原始名称记载: Agilent Technologies, Inc.

The invention provides a sample delivery system for an analytical instrument, comprising: a valve assembly comprising one or more valves, the valve assembly configured to receive an external sample from a sample source; an external sample reservoir coupled via the valve assembly to a sample dilution junction, wherein the valve assembly is configurable to alternatively permit either (i) flow of the external sample from the sample source to the external sample reservoir or (ii) flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the sample dilution junction; a first fluid pump to control a flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the sample dilution junction; a second fluid pump to control a flow of diluent to the sample dilution junction, thereby diluting the external sample to produce a diluted sample; and an analysis sample reservoir configured to deliver an analysis sample contained therein to an analysis device of the analytical instrument, wherein the analysis sample reservoir is coupled via the valve assembly to the sample dilution junction, and wherein the valve assembly is configurable to alternatively permit either (i) flow of the external sample along a continuous flow path from the sample source to the analysis sample reservoir, thereby by-passing the external sample reservoir, or (ii) flow of the diluted sample from the sample dilution junction to the analysis sample reservoir.

A valve, such as for an analysis device for analyzing a fluidic sample, includes a stator element having a stator boundary surface and a rotor element having a rotor boundary surface. The stator element and the rotor element are arranged in an axial direction. The stator boundary surface and the rotor boundary surface are pressed against each other in the axial direction by an axial force. The axial force is fixed by a non-detachable connection.