Method and apparatus for the peak monitoring the results of analysis apparatus

• US 3,902,052 A
• Filed: 06/11/1973
• Issued: 08/26/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technicon Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Henry E. Amar, John J. Grady
• Inventors: Amar, Henry E., Grady, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph F.
• Application Number:
  US05/368,490
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 235/150.1,151.3,151.35,151.13,92PC 444/1 128/2.6A,26 356/39R
• US Class Current: 702/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for determining the validity and maximizing the accuracy of analytical results provided by automated sample analysis apparatus which operate in accordance with ideal operational characteristics and wherein the analytical results are provided in the form of a series of data outputs for each sample analysis and comprise the constant monitoring of the data outputs produced by the apparatus upon the analysis of a sample, the comparison of the thusly monitored data outputs to determine the variations therebetween, the comparison of variations with said ideal operational characteristics of said apparatus so as to verify the validity of the thusly monitored data outputs, and the selection and outputting as the sample analysis results in accordance with said comparisons of those of said data outputs which are most analytically correct to thus maximize the accuracy of said results.

Claims

1. A method for determining the validity of the results of the quantitative analysis of a series of samples with regard to a particular sample constituent by automated sample analysis apparatus which operate in accordance with a sample analysis chemistry determined by said constituent, the steps of, determining the ideal operational characteristics of the sample analysis apparatus in accordance with said sample analysis chemistry, analyzing each of said samples in series in accordance with said sample analysis chemistry, providing a series of data outputs as the results of the analysis of each of said samples, storing the data outputs as the same as provided, averaging some at least of the previously provided and stored data outputs for the same sample, comparing the data outputs as the same are provided in turn with said average of previously provided data outputs for the same sample to determine the variations therebetween, and comparing said variations with said ideal operational characteristics of the analysis apparatus for the particular sample analysis chemistry involved to verify the validity of the thusly monitored data outputs.

2. In a method as in claim 1 further comprising, the steps of, selecting as the sample analysis results in accordance with said comparisons said those of said data outputs which are most analytically correct to thus maximize the accuracy of said results.

3. In a method as in claim 1 further comprising, the steps of, discontinuing the operation of said analysis apparatus in the event that a data output is determined to be invalid.

4. In a method as in claim 2 further comprising, the steps of, qualifying as imperfect those of said data outputs which are selected as the sample analysis results in the event that a data output is determined to be invalid.

5. In a method as in claim 1 wherein, the comparison of each of said data outputs and said average comprises the steps of, subtracting said average from said data output.

6. In a method as in claim 1 wherein, the averaging of said previously provided data outputs comprises, the steps of, including the most previously provided data output in said average.

7. In a method as in claim 1 wherein, said ideal operational characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the magnitudes of said data output variations, and a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the number of said data output variations, and the comparison of said data output variations to verify the validity of the data outputs comprises, the steps of, classifying and storing each of data outputs upon the provision thereof in accordance with which of said tolerances will be applicable thereto, comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations to said tolerances to determine if the latter are exceeded thereby to in turn verify the validity of said data outputs.

8. In a method as in claim 7 wherein, the comparison of said data output variations to said tolerances comprises, the steps of, sequentially comparing a plurality of tolerances to each of said data output variations.

9. In a method as in claim 7 further comprising, the steps of, rejecting said data output and discontinuing the operation of said sample analysis apparatus in the event a data output variation or plurality thereof exceed an applicable tolerance.

10. In A method as in claim 7 further comprising, the steps of, qualifying as imperfect said those of said data outputs which are selected as the sample analysis results in the event that a data output variation or plurality thereof exceed an applicable tolerance.

11. In a method as in claim 2 wherein, said ideal operational characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the magnitudes of said data output variations, and a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the magnitudes of said data output variations, and a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the number of said data output variations, and the selection of said those of said data outputs which are most analytically correct comprises, the steps of, storing the data output variations as the same are determined, comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations to said tolerances, storing the results of the last mentioned comparisons, and selecting said those of said data outputs as the most analytically correct in accordance with the results of the last-mentioned comparisons.

