Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail extending along the length and configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage movably attachable to the rail such that the carriage moves along the rail, the carriage configured to receive a second fluidic assembly, the carriage including an actuator and a stop mechanism. The stop mechanism is configured to selectively prevent and allow movement of the carriage relative to the rail. The stop mechanism is configured to be independently operable from the actuator assembly, and the actuator is configured: to move a chromatography column received by the clamp assembly relative to the rail to create a first fluid tight seal between the chromatography column and the first fluidic assembly, and move the second fluidic assembly relative to the carriage body to create a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: A sprayer assembly for an ion source is disclosed. The sprayer includes a capillary having an outlet, a sheath for the capillary, and an elastic member. The sheath can move relative to the capillary between a first position in which the sheath covers the outlet of the capillary and a second position in which the outlet of the capillary is exposed. When the sheath moves from the first position to or towards the second position, the elastic member provides a restoring force that acts to restore the position of the sheath to or towards the first position.

Abstract: Described is an active check valve that uses electro-magnetic actuation for operation. The valve includes a plunger assembly having a magnet in a sealed internal volume. The plunger assembly further includes a plunger tip that extends from either a plunger assembly housing or a sealing member. Although the plunger assembly is disposed in the solvent flow, the magnet is not exposed to the solvent. When the valve is actuated, the plunger tip moves the sealing member to open or close the valve. Optionally, an arming force may be applied to the sealing member in advance of opening or closing to reduce the subsequent additional force necessary to move the sealing member during opening or closing, thereby improving the accuracy of the solvent composition in liquid chromatography system applications.

Abstract: A sprayer assembly for an ion source is disclosed. The sprayer includes a capillary having an outlet, a sheath for the capillary, and an elastic member. The sheath can move relative to the capillary between a first position in which the sheath covers the outlet of the capillary and a second position in which the outlet of the capillary is exposed. When the sheath moves from the first position to or towards the second position, the elastic member provides a restoring force that acts to restore the position of the sheath to or towards the first position.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail extending along the length and configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage movably attachable to the rail such that the carriage moves along the rail, the carriage configured to receive a second fluidic assembly, the carriage including an actuator and a stop mechanism. The stop mechanism is configured to selectively prevent and allow movement of the carriage relative to the rail. The stop mechanism is configured to be independently operable from the actuator assembly, and the actuator is configured: to move a chromatography column received by the clamp assembly relative to the rail to create a first fluid tight seal between the chromatography column and the first fluidic assembly, and move the second fluidic assembly relative to the carriage body to create a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to devices for separating a sample by chromatography, components of the devices, and methods for using the devices, and directed to devices and components for use with immobilized enzymatic reactors. A device includes a wall having a wetted surface exposed to a mobile phase including the sample during chromatographic separation. The wetted surface of the wall includes an alloy material including the following constituents: nickel, and cobalt and/or chromium where the alloy is limited in an amount of titanium to 1 wt %. A component includes a body having a wetted surface exposed to a mobile phase including the sample during chromatographic separation. The wetted surface of the body includes an alloy material including the following constituents: nickel, and cobalt and/or chromium where the alloy is limited in an amount of titanium to 1 wt %.

