Fluid processing devices with multiple sealing mechanisms and automated methods of use thereof

Abstract

Methods of and an apparatus formed by a combination of components for automated fluid processing through use of structures integrated within plates or cartridges receivable by autosamplers, that include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and stationary phase material disposed therebetween. An enclosed fluid processing pathway is formed by automatically connecting an autosampler fluid transport connector, such as an autosampler needle, to each of the inlet(s) and outlet(s) and simultaneously injecting a fluid to be processed into the inlet(s) and extracting processed fluid from the outlet(s).

1 . An automated method of processing a fluid, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a structure having at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one outlet, and at least one stationary phase disposed downstream from the at least one inlet and upstream from the at least one outlet such that fluid injected through the at least one inlet traverses the at least one stationary phase prior to transport to the at least one outlet;    automatically connecting one of a plurality of autosampler fluid transport connectors to each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet in a relatively pressure-tight, fluid communicable connection so as to form an enclosed fluid pathway through the structure; and    injecting a fluid through the at least one inlet and simultaneously extracting fluid from the at least one outlet.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is integrated within a plate or cartridge receivable by an autosampler.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the structure is integrated within a plate; and    the enclosed fluid pathway between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet traverses at least one volume disposed below a top surface of the plate.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of accessing via one of the autosampler fluid transport connectors at least one reservoir or liquid soluble sample position.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet includes a sealing surface having an opening therein through which fluid may flow, said sealing surface at least partially conforming to the shape of the autosampler fluid transport connectors.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an additional structure having at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one outlet, and at least one stationary phase disposed downstream from the at least one inlet and upstream from the at least one outlet such that fluid injected through the at least one inlet traverses the at least one stationary phase prior to transport to the at least one outlet;    automatically connecting one of the plurality of autosampler fluid transport connectors to each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet of the additional structure in a relatively pressure-tight, fluid communicable connection so as to form an enclosed fluid pathway through the additional structure; and    injecting the fluid extracted from the outlet of the first structure through the at least one inlet of the additional structure and simultaneously extracting fluid from the at least one outlet of the additional structure.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the structure is integrated within a cartridge; and    the respective openings of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are each disposed on the same side of the cartridge.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for use in automated fluid processing, comprising the combination of: 
 a plurality of fluid transport connectors of an autosampler;    a plate receivable by an autosampler, the plate having a structure integrated therein including at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one outlet, each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet connectable in a relatively pressure-tight fluid communicable connection with one of the plurality of autosampler fluid transport connectors so as to form an enclosed fluid pathway through the structure; and    at least one stationary phase disposed downstream from the first inlet and upstream from the first outlet such that a fluid injected through the first inlet traverses the at least one stationary phase prior to transport to the first outlet.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the structure protrudes upwardly from a top surface of the plate.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plate further includes at least one reservoir or liquid-soluble sample position accessible by one of the autosampler fluid transport connectors.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one stationary phase comprises a plurality of distinct types of stationary phases disposed such that the injected fluid traverses the distinct types of stationary phases in a sequence.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet includes a sealing surface having an opening therein through which fluid may flow, said sealing surface at least partially conforming to the shape of the autosampler fluid transport connectors.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the structure further comprises: 
 a first chamber, defined in part by the at least one inlet, a second chamber, defined in part by the at least one outlet; and    at least one channel providing fluidic communication between the at least one chamber and the second chamber.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one frit disposed within the structure at a position selected from the group consisting of between the at least one stationary phase and the at least one inlet, between the at least one stationary phase and the at least one outlet, and between two distinct types of stationary phase.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one element simultaneously connectable in a relatively pressure-tight fluid communicable connection with another of the plurality of autosampler fluid transport connectors and selected from the group consisting of (a) an additional inlet in fluid communication with the at least one outlet and (b) an additional outlet in fluid communication with the at least one inlet.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one inlet further comprises a plurality of inlets or the at least one outlet further comprises a plurality of outlets.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are disposed at indexable positions of the plate.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for use in automated fluid processing, comprising a combination of: 
 a plurality of fluid transport connectors of an autosampler;    a cartridge receivable by an autosampler, the cartridge having a structure integrated therein including at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one outlet, each of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet connectable in a relatively pressure-tight fluid communicable connection with one of the plurality of autosampler fluid transport connectors so as to form an enclosed fluid pathway through the structure; and    at least one stationary phase disposed downstream from the first inlet and upstream from the first outlet such that a fluid injected through the first inlet traverses the at least one stationary phase prior to transport to the first outlet.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one stationary phase comprises multiple volumes of distinct types of stationary phases arranged such that the injected fluid traverses the multiple volumes in a sequence.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one frit disposed within the structure at a position selected from the group consisting of between the at least one stationary phase and the inlet, between the at least one stationary phase and the outlet, and between two volumes of distinct types of stationary phase.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the respective openings of the inlet and the outlet are each disposed on the same side of the cartridge.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cartridge further comprises: 
 an inlet chamber defined in part by the inlet;    an outlet chamber defined in part by the outlet; and    at least one channel providing fluidic communication between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.