# US 2014/0152003 A1 · Reusable fitting for attaching a conduit to a port > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152003 A1 - Document ID: US20140152003A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/232,711 - Filed: 2012-08-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-26 - Assignees: Waters Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Joseph D. Michienzi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152003A1 ## CPC - G01N 30/6026: {Fluid seals} - B01D 15/10: characterised by constructional or operational features - B01D 15/22: relating to the construction of the column - B05B 5/16: Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material - G01N 30/60: Construction of the column - G01N 30/603: {retaining the stationary phase, e.g. Frits} - G01N 30/6052: {body} - B01D 15/1871: {placed in series} - G01N 30/6004: {end pieces} - G01N 30/6039: {in series} - G01N 30/6095: {Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize} - G01N 30/7266: {by electric field, e.g. electrospray} - Y10T 29/49908: Joining by deforming - 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) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Described is a reusable fitting for attaching a conduit to a port. The fitting includes a housing, a spring, a retainer and cap. The retainer is capable of locking and unlocking a conduit in the fitting. The fitting provides a high pressure fluid-tight seal and a substantially zero void volume at the junction of two fluidic conduits. The fitting is removable, reusable and replaceable, and allows a user to make and remake connections of a capillary to a fluidic port without permanently binding a ferrule to a specific capillary and thus to a specific port. The fitting can be replaced if part or all of the fitting is damaged during use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reusable fitting for attaching a conduit to a port, comprising: a housing comprising a ferrule portion at a proximal end of the housing; a spring in physical communication with the housing; a retainer disposed between the spring and the housing, the retainer having an opening for admitting a distal portion of a conduit and a retention feature fixed to a proximal end of the conduit to limit axial movement of the conduit in a distal direction, the retainer defining an off-center opening for passing the retention feature of the conduit; and a cap in communication with the spring to urge the spring against the retainer to thereby urge the conduit in a proximal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fitting of claim 1 wherein the ferrule portion has a bore defining a passage for receiving a conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fitting of claim 2 wherein a distal end of the housing defines a chamber having a width greater than the bore of the ferrule portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fitting of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the chamber is internally threaded. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fitting of claim 1 wherein the ferrule portion is formed of polyetheretherketone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fitting of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed of polymer or steel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of the housing is threaded for attachment to a port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fitting of claim 1 wherein the retention feature comprises a sleeve disposed on the proximal portion of the conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fitting of claim 8 wherein the sleeve is formed of steel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fitting of claim 1 wherein the retainer has an inner surface at a distal end of the retainer for engaging the spring and wherein the retainer has a slot defined by two inner surfaces at a proximal end of the retainer, a portion of the slot being aligned with the passage defined by the ferrule portion of the housing for receiving the conduit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fitting of claim 10 wherein the two inner surfaces comprise a first inner surface having a perimeter and a second inner surface having a perimeter, the perimeter of the first inner surface being greater than the perimeter of the second inner surface, wherein the first inner surface admits the retention feature of the conduit and the second inner surface impedes the retention feature of the conduit to thereby limit axial movement of the conduit in a distal direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fitting of claim 10 wherein the slot at the proximal end of the retainer further comprises an off-center opening which is a radial extension in relation to the first and second inner surfaces, the off-center opening allowing the retention feature of the conduit to pass through. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The fitting of claim 2 wherein the cap has a bore to receive the conduit and an inner surface defining a cavity to engage the spring, the bore aligned with the passage defined by the ferrule portion of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The fitting of claim 4 wherein a surface of the cap is threaded for engaging the internally threaded portion of the chamber to enable the cap to be tightened to the housing. ### Claim 15 A liquid-chromatography device, comprising: a conduit for communicating a fluid; a port in fluid communication with the conduit; and a fitting for attaching the conduit to the port, the fitting comprising: a housing having a ferrule portion at a proximal end of the housing; a spring in physical communication with the housing; a retainer disposed between the spring and the housing, the retainer having an opening for admitting a distal portion of the conduit and being in physical communication with a retention feature fixed to a proximal end of the conduit to limit axial movement of the conduit in a distal direction, the retainer defining an off-center opening for passing the retention feature of the conduit; and a cap in physical communication with the spring to urge the spring against the retainer so that the retainer urges the conduit in a proximal direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The liquid-chromatography device of claim 15 wherein an exterior surface of the housing is threaded for attachment to the port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The liquid-chromatography device of claim 15 wherein the ferrule portion is formed of polyetheretherketone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The liquid-chromatography device of claim 15 wherein the housing is formed of polymer or steel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The liquid-chromatography device of claim 15 wherein the retention feature comprises a sleeve disposed on the proximal portion of the conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The liquid-chromatography device of claim 19 wherein the sleeve comprises steel. ### Claim 21 A kit having component parts capable of being assembled to form a reusable fitting for attaching a conduit to a port, the reusable fitting comprising: a housing having a ferrule portion at a proximal end of the housing; a spring in physical communication with the housing; a retainer disposed between the spring and the housing, the retainer having an opening for admitting a distal portion of a conduit and being in physical communication with a retention feature fixed to a proximal end of the conduit to limit axial movement of the conduit in a distal direction, the retainer defining an off-center opening for passing the retention feature of the conduit; and a cap in physical communication with the spring to urge the spring against the retainer so that the retainer urges the conduit in a proximal direction.