A diaphragm valve for gas analysis applications is provided. The valve includes a valve cap provided with a plurality of process conduits extending therethrough, a valve body engageable with the valve cap and having a body interface provided with a recess, a diaphragm positioned between the valve cap and valve body and having a process groove for circulating fluid therein, the process groove engaging the recess, a plunger assembly provided within the valve body, the plunger assembly comprising a plurality of plungers movable between a closed position wherein the plunger engages the diaphragm, and an open position wherein the plunger is spaced from the diaphragm, and an actuating assembly comprising a gas inlet to allow the injection of actuating gas therein, the actuating assembly comprising a purging system for purging a region located between the diaphragm and the body interface, whereby the actuating gas is used for purging the region.

Various embodiments of the teachings relate to a system or method for sample preparation or analysis in biochemical or molecular biology procedures. The sample preparation can involve small volume processed in discrete portions or segments or slugs, herein referred to as discrete volumes. A molecular biology procedure can be nucleic acid analysis. Nucleic acid analysis can be an integrated DNA amplification/DNA sequencing procedure.

A method for forming discrete volumes of aqueous fluid may comprise flowing aqueous fluid into a first conduit from a supply of aqueous fluid and flowing into the first conduit a spacing liquid supplied from a second conduit, the spacing liquid being immiscible with the aqueous fluid. The flowing of the aqueous fluid and the spacing liquid into the first conduit forms discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid, with consecutive discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid separated by the spacing liquid. The method may further comprise transferring the discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid and spacing liquid from the first conduit to a third conduit for processing.

A valve has a plurality of material inlet ports, a flushing inlet port, and an outlet port each connected to a respective supply of one of last two different liquid materials. A movable valve body in the valve has a passage and is shiftable between a plurality of positions in each of which a respective one of the inlet ports is connected to the outlet port via the passage. A controller moves the valve body between the positions such that, after each time the valve body is in a position connecting one of the material inlet ports to the outlet port and material has passed through the passage, the valve body is moved into a position connecting the passage with the flushing inlet port for flushing out the passage.

Methods for cleaning and antiseptically maintaining patient fluid line access valves to minimize the risk of infection via catheters. The methods include cleaning patient fluid line access valves devices with a cap that may contain a dry pad impregnated with an antimicrobial agent. Covering the access portion of the access valve when not in use with the cap. The devices have a hood that contains a wet pad impregnated with a cleaning solution and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent. The methods include wet pad cleaning the access portion of the access valve prior to and optionally, after the access valve is utilized to access the patient fluid line.

A valve has a plurality of material inlet ports, a flushing inlet port, and an outlet port each connected to a respective supply of one of last two different liquid materials. A movable valve body in the valve has a passage and is shiftable between a plurality of positions in each of which a respective one of the inlet ports is connected to the outlet port via the passage. A controller moves the valve body between the positions such that, after each time the valve body is in a position connecting one of the material inlet ports to the outlet port and material has passed through the passage, the valve body is moved into a position connecting the passage with the flushing inlet port for flushing out the passage.

A valve system has an apparatus formed with a plurality of material inlet ports, a flushing inlet port, and an outlet port and respective supplies of at last two different liquid materials. The supplies are each connected to a respective one of the material inlet ports, and a supply of flushing medium is connected to the flushing inlet port. A rotor at the apparatus is formed with a passage and shiftable between a plurality of positions in each of which a respective one of the inlet ports is connected to the outlet port. A controller moves the rotor between the positions such that, after each time the rotor is in a position connecting one of the material inlet ports to the outlet port and material has passed through the passage, the rotor is moved into a position connecting the passage with the flushing inlet port for flushing out the passage.

A fluid injection system can include a main flow line, a primary flow line connected to the main flow line, a primary flow valve disposed on the primary flow line and configured to selectively allow injectant flow to the primary flow line, a secondary flow line connected to the main flow line, and a secondary flow valve disposed on the secondary flow line and configured to selectively allow injectant flow to the secondary flow line. The system can include a primary purge branch in fluid communication with the primary flow line and connected to a purge gas line, a primary purge valve disposed in the primary purge branch between the primary flow line and the purge gas line, a secondary purge branch in fluid communication with the secondary flow line, and a secondary purge valve disposed between the purge gas line and both of the primary purge branch and the secondary purge branch.

A valve system has an apparatus formed with a plurality of material inlet ports, a flushing inlet port, and an outlet port and respective supplies of at last two different liquid materials. The supplies are each connected to a respective one of the material inlet ports, and a supply of flushing medium is connected to the flushing inlet port. A rotor at the apparatus is formed with a passage and shiftable between a plurality of positions in each of which a respective one of the inlet ports is connected to the outlet port. A controller moves the rotor between the positions such that, after each time the rotor is in a position connecting one of the material inlet ports to the outlet port and material has passed through the passage, the rotor is moved into a position connecting the passage with the flushing inlet port for flushing out the passage.

A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.