NMR Analyzers for Clinical Evaluation of Biosamples

• US 20190317165A1
• Filed: 06/25/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LipoScience, Inc. (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Original Assignee: LipoScience, Inc. (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Otvos, James D., Jeyarajah, Elias J., Markham, Stephen, Matyus, Steven P., Morgan, David R., Silberman, Bruce D., Deuel, Donald R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,156,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/465 applied to biological material, e.g. in vitro testing

Abstract

The clinical analyzers automatically electronically monitor selected parameters and automatically electronically adjust parameters to maintain the analyzer within desired operational ranges. The clinical NMR analyzers can be configured as a networked system with a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers located at different use sites.

Claims

1. A networked system of clinical NMR analyzers, comprising:

a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers located at different local use sites; and

at least one remote control system in communication with the plurality of clinical NMR analyzers configured to monitor selected local operating parameters associated with each clinical NMR analyzer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the clinical NMR analyzers includes a high field NMR superconducting magnet, and wherein the remote system automatically obtains data corresponding to homogeneity of the magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers generate and store an electronic history file of selected operational parameters, the history file configured to be accessed by the remote system.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers and/or remote system are configured to automatically monitor process variables and statistically analyze data corresponding to measurements of the monitored process variables to thereby perform an automated quality control analysis.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to automatically adjust operating equipment to keep the process variables within a predetermined statistical variation responsive to the monitored data.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to automatically generate an alert when an abnormal operating condition is detected.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote system is configured to automatically generate an alert when an abnormal operating condition is detected.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to automatically detect temporally relevant data of selected operational parameters at desired intervals and generate an electronic maintenance file thereof, and to electronically store the maintenance files for interrogation by the remote system.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the selected operational parameters include the NMR signal lineshape and/or scaling thereof of a patient sample.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the maintenance file includes respective patient sample identifiers correlated to selected operational parameters measured at a time the NMR signal of the patient sample was obtained.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein an electronic maintenance file of selected operational parameters is generated for each sample.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote system automatically controls selected parameters of the clinical NMR analyzers.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers electronically store sample data correlated to an accession patient identifier and sample dilution factor.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the NMR analyzers include program code configured to generate patient reports from each clinical NMR analyzer site, the program code including a site identifier that is correlated to the patient reports from respective clinical NMR analyzer sites, and wherein the computer program code is configured to allow the report to be generated in electronic and/or paper form.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote system is configured to automatically obtain data regarding the number of patient samples analyzed over a desired interval on each clinical NMR analyzer.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to obtain NMR derived concentration measurements of lipoproteins in a blood plasma and/or serum sample.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to obtain NMR derived concentration measurements of LDL and/or HDL subclass particles in a blood plasma and/or serum sample.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to determine a patient'"'"'s risk of having and/or developing CHD based on the lipoprotein measurements.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to determine a patient'"'"'s risk of having and/or developing Type II diabetes.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the clinical NMR analyzers are configured to determine a patient'"'"'s risk of having an insulin resistance disorder.

8. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

25-31. -31. (canceled)