# US 2025/0093252 A1 · Stretchable coupling tube > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0093252 A1 - Document ID: US20250093252A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/726,639 - Filed: 2023-01-09 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-07 - Assignees: Standard BioTools Canada Inc. - Applicants: Standard BioTools Canada Inc. - Inventors: Alexander Loboda; Adam Carew - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093252A1 ## CPC - G01N 15/1031: by measuring electrical or magnetic effects - G01N 15/1404: Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing - H01J 49/0031: {Step by step routines describing the use of the apparatus (H01J49/0081 takes precedence)} - H01J 49/0404: {Capillaries used for transferring samples or ions (electrospray nozzles H01J49/167)} - H01J 49/0463: {Desorption by laser or particle beam, followed by ionisation as a separate step (sample holder per se H01J49/0418)} - H01J 49/105: {using high-frequency excitation, e.g. microwave excitation, Inductively Coupled Plasma [ICP]} - G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology} - 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) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A coupling tube made of a stretchable elastomeric material. The “stretchy” coupling tubing allows for improved reliability/repeatability of coupling performance. For example, the stretch provided can take up tolerances between positions of imager and reader instruments. In one example, the stretch can take up tolerances between positions of the junction between the rigid portion of tubing inside the IMC unit and the injector to an ionization source. The coupling tube may also be provided with a reduced inner diameter (ID) as compared to standard coupling components. A taper in the inner diameter (ID) can occur before the flow enters the stretchable coupling tube. Barbed ends may also be provided for securing the coupling tube into place. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a laser ablation source; an injector configured to operably couple the laser ablation source to an inductively coupled plasma chamber; and a coupling tube configured to operably couple the laser ablation source to the injector for transferring a plurality of ablation plumes from the laser ablation source to the injector, wherein: the coupling tube comprises a stretchable elastomeric material, and the coupling tube is characterized by a first inner diameter in a range from 0.3 mm to 6.0 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the stretchable elastomeric material comprises fluoroelastomers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a junction assembly comprising a barbed fitting configured to cooperate with at least one end of the coupling tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the barbed fitting comprises a taper that reduces diameter leading to the coupling tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a rigid tubing configured to operably couple to the coupling tube, wherein: the rigid tubing comprises a first end operably coupled to the laser ablation source; and the rigid tubing comprises a second end operably coupled to the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a second inner diameter at the first end that is larger than the first inner diameter of the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a third inner diameter at the second end; and the second inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the second inner diameter is in a range from 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the rigid tubing comprises a 10-degree taper configured to narrow the third inner diameter at the second end leading to the coupling tube in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a junction assembly between the coupling tube and the injector, wherein a taper occurs at the junction assembly that reduces diameter leading to the injector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the inductively coupled plasma chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a mass spectrometer configured to analyze plasma products in the inductively coupled plasma chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the laser ablation source comprises: a sample holder, a laser source, and a configuration of optics to direct a laser from the laser source to the sample holder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a gas supply source operably coupled to the laser ablation source. ### Claim 13 An apparatus comprising: an inductively coupled plasma chamber; an injector configured to operably couple the inductively coupled plasma chamber to a laser ablation source; and a coupling tube configured to operably couple the laser ablation source to the injector for transferring a plurality of ablation plumes from the laser ablation source to the injector, wherein: the coupling tube comprises a stretchable elastomeric material, and the coupling tube is characterized by a first inner diameter in a range from 0.3 mm to 6.0 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a rigid tubing operably coupled to the coupling tube, wherein: the rigid tubing comprises a first end operably coupled to the laser ablation source; and the rigid tubing comprises a second end operably coupled to the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a second inner diameter at the first end that is larger than the first inner diameter of the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a third inner diameter at the second end; and the second inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the laser ablation source comprises a sampling cone, the sampling cone is operably coupled to the first end of the rigid tubing, and the sampling cone is tapered to have a smaller diameter proximate to the first end of the rigid tubing compared to distal to the first end of the rigid tubing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second inner diameter is in a range from 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. 17 The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rigid tubing comprises a 10-degree taper configured to narrow the third inner diameter at the second end leading to the coupling tube in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a junction assembly between the rigid tubing and the coupling tube, wherein a taper occurs at the junction assembly that reduces diameter leading to the coupling tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the junction assembly comprises a barbed fitting configured to cooperate with a third end of the coupling tube, and wherein the barbed fitting comprises the taper that reduces the diameter leading to the coupling tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a junction assembly between the coupling tube and the injector, wherein a taper occurs at the junction assembly that reduces diameter leading to the injector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising the laser ablation source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a mass spectrometer configured to analyze plasma products in the inductively coupled plasma chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the laser ablation source comprises: a sample holder, a laser source, and a configuration of optics to direct a laser from the laser source to the sample holder. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a gas supply source operably coupled to the laser ablation source. ### Claim 25 A method comprising: ablating, by a laser, a sample to form an ablation plume; laminarly flowing the ablation plume from the sample to an injector through a coupling tube, wherein: the coupling tube comprises a stretchable elastomeric material, and the coupling tube is characterized by a first inner diameter in a range from 0.3 mm to 6.0 mm; and analyzing the ablation plume using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer coupled to the injector. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the stretchable elastomeric material comprises fluoroelastomers. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising flowing the ablation plume through a barbed fitting of a junction assembly before or after flowing the ablation plume through the coupling tube. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising flowing the ablation plume through a rigid tubing before flowing the ablation plume through the coupling tube, wherein: the rigid tubing comprises a first end operably coupled to a laser ablation source comprising the laser; and the rigid tubing comprises a second end operably coupled to the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a second inner diameter at the first end that is larger than the first inner diameter of the coupling tube; the rigid tubing is characterized by a third inner diameter at the second end; and the second inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the second inner diameter is in a range from 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the rigid tubing comprises a 10-degree taper configured to narrow the third inner diameter at the second end leading to the coupling tube in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.