Patent ID: 7958770

Claim:
A heated transfer line apparatus comprising: a housing including a proximal end cap, a distal end cap, a middle section, a proximal tubular member, and a distal tubular member, where the end caps fit on to the middle section to form an enclosed insulated zone, the proximal tubular member extends from the proximal end cap forming a first end of the apparatus and having a fitting adapted to connect to a sample introduction unit; an elongated member including a first end, a tapered second end and an aperture therethrough, where the elongated member is disposed inside the proximal tubular member, the middle section, and the distal tubular member and extends out of the distal tubular member so that the second end of the elongated member forms a second end of the apparatus; a transfer line extending from the fitting of the first end of the apparatus to a location near the second end of the apparatus; and a heating element surrounding the elongated member from the proximal end cap to the distal end of the distal tubular member and adapted to maintain the member and the transfer line at an elevated temperature substantially uniform therethrough with a variance of less than a set minimum temperature difference, the temperature being sufficient to maintain all components in a sample passing through the transfer line in their vapor or gas phase, where the tapered second end is adapted to be inserted into a microwave oven including a chromatography column and to receive a column end or column lead so that an unheated portion of the column is sufficiently small to reduce or eliminate sample condensation in the unheated portion of the column.