US-12616968-B2 - Mobile phase supply device with fluidically normally closed port and cap devices

US12616968B2US 12616968 B2US12616968 B2US 12616968B2US-12616968-B2

Abstract

A mobile phase supply device, for supplying a mobile phase for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, includes a fluidically normally closed cap device configured to be mounted on a mobile phase container containing a mobile phase, and a fluidically normally closed port device configured for being mechanically connected with the cap device in such a way that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device are converted into a fluidically opened configuration.

Inventors

Bettina Schuhn
Uwe Effelsberg
Manuel van Venrooy
Matthias Kamuf

Assignees

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220504
Priority Date: 20210520

Claims (19)

1 . A mobile phase supply device for supplying a mobile phase for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, the mobile phase supply device comprising: a fluidically normally closed cap device mounted or configured to be mounted on a mobile phase container containing a mobile phase; and a fluidically normally closed port device configured for being mechanically connected with the cap device in such a way that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device are converted into a fluidically opened configuration, wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that establishing the mechanical connection is enabled in any mutual rotational orientation between the port device and the cap device.
2 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that, upon establishing the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, a fluidic path is formed which establishes a fluid communication between the port device and the cap device.
3 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the cap device mounted or configured to be mounted on the mobile phase container is tubeless.
4 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising tubing connected to the port device.
5 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, mobile phase in the mobile phase container flows towards the port device supported by the force of gravity.
6 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, the mobile phase container is oriented upside down, or is oriented tilted with regard to a vertical direction.
7 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following features: wherein the normally closed port device comprises a port biasing element configured for biasing the port device in a fluidically closed configuration unless the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device is established, wherein the port biasing element is configured for generating a biasing force oriented in a port sealing direction for biasing the port device in the fluidically closed configuration; wherein the normally closed cap device comprises a cap biasing element configured for biasing the cap device in a fluidically closed configuration unless the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device is established, wherein the cap biasing element is configured for generating a biasing force oriented in a cap sealing direction for biasing the cap device in the fluidically closed configuration; wherein the cap device comprises an annular accommodation recess accommodating or configured for accommodating an open mobile phase outlet of the mobile phase container; wherein the cap device comprises an annular accommodation recess accommodating or configured for accommodating an open mobile phase outlet of the mobile phase container, and wherein the annular accommodation recess comprises an internal thread and the open mobile phase outlet comprises an external thread corresponding to the internal thread; wherein the cap device comprises a filter element configured for filtering mobile phase when flowing from the mobile phase container towards the port device; wherein the cap device comprises a vent valve configured for automatically venting the mobile phase container in the event of a negative pressure in the mobile phase container for at least partially compensating for the negative pressure.
8 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following features: wherein the port device comprises a locking sleeve, a locking biasing element biasing the locking sleeve towards the cap device, and at least one locking body being guidable by the locking sleeve and being radially movable into a locking recess in a lateral surface of the cap device for locking the port device and the cap device upon establishing the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device; wherein the port device comprises a stand for standing on a ground; wherein the port device and the cap device are configured in such a way that, upon releasing the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device automatically return into the fluidically closed configuration.
9 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that before opening a fluidic path between the port device and the cap device by establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, the fluidic path is closed by the port device and/or by the cap device.
10 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 9 , wherein the port device and the cap device are configured so that closing the fluidic path before establishing the mechanical connection is accomplished by a plurality of cooperating sealing elements at the port device and at the cap device.
11 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 , comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the port device and the cap device upon establishing the mechanical connection.
12 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured for being unlockable only by execution of a predefined user activity.
13 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured for locking the port device and the cap device before, during or after forming a fluidic path between the port device and the cap device.
14 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured as one selected from the group consisting of: a ball locking mechanism; and a push-to-open and push-to-close mechanism.
