Sample delivery system used in chemical analysis methods which employs pressurized gas for sample conveyance

A fluid sample delivery system for flow-through analysis in an NMR spectrometer, the spectrometer having (A) a magnet defining a magnetic field volume and (B) internal transfer tubing for passing a sample through the magnetic field volume and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the sample delivery system comprising:

• (a) a first pressure controller having two ends, referred to as an inlet end and an outlet end;
• (b) a second pressure controller having two ends, referred to as an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet end of the second pressure controller is adapted to providing fluid flow into and out of the outlet end of the internal transfer tubing of the NMR spectrometer;
• (c) a signal processor programmed to control pressure at the outlet end of the first pressure controller when a gas pressure is provided at the inlet end of the first pressure controller and to control pressure at the outlet end of the second pressure controller when a gas pressure is provided at the inlet end of the second pressure controller, wherein the pressures are controlled in response to an input signal produced by the NMR spectrometer and detected by the signal processor;
• (d) a gas transfer tubing having an inlet end and outlet end, with the inlet end of the gas transfer tubing being attached to the outlet end of the first pressure controller and with the outlet end being adapted to being inserted into a sample container;
• and
• (e) a fluid sample transfer tubing having an inlet end and outlet end with the outlet end of the sample transfer tubing being adapted to being attached to the inlet end of the internal transfer tubing of the NMR spectrometer and the inlet end being adapted to being inserted into a sample container.

A method of achieving precise positioning of a fluid sample and improved signal to noise ratio in flow-through analysis in an NMR spectrometer, comprising a series of operations wherein:

• (a) a fluid sample is provided;
• (b) the fluid sample is tapped into;
• (c) a gas pressure differential is applied directly to said fluid sample and is used to transfer the sample to a desired position within the NMR spectrometer;
• (d) one or more NMR experiments is conducted;
• and
• (e) a gas pressure differential acting directly upon said fluid sample is used to transfer the sample out of the NMR spectrometer.

A fluid sample delivery system for flow-through NMR analysis in an NMR spectrometer, the spectrometer having (A) a magnet defining a magnetic field volume and (B) internal transfer tubing for passing a sample through the magnetic field volume and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the fluid sample delivery system comprising:

• (a) a pressure controller having two ends, referred to as an inlet end and an outlet end;
• (b) a signal processor;
• (c) a program storage device readable by the signal processor and encoding instructions for controlling pressure at the outlet end of the pressure controller when a gas pressure is provided at the inlet end of the pressure controller, wherein the pressure is controlled in response to an input signal produced by the NMR spectrometer and detected by the signal processor;
• (d) a gas transfer tubing having an inlet end and outlet end, with the inlet end of the gas transfer tubing being attached to the outlet end of the pressure controller and with the outlet end being adapted to being inserted into a sample container;
• and
• (e) a fluid sample transfer tubing having an inlet end and outlet end with the outlet end of the fluid sample transfer tubing being adapted for communicating with the inlet end of the internal transfer tubing of the NMR spectrometer and the inlet end being adapted to being inserted into a fluid sample container, wherein said gas directly acts upon said fluid sample to position said sample in said spectrometer.