Abstract: An automated continuous purification system includes a base and a plurality of purifying elements. The base includes a first flowing channel layer, a steering valve, a plurality of second flowing channel layers, a plurality of third flowing channel layers and a top layer. The first flowing channel layer includes a plurality of first flowing channels. The steering valve is disposed on a side of the first flowing channel layer and includes a plurality of through-holes. The second flowing channel layers are disposed on a side of the steering valve away from the first flowing channel layer. The third flowing channel layers are alternately stacked with the second flowing channel layers, and each of the third flowing channel layers is disposed on a side of each of the second flowing channel layers away from the steering valve. The top layer includes a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets.

Abstract: A rotary injection valve used in chromatography includes a stator having a stator sealing surface and a sample load channel disposed inside the stator body below the stator sealing surface. The valve can have a reduced number of ports thereby allowing faster integration of the valve into a chromatographic system. Flow restriction is reduced compared to valves that use an external sample loop for a similar volume of sample. The lack of stator ports for the sample load channel eliminates the potential for carryover created by external valve couplings. Another advantage is the reduction of surface wear achieved by locating the sample load channel below the stator sealing surface.

Abstract: A sample pre-compression valve for liquid chromatography applications is described. The valve enables a sample pre-compression while the solvent pump continues to conduct solvent to the chromatography column. Furthermore, the sample pre-compression valve includes an INJECT position, a LOAD position and a PUMP PURGE position, in which all connecting grooves of the valve are flushed with liquid. A use of the sample pre-compression valve is described as part of a sampler for liquid chromatography applications.

Abstract: A planar manifold includes a first, generally planar, layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough. A second layer has a plurality of apertures therethrough. A channel layer defines a plurality of channels therein and is interposed between the first layer and the second layer. At least one channel extends in a direction parallel to a plane of the planar manifold and couples an aperture of the first layer to an aperture of the second layer.

Abstract: A needle adaptor mounted to one of a plurality of pipe connecting ports provided to a flow path switching valve to form an injection port into which a needle is inserted to inject a sample from a tip end of the needle is described. The needle adaptor comprises a dummy pipe having the same outer diameter as a normal pipe connected to the flow path switching valve, a port fixing portion for fixing the dummy pipe to the port, a needle seal for retaining the tip end of the needle to connect the needle and the dummy pipe and a needle seal housing mounted to the port fixing portion to retain the needle seal. The port fixing portion has the same shape as a port fixing portion of a pipe connecting member for connecting the normal pipe to the pipe connecting port.

Abstract: A multiple loop sample introduction system comprises a valve assembly including a sample collection valve and a sample introduction valve. First and second sample loops are in fluid communication with the sample collection valve and the sample introduction valve to receive aliquots of liquid samples to be introduced into a nebulizer. The valve assembly is operable to port a first aliquot into the first sample loop, while porting a second aliquot received in the second sample loop for introduction into the nebulizer.

Abstract: A sample injecting device is provided for reducing carryover. The sample injecting device includes the following mode: a needle is set at a low descending speed when sample is injected into an injection port in a total-volume injection manner by the sample injecting device. When the needle is in contact with the injection port, the needle is set at a low speed, thereby increasing the accuracy of the position of the needle relative to an injection hole and decreasing friction between the needle and the injection hole. Contaminants present in the injection hole are prevented from easily flowing from the injection hole into an analyzing flow path, so as to achieve an excellent low carryover.

Abstract: A cup assembly for holding a sample to be analyzed spectrochemically, includes a tubular longitudinal member which is disposed symmetrical about a central axis. The tubular member extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. An indented peripheral flange is defined at the second end. The indented flange has an inverted L shaped cross-section. An annular collar extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. An internal peripheral flange is defined at the first end. The internal flange has an inverted L shaped cross-section complementing the indented flange of the tubular member. When a substantially thin film is interposed between the second end of the tubular member and the first end of the annular collar, the film is retained between the sample cell body and the collar between the indented flange and the internal flange. The cup may have a funnel shaped sample retaining chamber.

Abstract: An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.

Abstract: A continuous flow syringe pump includes a first syringe configured for at least one of loading or dispensing at least one fluid, a second syringe configured for at least one of loading or dispensing the at least one fluid, and a first valve connected to the first syringe and the second syringe. The continuous flow syringe pump also includes a second valve connected to the first valve. The continuous flow syringe pump further includes at least one outlet connected to the first valve. The at least one outlet is configured to alternate output of the at least one fluid between the first syringe and the second syringe in a substantially continuous operation.

Abstract: A test adapter for the saturated vapor calibration of gas-measuring devices. The test adapter (2) has, in an adapter housing (15), a peripheral edge (7) for receiving a gas-measuring device and has a depression (10) for receiving the sample liquid in the area of the gas-sensitive surface of the gas-measuring device.

