# US 2019/0170624 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 2019/0170624 A1 - Document ID: US20190170624A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/209,276 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Montana Instruments Corporation - Applicants: Montana Instruments Corporation - Inventors: Josh Doherty; Jamesen Motley; William Baker; Joseph Evers; Ben Linkenhoker; Luke Mauritsen; Ryan Murdick; Anjan Reijnders - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170624A1 ## 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 instruments are provided that can include: a mobile component comprising a cold source; a substantially fixed analysis component; and an interface configured to couple the mobile component with the analysis component. Variable temperature analytical instruments are also provided that can include: a mobile analysis component; a substantially fixed component comprising a cold source; and an interface configured to couple the mobile component with the analysis component. Variable temperature analytical instruments are also provided that can include: a cold source in thermal communication with an analysis component; and at least one pressure barrier defining a plurality of discrete masses maintained at different temperatures between the cold source and the analysis component. Variable temperature analytical instruments are provided that can include: a cold source in thermal communication with an analysis component; and a plurality of discrete masses maintained at different temperatures about a single thermal communication between the cold source and the analysis component. Variable temperature analytical instruments are also provided that can include: a cold source in fluid communication with at least one analysis component; a pump assembly operably coupled to the cold source and the analysis component; at least a pair of conduits extending between the cold source and the analysis component; and another conduit extending between the analysis component and the pump assembly. Variable temperature analytical instruments are also provided that can include: a cold source in fluid communication with at least one analysis component; a pump assembly operably coupled to the cold source and the analysis component; at least a pair of conduits extending between the cold source and the analysis component; and another conduit extending between the analysis component and the pump assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: a mobile component comprising a cold source; a substantially fixed analysis component; and an interface configured to couple the mobile component with the analysis component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein the cold source comprises a cryofluid source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein the cold source comprises a liquefier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 3 further comprising a pump assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein the interfaces of analysis component and mobile component are thermally coupled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises at least one fluid conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein a pressure gradient is maintained between the mobile component and the analysis component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein a temperature gradient is maintained between the mobile component and the analysis component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 1 wherein the interface defines conduits configured to convey electrical wiring. ### Claim 10 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: a mobile analysis component; a substantially fixed component comprising a cold source; and an interface configured to couple the mobile component with the analysis component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein the interfaces of analysis component and mobile component are thermally coupled. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein the interface comprises at least one fluid conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein a pressure gradient is maintained between the mobile component and the analysis component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein a temperature gradient is maintained between the mobile component and the analysis component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 10 wherein the interface defines conduits configured to convey electrical wiring. ### Claim 16 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: a cold source in thermal communication with an analysis component; and at least one pressure barrier defining a plurality of discrete masses maintained at different temperatures between the cold source and the analysis component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 16 wherein the pressure barrier is defined by an interface between the cold source and the analysis component, the interface comprising at least two of the plurality of masses. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 17 wherein the at least two masses are maintained at temperatures higher than a conduit extending therethrough. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 16 wherein the pressure barrier is operatively associated with an analysis component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 16 wherein the pressure barrier is operatively associated with the cold source. ### Claim 21 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: a cold source in thermal communication with an analysis component; and a plurality of discrete masses maintained at different temperatures about a single thermal communication between the cold source and the analysis component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 21 further comprising an interface between the cold source and the analysis component, at least some of the plurality of discrete masses being comprised by the interface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 21 wherein the interface comprises a pressure barrier. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 21 further comprising a conduit in thermal communication with the analysis component and a coupling assembly between the cold source and the analysis component, the coupling assembly comprising at least some of the discrete masses. ### Claim 25 A variable temperature analytical instrument comprising: a cold source in fluid communication with at least one analysis component; a pump assembly operably coupled to the cold source and the analysis component; at least a pair of conduits extending between the cold source and the analysis component; and another conduit extending between the analysis component and the pump assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 25 wherein a pressure differential is maintained between an enclosure of the cold source and an enclosure of the analysis component. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 25 wherein discrete portions of the conduits are thermally coupled to one or more heat or additional cold sources of the instrument. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 27 wherein at least some of the heat or additional cold sources are associated with the cold source. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 27 wherein at least some of the heat or additional cold sources are associated with the analysis component. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The variable temperature analytical instrument of claim 27 wherein the heat or additional cold sources associated with the analysis component are associated with an exhaust for cryofluid of the analysis component.