Gas chromatography columns with integrated ferrules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184922-B2
Application number	US-201615083678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 29, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A capillary column includes a fused silica tubing and a polyimide coating over the fusing silica tubing. Additionally, the capillary column further includes a first plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along at least a first portion of the fused silica tubing and spaced apart from one another by a first fixed interval.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A capillary column comprising:
a fused silica tubing;
a polyimide coating over the fused silica tubing; and
a first plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along at least a first portion of the fused silica tubing and spaced apart from one another by a first fixed interval, the first plurality of integrated ferrules are oriented in a first direction.

2. The capillary column of claim 1 wherein the first fixed interval is not less than an insertion depth.

3. The capillary column of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the fused silica tubing is located at or near a first end of the capillary column, and further comprising a second plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along a second portion of the fused silica tubing and spaced apart from one another by a second fixed interval, the second portion of the fused silica tubing located at or near a second end of the capillary column.

4. The capillary column of claim 3 wherein the first fixed interval is greater than the second fixed interval.

5. The capillary column of claim 1 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include graphite, polyimide, or a combination thereof.

6. The capillary column of claim 5 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules are cemented to the polyimide coating.

7. The capillary column of claim 1 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include a metal.

8. The capillary column of claim 7 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules are pre-swaged to the capillary column.

9. A method of manufacturing a capillary column, comprising:
obtaining a polyimide coated fused silica tubing; and
affixing a plurality of ferrules to the polyimide coated fused silica tubing at a fixed interval from one another and oriented in a first direction.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein obtaining the polyimide coated fused silica tubing includes:
forming a fused silica tubing; and
coating the fused silica tubing with one or more layers of polyimide.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the fixed interval is not less than an insertion depth.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein affixing the plurality of ferrules includes pre-swaging the ferrules or cementing the ferrules in place.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein affixing the plurality of ferrules includes forming the ferrules in place.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include graphite, polyimide, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include a metal.

16. A method of using a capillary column, the capillary column including a plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along at least a portion of the capillary column and spaced apart by a fixed length, the plurality of integrated ferrules including a first ferrule and a second ferrule, the method comprising:
unscrewing a nut securing the capillary column at the first ferrule;
removing an end of the capillary column from an instrument;
trimming the capillary column to remove an end portion including the first ferrule and leaving the second ferrule spaced from the end of the capillary column by a predetermined length of capillary column;
inserting the predetermine length of capillary column into an opening of the instrument; and
securing the capillary column in place with the nut.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include graphite, polyimide, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules are cemented to the polyimide coating.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules include a metal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the plurality of integrated ferrules are pre-swaged to the capillary column.

Assignees

• Thermo Finnigan Llc

Inventors

• Mccauley Edward B

Classifications

• B01J2220/86

  Sorbents applied to inner surfaces of columns or capillaries · CPC title

• B01J2220/84

  Capillaries · CPC title

• B01J20/3272

  Polymers obtained by reactions otherwise than involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• B01D53/025

  with wetted adsorbents; Chromatography (analytical chromatography G01N30/00 - G01N30/96; for liquids B01D15/08) · CPC title

• G01N2030/889

  monitoring the quality of the stationary phase; column performance · CPC title