JP2004163339A - Data managing device for chromatograph - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically manage usage history of a column, thereby reducing the labor hours for analysts. <P>SOLUTION: The data managing device has a data storage section 17 for storing a column DB 18 which includes column specific information 181 relative to each column, such as a column name or the like and information on history of use 182, such as a total analysis time or the like. The total analysis time of each column is updated the latest state by an analysis/operation time calculating section 13 every time, when the column is used for the analysis. When the analyst sets analysis parameters or the like, by using an operation section 15 and assigns a desired column to be used prior to the analysis, the total analysis time of the column is read from the column DB 18 by a DB manager 14, and the read data is displayed on a prescribed region, in a screen of a displaying section 16 as a degree of deterioration which is obtained from a ratio to a usage limit time (exchange time) of the column. The analyst looks at the data, recognizes the degree of deterioration of the column and can execute appropriate action, such as selecting another column, exchanging the column or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chromatographic data management device for managing various data corresponding to a column in a chromatograph such as a gas chromatograph (GC) or a liquid chromatograph (LC) for separating and analyzing a sample component using a column. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In chromatographic analysis such as GC and LC, columns of various types and sizes are used depending on the type of sample, the purpose of the analysis, and the like. These columns become contaminated with solvents and highly concentrated samples during their use in analysis and gradually degrade. If the column is deteriorated, the separation performance of the sample may be reduced, and the peaks of a plurality of compounds may not be separated due to overlapping, or the retention time may deviate from the time assumed in advance, which may hinder the identification of the components. . Further, when the column deteriorates, the sample tends to remain on the inner wall of the column, and there is a concern that the residue is eluted and detected as a kind of impurity in the next analysis (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
To avoid such inconveniences, it is necessary to appropriately record and manage usage history information such as the usage time and usage frequency of columns. Conventionally, column use history information is managed by recording it on paper or by using general-purpose spreadsheet software or database management software on a personal computer.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-324027
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the management of such information is an extremely troublesome task for the analyst, and the use history is likely to be omitted or incorrectly entered. In addition, even if it is not intentional, the accuracy of the calculation of the usage time tends to be low, and there is a case where the integration of the calculation results in an error that cannot be ignored. Although such a management method is not useful unless it is thoroughly known that records are taken, since various types of research facilities and companies generally use a single device by a large number of people, it is necessary for each person to perform such recording work. It is quite difficult to enforce.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to properly manage the usage history of a column without bothering an analyst or the like, and degrade the column prior to analysis. An object of the present invention is to provide a chromatographic data management device capable of effectively presenting information for determining a degree to an analyst.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a data management device for chromatograph which performs component separation of a sample using a column,
a) a database for storing various information including usage history information which is a usage time or an index value corresponding to the usage time,
b) a usage history management unit that calculates the usage time of the column being used or an index value corresponding thereto during the analysis operation, and updates the usage history information stored in the database for the column based on the calculated usage time. ,
c) instruction means for an analyst to select and instruct a column to be used for analysis from the columns stored in the database prior to analysis;
d) display means for displaying at the time of the selection instruction, based on the use history information of the column stored in the database, so as to present to the analyst information which is a measure of the suitability of use of the column.
It is characterized by having.
[0008]
In the data management device according to the present invention, in addition to data that does not need to be rewritten once registered, such as data related to performance such as the name of the column, length and inner diameter, the usage time of the column and the time required for each analysis Data that is updated at any time later, such as the sample name and sample concentration, is stored in the column management database. The use history management means calculates the use time of the used column or an index value corresponding thereto when the analysis operation is performed on the chromatograph. Here, the use time may be the time during which the sample is actually flowing through the column, but if there is a possibility that the deterioration of the column may proceed during the time when only the carrier gas or the mobile phase flows through the column, This time may be added. Furthermore, the usage history management means reads the usage history information of the column already stored in the column management database, obtains an integrated value to which a new usage time and the like are added, and updates the usage history information with this. . Therefore, every time the analysis is performed, the column use history information of the database is always updated to the latest state.
[0009]
When performing such chromatographic analysis, prior to analysis, the analyst performs an instruction to select a column to be used for analysis from the columns registered in the database by an instruction means. The means displays, based on the usage history information of the database, information that is a measure of the suitability of using the column. For example, if a limit usage time that is a guide for column replacement is specified in advance, a ratio (for example, a percentage) of the total usage time at that time with respect to the limit usage time is calculated, and column deterioration is performed according to the ratio. Display the degree in multiple stages.
