Temporary storage of sample portions for artefact-preventing fluid processing
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsHerbert Anderer, Konstantin Shoykhet, Klaus Witt, Stephan Buckenmaier
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Abstract
In a method for processing successive fluidic sample portions provided by a sample source, sample reception volumes are filled successively temporarily with at least a respective one of the sample sections, and the sample sections are emptied successively out of the sample reception volumes in such a way, that, while emptying, it is avoided to bring two respective ones of the sample sections, which have not left the sample source directly adjacent to one another, in contact with one another.
Claims17
A method for processing successive fluidic sample sections provided by a sample source configured to chromatographically separate a fluidic sample into sample fractions, the method comprising:
- receiving the sample sections from the sample source, wherein one or more of the sample sections contain, respectively, one or more sample fractions separated in the sample source and detectable as peaks by a detector;
- successively temporarily filling in a controlled filling sequence more than two sample reception volumes with at least a respective one of the sample sections, wherein the sample reception volumes are defined by a plurality of respective, separate fluid line sections;
- and
- successively emptying the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a controlled emptying sequence by selecting an order of the emptying of the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a reverse order to the controlled filling sequence such that the lastly filled sample reception volumes are emptied at first and provided for further separation of the one or more sample fractions;
- wherein the successively temporarily filling comprises operating a fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with the sample source according to the controlled filling sequence, and the successively emptying comprises operating the fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with a downstream flow path according to the controlled emptying sequence.
A fluid processing apparatus for processing successive fluidic sample sections provided by a sample source configured to chromatographically separate a fluidic sample into sample fractions, the fluid processing apparatus comprising:
- more than two sample reception volumes, which are configured to be filled successively temporarily with at least a respective one of the sample sections in a controlled filling sequence, wherein one or more of the sample sections contain, respectively, one or more sample fractions separated in the sample source and detectable as peaks by a detector, and the sample reception volumes are defined by a plurality of respective, separate fluid line sections;
- a control device configured to successively empty the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a controlled emptying sequence by selecting an order of the emptying of the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a reverse order to the controlled filling sequence such that the lastly filled sample reception volumes are emptied at first and provided for further separation of the one or more sample fractions;
- and
- a fluidic switch, wherein the control device is configured to successively temporarily fill the sample reception volumes with the sample sections by controlling the fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with the sample source according to the controlled filling sequence, and the control device is configured to successively empty the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes by controlling the fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with a downstream flow path according to the controlled emptying sequence.
A method for processing successive fluidic sample sections provided by a sample source configured to chromatographically separate a fluidic sample into sample fractions, the method comprising:
- receiving the sample sections from the sample source, wherein one or more of the sample sections contain, respectively, one or more sample fractions separated in the sample source and detectable as peaks by a detector;
- successively temporarily filling in a controlled filling sequence of more than two sample reception volumes with at least a respective one of the sample sections, wherein the sample reception volumes are defined by a plurality of respective, separate fluid line sections;
- successively emptying of the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a controlled emptying sequence by selecting an order of the emptying of the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes in a reverse order to the controlled filling sequence such that the lastly filled sample reception volumes are emptied at first and provided for further separation of the one or more sample fractions;
- assigning assignment information to at least one of the sample sections, wherein the assignment information is indicative for a rank of the respective sample section in at least one of a ranking order of the filling of the sample reception volumes with the sample sections or a ranking order of the emptying of the sample sections out of the sample reception volumes;
- and
- controlling a further processing of the sample sections on the basis of the assignment information;
- wherein the successively temporarily filling comprises operating a fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with the sample source according to the controlled filling sequence, and the successively emptying comprises operating the fluidic switch to selectively couple the fluid line sections with a downstream flow path according to the controlled emptying sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.