Patent ID: 7089812

Claim:
An apparatus ( 10 ) for concentrating and transferring volatile compounds contained in a solid, liquid or pre-concentrated gaseous sample placed on a detachable solid support ( 12 ) into a liquid for subsequent delivery to an analysis unit for detection and/or analysis of one or several of the volatile compounds, which comprises a holder ( 14 ) for the solid support, transporting means ( 16 ) for transporting the holder ( 14 ) from a solid support-receiving position to a heating position and back, the heating position being on top of a heatable plate ( 18 ), an enclosed space-creating arrangement comprising the heatable plate ( 18 ) attached to a movable housing ( 30 ), the holder ( 14 ), the solid support ( 12 ), a funnel ( 20 ) on top of the solid support ( 12 ), and a chilled member ( 22 ) located within the funnel ( 20 ) and sealing the upper portion of the funnel ( 20 ) thermally regulated heating means inside the housing ( 30 ) for heating the heatable plate ( 18 ) to a temperature evaporating the volatile compounds which then are condensed on the chilled member ( 22 ), transporting means ( 24 ) for transporting the chilled member ( 22 ) from a cooler ( 26 ) position to the inside and the top of the funnel ( 20 ) as part of the enclosed space-creating arrangement and from the enclosed space-creating arrangement to a position ( 28 ) where condensed compounds are removed from the chilled member ( 22 ) into a liquid, and back to the cooler ( 26 ) position.