# US 2019/0170620 A1 · Analytical Instruments, Methods, and Components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170620 A1 - Document ID: US20190170620A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/209,069 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Montana Instruments Corporation - Applicants: Montana Instruments Corporation - Inventors: Anjan Reijnders; William Baker; Josh Doherty; Joseph Evers; Ben Linkenhoker; Luke Mauritsen; Jamesen Motley; Ryan Murdick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170620A1 ## CPC - G01N 1/42: Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation - F17C 3/085: {Cryostats} - F25D 19/00: Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices {or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors} - F25D 19/006: {Thermal coupling structure or interface} - G01N 1/44: Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat - G01N 35/00: Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor - F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - G01N 2035/00445: {Other cooling arrangements} - 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) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract Variable temperature analytical instrument components are provided that can include: a conduit configured to extend between two chambers having different pressures; and a first mass about a section of the conduit, wherein the first mass is maintained at a first temperature. Variable temperature analytical instruments are provided that can include: a sample chamber configured to be operably coupled to a heat or cold source via one or more conduits; an interface component configured to engage the one or more conduits with the sample chamber, the interface comprising a conduit configured to extend between two chambers having different pressures; and a first mass about a section of the conduit, wherein the first mass is maintained at a first temperature. Methods for maintaining temperatures within a variable temperature analytical instrument are also provided. These methods can include maintaining a temperature within a conduit extending between two components of the instrument while each component is maintained at different pressures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable temperature analytical instrument component comprising: a conduit configured to extend between two chambers having different pressures; and a first mass about a section of the conduit, wherein the first mass is maintained at a first temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein the component is an analysis component interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 further comprising a second mass about the first mass, wherein the first mass is maintained at the first temperature and the second mass is maintained at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, but less than ambient temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 3 further comprising an insulating member between the first and second masses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein the first mass extends longitudinally along the section of conduit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 5 wherein the first mass extends a first thickness laterally from the conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 6 wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 3 further comprising an insulating member extending from the second mass and engaging an ambient temperature mass. ### Claim 9 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: an analysis component configured to be operably coupled to a heat or cold source via one or more conduits; an interface component configured to engage the one or more conduits with the analysis component, the interface comprising a conduit configured to extend between two chambers having different pressures; and a first mass about a section of the conduit, wherein the first mass is maintained at a first temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 9 wherein one chamber is a portion of a liquefier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein the analysis component is maintained at a higher pressure than the liquefier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 9 wherein the liquefier defines a thermal stage and the thermal stage is thermally coupled to at least one of the first or second mass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 9 wherein the liquefier defines at least two thermal stages, a first stage and a second stage, the first stage having a higher temperature than the second stage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 9 further comprising a second mass about the first mass, wherein the first mass is maintained at the first temperature and the second mass is maintained at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, but less than ambient temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 14 wherein the first stage is thermally coupled to the second mass and the second stage is thermally coupled to the first mass. ### Claim 16 A method for maintaining temperatures within a variable temperature analytical instrument, the method comprising maintaining a temperature within a conduit extending between two components of the instrument while each component is maintained at different pressures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a first pressure in one component of the two components and a second pressure in the other component of the two components. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising wherein the conduit provides a first thermal link between at least one component of the instrument and another component of the instrument, wherein each component resides under different pressures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising conveying cryofluid through the conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a mass about the conduit and maintaining the mass at a temperature via a cold source maintained within one of the two pressures.