Chromatography apparatus
First Claim
1. Chromatography apparatus for at least minimizing conditions that limit obtaining of optimum sample information comprising(a) first means for producing chromatographic separation of components of a sample,(b) second means for detecting said chromatographic separation and for producing electrical signals indicating qualitative and quantitative information about said sample components, and(c) third means responsive to both said first means and said second means for determining different operating conditions of said chromatographic separation, said third means further determining those of said operating conditions that limit at least one of speed of analyzing and speed of producing a chromatogram,said third means eliminating one or more of said operating conditions that limit speed of analyzing and speed of producing to control operation of said chromatographic separation, thereby providing optimum information about said sample components from said chromatogram.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Chromatography apparatus capable of deriving optimum conditions for an analysis includes data processing means which comprises calculating means (20) to be supplied with initial conditions (24) entered by the chromatographer and which may be calculated from the results of an initial chromatogram, limits and requirements (25) relating to limiting values of parameters of the chromatograph and to the required selectivity and sensitivity of the analysis and which are entered by the chromatographer, and the detector time constant (23) which is selectable, within limits, by the chromatographer. The data processing means also includes a column data base (21) which contains data specifying the available separating columns and a detector data base (22) which contains data specifying the available detectors.
The optimization criteria are the minimum possible analysis time coupled with adequate peak separation and sensitivity. The optimum conditions are obtained by calculating maximum mobile phase flow rates which produce the required peak separation and sensitivity with each available separating column, detector, time constant combination and selecting that combination which allows the fastest analysis (26). The conditions may either be automatically set up or indicated to the chromatographer by means of a display unit, or a hard copy may be produced by a printer.
The parameters which limit the speed of analysis are indicated to the chromatographer to enable conditions to be relaxed, under the control of the chromatographer, if that is considered acceptable in order that a faster analysis may be achieved.
46 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Chromatography apparatus for at least minimizing conditions that limit obtaining of optimum sample information comprising
(a) first means for producing chromatographic separation of components of a sample, (b) second means for detecting said chromatographic separation and for producing electrical signals indicating qualitative and quantitative information about said sample components, and (c) third means responsive to both said first means and said second means for determining different operating conditions of said chromatographic separation, said third means further determining those of said operating conditions that limit at least one of speed of analyzing and speed of producing a chromatogram, said third means eliminating one or more of said operating conditions that limit speed of analyzing and speed of producing to control operation of said chromatographic separation, thereby providing optimum information about said sample components from said chromatogram.
Specification