# US 9,752,691 B1 · Valve for controlled shuttle of liquid into microtiter plates and mixing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,691 B1 - Document ID: US9752691B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/791,336 - Filed: 2015-07-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-03 - Assignees: Elemental Scientific, Inc. - Applicants: Elemental Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: Nathan Saetveit; Daniel R. Wiederin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752691B1 ## CPC - F16K 11/0743: {with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates} - G01N 30/00: Investigating or analysing materials by separation into components using adsorption, absorption or similar phenomena or using ion-exchange, e.g. chromatography {or field flow fractionation} (G01N3/00, G01N5/00, G01N7/00, G01N9/00, G01N11/00, G01N13/00, G01N15/00, G01N17/00, G01N19/00, G01N21/00, G01N22/00, G01N23/00, G01N24/00, G01N25/00, G01N27/00, G01N29/00 take precedence) - G01N 30/20: using a sampling valve - G01N 35/1097: {characterised by the valves (valves in general F16K)} - H01J 49/0495: {Vacuum locks; Valves (valves per se F16K)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - 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 Valve assemblies are described that provide segmented shuttle of liquid into sample vessels and automatic mixing via bubbles in the segmented liquid. A valve assembly includes a first valve member having ports configured to receive a pressurized gas, a first fluid, and a second fluid. The valve assembly also includes a second valve member coupled adjacent to the first valve member. The second valve member comprises a plurality of channels configured to interface with the first valve member. In a first configuration, the first fluid is loaded into an external loop. In the second configuration, the second fluid is eluted from the column into a vial in a segmented stream via bubbles of pressurized gas. Bubbles of gas automatically mix the eluted sample fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly comprising: a first valve member having a first port configured to connect to a pressurized gas, a channel connected to the first port, a second port configured to connect to at least one of an external loop or vacuum, a third port configured to connect to a sample fluid, a fourth port configured to connect to an eluted sample fluid, and a fifth port configured to connect to at least one of waste or an online elution; and a second valve member coupled adjacent the first valve member and having at least a first channel and a second channel configured to interface with the first valve member so that the second port is connected to the third port via the first channel in a first configuration and the fourth port is connected to the fifth port via the second channel in the first configuration, the third port is connected to the fourth port via the second channel in a second configuration, and the channel connected to the first port is in fluid communication with the second channel connecting the third port and the fourth port in the second configuration for supplying the pressurized gas to the eluted sample fluid to provide a segmented fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first configuration comprises a load configuration and the second configuration comprises an inject configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first valve member comprises a stator and the second valve member comprises a rotor coupled adjacent to the stator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the external loop comprises a sample loop. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas is at least one of argon gas or nitrogen gas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the fifth port is connected to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the third port is connected to a sampling container when in the second configuration. ### Claim 8 A valve assembly comprising: a first valve member having a first port configured to connect to a pressurized gas, a channel connected to the first port, a second port configured to connect to at least one of an external loop or vacuum, a third port configured to connect to a sample fluid, a fourth port configured to connect to an eluted sample fluid, and a fifth port configured to connect to at least one of waste or an online elution; and a second valve member rotatably coupled respective to the first valve member and configured to transition between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, the second valve member having at least a first channel and a second channel configured to interface with the first valve member so that the second port is connected to the third port via the first channel in the first configuration and the fourth port is connected to the fifth port via the second channel in the first configuration, the third port is connected to the fourth port via the second channel in the second configuration, and at least a portion of the channel of the first valve member is connected to the second channel connecting the third port and the fourth port in the second configuration for supplying the pressurized gas to the eluted sample fluid to provide a segmented fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first configuration comprises a load configuration and the second configuration comprises an inject configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first valve member comprises a stator and the second valve member comprises a rotor coupled adjacent to the stator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the external loop comprises a sample loop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the pressurized gas is at least one of argon gas or nitrogen gas. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the fifth port is connected to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the third port is connected to a sampling container when in the second configuration.