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US 11,692,912 B2Granted
System and method for trapping fluid at a valve
AssigneeElemental Scientific, Inc.
InventorsDaniel R. Wiederin, Tyler Yost
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for isolating a sample at a valve prior to introduction to an analysis system, such as sample analysis via ICP-MS. A system embodiment can include, but is not limited to, a valve system including a first valve in fluid communication with a sample reservoir and a second valve configured to permit and block access of a vacuum source to the first valve; a sensor system configured to detect presence or absence of a fluid at the first valve; and a controller configured to control operation of the second valve to block access of the vacuum source to the first valve upon detection of the fluid at the first valve to isolate the fluid within the sample reservoir.
Claims18
A method for capturing fluid within a fluid reservoir, comprising:
- introducing a sample probe into a sample container containing a fluid sample;
- fluidically coupling a vacuum source to the sample probe to draw the fluid sample from the sample container into the sample probe and introduce the fluid sample to a fluid transfer line coupled with the sample probe;
- directing the fluid sample from the fluid transfer line to a sample reservoir fluidically coupled with a valve;
- detecting, via one or more sensors, a presence of the fluid sample at least one of prior to introduction of the fluid sample from the fluid transfer line to the sample reservoir or subsequent to the fluid sample exiting from the sample reservoir via the valve;
- generating one or more sense signals responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
- transmitting the one or more sense signals to a controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
- decoupling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the sample probe via control by the controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors to capture the fluid sample within the sample reservoir;
- transferring one or more control signals from the controller to an autosampler manipulating the sample probe responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
- and
- removing the sample probe from the sample container via the autosampler responsive to receipt of the one or more control signals by the autosampler.
7 more elements
A method for capturing fluid within a fluid reservoir, comprising:
- introducing a sample probe into a sample container containing a fluid sample;
- fluidically coupling a vacuum source to the sample probe to draw the fluid sample from the sample container into the sample probe and introduce the fluid sample to a fluid transfer line coupled with the sample probe;
- directing the fluid sample from the fluid transfer line to a sample reservoir fluidically coupled with a valve;
- detecting, via one or more sensors, a presence of the fluid sample at least one of prior to introduction of the fluid sample from the fluid transfer line to the sample reservoir or subsequent to the fluid sample exiting from the sample reservoir via the valve;
- generating one or more sense signals responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
- transmitting the one or more sense signals to a controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
- decoupling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the sample probe via control by the controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors to capture the fluid sample within the sample reservoir;
- and
- removing the sample probe from the sample container prior to decoupling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the sample probe.
6 more elements
A system comprising:
- a valve system including a first valve in fluid communication with a sample reservoir;
- a sensor system configured to detect presence or absence of a fluid at the first valve;
- and
- a controller configured to block fluid access of a vacuum applied by a vacuum source to the first valve upon detection of the fluid at the first valve via the sensor system to isolate the fluid within the sample reservoir, wherein the controller is configured to control a power supply to the vacuum source, and wherein the controller is configured to stop operation of the vacuum source upon detection of the fluid at the first valve.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a valve system including a first valve in fluid communication with a sample reservoir;
- a sensor system configured to detect presence or absence of a fluid at the first valve;
- a controller configured to block fluid access of a vacuum applied by a vacuum source to the first valve upon detection of the fluid at the first valve via the sensor system to isolate the fluid within the sample reservoir;
- and
- a fluid line coupled between the first valve and the vacuum source, wherein the sensor system includes a sensor to detect presence or absence of the fluid in the fluid line coupled between the first valve and the vacuum source.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.