When mounting a second assembly 36 to a first assembly 35 that is fixed to a main body, the second assembly 36 engages a second connection element 54 of a non-rotation unit 361 of the second assembly 36 with a first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35. A rotating part 362 is mounted on the first assembly 35 when the rotation unit 362 is rotated. Therefore, an operator can carry out positioning for the second assembly 36 by connecting the second connection element 54 of the second assembly 36 with the first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35. The second assembly 36 can be smoothly mounted on the first assembly 35 that is fixed to the main body. The second connection element 54 of the non-rotation unit 361 connects with the first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35, so that the non-rotation unit 361 is prevented from rotating together with the rotation unit 362 during use and the assemblies that contact the non-rotation unit 361 are protected from damage.

When mounting a second assembly 36 to a first assembly 35 that is fixed to a main body, the second assembly 36 engages a second connection element 54 of a non-rotation unit 361 of the second assembly 36 with a first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35. A rotating part 362 is mounted on the first assembly 35 when the rotation unit 362 is rotated. Therefore, an operator can carry out positioning for the second assembly 36 by connecting the second connection element 54 of the second assembly 36 with the first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35. The second assembly 36 can be smoothly mounted on the first assembly 35 that is fixed to the main body. The second connection element 54 of the non-rotation unit 361 connects with the first connection element 354 of the first assembly 35, so that the non-rotation unit 361 is prevented from rotating together with the rotation unit 362 during use and the assemblies that contact the non-rotation unit 361 are protected from damage.

A duckbill valve assembly includes a duckbill valve and a spring member. The duckbill valve has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. The duckbill valve defines a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The duckbill valve includes a first port at the proximal end, and first and second opposed sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure. The duckbill structure includes a slit proximate the distal end. The duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port. The spring member includes a spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall. The spring leg exerts a spring load on the first sidewall, the spring load forcing the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position. The duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the spring leg is displaced in the valve direction and in a laterally outward direction.

An air measurement method of performing measurement by injecting air into a gas chromatograph includes a liquid suction step of sucking a liquid that does not interfere with detection of a predetermined component in air by a gas chromatograph into a syringe to fill the syringe with the liquid, an air suction step of sucking a predetermined amount of air into the syringe after the liquid suction step, an injection step of injecting the predetermined amount of air sucked into the syringe into the gas chromatograph after the air suction step, and a recording step of acquiring a detection signal for the air injected into the gas chromatograph in the injection step and recording an acquired detection signal in association with the air injection amount into the gas chromatograph.

An air measurement method of performing measurement by injecting air into a gas chromatograph includes a liquid suction step of sucking a liquid that does not interfere with detection of a predetermined component in air by a gas chromatograph into a syringe to fill the syringe with the liquid, an air suction step of sucking a predetermined amount of air into the syringe after the liquid suction step, an injection step of injecting the predetermined amount of air sucked into the syringe into the gas chromatograph after the air suction step, and a recording step of acquiring a detection signal for the air injected into the gas chromatograph in the injection step and recording an acquired detection signal in association with the air injection amount into the gas chromatograph.

A duckbill valve assembly includes a duckbill valve and a spring member. The duckbill valve has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. The duckbill valve defines a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The duckbill valve includes a first port at the proximal end, and first and second opposed sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure. The duckbill structure includes a slit proximate the distal end. The duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port. The spring member includes a spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall. The spring leg exerts a spring load on the first sidewall, the spring load forcing the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position. The duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the spring leg is displaced in the valve direction and in a laterally outward direction.

A seal pack of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system having a plurality of wash flow pathways fluidically connected to a central pathway that accommodates a sample needle, wherein a first wash flow pathway is vertically offset from a second wash flow pathway, such that a wash solution flows axially along an exterior surface of the sample needle in a vertical direction to wash the sample needle when flowing from the first wash flow pathway to the vertically offset second wash flow pathway, is provided. Furthermore, an autosampler and associated methods are also provided.

A seal pack of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system having a plurality of wash flow pathways fluidically connected to a central pathway that accommodates a sample needle, wherein a first wash flow pathway is vertically offset from a second wash flow pathway, such that a wash solution flows axially along an exterior surface of the sample needle in a vertical direction to wash the sample needle when flowing from the first wash flow pathway to the vertically offset second wash flow pathway, is provided. Furthermore, an autosampler and associated methods are also provided.

A needle for aspirating a sample from a sample source and injecting the sample into a liquid chromatography system, the needle including a needle body having a rough textured surface finish for at least a portion of the needle body, wherein the rough textured surface finish reduces a coefficient of friction of the needle body, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

A needle for aspirating a sample from a sample source and injecting the sample into a liquid chromatography system, the needle including a needle body having a rough textured surface finish for at least a portion of the needle body, wherein the rough textured surface finish reduces a coefficient of friction of the needle body, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.