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Chromatography system and methodRelated Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Processes, ChromatographyChromatography system and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070181505, Chromatography system and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/084,741, filed on Feb. 25, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/547,613, filed on Feb. 25, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates generally to a chromatography system and method, and particularly, to a liquid chromatography system and method, and more particularly, to a flash chromatography system. Chromatography is used to analyze the constituents, or fractions, of a sample of interest, and, in some cases, to collect each of the fractions of the sample of interest separately for further analysis or use. Chromatography generally relates to any of a variety of techniques used to separate complex mixtures based on the differential affinities of the fractions of the sample for a mobile phase with which the sample flows, and a stationary phase through which the sample passes. [0003] Generally, liquid chromatography includes a stationary phase that includes a finely powdered solid adsorbent packed into a chromatography cartridge or column, and the mobile phase includes one or more eluting solvents that are moved through the cartridge by a pump. The sample to be analyzed by liquid chromatography is injected into the cartridge and monitored by a detector. The detector provides identification and/or differentiation of the fractions as the fractions elute from the cartridge. In general, flash chromatography includes a cartridge (in some cases, a disposable cartridge) filled with the stationary phase (e.g., silica gel), and the sample to be separated is placed on top of the stationary phase. The cartridge is filled with an isocratic or gradient solvent which, with the help of pressure, enables the sample to run through the cartridge and become separated. Generally, liquid chromatography, and particularly, flash chromatography can be used for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, drug discovery, sample clean-up, and natural product purification, among others. SUMMARY [0004] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a chromatography system for analyzing a sample of interest, and the sample including fractions. The chromatography system can include a housing; a cartridge holder coupled to the housing and formed to hold a chromatography cartridge containing a stationary phase; a collection vessel stand holder coupled to the housing and formed to hold a collection vessel stand; a fraction collector coupled to the housing, the fraction collector selectively dispensing fractions to the collection vessel stand holder; a pump coupled to the housing; a fluid path coupled to the housing and connecting the pump to the cartridge holder to direct a mobile phase from the pump to the cartridge holder and connecting the cartridge holder to the collection vessel stand holder to direct the mobile phase from the cartridge holder to the collection vessel stand holder; a detector positioned along the fluid path between the cartridge holder and the collection vessel stand holder; and a controller integrally coupled to the housing, the controller controlling the pump and receiving data from the detector. [0005] Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, accompanying drawings, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a chromatography system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0007] FIG. 2 is a right rear perspective view of the chromatography system of FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 3 is a left rear perspective view of the chromatography system of FIGS. 1-2. [0009] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the chromatography system of FIGS. 1-3. [0010] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the chromatography system of FIGS. 1-4. [0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of the chromatography system of FIGS. 1-5. [0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pump assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIGS. 8-20 illustrate various screen shots of a graphical user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a touchpad according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Furthermore, terms such as "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," and the like are only used to describe elements as they relate to one another, but are in no way meant to recite specific orientations of the apparatus, to indicate or imply necessary or required orientations of the apparatus, or to specify how the invention described herein will be used, mounted, displayed, or positioned in use. [0016] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a chromatography system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The chromatography system 100 can be used to detect and separate a sample 101 into its constituents, or fractions. The chromatography system 100 includes a housing 102; a controller 104 with chromatography programming software having a graphical user interface 106; a user interface 108 to allow a user to control various aspects of the system 100; a pump assembly 110 including a pump 114 for moving a mobile phase comprising one or more solvents 115 through a fluid path 112 in the chromatography system 100, and, in some embodiments, a mixing valve 113 for mixing the one or more solvents 115; a sample injector 116; a cartridge holder 118 for holding a chromatography cartridge 120 into which the sample 101 will be injected and through which the sample 101 will pass to be separated; a detector 122 for detecting the fractions of the sample 101; and a fraction collector 124 for ejecting fractions of the sample 101, or the entire sample 101, from the chromatography system 100 into one or more collection vessels 126. In some embodiments, the collection vessels 126 are positioned in one or more collection vessel stands 128. The collection vessels 126 can include a variety of containers, including, without limitation, at least one of test tubes 126, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, arranged in one or more test tube racksl28, micro plates, micro vials, scintillation vials, etc. [0017] As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "fluid path" 112 refers collectively to those areas in the chromatography system 100 through which fluid passes. The "fluid path" 112 can include an entire path followed by fluid through the chromatography system 100 or can refer to a portion of that path. [0018] As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of fluid movement in the chromatography system 100. That is, the term "upstream" is used to describe any location, element or process that occurs prior to the point or area being referred to relative to the direction of fluid movement in the chromatography system 100, whereas the term "downstream" is used to describe any location, element or process that occurs subsequent to the point or area of reference with respect to fluid movement in the chromatography system 100. [0019] In general, the sample 101 can be loaded directly into an inlet 119 of the cartridge 120, or the sample 101 can be loaded into the sample injector 116 to be dissolved (e.g., in a stronger solvent to reduce sample viscosity), and then injected into the inlet 119 of the cartridge 120. After the sample 101 has been added to the cartridge 120, the sample 101 interacts with the mobile phase of the system 100 and a stationary phase 121 contained within the cartridge 120. The mobile phase and the sample 101 are moved by the pump 114 through the cartridge 120 at a particular flow rate, or programmed sequence of flow rates. Based on the varying affinities of the fractions of the sample 101 for the solvents 115 and the stationary phase 121, the fractions of the sample 101 will pass through the stationary phase 121 at different flow rates, and thus, elute from an outlet 123 of the cartridge 120 at different times. Each fraction will then flow from the cartridge 120 to the detector 122 positioned downstream from the cartridge 120 in the fluid path 112, and to the fraction collector 124 to be expelled into one or more test tubes 126. Continue reading about Chromatography system and method... Full patent description for Chromatography system and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Chromatography system and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Chromatography system and method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Affinity particle and affinity separation method Next Patent Application: Method and apparatus for packing chromatography column Industry Class: Liquid purification or separation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Chromatography system and method patent info. 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