Abstract: Described is apparatus and a process for the enablement of functional product analysis of the headspace proximate one or more substrate, such as hair, fabric or skin, surfaces having affixed thereto functional product, a fragrance composition and/or malodor counteractant composition-containing microcapsules. The apparatus employs mobile microcapsule-abrading solid objects, including agitating stainless steel spheres during analyte collection in a gas-flow/trapping tube analyte collection apparatus. The reciprocating motion and the air-flow are commenced simultaneously thereby enabling the solid objects to become mobile and to effectively abrade the microcapsules affixed to the semi-solid surfaces.

Abstract: A function of automatically performing a pretreatment process on a sample is provided in an auto sampler of a total volume injection method that can realize high measurement accuracy even when an amount of the sample is small. A multi-port valve and a multi-position valve are connected to each other, and a plurality of kinds of cleaning solutions and also a mobile phase are connected to the multi-port valve. By providing a certain volume in a tube connected to a measuring pump for suctioning the sample, the pump can suction a sufficient amount of the cleaning solution or a diluent solution at one suction operation. Consequently, an apparatus according to the invention can deal with the pretreatment such as cleaning and dilution, without repeating the same suction/discharge operations.

Abstract: Methods of detecting the discharge and uptake rates of ophthalmic lenses containing pharmaceutical agents are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for sampling reaction products includes delivering a reactant through a sampling probe to contact a substance deposited on a substrate and reacting the reactant to form a reaction product. At least a portion of the reaction product is withdrawn through the sampling probe and analyzed. The sampling probe is contacted with the substrate during at least a portion of the delivering, reacting and withdrawing steps.

Abstract: A sampling probe for delivering a reactant to a substance deposited on a substrate to form a reaction product and for transporting the reaction product to a product analyzer for analysis. The probe includes a tip positionable over the substance on the substrate. The probe has a recess in the tip sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the reaction product. The probe has a product sampling passage extending from the recess adapted for connection to the product analyzer for transporting the portion of the reaction product to the product analyzer. Further, a reactant delivery passage extends to an outlet at the recess for delivering reactant to the substance on the substrate to form the reaction product.

Abstract: A sample plate structure is provided including a retainer plate having a central recess with a trough along its periphery, a sample insert plate which fits into and rests on contact surface of the recess, and a magnet that is held below the contact surface. A portion of the bottom surface of the insert is formed of a magnetic material. The magnet provides sufficient force to retain the insert plate in the retainer plate during MALDI MS analysis. The sample insert plate is provided with a peripheral configuration, which assures that the sample insert plate is properly oriented within the sample plate support structure and is held flat. A hole for a protrusion allows easy insert installation and alignment against the orientation feature in the recess as well as easy removal of the insert simply by pushing up from underneath the retainer plate. While the insert sample plate can be a consumable, the remaining portion of the apparatus can be reused.

Abstract: A system for carrying out reactions that includes a small volume rotary selector valve having a plurality of peripheral ports and a small volume rotary switching valve, also having a plurality of peripheral ports, where the selector valve and switching valve are controlled by a computer. The rotary selector valve is connected by common port to a peripheral port of the rotary switching valve. The internal volumes of the rotary selector valve and rotary switching valves are 1.5 &mgr;l or less.

Abstract: A sample cup assembly for use with an analytical instrument having a sample cup holder with an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the sample cup assembly. The sample cup assembly can include a main cell for retaining a specimen to be analyzed; a collar for locating a thin film over the open end of the main cell such that the film sealingly closes the open end of the main cell; and two or more projections extending outwardly from either the main cell or collar. The projections engage the interior surface of the sample cup holder when the sample cup assembly is installed therein, thereby centering the sample cup assembly within the sample cup holder.

Abstract: A multi-port injection/selection valve utilizes a ferrule cluster to connect tubes or capillaries to a common port in the valve. The use of micro ferrule clusters, as opposed to conventional connectors such as nuts and/or bolts, permits the capillary ends to be positioned in extremely close proximity to the valve rotor and to each other, thus minimizing the volume between two capillaries when they are in brought into fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A multi-port injection/selection valve utilizes a ferrule cluster to connect tubes or capillaries to a common port in the valve. The use of micro ferrule clusters, as opposed to conventional connectors such as nuts and/or bolts, permits the capillary ends to be positioned in extremely close proximity to the valve rotor and to each other, thus minimizing the volume between two capillaries when they are in brought into fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A sampling cell of flow-through type and use of such a sampling cell. The sampling cell is preferably manufactured by etching of silicon wafers. It is especially useful for continuous picovolume sampling in an analytical flow. The pressure pulse generator (9) generates pulses directly into a flow channel (3). The flow channel (3) is preferably formed by a first basin (4) in a first structure (1) and a second basin (5) in a second structure (2). In a first embodiment the pressure pulse generator (9) comprises at least one piezo-ceramic disc and/or devices acting by way of magnetostrictive, electrostatical or electromechanical forces and/or devices acting by way of thermal expansion. Method of directing samples from a flow-through sampling cell by establishing a difference in electrical potential between the liquid in the flow-through sampling cell and the object to which the samples are to be directed.