# US 7,641,854 B2 · Multifunctional multireactor control system with dynamic multiple protocols, templates and digital notebooks and methodology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,641,854 B2 - Document ID: US7641854B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/710,137 - Filed: 2007-02-23 - Published: 2007-10-04 - Granted: 2010-01-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-04-20 - Inventors: Li Young - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7641854B2 ## CPC - B01J 19/0046: {Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays (synthesis methods per se C40B50/00)} - B01J 2219/00283: Reactor vessels with top opening - B01J 2219/00308: interchangeably mounted in racks or blocks - B01J 2219/00344: Caps - B01J 2219/00353: Pumps - B01J 2219/00389: Feeding through valves - B01J 2219/00416: Vacuum - B01J 2219/00481: by the use of moving stirrers within the reaction vessels - B01J 2219/00493: by sparging or bubbling with gases - B01J 2219/00495: Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels - B01J 2219/00585: Parallel processes - B01J 2219/00599: Solution-phase processes - B01J 2219/00689: using computers - B01J 2219/00695: Synthesis control routines, e.g. using computer programs - B01J 2219/00698: Measurement and control of process parameters - B01J 2219/0072: Organic compounds - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A system and a methodology for controlling multifunctional multireactor chemical synthesis instruments employ real time automatic controls, calculations, feedbacks and optional graphic tracking of parameters, process characteristics and events and offer templates for designing otherwise complex sequences for the bench chemist, physicist or biologist. Automatic lab notebook construction is also provided as well as remote monitoring and control options, warning alarms and shut down alarms. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multifunctional multireactor control system with dynamic multiple protocols, templates and digital notebooks for a multifunctional multireactor chemical synthesis instrument having a main housing having at least one independent multireactor work station, each work station adapted to receive a multireactor reaction vessel; having at least one cooling unit functionally connected to each of said at least one independent work station to impart controlled cooling thereto, each said cooling unit including: a cooling element in proximity to each of said at least one independent work station and having an inlet port for injection of a phase change coolant, a heat absorbent area and an outlet port for removal of said phase change coolant; and, injection means for injecting said phase change coolant in liquid form via said inlet port to said cooling element; having at least one heating unit functionally connected to each of said at least one independent work station to impart controlled heating thereto; having an inert gas blanket supply means connected to each of said at least one independent work station; having at least one stirring mechanism connected to each of said at least one independent work station; having programmable liquid transferring means for moving liquid from a liquid supply means to a reaction vessel through individual programming for each of said at least one independent work station wherein said liquid is transferred though an orifice in a stopper of said at least one independent work station; and having control means connected to each cooling unit and each heating unit and to each stirring mechanism for programmable automatic control thereof, which comprises: said control means including at least one programmable central processing unit having input means, output means, storage means and functional software to provide separate real time modules for each of said at least one independent work station, and to provide said system with the following for each of said modules: (a) means to separately control at least one of on/off flow and rate of flow, to separately control at least one of on/off heating and rate of heating, and to separately control said stirring mechanism, said control means including a programmable device; (b) a plurality of working templates that present various preset operations offered to a user, said operations including heating, heating and stirring, cooling, cooling and stirring, heating with inert gas blanket, cooling with inert gas blanket, ambient and stirring; (c) an instructional program including list of available templates to show a user how to select, customize and operate the templates and the system; (d) input means for a user to select templates and operational step sequences and to key in parameters for each template including a plurality of reactants used, times, temperatures and other functional operations to create a work station protocol, and storage thereof; (e) start up for user to initiate actual start up of reactor with template selected sequences in accordance with selected parameters; (f) automatic sequencing of each independent work station in accordance with said template selected sequences and parameters; (g) dynamic real time presentation of operating conditions and parameters, and at least one variable versus variable subpresentation selected from the group consisting of temperature versus time, pressure versus time and enthalpy versus time, said presentation being in at least one format selected from the group consisting of graphic, listing, streaming, and storage for retrieval on demand; (h) user monitoring of all parameters and of said dynamic real time presentation; (i) user manual override to alter, delete or extend any parameter, sequence or template; and (j) generation of a digital laboratory notebook showing all parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said reactor further includes additional operations of refluxing, degassing and vacuuming for each work station and said control system templates further include templates for at least one of said additional operations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said software further includes means to store, retrieve, reuse and amend selected templates for subsequent use. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is set in a predetermined format and is a read only feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 4 wherein said digital laboratory notebook format and said digital laboratory notebook parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users are secured and are read only. