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.

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

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.

Exemplary illustrations of a fluid valve, e.g., a return valve for returning residual paint, rinsing agent, and compressed air from a paint line when changing color in a painting system, are disclosed. An exemplary fluid valve may be adjusted between an open position, in which the fluid valve is at least partially open, e.g., for rinsing a paint line with a rinsing agent and for pressurizing the paint line with a new color for the color change, and a closed position, in which the fluid valve is closed, e.g., for applying the new color after the color change. An exemplary fluid valve may switch to the closed position, upon actuation by the medium thereof, e.g., medium flowing through or present in the valve. In another example, a fluid valve may close depending on the fluid present at the input side.

Described is a method for purging a fluid channel is a low pressure gradient formation liquid flow system. Control of the fluid channels for multiple solvents allows for one or more static volumes of solvents not intended for use in an isocratic flow to be purged from their fluid channels to avoid contamination of the isocratic solvent. Advantageously, the method avoids the need to modify equipment or to reconfigure a pumping system so that the inlet is directly coupled to a single solvent source. Thus there is no need to bypass existing valves and liquid coupling components where solvents are combined during conventional gradient operation.

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.

Provided are gas distribution apparatus with a delivery channel having an inlet end, an outlet end and a plurality of apertures spaced along the length. The inlet end is connectable to an inlet gas source and the outlet end is connectible with a vacuum source. Also provided are gas distribution apparatus with spiral delivery channels, intertwined spiral delivery channels, splitting delivery channels, merging delivery channels and shaped delivery channels in which an inlet end and outlet end are configured for rapid exchange of gas within the delivery channels.

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 system may include a first conduit configured to form a first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid separated by spacing liquid disposed between consecutive volumes of aqueous fluid, the spacing liquid being immiscible with the aqueous fluid volumes; a second conduit, fluidically coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit configured to statically hold the first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid; and a third conduit configured to receive the first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid from the second conduit. The third conduit can be configured to transfer the discrete volumes of aqueous fluid of the first batch for downstream processing.

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.