US 12,253,498 B2
Method and device for characterising a fluid sample
Errol Mark Rodda, San Jose, CA (US); and François Loubet, Avignonet-Lauragais (FR)
Assigned to Alpha M.O.S, Toulouse (FR)
Appl. No. 17/258,224
Filed by Alpha M.O.S, Toulouse (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 10, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/068479
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 6, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/011822, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18305921 (EP), filed on Jul. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0285922 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 30/88 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 30/88 (2013.01) [G01N 2030/8804 (2013.01); G01N 2030/8881 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for characterising a fluid sample, said system comprising:
a first sample inlet channel configured to receive a fluid sample;
a first plurality of valves each receiving fluid from said first sample inlet channel;
a plurality of different types of fluid characterising modules, each said different type of fluid characterising module comprising respective components adapted to characterise a fluid and receiving fluid from a respective one of said plurality of valves via the first sample inlet channel; and
a single controller in communication with each of said plurality of valves, said single controller being adapted to control the position of each said valve and direct the flow of fluid into the plurality of different types of fluid characterising modules at desired times in accordance with a characterisation program,
wherein said system further comprises a support structure, wherein each said different type of fluid characterising module is removably mounted in said support structure, and wherein each said different type of fluid characterising module receives fluid from a respective said valve via a respective releasable input coupling,
wherein each of said different types of fluid characterising modules is selected from a plurality of different fluid characterising module types comprising: a gas chromatograph, a gas sensor, a liquid sensor, a spectrometer, an ion specific electrode, or an array of a plurality of the foregoing.