Patent ID: 11946915
Assignee: SUPERCRITICAL FLUID TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 27:
28. A chromatography system comprising:
a) a first chromatography cartridge comprising:
i) an inlet end having an inlet nipple extending from said inlet end;
ii) a threaded cartridge portion comprising threads with a first external diameter;
iii) an outlet;

b) a second chromatography cartridge comprising:
i) an inlet end having an inlet nipple extending from said inlet end;
ii) a threaded cartridge portion comprising threads with a second external diameter larger than said first external diameter of the threads of the first chromatography cartridge;

c) a cartridge adapter;
i) a first interchangeable coupling component that is detachably attachable to the chromatography system and comprising:
a cartridge portion configured on a cartridge end having threads that couple to the threads of the threaded cartridge portion of the first chromatography cartridge;
a retainer portion extending from the cartridge portion to a retainer end and having a pair of opposing planar sides configured between the cartridge portion and said retainer end;
an opening extending from the retainer end to the cartridge end;

ii) a second interchangeable coupling component that is detachably attachable to the chromatography system and comprising:
a cartridge portion configured on a cartridge end having threads that couple to the threads of the threaded cartridge portion of the second chromatography cartridge;
a retainer portion extending from the cartridge portion to a retainer end and having a pair of opposing planar sides configured between the cartridge portion and said retainer end;
an opening extending from the retainer end to the cartridge end;

wherein the first chromatography cartridge is secured to the cartridge adapter by coupling the threads of the first chromatography cartridge to the threads of the first interchangeable coupling component; and
wherein the second chromatography cartridge is secured to the cartridge adapter by coupling the threads of the second chromatography cartridge to the threads of the second interchangeable coupling component; and wherein the first and second chromatography cartridges are interchangeable;
iii) a coupling retainer comprising:
a keyway aperture comprising:
a coupling aperture;
a retainer slot comprising two parallel slot sides;
a fastener slot configured to receive a fastener therethrough to retain the coupling retainer to the chromatography system and wherein the coupling retainer is slidably engaged with the chromatography system along said fastener slot;

wherein the retainer portion of both the first interchangeable coupling component and the second interchangeable coupling component are configured for insertion through the coupling aperture and configured to be retained in said keyway aperture with the retainer slot configured around the pair of opposing planar sides; and
wherein the inlet nipple is configured to extend through said opening of the interchangeable coupling components.