Agilent Technologies Patent Grants

Connector assembly for an inductively coupled plasma source

Granted: September 20, 2016
Patent Number: 9450330
A connector assembly configured to join an induction coil to a radio frequency generator to provide together with a plasma torch, an inductively coupled plasma source for a spectrometer is disclosed. The connector assembly includes a radial clamping member associated with the radio frequency generator and a sealing member. The radial clamping member has an internal surface configured to receive an end of an induction coil. The connector assembly is configured to provide a secure…

Sample injector with metering device balancing pressure differences in an intermediate valve state

Granted: September 6, 2016
Patent Number: 9435773
A sample injector (200) for use in a fluid separation system (10) for separating compounds of a fluidic sample in a mobile phase, the sample injector (200) comprising a switchable valve (202), a sample loop (204) in fluid communication with the valve (202) and configured for receiving the fluidic sample, a metering device (206) in fluid communication with the sample loop (204) and configured for introducing a metered amount of the fluidic sample on the sample loop (204), and a control…

Vibration/noise management in a scroll compressor

Granted: September 6, 2016
Patent Number: 9435339
A scroll pump isolates vibrations of a pump head/motor assembly of the pump from the exterior of the pump and thus, suppresses the production of airborne noise. The pump includes a sound-muffling enclosure surrounding the pump head/motor assembly, feet supporting the enclosure, and elastic vibration isolators. The pump head/motor assembly is fixed to the tops of the vibration isolators, and the sound-muffling enclosure is fixed to the vibration isolators at the bottoms of the isolators.…

Methods, devices, and systems for controlling the rate of gas depressurization within a vial containing a gas sample

Granted: August 30, 2016
Patent Number: 9429499
The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling depressurization of a vial containing a gas sample. The disclosed systems and methods are employed during sampling and/or analysis of the gas sample. One exemplary method for controlling depressurization of a vial containing a gas sample includes establishing fluid communication between a sample loop of a head space sampling device and the head space of the vial. A sample gas pressure is established within the head…

Scroll pump having axially compliant spring element

Granted: August 30, 2016
Patent Number: 9429020
A scroll pump includes a frame, a stationary plate scroll, an orbiting plate scroll, a non-energized type of tip seal or seals, an eccentric drive mechanism assembled to and supported by the frame and to which the orbiting plate scroll is assembled so as to be drivable by the eccentric drive mechanism in an orbit about a longitudinal axis of the pump, and an axial compliance system including a flexure. The flexure is interposed between a bearing of the eccentric drive mechanism and a…

Integrated magnetron plasma torch, and related methods

Granted: August 30, 2016
Patent Number: 9427821
A plasma source for generating microwave-induced plasma includes a plasma torch integrated with a microwave energy source. The torch establishes a gas flow path from one side of the plasma source to the other side. The torch may be integrated with the microwave energy source such that a plasma-forming gas flowing through the torch is subjected to microwave radiation, which serves to initiate and/or sustain plasma in the torch. The plasma may be ejected from the torch and utilized in…

Method transfer between fluidic devices considering deviations from ideal behavior

Granted: August 23, 2016
Patent Number: 9423384
An apparatus (200) for deriving an operation mode from a first fluidic device to a second fluidic device, wherein the first fluidic device has a first target operation mode (300) representing a desired behavior of the first fluidic device and has a first real operation mode (304) representing the actual behavior of the first fluidic device, wherein the second fluidic device has a second target operation mode (312) representing a desired behavior of the second fluidic device and has a…

Method for genome analysis

Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number: 9416407
A method of sample analysis is provided. In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: a) contacting under primer extension conditions a genomic sample comprising a test genome with a set of at least ten sequence-specific primers that are complementary to sites in only one strand of a reference chromosomal region, to produce primer extension products, and b) analyzing the primer extension products to identify a chromosomal rearrangement in the test genome.

Ion optical system for mass spectrometer

Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number: 9418826
A mass spectrometer includes: a plasma generation device for generating plasma for ionizing an introduced sample; an interface device for drawing the plasma into vacuum; an ion lens device for extracting and inducing ions as an ion beam from the plasma; a collision/reaction cell for removing an interference ion from the ion beam; a mass analyzer or filter for allowing a predetermined ion in the ion beam from the collision/reaction cell to pass along a first axis based on a mass-to-charge…

Sample separation device with valve

Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number: 9417219
A sample separation device for separating a sample comprises a first fluid supply path for supplying a first fluid, a second fluid supply path for supplying a second fluid, a sample separation unit adapted for separating the sample, a sensor configured for determining a value of a parameter related to the fluid, and a valve configured for selectively coupling both of the first and second fluid supply paths to the sensor and to the sample separation unit, or coupling one of the first and…

Scroll pump having bellows providing angular synchronization and back-up system for bellows

