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US 12,607,609 B2Granted
Systems and methods for a ventless gas chromatography mass spectrometry interface
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDerek Wolfe, Wesley Norman
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a ventless GC-MS interface are described herein. The system can include a gas chromatograph. The system can include a mass spectrometer connected to the gas chromatograph by a mass spectrometer flow path. The system can include a fitting. The fitting can include a sealing surface and one or more gas purge flow paths. The fitting can be fluidically connected to the mass spectrometer. The system can include a column disposed in a ferrule.
Claims20
A gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system comprising:
- a gas chromatograph;
- a mass spectrometer connected to the gas chromatograph by a mass spectrometer flow path;
- a fitting comprising a sealing surface and one or more gas purge flow paths, the fitting fluidically connected to the mass spectrometer;
- and
- a column disposed in a ferrule,
- wherein the one or more gas purge flow paths are connected to the fitting upstream of the sealing surface,
- wherein the one or more gas purge flow paths are not in fluidic communication with the mass spectrometer flow path when the column is fluidically connected to the mass spectrometer flow path and there is a fluid-tight seal between the ferrule, the column, and the fitting, and
- wherein the one or more gas purge flow paths are in fluidic communication with the mass spectrometer flow path when there is not a fluid-tight seal between the ferrule, the column, and the fitting.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a mass spectrometer flow path;
- disposing a sealing surface upstream and proximate to the mass spectrometer flow path;
- disposing one or more gas purge flow paths upstream of the sealing surface;
- in a first state:
- decoupling the sealing surface from a ferrule to put the one or more gas purge flow paths in fluidic communication with the mass spectrometer flow path, the ferrule configured to couple with a column;
- and
- flowing a purge gas through the one or more gas purge flow paths;
- and
- in a second state:
- coupling the sealing surface with the ferrule to (1) remove the fluidic communication between the one or more gas purge flow paths and the mass spectrometer flow path and (2) put the column in fluidic communication with the mass spectrometer flow path;
- ceasing a flow of the purge gas through the one or more gas purge flow paths;
- and
- flowing a sample through the column.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.