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrument of claim 1 wherein each of said independent work stations includes means for evaporation functions and means for vacuum pressure functions for a reactor vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is set for customized programming set up by a user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 7 wherein said digital laboratory notebook includes comment input areas for a user to insert observations, comments and conclusions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said system includes at least three independent multireactor work stations further and further includes cyclical, sequential presentation of each dynamic real time presentation for each work station and means to hold at any one or more of said work station dynamic real time presentations for any desired time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said system includes a disaster alarm security subsystem that recognizes unacceptable outputs and environmental conditions, shuts down the relevant reaction vessel and signals a user to address the identified concern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said system further includes remote user monitoring and controlling capabilities selected from the group consisting of internet, intranet, wireless and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 1 wherein said system includes liquid sampling means that includes means to remove liquid from a reaction vessel to a test instrument at programmable times, transfer rates and amounts. ### Claim 13 A multifunctional multireactor control system with dynamic multiple protocols, templates and digital notebooks for a multifunctional multireactor chemical synthesis instrument having a main housing having at least two independent multireactor work stations, each work station adapted to receive a multireactor reaction vessel; having at least one cooling unit functionally connected to each of said at least two independent work stations to impart controlled cooling thereto, each said cooling unit including: a cooling element in proximity to each of said at least two independent work stations and having an inlet port for injection of a phase change coolant, a heat absorbent area and an outlet port for removal of said phase change coolant; and, injection means for injecting said phase change coolant in liquid form via said inlet port to said cooling element; having at least one heating unit functionally connected to each of said at least two independent work stations to impart controlled heating thereto; having an inert gas blanket supply means connected to each of said at least two independent work stations; having at least one stirring mechanism connected to each of said at least two independent work stations wherein said at least one stirring mechanism is magnetic; and having control means connected to each cooling unit and each heating unit and to each stirring mechanism for programmable automatic control thereof, which comprises: said control means including at least one programmable central processing unit having input means, output means, storage means and functional software to provide separate real time modules for each of said at least two independent work stations, and to provide said system with the following for each of said modules: (a) means to separately control at least one of on/off flow and rate of flow, to separately control at least one of on/off heating and rate of heating, and to separately control said stirring mechanism, said control means including a programmable device; (b) a plurality of working templates that present various preset operations offered to a user, said operations including heating, heating and stirring, cooling, cooling and stirring, heating with inert gas blanket, cooling with inert gas blanket, ambient and stirring; (c) an instructional program including list of available templates to show a user how to select, customize and operate the templates and the system; (d) input means for a user to select templates and operational step sequences and to key in parameters for each template including a plurality of reactants used, times, temperatures and other functional operations to create a work station protocol, and storage thereof; (e) start up for user to initiate actual start up of reactor with template selected sequences in accordance with selected parameters; (f) automatic sequencing of each independent work station in accordance with said template selected sequences and parameters; (g) dynamic real time presentation of operating conditions and parameters, and at least one variable versus variable subpresentation selected from the group consisting of temperature versus time, pressure versus time and enthalpy versus time, said presentation being in at least one format selected from the group consisting of graphic, listing, streaming, and storage for retrieval on demand; (h) user monitoring of all parameters and of said dynamic real time presentation; (i) user manual override to alter, delete or extend any parameter, sequence or template; and (j) generation of a digital laboratory notebook showing all parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said system includes an automatic pause and alarm security subsystem that recognizes unacceptable inputs selected from the group consisting of reactants, solvents, parameters, template selections and sequence selections and that signals a user, identifies the unacceptable inputs and affords said user editing opportunity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said reactor further includes additional operations of refluxing, degassing and vacuuming for each work station and said control system templates further include templates for at least one of said additional operations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said software further includes means to store, retrieve, reuse and amend selected templates for subsequent use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is set in a predetermined format and is a read only feature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 17 wherein said digital laboratory notebook format and said digital laboratory notebook parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users are secured and are read only. