Non-contact sampler with an open-port interface for liquid chromatography systems
A method of performing liquid chromatography (LC) with an LC system including an LC column and an analyzer includes delivering a transport liquid to an open port interface (OPI) of a sample receiving circuit, wherein the sample receiving circuit includes a sample transfer chamber. A sample is ejected from a sample holder into the OPI with a non-contact ejector. The transport liquid and the sample are received in the sample transfer chamber. The sample transfer chamber is decoupled from the sample receiving circuit. A solvent is delivered to the analysis circuit. The sample is pushed from the sample transfer chamber with the solvent. The sample and the solvent is passed through the LC column to produce an eluent. The eluent is analyzed with the analyzer.
1 . A method of performing liquid chromatography (LC) with an LC system comprising an LC column and an analyzer, the method comprising:
delivering a transport liquid to an open port interface (OPI) of a sample receiving circuit, wherein the sample receiving circuit comprises a sample transfer chamber;
ejecting a sample from a sample holder into the OPI with a non-contact ejector;
receiving the transport liquid and the sample in the sample transfer chamber;
decoupling the sample transfer chamber from the sample receiving circuit;
coupling the sample transfer chamber to an analysis circuit;
delivering a solvent to the analysis circuit;
pushing the sample from the sample transfer chamber with the solvent;
passing the sample and the solvent through the LC column to produce an eluent; and
analyzing the eluent with the analyzer.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is ejected into the OPI substantially simultaneously with delivering the transport liquid to the OPI.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising aspirating a portion of the transport liquid from the sample transfer chamber substantially simultaneously with delivering the transport liquid to the OPI.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising ejecting from a waste outlet the portion of the transport liquid aspirated from the sample transfer chamber.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein delivering the transport liquid to the OPI comprises pumping the transport liquid to the OPI at a first flow rate with a first pump.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein aspirating the portion of the transport liquid from the sample transfer chamber comprises aspirating the portion of the transport liquid at a second flow rate with a second pump.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are substantially similar.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to decoupling the sample transfer chamber from the sample receiving circuit, terminating delivery of the transport liquid to the OPI and terminating ejection of the sample from the sample holder.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, prior to decoupling the sample transfer chamber from the sample receiving circuit, receiving a plurality of samples in the sample transfer chamber.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising during pushing of the sample, flushing the sample receiving circuit with a flushing liquid.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the transport liquid is substantially similar to the flushing liquid.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein flushing the sample receiving circuit comprises operating a transport liquid pump and a waste pump.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to pushing of the sample, recoupling the sample transfer chamber to the sample receiving circuit.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transport liquid and the solvent are different.
15 . A liquid chromatography (LC) system comprising:
an analysis circuit comprising a solvent pump and an LC column;
an analyzer fluidically coupled to the LC column;
a sample receiving circuit comprising a transport liquid pump and an open port interface (OPI) fluidically coupled to the transport liquid pump;
a non-contact ejector configured to eject droplets from a sample holder into the OPI; and
a sample transfer chamber selectively positionable in a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the sample transfer chamber is fluidically coupled to the sample receiving circuit, and wherein in the second position, the sample transfer chamber is fluidically coupled to the analysis circuit.
16 . The LC system of claim 15 , wherein the sample receiving circuit further comprises a waste pump selectively fluidically couplable to the sample transfer chamber.
17 . The LC system of claim 16 , wherein the transport liquid pump is the waste pump.
18 . The LC system of claim 15 , wherein the sample transfer chamber is disposed within a six-port valve.
19 . The LC system of claim 15 , wherein the analyzer comprises a mass spectrometry device.
20 . The LC system of claim 15 , wherein the non-contact ejector comprises an acoustic droplet ejector.