# US 10,500,583 B2 · Systems and methods for inline, dual-stage sample dilution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,583 B2 - Document ID: US10500583B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/119,228 - Filed: 2018-08-31 - Published: 2019-03-07 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-07 - Assignees: Elemental Scientific, Inc. - Applicants: Elemental Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel R. Wiederin; Austin Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500583B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 3/523: {with means for closing or opening} - B01L 3/567: {Valves, taps or stop-cocks} - G01N 1/38: Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples - G01N 21/73: using plasma burners or torches - G01N 35/1097: {characterised by the valves (valves in general F16K)} - H01J 49/0431: {for liquid samples (interfaces to liquid chromatographs G01N30/7233)} - B01L 2200/0605: Metering of fluids - B01L 2300/024: Storing results with means integrated into the container - B01L 2300/049: Valves integrated in closure - B01L 2300/0806: Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format - B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices - B01L 2300/0867: Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - B01L 2400/049: vacuum - B01L 2400/06: Valves, specific forms thereof - G01N 21/71: thermally excited - G01N 2001/386: {Other diluting or mixing processes} - G01N 2035/1032: {Dilution or aliquotting} - H01J 49/105: {using high-frequency excitation, e.g. microwave excitation, Inductively Coupled Plasma [ICP]} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract Sample preparation systems and methods are described having pump control, valve configurations, and control logic that facilitate automatic, inline preparation dilutions of a sample according to at least two dilution operating modes. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves being configured to direct fluid flows from the first pump and the second pump according to at least two modes of operation to provide a single-stage sample dilution according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution according to a second operating mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for single-stage and dual-stage dilution of a sample, comprising: a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves configured to provide a single-stage sample dilution of a sample according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution of the sample according to a second operating mode, the plurality of selection valves including at least a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve, wherein the first valve is fluidically coupled with the second valve and the third valve, wherein the second valve is fluidically coupled with the first valve and the third valve, wherein the second valve includes a mixing port coupled to two fluid flow pathways to mix the sample and the diluent in the first operating mode and the second operating mode to provide a diluted sample, and wherein the first valve includes a mixing port coupled to two fluid flow pathways to mix the diluted sample and the diluent in the second operating mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second valve is coupled to a first fluid holding line, the second valve having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first fluid holding line with a sample source to load the sample into the first fluid holding line, the second valve having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the first fluid holding line to drive carrier fluid through the first fluid holding line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the second valve is in the second fluid flow configuration during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first valve is coupled to a second fluid holding line, the first valve having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the second fluid holding line with the second valve to direct the diluted sample into the second fluid holding line, the first valve having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the second fluid holding line to drive carrier fluid through the second fluid holding line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the first valve is coupled to a third fluid holding line, wherein the third fluid holding line is fluidically coupled to the second holding line when the first valve is in the second fluid flow configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the third fluid holding line is fluidically coupled with an analysis instrument when the first valve is in the first fluid flow configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the analysis instrument includes an inductively coupled plasma analysis instrument. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a third pump configured to drive an internal standard, the third pump in fluid communication with the first valve during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first valve includes a second mixing port coupled to two fluid flow pathways to mix the internal standard and the diluted sample following introduction of the diluted sample and the diluent in the second operating mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the third valve includes a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the second valve, and wherein the third valve includes a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the first valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the first fluid flow configuration of the third valve further fluidically couples the second pump with the second valve, and wherein the second fluid flow configuration of the third valve fluidically couples the second pump with the first valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the third valve is in the first fluid flow configuration during the first operating mode and during a first portion of the second operating mode, and wherein the third valve is in the second fluid flow configuration during a second portion of the second operating mode. ### Claim 13 A system for single-stage and dual-stage dilution of a sample, comprising: a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves configured to provide a single-stage sample dilution of a sample according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution of the sample according to a second operating mode, the plurality of selection valves including at least a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve is fluidically coupled with the second valve, wherein the second valve includes a mixing port coupled to two fluid flow pathways to mix the sample and the diluent in the first operating mode and the second operating mode to provide a diluted sample, and wherein the first valve includes a mixing port coupled to two fluid flow pathways to mix the diluted sample and the diluent in the second operating mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the second valve is coupled to a first fluid holding line, the second valve having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first fluid holding line with a sample source to load the sample into the first fluid holding line, the second valve having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the first fluid holding line to drive carrier fluid through the first fluid holding line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the second valve is in the second fluid flow configuration during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first valve is coupled to a second fluid holding line, the first valve having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the second fluid holding line with the second valve to direct the diluted sample into the second fluid holding line, the first valve having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first pump with the second fluid holding line to drive carrier fluid through the second fluid holding line. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first valve is coupled to a third fluid holding line, wherein the third fluid holding line is fluidically coupled to the second holding line when the first valve is in the second fluid flow configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the third fluid holding line is fluidically coupled with an analysis instrument when the first valve is in the first fluid flow configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the analysis instrument includes an inductively coupled plasma analysis instrument. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising: a third pump configured to drive an internal standard, the third pump in fluid communication with the first valve during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode.