Patent ID: 8569691

Claim:
An interchangeable preconcentrator assembly for delivering an analyte to an inlet of an analysis instrument comprising: a housing defining an inner chamber; an inlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber for delivering fluid to the analysis instrument; an exhaust outlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber; a plurality of removable preconcentrator packages disposed within the inner chamber, each of said removable preconcentrator packages including a microscale preconcentrator, wherein a fluid flow path is defined between the inlet and the inner chamber; the assembly further defining a first fluid flow path between the preconcentrators and said exhaust outlet and a second fluid flow path between the preconcentrators and said outlet; and a selectably operable valve for selectively directing fluid flow from the inner chamber into either the first fluid flow path or the second fluid flow path; wherein said plurality of removable preconcentrator packages are urged against a surface of said housing by a mechanically biased urging member.