# US 8,569,070 B2 · Connection assembly for ultra high pressure liquid chromatography > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,569,070 B2 - Document ID: US8569070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/838,032 - Filed: 2010-07-16 - Published: 2012-01-19 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-16 - Assignees: IDEX Health & Science LLC - Applicants: Scott J. Ellis; Eric Beemer; Nathaniel Nienhuis; Craig W. Graham; Troy N. Sanders - Inventors: Scott J. Ellis; Eric Beemer; Nathaniel Nienhuis; Craig W. Graham; Troy N. Sanders - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8569070B2 ## CPC - G01N 30/22: in high pressure liquid systems - F16L 21/007: {clamped by a wedging action (F16L27/00, F16L37/092, F16L37/122, F16L37/123, F16L37/15, F16L37/16 take precedence)} - G01N 30/6026: {Fluid seals} - G01N 30/6039: {in series} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fitting assembly having a nut, a ferrule, and a ferrule tip that may be assembled by an operator. The fitting assembly includes a nut with first and second ends, with the second end adapted to receive the first end of a ferrule, and a ferrule tip with a first end having an externally tapered portion adapted to abut the second end of the ferrule and a second end adapted to be received in a component or fitting of a liquid chromatography system. The nut, ferrule and ferrule tip of the fitting assembly have passageways therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fitting assembly for use in a liquid chromatography system, comprising: a) a nut having a first end and a second end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said passageway has an internally tapered portion and a lip proximal said second end of said nut, and wherein said second end of said nut has an externally threaded portion; b) a ferrule having a first externally tapered end and a second end and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end of said ferrule is adapted to securely engage with said tapered portion of said passageway in said nut; and c) a ferrule tip having a first externally tapered end, a central portion, and a second externally tapered end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end and said central portion define a first lip and said second externally tapered end and said central portion define a second lip, and wherein said first end of said ferrule tip is adapted to abut with said second end of said ferrule within said passageway of said nut, and said first lip of said ferrule tip securely engages said lip of said nut. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first externally tapered end of said ferrule comprises a plurality of members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ferrule and said ferrule tip may rotate independently. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ferrule and said ferrule tip may actuate independently. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an angle of said internally tapered portion of said nut and at least a portion of an angle of said first externally tapered end of said ferrule are between about 18° and about 28° included angle, and the angles of said portions of said internally tapered portion of said nut and said first externally tapered end of said ferrule differ by about 1° to about 5°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip comprises a polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fitting assembly according to claim 6, wherein said polymer comprises polyetheretherketone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fitting assembly according to claim 7, wherein polymer comprises about 10% to about 30% by weight carbon filled polyetheretherketone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip comprises a metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fitting assembly according to claim 9, wherein said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fitting assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said nut, ferrule, and ferrule tip comprises polyetheretherketone and at least one of said nut, ferrule, and ferrule tip comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one tube extending through the passageways of said nut, said ferrule, and said ferrule tip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fitting assembly consists essentially of biocompatible materials. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said passageway through said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip is at least partially coated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fitting assembly according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said passageway through said nut, said ferrule, and said ferrule tip is at least partially coated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fitting assembly according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said passageway through said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a nickel, silica carbide, copper or diamond coating, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 An analytical instrument system comprising at least one fitting assembly having: a) a nut having a first end and a second end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said passageway has an internally tapered portion and a lip proximal said second end of said nut, and wherein said second end of said nut has an externally threaded portion; b) a ferrule having a first externally tapered end and a second end and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end of said ferrule is adapted to securely engage with said tapered portion of said passageway in said nut; and c) a ferrule tip having a first externally tapered end, a central portion, and a second externally tapered end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end and said central portion define a first lip and said second externally tapered end and said central portion define a second lip, and wherein said first end of said ferrule tip is adapted to abut with said second end of said ferrule within said passageway of said nut, and said first lip of said ferrule tip securely engages said lip of said nut. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said first externally tapered end of said ferrule comprises a plurality of members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip comprises a polymer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip comprises a metal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein said fitting assembly consists essentially of biocompatible materials. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein said passageway through said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip is coated. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17 wherein said analytical instrument system comprises a liquid chromatography system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system according to claim 23, wherein said analytical instrument system comprises an ultra high pressure or ultra high performance liquid chromatography system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein said analytical instrument system comprises a high performance or high pressure liquid chromatography system, an ultra high performance or ultra high pressure liquid chromatography system, a mass spectrometry system, a microflow chromatography system, a nanoflow chromatography system, a nano-scale chromatography system, a capillary electrophoresis system, a reverse-phase gradient chromatography system, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 26 A method of connecting tubing in a liquid chromatography system comprising connecting a fitting assembly comprising a tube extending therethrough to a port, fitting or component of said liquid chromatography system; wherein said fitting assembly comprises: a) a nut having a first end and a second end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said passageway has an internally tapered portion and a lip proximal said second end of said nut, and wherein said second end of said nut has an externally threaded portion; b) a ferrule having a first externally tapered end and a second end and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end of said ferrule is adapted to securely engage with said tapered portion of said passageway in said nut; and c) a ferrule tip having a first externally tapered end, a central portion, and a second externally tapered end, and having a passageway therethrough, wherein said first externally tapered end and said central portion define a first lip and said second externally tapered end and said central portion define a second lip, and wherein said first end of said ferrule tip is adapted to abut with said second end of said ferrule within said passageway of said nut, and said first lip of said ferrule tip securely engages said lip of said nut; wherein said port, fitting or component comprises a first end having an internally threaded portion and an internally tapered portion, a second end and a passageway therethrough, and wherein said internally threaded portion of said fitting or component is adapted to securely engage with said externally threaded portion of said nut, and wherein the internally tapered portion of said fitting or component is adapted to receive and hold said second externally tapered end of said ferrule tip. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein said first externally tapered end of said ferrule comprises a plurality of members. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein said members contact said tube without substantially deforming the tube. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein at least a portion of said passageway through said nut, said ferrule, or said ferrule tip is at least partially coated.