US 11,927,574 B2
Progressive cellular architecture for microfabricated gas chromatograph
Yogesh B. Gianchandani, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Yutao Qin, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Weilin Liao, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Hsueh-Tsung Lu, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Declan Winship, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/120,920.
Application 17/120,920 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/978,744, filed on May 14, 2018, granted, now 10,866,220.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/506,340, filed on May 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0096111 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 30/60 (2006.01); G01N 30/02 (2006.01); G01N 30/08 (2006.01); G01N 30/46 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 30/6095 (2013.01) [G01N 30/08 (2013.01); G01N 30/461 (2013.01); G01N 2030/025 (2013.01); G01N 2030/085 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas chromatography architecture, comprising:
two or more preconcentrators coupled together in series, the two or more preconcentrators having an inlet configured without a valve therein to receive an analyte and an outlet, each preconcentrator comprising a chamber through which the analyte passes and sorbent material within the chamber, wherein surface area of sorbent material residing in a given preconcentrator increases from the inlet to the outlet across the two or more preconcentrators;
a sampling pump fluidly coupled to the outlet of the two or more preconcentrators;
a sampling valve interposed between the outlet of the two or more preconcentrators and the sampling pump;
a first separation pump;
for each preconcentrator of the two or more preconcentrators, a separation path fluidly coupled between an inlet of the given preconcentrator and the first separation pump;
a separation column in each separation path;
a second separation pump fluidly coupled to the outlet of the two or more preconcentrators and operates to push gas through the two or more preconcentrators towards the inlet of the two or more preconcentrators;
a separation valve disposed in each of the separation paths between the corresponding preconcentrator and the first separation pump; and
a controller operably coupled to the sampling valve and each of the separation valves.