Patent ID: 8124413

Claim:
A method for introducing a volume of a liquid sample into a fluid carrier stream flowing through a continuous flow tube having an outlet and a common inlet into which said carrier stream and said liquid sample are both introduced, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sample port comprising a reservoir for continuously supplying said common inlet with said fluid carrier, and an inlet for supplying said reservoir with fluid carrier, said reservoir adapted to maintain a substantially constant level of fluid carrier above said common inlet and fluidly engageable with said common inlet of said continuous flow tube; fluidly engaging said inlet of said continuous flow tube with said reservoir; and introducing said fluid carrier into said reservoir and introducing said liquid sample into said fluid carrier, wherein said fluid carrier is chosen such that its properties are sufficient to maintain the physical shape of the liquid sample and wherein said fluid carrier stream and said liquid sample are drawn through said continuous flow tube when said reservoir is at substantially atmospheric pressure.