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US 9,844,761 B1Granted
Sample introduction system with mixing
AssigneeElemental Scientific, Inc.
InventorDaniel R. Wiederin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sample introduction system provides mixing of a sample and a diluent within the container via gas injection. In one or more implementations, the sample introduction system causes a probe of an autosampler to be inserted into a container containing a sample and a diluent so that an end of the probe is submerged beneath a surface of the diluent and the sample. Gas is then injected through the probe to mix the sample and the diluent within the container. An aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent is then withdrawn through the probe.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- causing a probe to be inserted into a supply of diluent;
- causing diluent to be drawn from the supply of diluent into the probe;
- causing the probe to be removed from the supply of diluent;
- causing atmospheric gas to be drawn into the probe to form a segmentation bubble extending within the probe;
- causing the probe to be inserted into a container containing a sample;
- causing the sample to be drawn from the container containing the sample into the probe, the segmentation bubble being configured to separate the diluent from the sample;
- causing the probe to be removed from the container containing the sample;
- causing the probe to be inserted into a mixing container and the sample and the diluent to be subsequently expelled from the probe into the mixing container to mix the sample and the diluent;
- causing gas to be injected into the mixing container through the probe to further mix the sample and the diluent within the mixing container;
- and
- causing an aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent to be withdrawn from the mixing container through the probe.
8 more elements
A sample introduction system comprising:
- a probe configured to be inserted into a supply of diluent and subsequently into a container containing a sample and subsequently into a mixing container;
- and
- a pump and a valve assembly together being operable to cause diluent to be drawn into the probe, sample to be drawn into the probe, atmospheric gas to be drawn into the probe between the diluent and the sample, and the sample and the diluent to be expelled from the probe into the mixing container to mix the sample and the diluent;
- wherein the pump is configured to apply a vacuum to the probe and withdraw an aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent from the mixing container.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- inserting a probe into a supply of diluent;
- applying a vacuum to draw diluent from the supply of diluent into the probe;
- removing the probe from the supply of diluent;
- applying a vacuum to draw atmospheric gas into the probe to form a segmentation bubble extending within the probe;
- inserting the probe into a container containing a sample;
- applying a vacuum to the probe to draw the sample from the container containing the sample into the probe, the segmentation bubble being configured to separate the diluent from the sample;
- removing the probe from the container containing the sample;
- and
- inserting the probe into a mixing container and expelling the sample and the diluent from the probe into the mixing container to mix the sample and the diluent;
- applying a vacuum to the probe and withdrawing an aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent from the mixing container.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- inserting a probe into a supply of diluent;
- applying a vacuum to draw diluent from the supply of diluent into the probe;
- removing the probe from the supply of diluent;
- applying a vacuum to draw atmospheric gas into the probe to form a segmentation bubble extending within the probe;
- inserting the probe into a container containing a sample;
- applying a vacuum to the probe to draw the sample from the container containing the sample into the probe, the segmentation bubble being configured to separate the diluent from the sample;
- removing the probe from the container containing the sample;
- inserting the probe into a mixing container and expelling the sample and the diluent from the probe into the mixing container to mix the sample and the diluent;
- and
- applying a vacuum to the probe while the probe is moved from the container containing the sample to the mixing container to draw atmospheric gas into the probe to form a second bubble extending within the probe, the second bubble being configured to retard leakage of the sample from the probe.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.