# US 12,000,810 B2 · Fitting assemblies for fluidic connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,810 B2 - Document ID: US12000810B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/294,256 - Filed: 2018-11-14 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-14 - Assignees: Agilent Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Agilent Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Richard P. White; Wesley M. Norman; Li Xu; Wen-Yi Ge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000810B2 ## CPC - G01N 30/6026: {Fluid seals} - G01N 30/6047: {with supporting means; Holders} - G01N 2030/025: {Gas chromatography} - 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) ## Abstract A fitting assembly (100) is provided. The fitting assembly (100) comprises a holder (102) that holds one or more fluidic seal assemblies. The fluidic seal assembly comprises a fitting (104), a ferrule (110) and a tube (112), such as a chromatography column, and optionally comprises a protrusion (118) and a compliant seal material (120). Fluidic connections for a gas chromatography instrument are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fitting assembly comprising: one or more fluidic seal assemblies, wherein each fluidic seal assembly comprises: a fitting comprising an inside fitting wall that defines a fitting bore, a ferrule comprising an inside ferrule wall that defines a ferrule bore, and the ferrule is disposed in the fitting bore; a tube comprising first and second tube ends, and one of the tube ends is disposed in the ferrule bore; wherein the ferrule is in compressive contact between the inside fitting wall and the tube so as to form a seal; a holder comprising a cavity wall defining a cavity where the tube passes through the cavity; wherein each of the fluidic seal assemblies is held by the holder, and the fitting comprises first and second fitting ends and an outside fitting wall between the first and second fitting ends; the fitting further comprises a protrusion at the first fitting end, and the protrusion defines a protrusion flow path, and each of the fluidic seal assemblies further comprises a compliant seal material around the protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the holder defines a plurality of cavities, and the fitting assembly comprises a plurality of fluidic seal assemblies comprising tubes passing through the cavities. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion flow path is approximately the same in cross-sectional area as the tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the outside fitting wall and the cavity wall have interlocking features configured to hold the fitting in the holder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the holder is formed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A fluidic connection comprising: a first fitting assembly according to claim 1; and a mating flow path having an end fluidically connected to the tube end disposed in the fitting assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, wherein the mating flow path comprises a second fitting assembly, and the second fitting assembly makes a fluidic seal with the first fitting assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, wherein the compliant seal material is located between the first fitting assembly and the mating flow path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, wherein the protrusion has an outer diameter and a front face, and the mating flow path has a front face, wherein a void is defined by the protrusion front face, the compliant seal material, and the mating flow path front face, and the void has a size that allows stirring of a fluid that is passing from the protrusion to the mating flow path, without allowing fluid to accumulate in the void. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, wherein the protrusion has an outer diameter and a front face, and the mating flow path has a front face, and the protrusion front face and the mating flow path front face are separated by a distance between 10% and 50% of the outer diameter of the protrusion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, further comprising a connection block comprising a first face configured to engage the fitting assembly and a second face configured to engage one or more of a flow block, a second fitting assembly, and an intermediate microfluidic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The fluidic connection of claim 6, further comprising an external clamp configured to provide a clamping force to form a seal between the first fitting assembly and the end of the mating flow path. ### Claim 13 A chromatography column assembly comprising: a chromatography column having first and second column ends; and one or more fluidic seal assemblies, wherein each comprises: a fitting comprising an inside fitting wall that defines a fitting bore, a ferrule comprising an inside ferrule wall that defines a ferrule bore, and the ferrule is disposed in the fitting bore; wherein one of the column ends is disposed in the ferrule bore, and the ferrule is in compressive contact between the inside fitting wall and the column so as to form a seal; a holder comprising a cavity wall defining a cavity where the chromatography column passes through the cavity; wherein each of the fluidic seal assemblies is held by the holder, and the fitting comprises first and second fitting ends and an outside fitting wall between the first and second fitting ends; the fitting further comprises a protrusion at the first fitting end, and the protrusion defines a protrusion flow path, and each of the fluidic seal assemblies further comprises a compliant seal material around the protrusion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The column assembly of claim 13, wherein the column is a first column, and the column assembly further comprises a second column. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The column assembly of claim 13, further comprising a second fitting assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The column assembly of claim 13, wherein the column comprises fused silica. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The column assembly of claim 13, further comprising a column support. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A method for forming a fluidic seal between a column and a flow path of a GC, the method comprising: providing a column assembly according to claim 13; forming a fluidic connection between one of the column ends and (i) a flow path from an injector of the GC, or (ii) a flow path to a detector of the GC.