NMR clinical analyzers and related methods, systems, modules and computer program products for clinical evaluation of biosamples
First Claim
1. A method of operating a clinical NMR in vitro diagnostic analyzer, comprising:
- electronically monitoring data associated with a plurality of selected parameters of the clinical NMR analyzer, the NMR analyzer comprising a flow probe held in a magnet bore of an NMR spectrometer;
electronically determining whether the selected parameters are within desired operational ranges based on the monitored data;
initiating an automated calibration procedure (i) at start-up as part of a self-diagnostic start-up procedure before authorizing or allowing evaluation of patient samples that are introduced to the flow probe held in the NMR spectrometer and (ii) when one or more of the selected parameters are determined to be outside desired operational ranges based on the determining step, wherein the calibration procedure includes delivering a calibration standard to the flow probe in the NMR spectrometer;
automatically aborting a test, alerting an operator of abnormal conditions and/or adjusting operational parameters of selected components of the clinical NMR analyzer based on data obtained by the electronically determining step;
introducing patient biosamples to the flow probe in the NMR spectrometer;
obtaining NMR signal spectra of the introduced patient biosamples; and
electronically generating at least one clinical quantitative measurement of the patient biosamples based on the obtained NMR spectra.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, computer program products and apparatus automate clinical NMR in vitro diagnostic analyzers. The clinical analyzer can 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; and at least one remote control system in communication with one or a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers, the at least one remote system configured to monitor selected local operating parameters associated with a respective clinical NMR analyzer.
49 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of operating a clinical NMR in vitro diagnostic analyzer, comprising:
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electronically monitoring data associated with a plurality of selected parameters of the clinical NMR analyzer, the NMR analyzer comprising a flow probe held in a magnet bore of an NMR spectrometer; electronically determining whether the selected parameters are within desired operational ranges based on the monitored data; initiating an automated calibration procedure (i) at start-up as part of a self-diagnostic start-up procedure before authorizing or allowing evaluation of patient samples that are introduced to the flow probe held in the NMR spectrometer and (ii) when one or more of the selected parameters are determined to be outside desired operational ranges based on the determining step, wherein the calibration procedure includes delivering a calibration standard to the flow probe in the NMR spectrometer; automatically aborting a test, alerting an operator of abnormal conditions and/or adjusting operational parameters of selected components of the clinical NMR analyzer based on data obtained by the electronically determining step; introducing patient biosamples to the flow probe in the NMR spectrometer; obtaining NMR signal spectra of the introduced patient biosamples; and electronically generating at least one clinical quantitative measurement of the patient biosamples based on the obtained NMR spectra. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of operating a clinical NMR in vitro diagnostic analyzer, comprising:
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electronically monitoring data associated with a plurality of selected parameters of a clinical NMR analyzer; electronically determining whether the selected parameters are within desired operational ranges based on the monitored data, automatically adjusting operational parameters of selected components of the clinical NMR analyzer based on data obtained by the electronically determining step; obtaining NMR signal spectra of a biosample; electronically generating at least one clinical measurement of the biosample based on the obtained NMR spectra; and before the obtaining step, serially aspirating biosamples from respective sample containers into an enclosed flow path and automatically serially detecting patient identification data for each respective patient biosample at a point of aspiration into the enclosed flow path to thereby inhibit incorrect patient biosample correlation. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. A method of operating a clinical NMR in vitro analyzer in a patient biosample test laboratory without an onsite dedicated NMR support technician, the clinical analyzer comprising an NMR spectrometer with a magnet having a bore, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically introducing in vitro biosamples into a top-loaded flow probe held in the magnet bore of the NMR spectrometer; electronically detecting data associated with selected operating parameters of the clinical NMR analyzer during normal operation; electronically verifying that selected conditions of the clinical NMR analyzer are within target operating ranges on the basis of the detected data; executing an automated electronic self-diagnostic quality control and/or calibration test during operation using a calibration standard introduced to the flow probe; and electronically obtaining NMR spectra for at least 400 biosamples per twenty-four hours and generating quantitative measurements based on the obtained NMR spectra.
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Specification