Two-dimensional fluid separation with controlled pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694301-B2
Application number	US-201214400312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2012
Priority date	May 10, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A sample separation apparatus for separating a liquid sample includes a first separation unit for separating the sample, a first fluid drive for conducting the sample to be separated through the first separation unit, a second separation unit, arranged downstream of the first separation unit, for further separating the sample, a second fluid drive for at least partially conducting the sample through the second separation unit, and a fluidic valve having interfaces fluidically coupled to the first and second fluid drives and being switchable for performing the separation of the sample. The apparatus is configured for adjusting a pressure at a predefined position to a predefined value, wherein the predefined position is in a fluidic path between an outlet of the first separation unit and an inlet of the second separation unit or in fluid communication with this fluidic path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sample separation apparatus for separating a liquid sample, the sample separation apparatus comprising:
a first separation unit configured for separating the liquid sample, the first separation unit comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a first column between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the first column contains a separating material;
a first pump fluidically coupled to the first separation unit, the first pump configured for generating a first fluid flow for conducting the liquid sample to be separated through the first separation unit, wherein the first pump comprises a movable piston;
a second separation unit, arranged downstream of the first separation unit, configured for further separating the liquid sample or fractions thereof after separation by the first separation unit, the second separation unit comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a second column between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the second column contains a separating material, and the outlet of the first separation unit is fluidically coupled to the inlet of the second separation unit via a first fluidic path between the outlet of the first separation unit and the inlet of the second separation unit;
a second pump configured for generating a second fluid flow for conducting at least part of the liquid sample after separation by the first separation unit, through the second separation unit, wherein the second pump comprises a movable piston, and the second pump is fluidically coupled to the first fluidic path via a second fluidic path;
a flow coupler comprising at least two fluid inlet terminals in fluid communication with each other and a fluid outlet terminal in fluid communication with the at least two fluid inlet terminals, the fluid outlet terminal being fluidically connectable to the second separation unit;
a fluidic valve comprising a plurality of fluidic interfaces respectively fluidically coupled to the first pump via the first separation unit, to the second pump, and to the inlet of the second separation unit via the at least two fluid inlet terminals, the fluidic valve being switchable to a plurality of switching states for performing the separation of the liquid sample in the second separation unit, wherein the plurality of switching states determine which fluidic interfaces of the plurality of fluidic interfaces are respectively fluidically coupled to the first pump, to the second pump, and to the at least two fluid inlet terminals, and the fluidic valve defines at least a portion of the first fluidic path and a portion of the second fluidic path; and
a control device configured for:
switching the fluidic valve to the plurality of switching states; and
adjusting a pressure at a defined position to a defined value by controlling an operating parameter of at least the second pump, wherein the defined position is in the first fluidic path or the second fluidic path.

2. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for adjusting the pressure at the defined position to maintain the pressure at a constant value.

3. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for adjusting the pressure at the defined position such that the pressure varies according to a defined pressure program.

4. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for controlling at least one of the first pump and the second pump for adjusting a ratio between a flow rate of the second fluid flow generated by the second pump at the defined position and a flow rate of the first fluid flow generated by the first pump to a defined value of the ratio.

5. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for controlling a flow rate of the second fluid flow generated by the second pump for adjusting the pressure at the defined position to the defined value.

6. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a sensor positioned to measure an actual pressure value at the defined position, wherein the control device is configured for receiving sensor data from the sensor indicative of the actual pressure value measured and regulating the pressure at the defined position to the defined value based on the received sensor data.

7. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the defined position is located in a portion of the first fluidic path or the second fluidic path between the fluidic valve and the inlet of the second separation unit.

8. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the defined position is located at or fluidically connected to an outlet of the second pump, or in the second fluidic path.

9. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for adjusting the pressure to the defined value in an entire fluidic path that fluidly communicates with the first separation unit, the second pump and the second separation unit, the entire fluidic path comprising the first fluidic path and the second fluidic path.

10. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for controlling at least one of the first pump and the second pump to execute sample separation by controlling run volumes of fluid flowing through at least one of the first separation unit and the second separation unit.

11. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured for separating the liquid sample by modifying a flow rate of at least one of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow generated by at least one of the first pump and the second pump.

12. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are in fluid communication with one another in at least one of the switching states of the fluidic valve.

13. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are both in fluid communication with the flow coupler in at least one of the switching states of the fluidic valve.

14. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second separation unit is directly fluidically coupled to the fluid outlet terminal of the flow coupler.

15. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow coupler is configured as one of the group consisting of a fluidic T-piece, a fluidic Y-piece, and a fluidic X-piece.

16. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow coupler comprises at least one check valve preventing fluid from flowing in a reversed direction away from the second separating unit in at least one of the fluid inlet terminals or the fluid outlet terminal.

17. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic valve comprises a first valve member and a second valve member being movable relative to one another to thereby adjust a respective switching state of the fluidic valve.

18. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first valve member comprises a plurality of ports forming the plurality of fluidic interfaces, and the second valve member comprises a plurality of grooves for fluidically coupling different ports of the plurality of ports depending on a selected switching state of the plurality of switching states of the fluidic valve.

19. The sample separation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic valv

Assignees

• Choikhet Konstantin
• Witt Klaus
• Agilent Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Choikhet Konstantin
• Witt Klaus

Classifications

• G01N30/463

  for multidimensional chromatography · CPC title

• G01N30/72

  Mass spectrometers {(mass spectrometers per se H01J49/00)} · CPC title

• G01N27/44704

  Details; Accessories · CPC title

• G01N2030/328

  valves, e.g. check valves of pumps · CPC title

• G01N30/32

  of pressure or speed (G01N30/36 takes precedence) · CPC title