Analytical apparatus, liquid chromatography analyzer and a method therefor

• US 6,058,764 A
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Instruments Engineering Company Limited, Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamada, Yoshiaki, Fukuda, Masato, Mori, Kiyotoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/152,697
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 73/61.52, 73/61.55, 73/61.59, 73/61.71, 73/61.56, 73/23.36, 73/23.41, 73/23.42, 436/161, 422/68.1, 422/70
• US Class Current: 73/61.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8804 automated systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/06 Preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8651 Recording, data aquisition, archiving and storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8658 Optimising operation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8696 Details of Software

Abstract

A reliable analytical apparatus is provided which can produce a highly reliable analytical Value on the basis of data entered during manual sample preparation which can be easily traced and used in editing of the analytical result of the analyzer because they are stored in association with the results of measurements by the analyzer. The analytical apparatus has an input device for inputting sample preparation procedures through the display screen, and various computations based on weighed quantities, constant dilution volume and so on entered during the manual preparation, which are automatically executed so as to eliminate human error.

Claims

1. An analyzer having an analytical unit for analyzing a sample which is prepared manually, a data processing unit for calculating an analysis result, and a display unit for displaying at least said analysis result, said display unit comprising:

a plurality of icons, each graphically representing a unit procedure required for preparing the sample;

a sample preparation procedure display region representing a sample preparation procedure by arranging each one of the plurality of icons;

a detail information display region for entering and displaying data associated with each of said icons relating to a target sample preparation procedure said detail information displav region being displayed when a corresponding icon is selected; and

wherein

said data processing unit uses the data entered through said detail information region in editing said analysis result.

2. An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of each of a plurality of said icons displayed in said sample preparation procedure display region, there is displayed character data from said detail information display region.

3. An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of said unit procedure regions displayed in said sample preparation procedure display region are connected with a connection line in a time series order of processing.

4. An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where a sample to be prepared is a standard sample, said data processing unit executes computation of a concentration of the sample prepared using data which is entered through said detail information display region.

5. An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said sample preparation procedure display region is displayed on said display unit together with said analysis result.

6. An analyzer according to claim 5, wherein said data processing unit stores said displayed sample preparation procedure display region and said displayed result of analysis therewith.

7. A method of liquid chromatograph analysis comprising the steps of:

preparing a sample;

feeding an eluting solution;

producing a mixture solution by mixing said sample in said eluting solution;

separating said mixture solution in a separation column;

detecting said mixture solution having passed through said separation column using a detector,

displaying icons representative of at least one component to be analyzed and work performed thereon in preparing said sample so as to provide a sample preparation procedure;

entering information relating to said components to be analyzed or said work to be performed for each icon; and

producing a result of analysis on the basis of said information having been entered and an output from said detector.

8. A liquid chromatograph analysis apparatus for analysis of a sample which is prepared in a set of serial steps including manual preparation comprising:

a pump for feeding a eluting solution;

a sample holder in which a sample having been prepared in at least one manual preparation step is mixed with said eluting solution having been fed so as to produce a mixture solution therebetween;

a separation column for separating said mixture solution into a series of individual components according to different respective retention time thereof; and

a detector for detecting different components of the mixture solution having passed through said separation column;

a display unit which can display a representation of one or more of said serial steps required for the preparation of said sample distinct from each other on its screen;

an input device for entering information associated with said one or more steps having been displayed; and

a processing unit which produces a result of analysis on the basis of said information having been entered and an output from said detector.