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The instrument of claim 13 wherein each of said independent work stations includes means for evaporation functions and means for vacuum pressure functions for a reactor vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is set for customized programming set up by a user. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said digital laboratory notebook includes comment input areas for a user to insert observations, comments and conclusions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The multifunctional multireactor control system of claim 13 wherein said system includes at least three independent multireactor work stations and includes programmable liquid transfer means for moving liquid from one reaction vessel to another at programmable times, transfer rates and amounts. ### Claim 23 A multifunctional multireactor control methodology with dynamic multiple protocols, templates and digital notebooks for a multifunctional multireactor chemical synthesis instrument having a main housing having at least two independent multireactor work stations, each work station adapted to receive a reaction vessel; having at least one cooling unit functionally connected to each of said at least two independent work stations to impart controlled cooling thereto, each said cooling unit including: a cooling element in proximity to each of said at least two independent work stations and having an inlet port for injection of a phase change coolant, a heat absorbent area and an outlet port for removal of said phase change coolant; and, injection means for injecting said phase change coolant in liquid form via said inlet port to said cooling element; having at least one heating unit functionally connected to each of said at least two independent work stations to impart controlled heating thereto; having an inert gas blanket supply means connected to each of said at least two independent work stations; having at least one stirring mechanism connected to each of said at least two independent work stations; having programmable liquid transferring means for moving liquid from a liquid supply means to a reaction vessel through individual programming for each of said at least one independent work station wherein said liquid is transferred through an orifice in a stopper of said at least one independent work station; and having control means connected to each cooling unit and each heating unit and to each stirring mechanism for programmable automatic control thereof, which comprises: providing said control means with at least one programmable central processing unit having input means, output means, storage means and functional software to provide separate real time modules for each of said independent work stations, and providing said system with the following for each of said modules: (a) providing means to separately control at least one of on/off flow and rate of flow, to separately control at least one of on/off heating and rate of heating, and to separately control said stirring mechanism, said control means including a programmable device; (b) providing a plurality of working templates that present various preset operations offered to a user, said operations including heating, heating and stirring, cooling, cooling and stirring, heating with inert gas blanket, cooling with inert gas blanket, ambient and stirring; (c) providing an instructional program including list of available templates to show a user how to select, customize and operate the templates and the system; (d) having a user select templates and operational step sequences and to key in parameters for each template including a plurality of reactants used, times, temperatures and other functional operations to create a work station protocol, and storing said protocol; (e) having a user start up said reactor with template selected sequences in accordance with selected parameters by initiating a start up procedure; (f) automatically sequencing and operating each independent work station in accordance with said template selected sequences and parameters; (g) providing a dynamic real time presentation of operating conditions and parameters, and at least one variable versus variable subpresentation selected from the group consisting of temperature versus time, pressure versus time and enthalpy versus time, said presentation being in at least one format selected from the group consisting of graphic, listing, streaming, and storage for retrieval on demand; (h) having a user monitor all operating conditions and parameters and said dynamic real time presentation; (i) providing user manual override to alter, delete or extend any parameter, sequence or template; and (j) generating a digital laboratory notebook showing all parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 23 wherein said reactor further includes additional operations of refluxing, degassing and vacuuming for each work station and said control methodology includes providing additional templates for at least one of said additional operations. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 23 which further includes providing means to store, retrieve, reuse and amend selected templates for subsequent use. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 23 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is provided in a predetermined format and is a read only feature. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 26 wherein said digital laboratory notebook format and said digital laboratory notebook parameters, sequences and dynamic real time presentations, dates, times, and users are secured and are provided as read only. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23 wherein each of said independent work stations includes means for evaporation functions and means for vacuum pressure functions for a reactor vessel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 23 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is provided with customized programming set up by a user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The multifunctional multireactor control methodology of claim 29 wherein said digital laboratory notebook is provided with comment input areas for a user to insert observations, comments and conclusions.