A sensor module includes a sensor configured to detect a specific substance in a sample, a first channel, and a second channel The first channel supplies a first fluid as the sample to the sensor. The second channel supplies a second fluid different from the first fluid to the sensor. The second channel includes a second fluid buffer tank for holding the second fluid for a fixed time interval.

A sensor module includes a sensor configured to detect a specific substance in a sample, a first channel, and a second channel The first channel supplies a first fluid as the sample to the sensor. The second channel supplies a second fluid different from the first fluid to the sensor. The second channel includes a second fluid buffer tank for holding the second fluid for a fixed time interval.

Methods of detecting the presence of toxins in a sample using electrophoretic separations and of performing electrophoretic separation of complex samples are provided. The method of detecting the presence of toxins includes reacting a sample and a substrate with a signaling enzyme which converts the substrate to the product in a reaction medium, introducing a run buffer into a separation channel having an inlet end, selectively introducing at least one of the substrate and the product of the reaction medium into the inlet end of the separation channel, electrophoretically separating the substrate and the product, and determining the rate of conversion of the substrate to the product, wherein a change in the rate of conversion is indicative of the presence of toxins. The method of performing electrophoretic separations of complex samples having charged particulates and oppositely charged analytes comprising introducing a run buffer into a separation channel having an inlet end, selectively introducing the oppositely charged analytes in the complex sample into the separation channel, and electrophoretically separating the charged particulates and the oppositely charged analytes. Additionally, a device for varying with respect to time the bulk flow of a fluid in a separation channel of an electrophoretic device having a buffer reservoir in fluid contact with the separation channel is provided. The device includes a pressure sensor in fluid contact with a buffer reservoir, a high pressure reservoir in selective fluidic communication with the buffer reservoir, a low pressure reservoir in selective fluidic communication with the buffer reservoir and in fluidic communication with the high pressure reservoir, and a pumping device for pumping a gas from the low pressure reservoir to the high pressure reservoir.

A chromatography analysis system includes a liquid delivery pump (2), an autosampler (4), a separation column (12), a column oven (6), a detector (8). The chromatography analysis system further comprising a shutdown execution part (22) configured to start shutdown to finally stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) and temperature control operation of the column oven (6) at a time when a predetermined situation occurs, by controlling operation of the liquid delivery pump (2) and the column oven (6), and a column protection temperature setter (24) configured to set a column protection temperature for preventing deterioration of the separation column (12) due to overheating. The shutdown execution part (22) is configured to stop driving of the heater (14) in a state where the liquid delivery pump (2) is driven when the shutdown is started, and then, stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) after a temperature of the internal space detected by the temperature sensor (18) becomes equal to or less than the column protection temperature.

A chromatography analysis system includes a liquid delivery pump (2), an autosampler (4), a separation column (12), a column oven (6), a detector (8). The chromatography analysis system further comprising a shutdown execution part (22) configured to start shutdown to finally stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) and temperature control operation of the column oven (6) at a time when a predetermined situation occurs, by controlling operation of the liquid delivery pump (2) and the column oven (6), and a column protection temperature setter (24) configured to set a column protection temperature for preventing deterioration of the separation column (12) due to overheating. The shutdown execution part (22) is configured to stop driving of the heater (14) in a state where the liquid delivery pump (2) is driven when the shutdown is started, and then, stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) after a temperature of the internal space detected by the temperature sensor (18) becomes equal to or less than the column protection temperature.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for detecting leaks in a pump. A compressed fluid, such as compressed CO.sub.2, is provided through a first channel formed within a pump head. The compressed fluid within the first channel is in contact with at least a portion of a pump piston, and the first channel is substantially sealed using a fluid seal positioned around a portion of the pump piston. A wash fluid is pumped into a second channel formed within a wash seal housing associated with the pump head using a fluid pump. The wash fluid within the second channel surrounds a portion of the pump piston and is separated from the first channel by the fluid seal. A flow rate of fluid exiting the wash seal housing via the second channel is measured, and the existence of a leak is determined based on the measured flow rate.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for detecting leaks in a pump. A compressed fluid, such as compressed CO.sub.2, is provided through a first channel formed within a pump head. The compressed fluid within the first channel is in contact with at least a portion of a pump piston, and the first channel is substantially sealed using a fluid seal positioned around a portion of the pump piston. A wash fluid is pumped into a second channel formed within a wash seal housing associated with the pump head using a fluid pump. The wash fluid within the second channel surrounds a portion of the pump piston and is separated from the first channel by the fluid seal. A flow rate of fluid exiting the wash seal housing via the second channel is measured, and the existence of a leak is determined based on the measured flow rate.

A supercritical fluid chromatography system is provided with an injection valve subsystem for introducing a sample into a flow of mobile phase fluid. The injection valve subsystem includes an auxiliary valve and an inject valve. The operations of the auxiliary and inject valves are coordinated in such a manner as to reduce sample carry-over and system pressure perturbations occurring during sample injection.

A supercritical fluid apparatus includes a solvent supplier that supplies a solvent, a pressure control device provided in a flow path for a solvent supplied by the solvent supplier, and a controller that controls the pressure control device. The controller includes a first controller that increases a pressure in the flow path, puts the solvent in a supercritical fluid state and maintains an environment for execution of a predetermined process by controlling the pressure control device, and a second controller that sets an intermediate target value for a pressure in the flow path and controls a pressure in the flow path in order to get the pressure to reach the intermediate target value, when ending the environment for execution of a predetermined process.

A supercritical fluid apparatus includes a solvent supplier that supplies a solvent, a pressure control device provided in a flow path for a solvent supplied by the solvent supplier, and a controller that controls the pressure control device. The controller includes a first controller that increases a pressure in the flow path, puts the solvent in a supercritical fluid state and maintains an environment for execution of a predetermined process by controlling the pressure control device, and a second controller that sets an intermediate target value for a pressure in the flow path and controls a pressure in the flow path in order to get the pressure to reach the intermediate target value, when ending the environment for execution of a predetermined process.