15 . A mobile phase supply device for supplying a mobile phase for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, the mobile phase supply device comprising: a fluidically normally closed cap device mounted or configured to be mounted on a mobile phase container containing a mobile phase; and a fluidically normally closed port device configured for being mechanically connected with the cap device in such a way that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device are converted into a fluidically opened configuration, wherein: the port device comprises a face body mounted movably in a stationary carrier body and configured for being moved by a facing front of a main body of the cap device upon establishing the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device; and the mobile phase supply device further comprises at least one of the following features: wherein the face body and the facing front of the main body are shaped to form one selected from the group consisting of: a flat face coupling; and a cone-type coupling; wherein the face body has a through hole through which a stationary pin and a movable sleeve surrounding the pin extend, wherein the sleeve is configured to move relatively to the pin upon establishing the mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device to thereby form at least part of a fluidic path in a gap between the pin and the sleeve for enabling a flow of mobile phase from the cap device to the port device along the fluidic path.
16 . The mobile phase supply device according to claim 15 , comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the port device and the cap device upon establishing the mechanical connection.
17 . A sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, wherein the sample separation apparatus comprises: a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase; a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase; and the mobile phase supply device according to claim 1 for supplying the mobile phase to the fluid drive.
18 . The sample separation apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the sample separation apparatus comprises at least one of the following features: the sample separation apparatus is configured as a chromatography sample separation apparatus; the sample separation apparatus comprises a detector configured to detect the separated fluidic sample; the sample separation apparatus comprises a fractioner unit configured to collect separated fractions of the fluidic sample; the sample separation apparatus comprises an injector configured to inject the fluidic sample in the mobile phase.
19 . A sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, wherein the sample separation apparatus comprises: a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase; a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase; and the mobile phase supply device according to claim 15 for supplying the mobile phase to the fluid drive.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to UK Application No. 2107241.8, filed May 20, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mobile phase supply device for and a method of supplying a mobile phase for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, and a sample separation apparatus. BACKGROUND In liquid chromatography, a fluidic analyte may be pumped through a column comprising a material which is capable of separating different components of the fluidic analyte. Such a material, so-called beads, may be filled into a column tube which may be connected to other elements (like a control unit, containers including sample and/or buffers). Upstream of a column, the fluidic sample or analyte is loaded into the liquid chromatography apparatus. A controller controls an amount of fluid to be pumped through the liquid chromatography apparatus, including controlling a composition and time-dependency of a solvent interacting with the fluidic analyte. Such a solvent may be a mixture of different constituents, denoted as mobile phase. Usually, mobile phase is contained in mobile phase containers such as bottles into which a tubing extends through which mobile phase is pumped from the mobile phase container for consumption by a sample separation apparatus. Conventional approaches suffer from a risk of contamination of a user with mobile phase (which may be an aggressive chemical), for instance due to splashing or dripping solvents. Furthermore, such conventional approaches may be cumbersome for a user, since it may be required for the user to handle multiple pieces of tubing and to handle open mobile phase containers above head height. SUMMARY It is an object of the invention to supply a mobile phase in a safe and user-friendly way. According to an exemplary embodiment, a mobile phase supply device for supplying a mobile phase for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample is provided, wherein the mobile phase supply device comprises a fluidically normally closed cap device mounted or configured to be mounted on a mobile phase container containing a mobile phase, and a fluidically normally closed port device configured for being mechanically connected with the cap device in such a way that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device are converted into a fluidically opened configuration. According to another exemplary embodiment, a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample is provided, wherein the sample separation apparatus comprises a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase, a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase, and a mobile phase supply device having the above-mentioned features for supplying the mobile phase to the fluid drive. According to still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of supplying (in particular using a mobile phase supply device having the above-mentioned features) a mobile phase to a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample is provided, wherein the method comprises mounting a fluidically normally closed cap device on a mobile phase container containing a mobile phase, and mechanically connecting a fluidically normally closed port device with the cap device in such a way that, upon establishing a mechanical connection between the port device and the cap device, both the port device and the cap device are converted into a fluidically opened configuration in which mobile phase is supplied from the mobile phase container via the cap device and the port device into the sample separation apparatus. In the context of the present application, the term “mobile phase supply device” may particularly denote an arrangement of cooperating members enabling and managing a supply of a mobile phase to one or more mobile phase consuming units of a sample separation apparatus. In the context of the present application, the term “cap device” may particularly denote a device covering a mobile phase outlet of a mobile phase container for protecting the mobile phase container against a flow out of mobile phase in a closed configuration, until the cap device is operated to be converted into an open configuration. An accommodation recess of the cap device may be shaped to enable a form closure coupling with the outlet of the mobile phase container. In the context of the present application, the term “port device” may particularly denote a device configured for providing a controllable fluidic interface between, on the one hand, the cap device with a fluidically coupled mobile phase container and, on the other hand, one or more mobile phase consuming units (for example a fluid drive) of a sample separation apparatus. In the context of the present application, the t