Apparatuses and methods for wireless monitoring and control of supplies for environmental sampling and chromatographic apparatuses

• US 8,746,559 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Instruments Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teledyne Instruments Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davison, Dale A., Meyer, Dale L., Jameson, Daniel G., Silver, Jack E., Curran, Jon L., Pipes, Ruth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CECIL, TERRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/650,690
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 235/385, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/247 Fraction collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/889 monitoring the quality of the stationary phase; column performance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for streamlined purchase of consumable chromatographic columns and efficient instrument management. Purchase orders for chromatographic columns are entered into based on estimating usage for a fixed period. An initial partial shipment is made of tagged columns as the columns are used. An RFID transmits trigger signals until an order point is reached at which time a new partial shipment is made. This process is repeated until the end of the fixed period. A general control system is in wireless communication with a plurality of apparatuses to ensure prompt and accurate supply of consumables used by the apparatus. As the apparatus uses the consumables, the instrument management system sends indicia from the apparatus to the general control which controls and monitors the number of specific consumables sent to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for automated replenishment of an inventory of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns, comprising:

estimating a usage of consumable chromatographic columns during a preset period;

receiving an indication of a pre-purchase of the estimated usage of consumable chromatographic columns;

attaching a non-volatile memory to each of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns;

recording an identification to each attached non-volatile memory, the identification including at least one of;

a customer, a calibration curve, a retention time, a packing, history, a lot number, a chromatogram, a past separation condition and a preferred container holder for the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

recording the identification in a database stored by a central source;

recording an amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to be supplied within the preset period by the central source to a customer in the database in association with the identification;

providing a single shipment portion of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to the customer;

transmitting at least one signal indicating the use of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns by the customer, the transmitting accomplished without action by the customer, the at least one signal generated by a liquid chromatographic system of the customer, the signal transmitted to the database stored by the central source;

receiving the signal at the central source;

storing the signal in the database at the central source;

determining an order point from at least one of a plurality of trigger points, the order point for automated replenishment of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns, the trigger point based on the at least one signal and at least one of;

the estimated usage, a usage included in an initial agreement and a single use of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

initiating a first shipment portion in response to a first order point, wherein a single purchase agreement between the central source and the customer results in a supply of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns for the preset period;

initiating a second shipment portion in response to a second order point, the second shipment portion including an amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns sufficient to meet the estimated usage of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns during the preset period, the second shipment portion further configured in excess of the estimated usage of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns during the preset period, a sum of all shipment portions during the preset period does not exceed an end limit of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of providing a single shipment portion of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to the customer includes the steps of:

providing an initial single shipment portion of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to a customer site, wherein the customer site includes a chromatographic system having a reader for wireless devices and a memory for recording identification of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns and a trigger point indicating use of a pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

determining from at least one of the plurality of trigger points when an order point has been reached; and

initiating a second single shipment portion of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns upon determining that the order point has been reached.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining an order point includes the step of initiating a trigger point when an operator of the chromatographic system resets the system to an initial state for the start of a chromatographic run.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining an order point comprises the step of determining when trigger points accumulated since the prior shipment of the single shipment portion is one less than the total number of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns in the single shipment portion.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the single shipment portion is adjusted to accommodate temporary storage space.

6. A method for making a cost of consumable chromatographic columns predictable comprising the steps of:

attaching a non-volatile memory to each of the consumable chromatographic columns;

recording an identification to each attached non-volatile memory, the identification including at least one of;

a customer, a calibration curve, a retention time, a packing, history, a lot number, a chromatogram, a past separation condition and a preferred container holder for the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

recording the identification in a database stored by a central source;

receiving an indication of a customer pre-purchasing consumable chromatographic columns for a preset period;

providing the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to a customer site, wherein the customer site includes a liquid chromatographic system for using the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns having a reader for wireless devices and a memory for recording identification of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns and a trigger point indicating at least one of;

the use of a pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column and an attempted multiple use of a chromatographic column;

determining an order point from at least one of a plurality of trigger points, the order point for automated replenishment of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns, the trigger point based on at least one of;

an initial agreement and a use of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

recording the number of trigger points between order points, wherein the number of trigger points between the order points indicates the amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns used before a new order for pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns is submitted by a customer; and

determining a number of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns for the preset period and the estimated cost of the consumable chromatographic columns for the preset period from the amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns used before a new order for pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns is submitted by the customer.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the number of trigger points between order points is recorded in a database stored by a central source and the estimated cost of the consumable chromatographic columns for a preset period is determined for use in obtaining customer orders.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the step of determining the estimated consumable chromatographic columns for a preset period and the estimated cost of the consumable chromatographic columns for the preset period from the amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns used before an new order for pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns is submitted by the customer comprises the steps of:

transmitting at least one signal indicating the use of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns by the customer to the database stored by the central source; and

repeatedly initiating a shipment in response to an order signal, wherein a single purchase agreement between the central source and the customer results in a supply of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns for a preset period of use.

9. A method of controlling a supply of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns from a manufacturer to a customer of the manufacturer comprises the steps of:

receiving an indication of a customer pre-purchasing consumable chromatographic columns for a preset period, the indication including an estimated usage of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns;

attaching a non-volatile memory to each of the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns;

recording an identification to each attached non-volatile memory, the identification including at least one of;

a customer, a calibration curve, a retention time, a packing, history, a lot number, a chromatogram, a past separation condition and a preferred container holder for the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column;

establishing an identification number related to the supply of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to the customer;

recording the identification number with information about the pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns in a database stored by the manufacturer;

recording a number of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns to be supplied within a preset period of time by the manufacturer to the customer in the database in association with the identification number, the number of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns including an end limit, the end limit a maximum number of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns in excess of the supply;

transmitting an initial partial supply of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns selected by the customer to the customer;

transmitting a trigger signal indicating at least one of;

use of a pre-purchased consumable chromatographic column by an instrument from the wireless communication device to the manufacturer'"'"'s database;

generating a plurality of order signals upon receipt of a predetermined number of trigger signals at the manufacturer'"'"'s facility;

initiating a first shipment portion in response to a first order signal; and

initiating a second shipment portion in response to a second order signal, the second shipment portion including an amount of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns sufficient to meet the estimated usage of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns during the preset period, the second shipment portion further configured in excess of the estimated usage of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns during the preset period, a sum of all shipment portions during the preset period does not exceed an end limit of pre-purchased consumable chromatographic columns.