Patent ID: 8178045
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An assembly for interchangeably accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip comprising: an outer housing and an inner housing defining a chamber; a slot in the outer housing permitting insertion of said at least one preconcentrator chip; and a biased urging member held at least partially within said outer housing and slidably biased toward a surface of said inner housing; wherein when said biased urging member is at least partially retracted, a space is defined between said urging member and the surface of the inner housing for accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip; wherein a continuous fluid flow path is defined through said outer housing and through said space, and wherein the fluid flow path is also defined through said biased urging member; and wherein said biased urging member comprises a plunger including an at least partially open tube, said plunger including an engaging surface adjacent to said space and an extension that extends at least partially beyond an outer surface of the outer housing, and wherein said outer housing comprises a slot for accommodating said extension.