each other in the axial direction by an axial force. The axial force is fixed by a non-detachable connection.

Abstract: A sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample includes a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase, a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase, and a control unit configured for bracketing the fluidic sample between two mobile phase portions of the mobile phase. At least one of the mobile phase portions is arranged directly next to the fluidic sample and has a higher solvent strength compared to a solvent of the fluidic sample.

Abstract: A sampling unit includes a needle for aspirating a sample fluid, a housing, and a fitting. The needle includes a needle tip and a needle channel through the needle for guiding the aspirated sample fluid. The needle channel opens at the needle tip. The housing includes a housing cavity and a housing channel opening into the housing cavity. The fitting includes a fitting cavity and a fitting channel. The fitting is configured for sealingly receiving the needle tip into the fitting cavity and for being inserted into the housing cavity, so that the fitting channel on one side fluidically couples to the needle channel and on another side couples to the housing channel.

Abstract: A sample injector is provided for a chromatography system that includes a mobile phase drive and a separation unit. The mobile phase drive is configured for driving a mobile phase through the separation unit, and the separation unit is configured for chromatographically separating compounds of a sample fluid in the mobile phase. The sample injector is configured for injecting the sample fluid into the mobile phase and comprises a needle and a handling unit configured for positioning the needle. Operating the sample injector includes providing a receptacle that includes a filtration unit configured for filtering a sample fluid comprised within the receptacle, moving the filtration unit within the receptacle in order to filter at least a portion of the sample fluid contained in the receptacle, operating the handling unit to position the needle into the receptacle, and aspirating a volume of the filtered sample fluid.

Abstract: A sampling device for an analytical device includes an object handling device, in particular a robotic arm, configured for handling an object such as an analytical sample. A needle is fixedly coupled to the object handling device. A driving device, coupled to the object handling device, is configured for providing a driving force to the object handling device to drive the object handling device, such as in the vertical direction. A movable element is movably coupled to the object handling device, such that the movable element is at least partially movable with respect to the fixedly coupled needle. A holding element is configured for providing a holding force to the movable element, such that the holding force holds the movable element against the driving force. A control device is configured to increase the driving force until the driving force overcomes the holding force at a break-off region.

Abstract: In a method for characterizing a property of a flow path, in particular of an element in the flow path, in an analysis device, the volume of a fluid in the flow path, in particular in the element of the flow path, is changed in order to change the pressure in the flow path. The pressure change in the flow path as a consequence of the volume change is determined. The property of the flow path is characterized based on the determined pressure change and/or the volume change.

Abstract: A sample separation device includes a separation path and a control unit. The separation path is between a fluid drive and a sample separation unit, and is configured to inject a fluidic sample in an injector path into a mobile phase in the separation path driven by the fluid drive to the sample separation unit for chromatographically separating the fluidic sample. The control unit is configured to control blocking the injector path or at least a partial path thereof, generating an overpressure in the blocked injector path or the partial path thereof by a pressure source, and subsequently fluidically coupling the injector path or the partial path thereof to a region of lower pressure than the overpressure to generate an expansion stroke for releasing unwanted components from the injector path.

Abstract: An injector, for injecting a fluidic sample into a flow path between a fluid drive and a sample separation unit, includes a sample accommodation volume, a sample drive, and a fluidic valve switchable to selectively couple the volume with the flow path or decouple the volume from the flow path. In an injection switching state, the fluid drive, the separation unit and the sample drive are coupled by the valve so that fluid driven by the sample drive and flowing from the volume to the separation unit and further fluid driven by the fluid drive and flowing from the fluid drive to the separation unit are combined at a fluidic connection upstream of the separation unit. In that same injection switching state, the sample drive can branch off at least a portion of an amount of mobile phase into the sampling path from such fluidic connection to flush at least a portion of the sampling path with mobile phase. A control unit controls the operation of the injector in the switching states.

Abstract: A sample transport device for transporting a fluidic sample, in particular for an analyzer for analyzing the fluidic sample, includes a sample receptacle for receiving and/or dispensing the fluidic sample; a moving device, in particular a robot arm, for moving the sample receptacle, and a pumping element arranged to be moved by the moving device to perform and/or trigger a pumping operation.

