The present technology generally relates to devices, systems and methods for providing robust sealing between surfaces in a pressurized system, such as a chromatography system. In particular, the devices, systems and methods relate to compliant and resilient parts that can be reused and/or reinstalled while providing a pressure tight sealing surface even within a high pressure environment (e.g., 1000 psi or greater).

A plug unit configured for use in high performance liquid chromatography is described. The plug unit comprises a capillary comprising a capillary distal face; a sealing element, wherein at least a portion of the sealing element is located distal from the capillary distal face; and a biasing element configured to bias the capillary towards the sealing element.

Described is a radial flow column for conveying a liquid product through an adsorber material, more particularly for radial flow chromatography, having a housing and, arranged therein, an inner and an outer screen, each of which surrounds a longitudinal axis of the housing and between which a radial intermediate space for receiving the adsorber material is formed. The end-face end regions of the inner and outer screen are sealed with respect to the housing in order to convey the product radially through the screens and the adsorber material. Because the radial flow column comprises ring seals for radially sealing the end-face end regions and the ring seals with corresponding sealing faces permit an axial play of the screens in the housing, production tolerances of the screens with respect to one another and in relation to the housing, and longitudinal fluctuations of the screens, can be compensated in a material-preserving manner.

Disclosed are chromatography systems employing a releasable coupling (100) for holding a fluid tubing to a spigot, the coupling comprising: a cylindrical inner component (110) for accepting a fluid tubing (30), said inner component including a resiliently deflectable portion (118) arranged to urge an outer surface of the tubing toward a spigot; and a cylindrical collar (130) having and internal through-aperture (132) for slideably accepting the inner component, the aperture and resilient portion having complementary surface formations which in a first position of the collar mounted to the inner component provide for said resilient deflection in use, and which in a second different position do not cause said deflection, the coupling being characterized in that the collar comprises a collar flange (134) extending outwardly away from the aperture of a size allowing manual manipulation of the collar between the first and second positions. Chromatography systems employing said couplings is disclosed also.

A fitting includes a screw portion that is rotatable around an axis extending in one direction, an operating portion that applies a torque around the axis to the screw portion, and a rotation auxiliary member that is configured to be engageable with the operating portion. A slot extending from a first end to a second end is provided in the rotation auxiliary member, and also a first projection that protrudes outward is provided on the rotation auxiliary member. A positional relationship of the first projection is set such that an engaging force between the rotation auxiliary member and the operating portion is increased due to a change in width of the slot in a case where a force is applied to the first projection in the first rotation direction with the rotation auxiliary member engaging with the operating portion.

A device for separating one or more molecules of interest in a liquid specimen including a monolithic body defining a fractionation column. The column includes an inlet opening at a proximal end of the fractionation column; an outlet opening at a distal, opposite end of the fractionation column; a solid phase chamber positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; a specimen introduction area adjacent a proximal end of the solid phase chamber; an analyte exit area adjacent a distal end of the solid phase chamber; an inlet chamber adjacent the inlet opening that tapers into the specimen introduction area; and an outlet chamber that extends from the analyte exit area to the outlet opening. A metered amount of solid phase packed within the solid phase chamber between a first porous frit and a second porous frit of the solid phase chamber.

Disclosed are chromatography systems employing a releasable coupling 100 for holding a fluid tubing to a spigot, the coupling comprising: a cylindrical inner component 110 for accepting a fluid tubing 30, said inner component including a resiliently deflectable portion 118 arranged to urge an outer surface of the tubing toward a spigot; and a cylindrical collar 130 having and internal through-aperture 132 for slideably accepting the inner component, the aperture and resilient portion having complementary surface formations which in a first position of the collar mounted to the inner component provide for said resilient deflection in use, and which in a second different position do not cause said deflection, the coupling being characterized in that the collar comprises a collar flange 134 extending outwardly away from the aperture of a size allowing manual manipulation of the collar between the first and second positions. Chromatography systems employing said couplings is disclosed also.

Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

A compression fitting includes a nut with a threaded end for receiving a threaded tube and a receiving end for holding a plunger head; and a plunger with an inner bore for receiving a capillary tube and the plunger head for engaging a ferrule positioned within the receiving end between the plunger head and the threaded tube, the plunger slidingly engaged with the nut to force the ferrule from the nut.

A method for collecting a sample for sample analysis includes drawing a first portion of the sample into a sample storage portion of a chromatography system while the chromatography system is in a first configuration. The method further comprising switching the chromatography system to a second configuration; sealing an end of a sample pick-up needle and draining a portion of a liquid from the second tubing; switching the chromatography system to a third configuration; drawing a second portion of the sample into the sample storage portion of the chromatography system; switching the chromatography system to an injection configuration; and fluidly connecting the sample storage portion to the chromatography column and supplying the first portion of the sample and the second portion of the sample from the sample storage portion to the chromatography column.