Patent ID: 9463534
Filing Date: 2016-10-11
CPC Classification: B23P,G01N,H01J,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A system for decoupling a capillary column from a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS) system, comprising: a transfer line having a first end that is disposed within a high vacuum enclosure of the GC-MS system and that is aligned with a removable ion source sub-assembly of the GC-MS system, and having a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end being sized to receive an outlet end of a capillary column; a primary vacuum seal element for forming a primary vacuum seal between the capillary column and the second end of the transfer line, the outlet end of the capillary column being positioned within the high vacuum enclosure and in fluid communication with the removable ion source when the primary vacuum seal is formed; and a column-sealing tool configured to be inserted into the GC-MS system, subsequent to removal of the removable ion source sub-assembly, at a location between the first end of the transfer line and a mass analyzer of the GC-MS system, the column-sealing tool comprising a sealing element that is actuatable between a non-sealing position and a sealing position; and an actuator for selectably actuating the sealing element between the non-sealing position and the sealing position, wherein the sealing element forms a secondary vacuum seal with the first end of the transfer line when the column-sealing tool is inserted into the GC-MS system and when the sealing element is in the sealing position.