Automated test mix for gas chromatograph/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry health and diagnostics
AssigneesThermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
InventorsDeven L. SHINHOLT, Edward B. McCAULEY, Riccardo FACCHETTI, Antonella GUZZONATO
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Abstract
Described are techniques for performing automated maintenance evaluations on a gas chromatograph (GC) or a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Systems and methods are described for directing an injector of a GC or GC-MS instrument system to autonomously inject a diagnostic material sample into a material analysis chamber and initiate a scientific analysis to formulate a set of results. The systems and methods further include the instrument system analyzing the set of results generating one or more output reports.
Claims25
A scientific instrument, comprising:
- a material analysis chamber having an input port;
- an injector configured to insert one material sample from a plurality of material samples into the material analysis chamber via the input port, wherein the material analysis chamber is configured to perform a scientific analysis of the inserted material sample, wherein the plurality of material samples includes at least one diagnostic material sample;
- a data processor having a memory storing correlation data for comparing a first set of results of a first scientific analysis to expected results associated with the at least one diagnostic material sample to form a first set of compared results, wherein the data processor is further configured to selectively generate an output report of the first set of compared results;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled with the material analysis chamber, and the injector, and the data processor, wherein the controller is configured to receive a first command via a user input feature, wherein upon receiving the first command at the user input feature, the controller is configured to autonomously:
- direct the injector to inject the at least one diagnostic material sample into the material analysis chamber,
- initiate the scientific analysis to formulate the first set of results,
- direct the data processor to analyze the first set of results and to generate the first set of compared results, and
- direct the data processor to generate a first output report illustrating the first set of compared results.
A method of performing a diagnostic evaluation of a scientific instrument, wherein the scientific instrument includes a material analysis chamber having an input port, an injector configured to selectively retrieve material samples from a plurality of material samples and insert the retrieved material sample into the material analysis chamber via the input port, at least one diagnostic material sample, a data processor, and a controller operatively coupled with the material analysis chamber, and the injector, and the data processor, wherein the controller is configured to receive a first command via a user input feature, the method comprising:
- upon receiving the first command at the user input feature, directing the injector via the controller to retrieve a first material sample from the at least one diagnostic material sample and to inject the at least one diagnostic material sample into the material analysis chamber, wherein the material analysis chamber is configured to perform a scientific analysis of the retrieved material sample;
- initiating a first scientific analysis to formulate a first set of results, wherein the data processor includes a memory storing correlation data for comparing the first set of results of the scientific analysis to expected results associated with the at least one diagnostic material sample to form a first set of compared results;
- directing the data processor via the controller to analyze the first set of results and to generate the first set of compared results;
- and
- upon generating the first set of compared results, directing the data processor via the controller to generate a first output report illustrating the first set of compared results.
A scientific instrument, comprising:
- a material analysis chamber having an input port;
- an injector configured to selectively retrieve material samples from a plurality of material reservoirs and insert the retrieved material sample into the material analysis chamber via the input port, wherein the plurality of material reservoirs includes at least one diagnostic material sample;
- a detector positioned adjacent an output of the material analysis chamber and configured to detect components of the retrieved material sample;
- a data processor configured to analyze the detected components;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled with the material analysis chamber, the injector, the detector, and the data processor, wherein the controller is configured to receive a command via a user input feature, wherein upon receiving the command at the user input feature, the controller is configured to autonomously:
- direct the injector to retrieve a material sample from the at least one diagnostic material sample and to inject the at least one diagnostic material sample into the material analysis chamber;
- initiate a scientific analysis of the material sample to formulate a set of results;
- direct the data processor to analyze the set of results and to generate a set of compared results defined by a correlation between the set of results and a set of expected results;
- and
- direct the data processor to generate an output report illustrating the set of compared results.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.