Detection systems today are becoming increasingly more sensitive, allowing for analysis of smaller sample sizes in many laboratory applications.
Detection systems today are becoming increasingly more sensitive, allowing for analysis of smaller sample sizes in many laboratory applications.
In order to transport smaller sample volumes, the inner diameter of the fluidic pathways must decrease, to maintain a timely analysis at lower flow rates and to avoid excessive dilution.
In a micro or nano scale analysis, the typical solvent pathway will be between 5µm and 150µm. The traditional outer diameter for tubing in an analytical instrument ranges from 1–3mm, and system components of an instrument will be designed with connectors for tubing in this range. However, manufacturing inner diameters in the required 5µm to 150µm range proves to be beyond the capability of many laboratory tubing suppliers.
Introduced at Pittcon 2007 is Upchurch Scientific’s PEEK polymer tubing with an outside diameter of 1.6mm (standard analytical scale) and inside diameter of 25µm (standard micro or nano scale).
This product eliminates the need for special connections to scale analytical systems down to a flow path appropriate for nano and micro analyses. If a micro system is already configured for 360µm or 785µm OD tubing however, the new PEEK 25µm ID tubing is available in these dimensions also.
Upchurch Scientific offers a full line of fluid transfer products, including:
- Nuts and ferrules.
- Unions, adapters, tees, Ys and crosses.
- Tubing, including PEEK, Teflon PFA and FEP, Tefzel, Radel R and Halar polymers, as well as stainless steel and titanium.
- Filters and frits.
- Valves, including injection, selection, switching, shut-off, metering, micro-splitter and prime/purge.
- Back pressure regulators, relief valves and inline check valves.
- Guard columns and accessories.
- Pump pistons, seals and check valves.
- Fittings and accessories for lab-on-a-chip and other micro/nano scale applications.
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Upchurch Scientific Inc, a Unit of IDEX Health & Science, is based in Oak Harbor, WA, USA. www.upchurch.com
