The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1991
Mehdi Ashraf-Khorassani, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Suprex Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is related to an apparatus for packing an analytical chromatography column having a first opening and a second opening with packing particles. The apparatus comprises means for providing solvent at a density essentially equal to the density of the packing particles. The providing means is in fluidic communication with the first opening of the column. The apparatus also comprises a first reservoir for containing the packing particles. The reservoir is in fluidic communication with the providing means such that solvent can mix with the particles in the first reservoir to form a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent and agglomeration of the packing particles is essentially absent when the slurry is introduced into the analytical chromatography column. There is also valve means in fluidic communication with the first reservoir and the first opening of the analytical column for controlling flow of the slurry of pressurized solvent and packing particles to the analytical column from the first reservoir. A fluid restrictor is fluidically connected to the second opening of the column for allowing the solvent to escape from the column while maintaining pressurization therein. The invention also relates to a method of packing an analytical column with packing particles. The method comprises the steps of pressurizing a first reservoir having packing particles disposed therein, with a solvent until the density of the solvent equals the density of the particles and forms a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent. Then, there is the step of fluidically connecting the first reservoir to an analytical column at essentially the same pressure as the first pressure such that the slurry flows into a chamber of the analytical column.