System for introducing particle-containing samples to an analytical instrument and methods of use
AssigneesPerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc., Perkin Elmer Yuhan Hoesa
InventorsChady Stephan, Chung Ryu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for use in introducing samples to an analytical instrument. The systems and methods are adaptable to process either a liquid sample or a gaseous sample, including samples containing particle contaminants, for subsequent analysis using an analytical instrument.
Claims24
A system configured to receive a liquid sample containing particles or a gaseous sample containing particles to be provided to an analytical device, the system comprising:
- a chamber comprising an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
- the inlet end having a gas inlet port configured to receive the gaseous sample from a gaseous sample source and a liquid inlet port configured to receive the liquid sample from a liquid sample source and form a liquid sample aerosol from the liquid sample;
- the outlet end having an outlet port coupled to a gas exchange device so that the gaseous sample or the liquid sample aerosol will flow through the outlet port to the gas exchange device;
- an interior chamber extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the interior chamber connected to the liquid inlet port to receive the liquid sample aerosol;
- and the chamber being operable to selectively receive either the gaseous sample or the liquid sample aerosol.
A system configured to receive a liquid sample containing particles or a gaseous sample containing particles to be provided to an analytical device, the system comprising:
- a chamber comprising an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
- the inlet end having a liquid inlet port configured to receive the liquid sample from a liquid sample source and form a liquid sample aerosol from the liquid sample;
- the outlet end having an outlet port coupled to a gas exchange device so that the gaseous sample or liquid sample aerosol will flow through the outlet port to the gas exchange device;
- and an interior chamber extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the interior chamber connected to the liquid inlet port to receive the liquid sample aerosol;
- the system being operable to selectively receive either the gaseous sample or the liquid sample aerosol;
- and the gas exchange device has a membrane for removal and transfer of particles from the gaseous sample or liquid sample aerosol to an exchange gas.
A system for analyzing a liquid sample containing particles or gaseous sample containing particles, the system comprising:
- a liquid sample source and a gaseous sample source;
- a sample delivery device to selectively transfer the liquid sample from the liquid sample source or the gaseous sample from the gaseous sample source;
- a heated chamber coupled to the liquid sample source and the gaseous sample source, the heated chamber comprising:
- an inlet end having a gas inlet port configured to receive the gaseous sample and a liquid inlet port configured to receive the liquid sample;
- and an outlet end;
- a mass flow controller configured to control flow rate of a sample gas from the gaseous sample to the gas inlet port;
- a gas exchange device interfaced to the outlet end of the heated chamber, the gas exchange device having an exchange gas inlet port for receiving exchange gas and an output gas outlet port for expelling output gas;
- an analytical device for receiving the output gas from the gas exchange device;
- and, a mass flow meter interfaced between the output gas outlet port of the gas exchange device and an input to the analytical device, the mass flow meter configured to provide a flow rate of the output gas of the gas exchange device that is at least 98% of the flow rate of the sample gas from the gaseous sample.
A method of preparing a liquid sample containing particles or gaseous sample containing particles for analysis comprising:
- selectively transferring the liquid sample from a liquid sample source or the gaseous sample from a gaseous sample source to a gas exchange device, wherein the liquid sample is aerosolized to form an aerosolized sample prior to being transferred the gas exchange device;
- passing the aerosolized sample or the gaseous sample through the gas exchange device;
- injecting exchange gas through the gas exchange device countercurrent to the aerosolized sample or the gaseous sample;
- passing an output of the gas exchange device to an analytical device;
- and monitoring an output flow rate at an interface of the gas exchange device and the analytical device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.