Patent attributes
A fluid transfer valve has ports arranged in groups. The valve has a rotor having channels and an actuator is operably connectable to the rotor. The actuator is positionable in a loading orientation in which the first channel is connected to one or two of the ports to transfer fluid into the first channel and/or the second channel is connected to one or two of the ports to transfer a second fluid into the second channel. The actuator also is positionable into first and second injection orientations in which various ones of the channels and ports are connected for different fluid flow configurations. Each channel has two ends located on a virtual circle whose center coincides with the rotor's axis of rotation. The channels can have a semicircular shape, a semi-oval shape or a U-shape. An analytical system and method that use the inventive valve are also disclosed.