Expert overseer for mass spectrometer system
First Claim
1. An expert overseer system for the operation and real-time evaluation of a complex instrument system that includes key instrument components,a computer means capable of controlling the key instrument components and producing results from the complex instrument system, anda laboratory support system,said expert overseer system comprising:
- an interface coupling the key instrument components of the complex instrument system, the laboratory support system, and the computer means,a master overseer system comprising the computer means and a master overseer program implemented on the computer means,said master overseer system including a means for polling and collecting data from the key components of the complex instrument system, and the laboratory support system comprising automatically and manually specified time sequencing of said means for polling and collecting data,a knowledge base including data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data,heuristic rules and parametric rules responsive to the data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data, and set parameters,an expert means responsive to said means for polling and collecting data and said knowledge base, said expert means capable of using a rule base and an inference engine to automatically analyze the status of the complex instrument system, to employ a set parameter damage prevention system, and to potentially alter a specified sampling routine,an interrupt handling means responsive to the key instrument components of the complex instrument system and the laboratory support system, said interrupt handling means capable of initiating varying degrees of data collection by said means for polling and collecting data, anda user interface responsive to said expert means, said user interface capable of relating the output of said expert means to a human operator.
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Abstract
An expert overseer for the operation and real-time management of a mass spectrometer and associated laboratory equipment. The overseer is a computer-based expert diagnostic system implemented on a computer separate from the dedicated computer used to control the mass spectrometer and produce the analysis results. An interface links the overseer to components of the mass spectrometer, components of the laboratory support system, and the dedicated control computer. Periodically, the overseer polls these devices and as well as itself. These data are fed into an expert portion of the system for real-time evaluation. A knowledge base used for the evaluation includes both heuristic rules and precise operation parameters. The overseer also compares current readings to a long-term database to detect any developing trends using a combination of statistical and heuristic rules to evaluate the results. The overseer has the capability to alert lab personnel whenever questionable readings or trends are observed and provide a background review of the problem and suggest root causes and potential solutions, or appropriate additional tests that could be performed. The overseer can change the sequence or frequency of the polling to respond to an observation in the current data.
35 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An expert overseer system for the operation and real-time evaluation of a complex instrument system that includes key instrument components,
a computer means capable of controlling the key instrument components and producing results from the complex instrument system, and a laboratory support system, said expert overseer system comprising: -
an interface coupling the key instrument components of the complex instrument system, the laboratory support system, and the computer means, a master overseer system comprising the computer means and a master overseer program implemented on the computer means, said master overseer system including a means for polling and collecting data from the key components of the complex instrument system, and the laboratory support system comprising automatically and manually specified time sequencing of said means for polling and collecting data, a knowledge base including data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data, heuristic rules and parametric rules responsive to the data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data, and set parameters, an expert means responsive to said means for polling and collecting data and said knowledge base, said expert means capable of using a rule base and an inference engine to automatically analyze the status of the complex instrument system, to employ a set parameter damage prevention system, and to potentially alter a specified sampling routine, an interrupt handling means responsive to the key instrument components of the complex instrument system and the laboratory support system, said interrupt handling means capable of initiating varying degrees of data collection by said means for polling and collecting data, and a user interface responsive to said expert means, said user interface capable of relating the output of said expert means to a human operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An expert overseer system for the operation and real-time evaluation of a mass spectrometer system that includes
a mass spectrometer having key instrument components, first computer means capable of controlling the mass spectrometer, and a laboratory support system, said expert overseer system comprising; -
a second computer means an interface coupling the second computer means to the key components of the mass spectrometer, the laboratory supports system, and the first computer means, a master overseer system comprising the second computer means and a master overseer program implemented on said second computer means, said master overseer system including a means for polling and collecting data from the key components of the mass spectrometer and the laboratory support system comprising automatically and manually specified time sequencing of said means for polling and collecting data, a knowledge base including data obtained from the means for polling and collecting data, heuristic rules and parametric rules responsive to based upon the data obtained from the means for polling and collecting data, and set parameters, an expert means responsive to said means for polling and collecting data and said knowledge base, said expert means capable of using a rule base and an inference engine to automatically analyze the status of the complex instrument system, to employ a set parameter damage prevention system, and to alter a specified sample analysis, an interrupt handling means responsive to the key instrument components of the mass spectrometer and the laboratory support system, said interrupt handling means capable of initiating varying degrees of data collection by said means for polling and collecting data, and a user interface responsive to said expert means, said user interface capable of relating the output of said expert means to a human operator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An expert overseer system for the operation and real-time evaluation of a complex instrument system that includes
key instrument components a first computer means capable of controlling the key instrument components and producing analysis results from the complex instrument system, and a laboratory support system, said expert overseer system comprising: -
a second computer means, an interface coupling said second computer means to the key instrument components, the laboratory support system, and the first computer means, a master overseer system comprising the second computer means and a master overseer program implemented in said second computer means, said master overseer system including a means for polling and collecting data from the key components of the complex instrument system, and the laboratory support system comprising automatically and manually specified time sequencing of said means for polling and collecting data, a knowledge base including data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data heuristic rules and parametric rules responsive to the data obtained from said means for polling and collecting data, and set parameters, an expert means responsive to said means for polling and said knowledge base, said expert means capable of using a rule base and an inference engine to automatically analyze the status of the complex instrument system, to employ a set parameter damage prevention system, and to potentially alter a specified sample routine, an interrupt handling means responsive to the key instrument components of the complex instrument system and the laboratory support system, said interrupt handling means capable of initiating varying degrees of data collection by said means for polling and collecting data, and a user interface responsive to said expert means, said user interface capable of relating the output of said expert means to a human operator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification