Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Konstantin Shoykhet

Klaus E Witt

Stephan Buckenmaier

Dwight Stoll

Manfred Berndt

Thomas Ortmann

Daniel Thielsch

Clemens Plachetka

Philip Herzog

Sascha Lege

Tony Ziegler

Joachim-Richard Wagner

Herbert Anderer

Uwe Effelsberg

Hans-Georg Haertl

Matthias Wetzel

Dwight Robert Stoll

Iwan Bouzid

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.

Bracketing fluidic sample using strong solvent

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A modulation unit is configured, selectively, for withdrawing fluid from the first coupling point, or for transferring withdrawn fluid into the second fluid processing unit.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.

Fluid processing with withdraw-transfer modulation

A sampling unit for handling a sample fluid includes a sample container having a length and being configured for receiving and storing the sample fluid, and a sample segment dispatching unit configured for providing a plurality of individual sample packages of the fluidic sample, each contained in a respective volume segment along the length of the sample container, and for individually dispatching each of the plurality of individual sample packages for further processing in a fluid processing unit. The sample unit may be utilized, for example, for injecting the sample packages into a mobile phase stream for transporting to a sample separating unit such as a chromatography column.

Sample handling and dispatching individual sample packages for fluid processing

A sample separation apparatus includes a first-dimension separation unit for separating the fluidic sample, having a first-dimension outlet for outputting the fluidic sample or fractions thereof, and a second-dimension separation unit for further separating the fluidic sample or fractions thereof. The second-dimension separation unit has a second-dimension inlet fluidically coupled to the first-dimension outlet. A modulation unit, coupled between the first-dimension outlet and the second-dimension inlet at a first coupling point, is configured for withdrawing fluid from the first coupling point and for ejecting fluid into the first coupling point. A second-dimension fluid drive is coupled to a second coupling point located between the first-dimension outlet and the second-dimension inlet and downstream from the first coupling point. The second-dimension fluid drive is configured for generating a fluid flow for driving at least part of the fluidic sample after treatment by the first-dimension separation unit through the second-dimension separation unit.

Two-dimensional fluid separation with push-pull modulation

A fluid supply device for providing a mobile phase for a sample separating device includes, a supply conduit for providing a fluid which forms at least a part of the mobile phase, a fluid valve which is fluidically coupled with the supply conduit and, depending on its switching state, enables or prevents a passing of the fluid from the supply conduit, an elastic buffer unit which is fluidically coupled upstream of the fluid valve with the supply conduit and which is configured for buffering the fluid, and a fluid conveying unit for conveying the fluid which passes the fluid valve.

Fluid supply devices and fluid member for forming a mobile phase for a sample separating device

A multidimensional sample separation apparatus includes a first separation dimension for separating a fluidic sample, a second separation dimension for further separating the fluidic sample, a switching mechanism, and a control unit. The first separation dimension includes a first fluid drive unit and a first sample separation unit. The second separation dimension includes a second fluid drive unit for driving the separated fluidic sample, and second and third sample separation units each configured for further separating the separated fluidic sample. The switching mechanism is configured for selectively switching an outlet of the first separation dimension in fluid communication with a selected one of the second sample separation unit and/or the third sample separation unit. The control unit is configured for controlling a pressure at inlets of the second sample separation unit and the third sample separation unit to be substantially the same at least at the time of the switching.

Multidimensional sample separation with pressure adjustment

A mixer for mixing a mobile phase in a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample, wherein the mixer includes a fluid inlet for supplying the mobile phase to be mixed to a mixing volume, a movable body configured for rotating and axially moving in the mixing volume to thereby mix the mobile phase, and a fluid outlet for supplying the mixed mobile phase to a mobile phase consumer.

Mixing fluid by combined axial motion and rotation of mixing body

A multi-dimensional liquid chromatography system includes first and second liquid chromatography systems. The first system is configured for providing a first chromatographic separation of a sample fluid comprised in a first mobile phase and to provide a first effluent including at least a portion of the separated sample fluid. The second system is configured for providing a second chromatographic separation of at least a portion of the first effluent comprised in a second mobile phase. A control unit is configured to operate the first liquid chromatography system by maintaining a first flow rate of the first mobile phase substantially constant during the first chromatographic separation, and to operate the second liquid chromatography system during the second chromatographic separation according to a control value different from the second flow rate, so that a variation in the control value can lead to a variation in the second flow rate.

Multi-dimensional liquid chromatography with second dimension having a variable flow rate

A degasser for at least partially degassing a gas-containing liquid, in particular for a sample separation device, includes a circulation path along which the liquid can be circulated between a liquid accommodation volume and one of an inlet to a consumer unit consuming degassed liquid or a conduit leading to the inlet, a drive unit configured for circulating the liquid in the circulation path, and a filter in the circulation path for filtering particles or debris out of the liquid, wherein the liquid is forced through the filter by the drive unit. The drive unit includes a movable body, in particular a movable piston or a movable membrane, configured for at least partially degassing the liquid by generating a negative pressure in the liquid.

Combined degassing and circulation of liquid

An apparatus for separating a fluidic sample includes a fluid drive arrangement including fluid drive units for driving a mobile phase along a flow path to a sample separation unit, a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample and selectively fluidically coupleable with or decoupleable from the flow path, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control pressure decoupling of at least part of at least one of the fluid drive units from the flow path, and enable the partially pressure-decoupled fluid drive unit(s) to pressurize the sample accommodation volume before fluidically coupling the sample accommodation volume with the flow path and/or to de-pressurize the sample accommodation volume after fluidically coupling the sample accommodation volume with the flow path for preparing a subsequent intake of fluidic sample in the sample accommodation volume.

Pressure decoupling fluid drive unit from flow path for pressure adjustment of sample accommodation volume

A solvent supply system for supplying a composite includes a first supply path with a first pump unit, the first supply path being adapted for supplying a first solvent to a mixing unit, the first pump unit operating periodically, and a second supply path with a second pump unit, the second supply path being adapted for supplying a second solvent to the mixing unit, the second pump unit operating periodically. The mixing unit is adapted for mixing the first and the second solvent and for supplying a composite solvent. The solvent supply system further includes a control unit adapted for controlling operation of the first and the second pump unit.

Synchronization of supply flow paths

Injector () for injecting a fluidic sample into a mobile phase in a sample separation apparatus (), the injector () comprising a main flow path () between a fluid drive () and a sample separation device (), wherein the fluid drive () is adapted to drive the mobile phase and the sample separation device () is adapted to separate the fluidic sample that is injected into the mobile phase, a discharge device () for discharging an, in particular predetermined, amount of the mobile phase from the main flow path (), and a supply device () for supplying an, in particular predetermined, amount of the fluidic sample and/or of a solvent into the main flow path (), wherein the discharged amount and the supplied amount compensate each other at least partially.

Injector with fluid supply and mobile phase discharge

A solvent supply system for supplying a composite solvent is described. The solvent supply system comprises a first supply flow path with a first pump unit, the first supply flow path being adapted for supplying a flow of a first solvent to a mixing unit, the first pump unit operating periodically, and a second supply flow path with a second pump unit, the second supply flow path being adapted for supplying a flow of a second solvent to the mixing unit, the second pump unit operating periodically. The mixing unit is adapted for mixing the first and the second solvent and for supplying a composite solvent. The solvent supply system further comprises a control unit adapted for controlling operation of the first and the second pump unit, the control unit being adapted to prevent at least one of a predefined phase relation and a predefined frequency relation between the first pump unit and the second pump unit.

To determine a corrected flow rate value of a mobile phase flowing in a liquid chromatography (LC) system, a flow rate of the mobile phase at a selected reference position in the LC system is measured to produce one or more flow rate values. A model of the LC system is applied to the flow rate value(s) to determine the corrected flow rate value(s). The model includes a distribution of capacitive elements and resistive elements arranged according to a topology of the LC system. The capacitive and resistive elements are representative of system and solvent properties affecting flow rate while operating the LC system. The system and solvent properties may be properties affecting the flow rate while operating the LC system under dynamic conditions.

Corrected flow reporting under dynamic conditions by system modeling

A sample dispatcher is disclosed and is configured for individually introducing a plurality of portions of one or more sample fluids into a flow of a mobile phase of a liquid separation system. The liquid separation system is configured for separating compounds of the sample fluids and comprises a mobile phase drive configured for driving the mobile phase through a separation unit configured for separating compounds of the sample fluids in the mobile phase. The sample dispatcher comprises one or more sample reservoirs, each configured for receiving and temporarily storing a respective sample fluid portion or at least a part thereof, and a bypass channel.

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Karlsruhe, Germany

Konstantin Shoykhet