12. In a method as in claim 11 wherein, said data outputs will change in magnitude at the beginning of the analysis of each sample until generally steady state data output conditions are reached, and the comparison of said data output variations to said tolerances and the selection of those of said data outputs comprise, comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations which occur at the beginning of sample analysis to tolerances to determine the nature of said change in data output magnitude, and selecting said those of said data outputs from the data outputs which are provided during said generally steady data output conditions in accordance with the determined nature of the change in data output magnitude during the beginning of sample analysis.

13. In a method as in claim 12 wherein, said data outputs will generally rise in magnitude during th beginning of sample analysis to assume generally steady state data output conditions and will generally fall in magnitude from the latter at the termination of sample analysis, and the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, the steps of, verifying said rise in data output magnitude in accordance with the stored results of the comparisons between said data output variations and said tolerances, and selecting and outputting the data outputs of the highest magnitude from those data outputs provided during said generally steady state data output conditions.

14. In a method as in claim 13 wherein, in the absence of verification of said rise in magnitude of said data outputs the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, the steps of, selecting the data outputs from those data outputs provided during said generally steady state data output conditions which most immediately precede said general fall in data output magnitude.

15. In a method as in claim 11 wheren, the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, the steps of, averaging a plurality of data outputs, storing the resultant data output average, and selecting said average as the analysis results.

16. In a method as in claim 1 wherein, said sample analysis apparatus are operable to successively analyze each of a series of samples and said ideal operating characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a sample-to-sample dwell time variation tolerance, the method further comprising, the steps of, measuring the dwell time of each of said samples as the same is being analyzed and storing the thusly determined sample dwell time, comparing the dwell time of the sample under analysis to that of previously analyzed samples to determine the variation therebetween, and comparing said variation to said tolerance to determine if the former exceeds the latter to thus verify the validity of the data outputS for the sample under analysis.

17. In a method as in claim 16, further comprising, the steps of, discontinuing the operation of the analysis apparatus if said dwell time variation exceeds said tolerance.

18. In a method as in claim 16 further comprising, the steps of, adopting and storing the dwell time of the sample under analysis as the new dwell time in the event that the variation between said dwell time and the previously stored dwell time does not exceed said dwell time variation tolerance.

19. Apparatus for determining the validity of the results of the quantitative analysis of a series of samples with regard to a particular sample constituent as are provided by automated sample analysis apparatus which operate in accordance with ideal operational characteristics as determined by the analysis chemistry of said sample constituent, means for analyzing each of said samples in series in accordance with said analysis chemistry and for providing a series of data outputs as the results of the analysis of each of said samples, means for monitoring the thusly provided data outputs, means for comparing the thusly monitored data outputs as the same are monitored in turn with previously provided data outputs for the same sample to determine the variations therebetween, and means for comparing said variations with said ideal operational characteristics of the analysis apparatus for the particular sample analysis chemistry involved to verify the validity of the thusly monitored data outputs.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising, means for selecting as the sample analysis results in accordance with said comparisons those of said data outputs which are most analytically correct to thus maximize the accuracy of said results.

21. Apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising, means for discontinuing the operation of said analysis apparatus in the event that a data output is determined to be invalid.

22. Apparatus as in claim 20 further comprising, means for qualifying as imperfect those of said data outputs which are selected as the sample analysis results in the event that a data output is determined to be invalid.

23. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein, the means for the comparison of said data outputs comprise, means for storing each of said data outputs upon the provision thereof by said sample analysis apparatus, and means for comparing each of said data outputs as it is provided with previously provided and stored data outputs to determine the variation therebetween.

24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein, the means for the comparison of each of said data outputs as it is provided with previously provided and stored data outputs comprise, means for averaging a number of said previously provided data outputs, and means for comparing each of said data outputs as it is provided with said average to determine the variation therebetween.

25. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein, the means for the comparison of each of said data outputs and said average comprise, means for subtracting said average from said data output.

26. Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein, the means for said previously provided data outputs comprise, means for including the most previously provided data output in said average.

27. Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein, said ideal operational characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the magnitudes of said data output variations, and a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the number of said data output variations, and the means for the comparison of said data output variations to verify the validity of the data outputs comprise, means for classifying and storing each of data outputs upon the provision thereof in accordance with which of said tolerances will be applicable thereto, and means for comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations to said tolerances to determine if the latter are exceeded thereby to in turn verify the validity of said data outputs.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein, the means for the comparison of said data output variations to said tolerances comprise, means for sequentially comparing a plurality of tolerances to each of said data output variations.

29. Apparatus as in claim 27 further comprising, means for rejecting said data output and discontinuing the operation of said sample analysis apparatus in the event a data output variation or plurality thereof exceed an applicable tolerance.

30. Apparatus as in claim 27 further comprising, means for qualifying as imperfect said those of said data outputs which are selected as the sample analysis results in the event that a data output variation or plurality thereof exceed an applicable tolerance.

31. Apparatus as in claim 29 wherein, said ideal operational characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the magnitudes of said data output variations, and a plurality of data output variation tolerances which are respectively applicable to the number of said data output variations, and the means for the selection of said those of said data outputs which are most analytically correct comprise, means for storing the data output variations as the same are determined, means for comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations to said tolerances, means for storing the results of the last mentioned comparisons, and means for selecting said those of said data outputs as the most analytically correct in accordance with the results of the last-mentioned comparisons.

32. Apparatus as in claim 31 wherein, said data outputs will change in magnitude at the beginning of the analysis of each sample until generally steady state data output conditions are reached, and the means for the comparison of said data output variations to said tolerances and the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, means for comparing the magnitude and number of said data output variations which occur at the beginning of sample analysis to tolerances to determine the nature of said change in data output magnitude, and means for selecting said those of said data outputs from the data outputs which are provided during said generally steady state data output conditions in accordance with the determined nature of the change in data output magnitude during the beginning of sample analysis.

33. Apparatus as in claim 32 wherein, said data outputs will generally rise in magnitude during the beginning of sample analysis to assume generally steady state data output conditions and will generally fall in magnitude from the latter at the termination of sample analysis, and the means for the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, means for verifying said rise in data output magnitude in accordance with the stored results of the comparisons between said data output variations and said tolerances, and means for selecting and outputting the data outputs of the highest magnitude from those data outputs provided during said generally steady state data output conditions.

34. Apparatus as in claim 32 wherein, in the absence of verification of said rise in magnitude of said data outputs, the means for the selection of said those of said data outputs comprise, means for selecting the data outputs from those data outputs provided during said generally steady state data output conditions which most immediately precede said general fall in data output magnitude.

35. Apparatus as in claim 31 wherein, the means for the selection of said those of said those of said data outputs comprise, means for averaging a plurality of data outputs, means for storing the resultant data output average, and means for selecting said average as the analysis results.

36. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein, said sample analysis apparatus are operable to successively analyze each of a series of samples and said ideal operaTing characteristics of said analysis apparatus comprise a sample-to-sample dwell time variation tolerance, the apparatus further comprising, means for measuring the dwell time of each of said samples as the same is being analyzed, and means for storing the thusly determined sample dwell time, means for comparing the dwell time of the sample under analysis to that of previously analyzed samples to determine the variation therebetween and means for comparing said variation to said tolerance to determine if the former exceeds the latter to thus verify the validity of the data outputs for the sample under analysis.

37. Apparatus as in claim 36 further comprising, means for discontinuing the operation of the analysis apparatus if said dwell time variation exceeds said tolerance.

38. Apparatus as in claim 36 further comprising, means for adopting and storing the dwell time of the sample under analysis as the new dwell time in the event that the variation between said dwell time and the previously stored dwell time does not exceed said dwell time variation tolerance.