Patent ID: 6672133
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A biological classification system, comprising:a thermal decomposition tube for processing a biological sample and producing a resultant vapor; wherein said thermal decomposition tube comprises: an elongated tube having a first side with an entrance and a second side with an exit; an interface housing supporting said second side of said elongated tube; a microfiber filter positioned within said tube across the diameter of said tube to separate said first side from said second side, and wherein a quartz frit is permanently fixed juxtapose to the microfiber filter in the second side of said tube; an elongated vapor sampling tube positioned inside said thermal decomposition tube, said vapor sampling tube having an entrance end and an exit end, said vapor sampling tube held in place at the exit end by said interface housing, wherein said exit end extends to an outside of said interface housing, said entrance end positioned a distance D from said quartz frit; a heating element wrapped around an outer circumference of said elongated tube for causing a heated region; a cooling fan assembly for cooling the heated region; and a tube vent in said interface housing; a gas chromatography module interfaced with said thermal decomposition tube by a three-way injection valve, said gas chromatography module for receiving said resultant vapor from said thermal decomposition tube; and a plasma chromatograph vapor detector interfaced via a GC/PC interface with said gas chromatography module for receiving resultant vapor from said gas chromatography module; wherein said thermal decomposition tube, said gas chromatography module and said plasma chromatograph vapor detector are connected in series for separation, isolation and classification of individual components from the thermal decomposition of biological analytes introduced into the thermal decomposition tube.