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US 8,784,737 B2Granted
Introducing an analyte into a chemical analyzer
Assignee1st Detect Corporation
InventorsDavid Rafferty, Michael Spencer, James Wylde, Pedro Ojeda, Thomas Bowden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chemical pre-concentrator includes a conduit defining a flow path between two ends and having a heating element disposed within the conduit, such that the heating element has at least one sorbent material deposited directly on at least a portion of a conductive surface of the heating element. Some such heating elements are in the form of electrically conductive strips defining both a plurality of apertures through the strip and a series of undulations spaced along the flow path.
Claims37
A chemical pre-concentrator for increasing the concentration of an analyte comprising:
- a conduit having an interior defining a flow path between a first end and a second end of the conduit;
- a heating element consisting of an electrical conductor with a sorbent material directly coated on at least a portion of a surface of the electrical conductor, wherein the heating element is disposed within the interior of the conduit;
- a first fitting component coupled to the first end of the conduit, the first fitting component having a first opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a first electrical lead extending through the first fitting component that is electrically connected to a first end of the heating element;
- and
- a second fitting component coupled to the second end of the conduit, the second fitting component having a second opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a second electrical lead extending through the second fitting component that is electrically connected to a second end of the heating element,
- wherein the flow path extends along a path through the first opening, through the conduit, and through the second opening, and
- wherein the first and second fitting components are configured to allow evacuation of the conduit, such that, during an evacuation, the flow path between the first and second ends of the conduit is evacuated.
4 more elements
A method of introducing an analyte into a chemical analyzer for analysis, the method comprising:
- providing a flow path between a first end and a second end of a conduit and having a heating element disposed within the conduit, wherein the heating element consists of an electrical conductor with a sorbent material directly coated on at least a portion of a surface of the electrical conductor,
- wherein a first fitting component is coupled to the first end of the conduit, the first fitting component having a first opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a first electrical lead extending through the first fitting component that is electrically connected to a first end of the heating element,
- wherein a second fitting component is coupled to the second end of the conduit, the second fitting component having a second opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a second electrical lead extending through the second fitting component that is electrically connected to a second end of the heating element,
- wherein the flow path extends along a path through the first opening, through the conduit, and through the second opening;
- evacuating, through the first and second openings of the first and second fitting components, respectively, the conduit to form an evacuated environment within the conduit;
- conducting current, via the first and second electrical leads, through the heating element in the vacuum environment in order to desorb the analyte from the sorbent material;
- and
- introducing the desorbed analyte into the chemical analyzer.
5 more elements
A chemical pre-concentrator for increasing a concentration of a sample, comprising:
- a conduit having an interior defining a flow path that extends between a first end of the conduit and a second end of the conduit;
- a heating element consisting of an electrical conductor disposed within the interior of the conduit at a location in the flow path between the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit;
- and
- at least one sorbent material that is coated directly on the heating element, wherein the coated heating element is disposed in the interior of the conduit such that at least a portion of the flow path is incident upon the heating element;
- a first fitting component coupled to the first end of the conduit, the first fitting component having a first opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a first electrical lead extending through the first fitting component that is electrically connected to a first end of the heating element;
- and
- a second fitting component coupled to the second end of the conduit, the second fitting component having a second opening for the flow path into the conduit and having a second electrical lead extending through the second fitting component that is electrically connected to a second end of the heating element,
- wherein at least the portion of the interior of the conduit containing the heating element has a cross-section, transverse to the direction of the flow path, that consists of the flow path, the thickness of the heating element, and the thickness of the sorbent material coated directly on the at least two opposing sides of the heating element,
- wherein the flow path extends along a path through the first opening, through the conduit, and through the second opening, and
- wherein the first and second fitting components are configured to allow evacuation of the conduit, such that, during an evacuation, the flow path between the first and second ends of the conduit is evacuated.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.