The invention relates to a screw element comprising an internal torque limitation for fastening a liquid-conducting line to a device connector or to a coupling for a further line, said screw element having a connection part, which preferably has a thread, and an actuation part; and having a torque limiting unit that limits a torque that can be transmitted from the actuation part to the connection part, wherein the torque limiting unit is arranged between the connection part and the actuation part and has a limiting element, in particular a separate limiting element, that can be assembled from at least two limiting element parts connectable to one another and that limits the torque limiting unit in an axial direction of a longitudinal axis of the screw element. The invention further relates to a system comprising at least one screw element and a line fastened to the screw element.

A parallel assembly (2; 11; 51) of chromatography column modules (3a,b,c; 13a,b,c; 53a,b,c, 90a, b), the assembly having one common assembly inlet (15; 55) and one common assembly outlet (17; 57), each column module comprising a bed space (29) filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules are adapted to connect the bed space (29) of the column module with the assembly inlet (15; 55) and the assembly outlet (17; 57), wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.

The invention discloses a chromatography column module stackable with like chromatography modules, comprising a column chamber (2) fluidically connected to a column inlet 3) and a column outlet (4), wherein the column inlet and outlet each comprise a valve (5), arranged to move from a closed position to an open position upon connection of the column inlet or outlet with a) a column outlet or inlet of a like chromatography module or b) with an outlet or inlet of a fluidics plate. The invention further discloses a stack of chromatography column modules and the use of the stack for separation of biomolecules.

The invention relates to tubing assemblies and methods for forming a fluidic connection to make the same. The assemblies include an outer tube having disposed therein a first inner tube affixed to the outer tube, a second inner tube and a support tube disposed in the second inner tube. The second inner tube is abutted against the first inner tube. A radial crimp is made in the outer tube over the second inner tube a distance x from where the tubes abut; the distance x being such that the end of the second inner tube seals against the end of the first inner tube. Various embodiments provide assemblies suitable for use with high fluidic pressure (e.g., greater than an about 70 MPa, approximately about 10,000 psi) and formation of chromatographic column assemblies comprising a capillary tube predisposed within the first or second inner tube prior to formation of the seal.

Methods for transferring a separation procedure from a first chromatographic system to a second one are disclosed that involve substantially matching a pressure profile. In some such methods, a length, an area, and a particle size of a first column in the first system and a flow rate in the first separation procedure are identifiable. Some such methods also involve selecting a combination of a length, an area, and a particle size of a second column in the second system and a flow rate for the second separation procedure. These methods may involve calculating a target length, a target area, or a target particle size for the second column in the second system or a target flow rate for the second separation procedure.

A fluidic coupling device includes a housing, and a piston, spring, and cap insertable in the housing. The spring includes a stack of spring washers and is compressible between the cap and the the piston. The cap is threadedly engageable with the housing and movable into contact with the spring. The device may be coupled to a component in a sealed manner by inserting a ferrule between the piston and the component, inserting a conduit through the housing and into the component, and threadedly engaging the housing with the component, thereby compressing the spring and translating the piston against the ferrule. The device may enable coupling to be done manually, with minimal variation in compressive loading. The piston and spring may desensitize the device to thermal cycling effects, reducing the need for retightening.

Described is a chromatographic column assembly that includes an outer tube comprising a metal, a first conduit disposed within the outer tube, a second conduit disposed within the outer tube, and a first joint located between the first conduit and the second conduit. The outer tube is deformed by a first uniform radial crimp at a longitudinal location along the outer tube that surrounds the first conduit on a first side of the first joint, and a second uniform radial cramp at a longitudinal location along the outer tube that surrounds the second conduit on a second side of the first joint. The first and second uniform radial cramps form a fluid-tight seal between the first conduit and the second conduit and each have a substantially flat base region over which a diameter of the outer tube is reduced for a non-zero longitudinal length.

A clinical diagnostic system is presented and comprises a sample preparation station for automatically preparing samples comprising analytes of interest, a liquid chromatography (LC) separation station comprising a plurality of LC channels and a sample preparation/LC interface for inputting prepared samples into the LC channels. The system further comprises a controller to assign samples to pre-defined sample preparation workflows each comprising a pre-defined sequence of sample preparation steps and requiring a pre-defined time for completion depending on the analytes. The controller further assigns an LC channel for each prepared sample depending on the analytes and plans an LC channel input sequence for inputting the prepared samples that allows analytes from different LC channels to elute in a non-overlapping LC eluate output sequence based on expected elution times. The controller further sets and initiates a start sequence that generates a prepared sample output sequence that matches the LC channel input sequence.

A parallel assembly (2; 11; 51) of chromatography column modules (3a,b,c; 13a,b,c; 53a,b,c, 90a, b), the assembly having one common assembly inlet (15; 55) and one common assembly outlet (17; 57), each column module comprising a bed space (29) filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules are adapted to connect the bed space (29) of the column module with the assembly inlet (15; 55) and the assembly outlet (17; 57), wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.

Threaded conventional column end fittings for liquid chromatography columns do not have face seals that enable them to be used with clamping fluidic connectors. The exemplary embodiments may provide adapters that interface with conventional threaded column end fittings so that the column assembly may now be used with the clamping fluidic connectors. The adapters of the exemplary embodiments may include lock nuts for securing the adapters to column end fittings of a liquid chromatography columns. The lock nuts may include threads that bear the load of the adapter rather than the column end fitting of the chromatography column. The threads of the lock nut become the load bearing surfaces, and the load is distributed over the surfaces where the threads of the adapter engage with the threads of the lock nut.