Abstract: A thermal module for pre-heating liquid flowing into a liquid chromatography column, includes a trough compartment with two ends, one of the two ends having an electrical socket, a first fluidic assembly, a second fluidic assembly, and a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive the first fluidic assembly. The clamp assembly includes a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive the second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the clamp assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column. The clamp assembly is disposed within the trough compartment, and the first fluidic assembly is plugged into the electrical socket at the one end of the trough compartment.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive a second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the claim assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: Described is an active check valve that uses electro-magnetic actuation for operation. The valve includes a plunger assembly having a magnet in a sealed internal volume. The plunger assembly further includes a plunger tip that extends from either a plunger assembly housing or a sealing member. Although the plunger assembly is disposed in the solvent flow, the magnet is not exposed to the solvent. When the valve is actuated, the plunger tip moves the sealing member to open or close the valve. Optionally, an arming force may be applied to the sealing member in advance of opening or closing to reduce the subsequent additional force necessary to move the sealing member during opening or closing, thereby improving the accuracy of the solvent composition in liquid chromatography system applications.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments integrate a tee or valve into an outlet end fitting of a liquid chromatography column. The tee or valve is suitable for providing additional fluidic flow paths to ports of the end fitting and eliminates the need for post-column fluidic conduits connecting to tees or valves to insert fluidic inputs or divert flow to outputs. This integration decreases the distance that eluent from the liquid chromatography column has to travel to reach a detector relative to systems that use external tees or valves while providing tee/valve functionality and reducing the fluidic volume post-column. As a result, the exemplary embodiments help decrease sample dispersion.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments provide chromatography column positioning assemblies that can ensure that the distance between face seals or other sealing surfaces/mechanisms at the respective ends of a liquid chromatography column is a desired distance (i.e., the length of the liquid chromatography column). The exemplary embodiments can adjust the separation between the face seals to accommodate different length liquid chromatography columns. For example, a chromatography column positioning assembly of an exemplary embodiment can set the distance between face seals to accommodate a 25 mm column, a 50 mm column or a 100 mm column.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments may provide a collective insulating sleeve for a plurality of chromatography columns or may provide separate insulating sleeve for each of the chromatography columns in a plurality. As a result, column ovens are not needed, and pre-heaters may not be required for each chromatography column in some exemplary embodiments. Thus, parallel column arrangements in the exemplary embodiments may be more compact than conventional arrangements.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments eliminate the need for column ovens in serial column chromatography arrangements and systems by using insulated sleeves. The insulated sleeves may encase individual chromatography columns or clusters of chromatography columns. The use of the insulated sleeves allows the chromatography columns to be positioned in close proximity to each other. This may decrease the overall size of a serial column chromatography arrangement and may reduce costs by not requiring the column ovens.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may compensate for expected frictional heating or Joule-Thomson cooling in chromatography columns. Frictional heating or Joule Thomson cooling are the same thing for a fluid decompressing along a porous material. Either heat is absorbed from or released to the external environment. The exemplary embodiments may cool the mobile phase to a sub-ambient temperature before the mobile phase passes through a chromatography column to compensate for the frictional heating or heat the mobile phase to a super-ambient temperature to compensate for Joule-Thomson cooling. The amount of temperature increase expected from the frictional heating or the amount of temperature decrease expected from the Joule-Thomson cooling may be calculated or estimated. Based on the amount of temperature increase or decrease expected, the set point for the heater/cooler may be determined and applied to the mobile phase.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing chromatography may include a chromatography column and a vacuum insulated jacket having an inner wall and an outer wall. A vacuum area may be formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall of the vacuum insulated jacket may surround the chromatography column. A gap may be formed between an outer wall of the chromatography column and the inner wall of the vacuum insulated jacket. The vacuum insulated jacket may extend beyond one or more end frits of the column. The gap may be filled with one or more materials so as to form an insulating or thermal barrier.

Abstract: Described is a multi-stage pump having at least two stages. The multi-stage pump includes a first pump stage and a second pump stage each having a chamber of different diameter and volume. The multi-stage pump also includes a plunger having first and second plunger sections. The first plunger section has a first plunger diameter, a first end configured for coupling to a drive mechanism, and a second end opposite to the first end. The second plunger section has a second plunger diameter that is less than the first plunger diameter, a third end in contact with the second end of the first plunger, and a fourth end opposite the third end. Movement of the plunger produces a displacement volume for the first chamber that is different than a displacement volume produced for the second chamber. The multi-stage pump can be configured in different operational modes to provide different flow rates.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for ion source devices with minimized post-column volumes are described. In one embodiment, for example, an ion source assembly may include a chromatography column in fluid communication with an ion source device, the chromatography column arranged within a minimum distance of the ion source, the minimum distance comprising between about 60 mm and about 150 mm.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail extending along the length and configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage movably attachable to the rail such that the carriage moves along the rail, the carriage configured to receive a second fluidic assembly, the carriage including an actuator and a stop mechanism. The stop mechanism is configured to selectively prevent and allow movement of the carriage relative to the rail. The stop mechanism is configured to be independently operable from the actuator assembly, and the actuator is configured: to move a chromatography column received by the clamp assembly relative to the rail to create a first fluid tight seal between the chromatography column and the first fluidic assembly, and move the second fluidic assembly relative to the carriage body to create a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: Described are apparatuses, devices, and systems implementing seals for separation devices. An apparatus for a separation device may include an end nut shaped to be positioned on one of an inlet side and an outlet side of the separation device. The end nut may be further shaped to mate with a connecting fitting. The apparatus may further include a face seal having a device side and a fitting side. The face seal may be positioned, at least in part, in the end nut on the device side of the face seal. The face seal may be positioned to interface with the connecting fitting on the fitting side of the face seal upon the end nut being mated with the connecting fitting. The apparatus may also include a face seal bore of the face seal being axially alignable with at least one of an inlet and an outlet of the separation device.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography system, includes a fluidic flow path, a chromatography column located in the fluidic flow path, a filtration device located in the fluidic flow path before the chromatography column, the filtration device including a housing having a fluidic inlet, a fluidic outlet, wherein at least a portion of the fluidic flow path is located between the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet and at least one filter disposed in the portion of the fluidic flow path, wherein the at least one filter is made of a micromachined material. Liquid chromatography filtration methods are further disclosed.