Granted: August 2, 2016
Patent Number: 9404491
A scroll pump has a metallic bellows that angularly synchronizes the stationary and orbiting scroll blades of the pump, and a hack-up system for the bellows. The back-up system consists of pins integral with and fixed relative to one of the stationary and orbital parts of the scroll pump, and a guide part that is integral with and fixed relative to the other of the stationary and orbital parts. The back-up system may be a non-contacting hack-up system in which there is no contact between…

Efficient chiller for a supercritical fluid chromatography pump

Granted: July 19, 2016
Patent Number: 9395109
A system for chilling a pumping system includes a Peltier cooling element, and first and second heat exchangers. The Peltier element is arranged near a pump head of a pump such that the Peltier element and the pump head are in thermal contact, where the Peltier element chills the pump head and a mobile phase flowstream prior to fluid from the mobile phase flowstream entering the pump. The first heat exchanger is attached to the Peltier element, and removes heat from the Peltier element…

Ion mobility mass spectrometry tags for quantitative applications and methods thereof

Granted: June 28, 2016
Patent Number: 9377468
Compound tags and shifting agents are provided that find use in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), mass spectrometry (MS), or a combination of IMS and MS, and which can substantially increase separation of multiple components in complex samples and facilitate quantitative and multiplexed analyses. In some cases, the compounds include a linker and a normalizing group, each including a structural unit and separated by a cleaveable group, and a crown ether. Also provided are methods for…

Scroll vacuum pump having external axial adjustment mechanism

Granted: June 14, 2016
Patent Number: 9366255
A vacuum type of scroll pump includes a frame, a stationary plate scroll, an orbiting plate scroll, a non-energized type of tip seal or seals, an eccentric drive mechanism assembled to and supported by the frame and to which the orbiting plate scroll is assembled so as to be drivable by the eccentric drive mechanism in an orbit about a longitudinal axis of the pump, and a mechanism for adjusting the seal(s) created by the tip seal(s) without having to disassemble any of the frame, plate…

Addition of an adaptor by invasive cleavage

Granted: June 14, 2016
Patent Number: 9365896
This disclosure provides a method for adding an adaptor to a genomic sequence by invasive cleavage, as well as a kit for performing the method. In some embodiments, the method comprises: a) hybridizing genomic DNA to an adaptor comprising a double stranded region and a single stranded region comprising a 5? overhang to produce a substrate for a flap endonuclease; b) cleaving the substrate using the flap endonuclease; c) ligating the recessed end of the double stranded region to the…

Scroll pump having axially compliant spring element

Granted: June 7, 2016
Patent Number: 9360013
A scroll pump includes a frame, a stationary plate scroll, an orbiting plate scroll, a tip seal(s), an eccentric drive mechanism which drives the orbiting plate scroll, and an axial compliance system. The eccentric drive mechanism includes a crankshaft, and bearings and a counterbalance disposed on the crankshaft. The counterbalance is mounted so as to be slidable along the crankshaft in the axial direction of the crankshaft. The axial compliance system includes a flexure and one set of…

Primary piston correction during transfer

Granted: June 7, 2016
Patent Number: 9360006
A method for controlling operation of a pump unit, where the pump unit includes a primary piston pump having a primary piston and a secondary piston pump having a secondary piston. The primary piston pump is fluidically connected with the secondary piston pump. The primary piston pump includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve, and the pump unit operates periodically according to a pump cycle. The method includes determining a fluid pressure of fluid dispensed by the pump unit, and…

Apparatus for generating small flow rates in a channel

Granted: May 31, 2016
Patent Number: 9354208
A fluidic apparatus for a sample separation system includes a fluid inlet path for supplying a fluid, an inlet sensor adapted for measuring a flow rate of the fluid in the fluid inlet path, a splitting point arranged downstream of the fluid inlet path and adapted for splitting the fluid into a first path and into a second path, and a second path sensor adapted for measuring a flow rate of a part of the fluid conducted into the second path.

Axially compliant orbiting plate scroll and scroll pump comprising the same

Granted: May 31, 2016
Patent Number: 9353749
An orbiting plate scroll of a scroll pump includes an orbiting plate having a first side and a second side, an orbiting scroll blade projecting in an axial direction from the first side of the orbiting plate, and a flexure whose compliance is in the axial direction. The flexure is coupled to the orbiting plate at the second side of the orbiting plate, and couples the orbiting plate and orbiting scroll blade to bearings that allow for free rotation of the orbiting plate scroll about a…

Low noise back pressure regulator for supercritical fluid chromatography

Granted: May 24, 2016
Patent Number: 9345989
A drive mechanism for back pressure regulator used in liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, or supercritical fluid extraction allows very fine automated control over a very wide range of pressures by combining a linear actuator compressing a spring, pushing a pin. The nozzle assembly of the regulator comprises a flow through chamber containing a diaphragm and a seat, in which the pin pushes the diaphragm against the seat, together with an upstream pressure sensor and…