Interchangeable preconcentrator connector assembly

• US 20090249958A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Louisville
• Original Assignee: University of Louisville
• Inventors: Jackson, Doug, Roussel, Thomas, Martin, Michael, Walsh, Kevin, Naber, John, Cambron, Scott, Keynton, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,178,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/87
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/08 using an enricher
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

An interchangeable preconcentrator assembly comprises an outer housing and an inner housing defining a chamber. A biased urging member is held at least partially within the outer housing and slidably biased toward a surface of the inner housing. When the biased urging member is at least partially retracted, a space is defined between the urging member and the surface of the inner housing for accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip. A continuous fluid flow path is defined through the outer housing and through the space. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly may further comprise at least one modular preconcentrator carriage.

Claims

1. An interchangeable preconcentrator assembly comprising:

an outer housing and an inner housing defining a chamber;

a biased urging member held at least partially within said outer housing and slidably biased toward a surface of said inner housing;

wherein when said biased urging member is at least partially retracted, a space is defined between said urging member and the surface of the inner housing for accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip; and

wherein a continuous fluid flow path is defined through said outer housing and through said space.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path is also defined through said biased urging member.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said biased urging member comprises:

a plunger including an at least partially open tube, said plunger including an engaging surface adjacent to said space.

4. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

a biasing member for biasing said urging member toward the surface of said inner housing.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said biasing member comprises a spring.

6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said plunger includes an extension that extends at least partially beyond an outer surface of the outer housing;

and

wherein said outer housing comprises a slot for accommodating the extension.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener coupled to said inner housing for connecting the assembly to an analysis device.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one modular preconcentrator carriage disposed within the space;

wherein said at least one preconcentrator carriage is urged by said urging member.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said at least one preconcentrator carriage comprises;

a microscale preconcentrator chip including a plurality of throughholes and a heater for heating a surface of said chip;

first and second plates at least partially enclosing said chip;

at least one electrode coupled to said heater and extending beyond said first and second plates.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said at least one preconcentrator carriage further comprises:

a flex circuit having said at least one electrode provided thereon and coupled to said heater.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said flex circuit comprises a portion extending beyond said first and second plates and having said at least one electrode disposed thereon;

wherein said outer housing comprises a slot for accommodating the portion of the flex circuit.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one valve in fluid communication with the chamber.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one valve is connected to said inner housing;

wherein said at least one valve includes an end in fluid communication with an interior of said inner housing; and

wherein the fluid flow path extends within the interior of said inner housing.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said outer housing includes a slot for accommodating said at least one valve.

15. An interchangeable preconcentrator assembly comprising:

housing means for defining a chamber;

means for accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip disposed within said housing means; and

means for biasing said at least one preconcentrator chip toward a surface of said housing means;

means for providing a continuous fluid flow path through said housing means and means for accommodating.

16. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one preconcentrator chip;

modular means for enclosing the at least one preconcentrator chip;

means for electrically coupling to said at least one preconcentrator chip from outside said modular means for enclosing.

17. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly of claim 16, wherein said means for biasing comprises:

means for urging said modular means toward the surface of said housing means; and

means for biasing said means for urging.

18. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

means for connecting said housing means to an analysis device such that the chamber is in fluid communication with an inlet of the analytic device.

19. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

means for selectively providing fluid flow out of the chamber independent of the analysis device.

20. An interchangeable preconcentrator connector assembly that permits rapid sequential insertion and removal of packaged analytical microscale preconcentrators into a stacked formation to focus or preconcentrate a desired sample of vapors and/or particles prior to desorption into a storage or analysis instrument, the assembly comprising:

inner and outer housings configured to connect to an analysis instrument, define fluid flow paths, and space for accommodating other parts of the assembly, including a space for one or plurality of microscale preconcentrators held in a protective carriage that includes electrodes for connection to a control circuit;

a biased member in the assembly slidably held in said inner and outer housing and biased to push against inserted preconcentrator(s) carriages to align and secure them such that fluid flow will be primarily through the preconcentrators from an inlet to the assembly defined by a fluid flow path in said plunger; and

valves in the assembly to enable flows for preconcentration that are independent from flows of the analysis instrument.