Patent ID: 7749443

Claim:
A device for enhancing collection efficiency of a sample in combination with a Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) apparatus for enhancing the flow of an analyte onto a sampling fiber, the SPME apparatus including a tubular housing having a first end closed with a septum, a rod having a first end, the sampling fiber attached on one end to the first end of the rod, extending therefrom and having a tip on a second end, a needle sheath having a bore and open end, the sampling fiber disposed along the bore of the needle sheath, and the rod, the sampling fiber and the needle sheath being reciprocally disposed within the tubular housing, a first means for maintaining the sampling fiber and the rod in a predetermined fixed position relative to the needle sheath, a second means for advancing the needle sheath and the rod along the inside of the tubular body until the needle sheath punctures the septum and is exposed beyond the first end of the tubular housing, while maintaining the predetermined fixed position relative to the sampling fiber and the rod, a third means for advancing the rod and the sampling fiber along the bore of the needle sheath until the fiber tip is exposed beyond the open end of the needle sheath, and the device for enhancing collection efficiency of a sample comprising: a main body of a tubular shape with a bore having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle sheath, the main body having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and the main body having an outlet port proximate to the second end, and whereby the second end of the main body may be placed in communication with the first end of the tubular housing, and whereby when the needle sheath and the sampling fiber are exposed beyond the first end of the tubular housing and the sampling fiber tip is subsequently exposed beyond the open end of the needle sheath, the sampling fiber is positioned within the bore of the main body thereby causing the fluid carrying the analyte to pass in close proximity to and coaxially over the surface of the sampling fiber to enhance the flow of the analyte onto the sampling fiber.