Cryogenic grinding system, apparatus, and methods of use thereof
AssigneeSPEX SamplePrep, LLC
InventorsLea L. Anderson-Smith, Marc Boivin, Jean-François Malo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cryogenic grinding system, method, and apparatus for processing a sample. The system includes a cryogen source, a containment vessel for containing the sample and the cryogen, a blade for grinding the sample, and a controller. The controller controls at least one of: a quantity of cryogen introduced into the container; a grinding duration of the at least one blade; or a grinding speed of the at least one blade based on at least one of: a user input via a grinding system input, a mass of the sample placed in the containment vessel; or a temperature within the containment vessel.
Claims19
A cryogenic grinding system for processing a sample, the system comprising:
- a cryogen source;
- a containment vessel for containing the sample and a cryogen;
- at least one blade within the containment vessel for grinding the sample;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one of:
- a quantity of cryogen introduced into the containment vessel;
- a grinding duration of the at least one blade;
- or a grinding speed of the at least one blade based on at least one of:
- a user input via a grinding system input, a mass of the sample placed in the containment vessel;
- or a temperature within the containment vessel;
- and
- wherein the controller controls the quantity of the cryogen introduced in the containment vessel based on a mass of the sample.
A cryogenic grinding apparatus for processing a sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a cryogen supply valve;
- an opening configured to receive a containment vessel for containing the sample;
- a blade driving apparatus;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one of:
- a quantity of cryogen introduced into a vessel received within the opening;
- a rotating duration of the blade driving apparatus;
- a speed of the of the blade driving apparatus based on at least one of:
- a user input via a grinding system input, a detected mass of the sample in a containment vessel placed in the opening;
- or a temperature within the containment vessel placed in the opening;
- and wherein the controller controls the quantity of the cryogen supplied to the containment vessel placed in the opening based on a determined mass of the sample within the containment vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.