New products

The American Journal of Medical Quality is pleased to offer readers a New Products and Information section. Information published in this section is taken from press releases generated by the manufacturers. The Journal and the College take no responsibility for the accuracy of the material presented here, nor does the appearance of any product constitute an endorsement by the College. This material is offered only as information potentially useful to the American Journal of Medical Quality. Send informa tion on new products to Gayle Miller, National Sales Manager, American Journal of Medical Quality, Williams & Wilkins, 438 East Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-3993.

liquid extraction (CLE) to be used for aqueous sample preparation in the analytical laboratory.
VectaSep CLE offers many advantages when compared with conventional liquid-liquid extraction and other sample preparation techniques. It is designed and manufactured in a ready to use format, and requires just two dispensing steps (solvent and sample) prior to extraction. The remaining steps are performed in minutes. It is made from precision moulded, high purity polypropylene. It is a disposable sample extraction device, and has been created for use in 15 ml rotor cups within standard laboratory centrifuges. It comprises four parts: a tube with separate cap, a sample disperser with integral microporous membrane which forms the basis of the controlled centrifugal extraction process, and a separating cup. Extraction is a simple two-step process. The first step involves the controlled extrusion of an aqueous sample from the sample disperser through the dispersion membrane into an extraction solvent by means of centrifugation. In the second stage, the sample disperser is replaced by a separating cup. A second, short centrifuge spin locates this cup at the solvent/sample junction, allowing analytes of interest to be selectively isolated.
VectaSep CLE offers numerous benefits compared with conventional procedures. Sample extracts are typically obtained within 30-60 min, thereby offering time savings of 50-80%, and significant cost savings per analysis. Yet at the same time, the accuracy, precision and linearity of data obtained is equal to or better than that generated by conventional liquid-liquid extraction. (1) A new programmable temperature vaporizing (PTV) inlet, which allows large volume injections to improve trace analysis. It also introduces samples at low temperatures, reducing thermal degradation and inlet discrimination.
(2) A highly inert volatiles interface which is optimized for gas-phase sample-preparation systems such as purge-and-trap, headspace and air-toxic systems.
(3) Upgraded HP automatic liquid sampler which allows larger-volume injections, additional pre-and post-injection parameters and an eight-sample injector turret for greater flexibility and throughput.
(4) LAN capability. Hewlett-Packard Europe's brochure on the detector gives an overview of ways in which to explore the spectral landscape for faster sample characterization. Full performance specifications are given as well as descriptions of the detector's built-in features that help labs with quality and regulatory compliance.
Details from Hewlett-Packard (as before).
Demonstration disk for spectroscopy package The GRAMS/32 demonstration disk covers the main components of GRAMS/32 including data importing, viewing, processing, organizing, and accessing. It features the data processing library with examples of the derivative, base-line correction, spectral subtraction, and smoothing applications as well as the 'macro wizard', a visual programming interface that allows users to customize their own data processing routines. The disk also

Gas analyser
Balzers have announced a new Prisma gas analyser with mass range from to 300 amu. Available from Pfeiffer Vacuum, this extended range makes the analyser ideal for monitoring many semiconductor fabrication processes, for example monitoring the tungsten CVD process. By analysing residual gases in situ, Prisma provides for the early recognition of potential vacuum system problems, such as leaks, saturation of cryopumps and contamination of process gases. Although designed for monitoring multichamber processing systems in production, Prisma is versatile and is suited for R&D environments, such as high energy physics, and for general purpose gas analysis. The analyser head and the electronics are incorporated in a single unit that is easily integrated into an existing vacuum system or process tool. Two filaments increase system running time, a new ion source design offers the highest sensitivity, and high power RF electronics ensures better mass selection as well as increased stability.
For fast interference-free data transfer over long distances, the Prisma gas analyser uses a LAN fibreoptic interface. It can also be used with Balzers' Quadstar software which runs under Windows. The Prisma can be easily controlled via a host computer.

Plasma spectrometer
The recent IRIS/AP plasma spectrometer from Thermo Jarrell Ash has a CID solid state detector which observes the entire emission spectrum simultaneously; and Trace-Techmaxial plasma technology that provides excellent detection limit performance. The IRIS/AP also features Thermo Jarrell Ash's Echelle Optical System and ThermoSPEC CID Software.