What is this invention?

_Fitting for elastically-biasing a capillary for a fluidtight connection to a fluidic conduit

The Agilent Technologies, Inc. A fitting for providing a fluid connection between a capillary and a fluidic conduit of a fluidic component

The fitting allows for a fluid connection between a capillary and the conduit it is connected to. The male piece has a capillary reception which can fit one or more capped tubes. The elastic biasing mechanism keeps the tube in place when inserted into the receptacle, while also providing some resistance against being pulled out (in case you need to remove it quickly!). The locking mechanism ensures that the connection remains secure once inserted.

What are some key features of the invention?

• Fitting to connect a capillary with a fluidic conduit

• Capillary reception on the male piece for receiving the capillary

• Elastic biasing mechanism in the housing, which biases the capillary against the female piece and is supported by sleeve

• Locking mechanism in the housing for securing connection between components

What are some similar inventions on the market?

There are many similar products on the market. Some examples include fittings from Fluidigm, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Beckman Coulter.

How could this be used?

A fitting such as this can be very useful in connecting capillaries and fluidic conduits together. By having a male piece that houses the reception for the capillary, it is easy to keep everything aligned and secured. The sleeve covers part of the circumference of the capillary so that no debris accumulates thereon over time, and an elastic biasing mechanism keeps things firmly in place without any additional pressure needed from manual intervention. Finally, a locking mechanism makes sure that connection is always secure!

What are some things to look out for with this?

There are a few risks to using the fitting. First, if there is too much pressure on the tube feeding into the capillary orifice, it could burst and leaking fluid could occur. Second, if the biasing mechanism fails (for example, due to wear), the tube may be pulled out of the receptacle which could result in leakage.

What are the overall impressions of this invention?

I was impressed with the quality of the product. It is well-made and seems to be durable.

Here is a poem describing the invention

The fitting has a male piece with a housing and reception for a capillary tube.
The sleeve that goes around the tube is kept in place by an elastic mechanism,
and the whole thing is locked together so the tube won't come out.

Who owns this patent?

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Document Number: 11213767