Abstract: An injector, for injecting a fluidic sample into a flow path between a fluid drive and a sample separation unit, includes a sample accommodation volume, a sample drive, and a fluidic valve switchable to selectively couple the volume with the flow path or decouple the volume from the flow path. In an injection switching state, the fluid drive, the separation unit and the sample drive are coupled by the valve so that fluid driven by the sample drive and flowing from the volume to the separation unit and further fluid driven by the fluid drive and flowing from the fluid drive to the separation unit are combined at a fluidic connection upstream of the separation unit. A control unit controls an outlet flow rate value according to which a combination of the mobile phase and the fluidic sample is driven through the separation unit.

Abstract: A configurable injector for injecting a fluidic sample in a separation path of a sample separation apparatus includes a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample to be injected into the separation path, a valve arrangement fluidically couplable with the separation path, fluidically coupled with the sample accommodation volume, and being controllable for injecting the fluidic sample into the separation path, an input interface configured for receiving input data indicative of an injection profile of an injector to be emulated by the configurable injector, and a control unit configured for controlling the configurable injector, in particular the valve arrangement, so that the configurable injector is operated in accordance with the injection profile to thereby emulate the injector to be emulated.

Abstract: A fluid processing apparatus includes a first fluid processing unit and a second fluid processing unit. A fluid unit is fluidically coupled to the first fluid processing unit and includes a first buffering unit configured for buffering fluid, and/or a mask flow source configured for providing a mask fluid or a flow thereof. A first coupling point is fluidically coupled between the first fluid processing unit and the fluid unit. A modulation unit is configured, selectively, for withdrawing fluid from the first coupling point, or for transferring withdrawn fluid into the second fluid processing unit. The apparatus may be utilized for chromatography.

Abstract: A configurable injector for injecting a fluidic sample in a separation path of a sample separation apparatus includes a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample to be injected into the separation path, a valve arrangement fluidically couplable with the separation path, fluidically coupled with the sample accommodation volume, and being controllable for injecting the fluidic sample into the separation path, an input interface configured for receiving input data indicative of an injection profile of an injector to be emulated by the configurable injector, and a control unit configured for controlling the configurable injector, in particular the valve arrangement, so that the configurable injector is operated in accordance with the injection profile to thereby emulate the injector to be emulated.

Abstract: A sample management device which comprises a source flow path in which a fluidic sample can flow, a volume flow adjustment unit configured for adjusting a volume flow of the fluidic sample to be branched off from the source flow path at a fluidic coupling point, and a fluidic valve fluidically coupled with the source flow path and with the volume flow adjustment unit, wherein the fluidic valve is switchable into a branch off state in which the fluidic coupling point is established within the source flow path to branch off an adjustable volume of the fluidic sample from the source flow path via the fluidic coupling point while a flow of the fluidic sample in the source flow path continues.

Abstract: An injector, for injecting a fluidic sample in at least one selected one of a first sample separation apparatus and a second sample separation apparatus, includes a valve arrangement fluidically connectable to the first sample separation apparatus and the second sample separation apparatus, a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample, and a control unit configured for controlling the valve arrangement so that fluidic sample in the sample accommodation volume is selectively injectable into the selected first sample separation apparatus and/or second sample separation apparatus.

Abstract: A switching unit is configured for selectively fluidically coupling a sampling volume, a sampling drive, a mobile phase drive, and a separating device. In a sample load configuration, the switching unit is configured for fluidically coupling the sampling volume and the sampling drive, for moving the fluidic sample into the sampling volume. In a decouple configuration, the switching unit is configured for fluidically coupling the sampling volume between the sampling drive and the separating device, while the mobile phase drive is fluidically decoupled from the separating device. In a sample introduction configuration, the switching unit is configured for fluidically coupling the mobile phase drive, the sampling volume, and the separating device for introducing at least an amount of the fluidic sample stored in the sampling volume into the mobile phase for fluid separation by the separating device.

Abstract: A sample separation device includes a separation path and a control unit. The separation path is between a fluid drive and a sample separation unit, and is configured to inject a fluidic sample in an injector path into a mobile phase in the separation path driven by the fluid drive to the sample separation unit for chromatographically separating the fluidic sample. The control unit is configured to control blocking the injector path or at least a partial path thereof, generating an overpressure in the blocked injector path or the partial path thereof by a pressure source, and subsequently fluidically coupling the injector path or the partial path thereof to a region of lower pressure than the overpressure to generate an expansion stroke for releasing unwanted components from the injector path.