[0010]
In this manner, according to the chromatographic data management device of the present invention, when an analyst selects a column prior to analysis, he or she can know the degree of use and the degree of deterioration of the column to be used. Therefore, the analyst can take appropriate measures, such as selecting another column, replacing the column, or modifying the peak identification table assuming a difference in retention time, as necessary. In addition, it is not necessary for the analyst or the person in charge of the apparatus to record and manage the usage history information such as the column usage time. Furthermore, since the usage history of the column can be accurately managed, the column may be subjected to useless analysis despite the column being severely degraded. It is also useful to prevent discarding.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a chromatographic data management device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometry system including a data management device according to the present embodiment.
[0012]
The GC / MS analysis unit 10 includes a sample introduction unit to the column 11, a GC / MS interface, a mass spectrometer, and the like, in addition to the illustrated column 11, and performs an actual analysis on a sample to be analyzed. To collect data necessary for analysis. The column 11 can be exchanged, and the analyst can select an appropriate column, attach it to the GC / MS analyzer 10, and perform analysis.
[0013]
The processing / control unit 12 is generally configured around a personal computer including a CPU, a RAM, a hard disk, etc., and includes an operation unit 15 including a keyboard and a pointing device, and a display unit 16 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display. And are connected. The processing / control unit 12 executes a processing program installed in the personal computer, performs predetermined waveform processing and arithmetic processing on the data acquired by the GC / MS analysis unit 10, and performs qualitative analysis or quantitative analysis. It has a function to derive analysis results. Further, the processing / control unit 12 includes an analysis / operating time calculation unit 13 and a database manager 14, which are functionally executed by executing another processing program. The database manager 14 is a data storage unit 17 such as a hard disk. Manages and controls the column database (DB) constructed in
[0014]
The database manager 14 can be provided separately from the processing / control unit 12 on another computer connected to the processing / control unit 12 so as to be able to perform data communication with each other. For example, when it is desired to centrally manage columns used in a plurality of GC / MS analysis units and GC apparatuses, a server computer for a database manager is separately prepared, and a column database is stored on a hard disk connected to the computer. It is more convenient to provide.
[0015]
The column database (DB) 18 stores column individual information 181, usage history information 182, and other information 183 for each column. The column individual information 181 includes a column name, a serial number, a length, an inner diameter, a film thickness of a liquid phase (stationary phase), a usable upper limit temperature, an installation date, a guide for replacement (use limit time), and the like. These are information that does not need to be rewritten later basically once a certain column is registered. On the other hand, the usage history information 182 includes a total analysis time (integrated value of analysis time), a total operation time (integrated value of operation time), an analyst name, an analysis date, a sample name, and a sample concentration for each analysis. . The operation time mentioned here is a time during which the GC / MS analysis unit 10 executes a vacuuming operation as a substantial operation, and the sample does not always flow through the column 11. On the other hand, the analysis time is a net analysis operation time during which the sample is actually flowing through the column 11. The other information 183 is a freely entered comment sentence.
[0016]
The analysis / operation time calculation unit 13 calculates the total analysis time and the total operation time in the following procedure, for example. Regarding the total analysis time, first, the processing / control unit 12 instructs the GC / MS analysis unit 10 to start analysis (for example, an operation of injecting a sample into a sample vaporization chamber provided at a column inlet), and simultaneously performs the analysis. The start date and time are stored in a RAM or the like. Then, the analysis time for the current analysis is calculated from the analysis end date and time and the analysis start date and time together with the analysis end instruction, and a new analysis time is generated in the total analysis time for the column included in the usage history information 182 of the column DB 18. The calculated analysis times are added, and the obtained time is updated as the total analysis time. On the other hand, regarding the total operating time, the date and time of the vacuum start instruction to the GC / MS analyzer 10 is stored instead of the analysis start date and time, and the operating time of the vacuum pump is calculated periodically until the vacuum stop instruction. The operating hours may be updated. Thus, every time the analysis is performed by the GC / MS analysis unit 10, the total analysis time and the total operation time in the usage history information 182 of the column DB 18 are updated to the latest state.
[0017]
Next, a procedure and an operation when the analyst performs the setting regarding the analysis will be described. The analyst sets analysis conditions by performing a predetermined operation using the operation unit 15. FIG. 3 is an example of a condition setting screen 20 for selecting a column that is one of the analysis conditions. In the registered column table 21 in the condition setting screen 20, a list of columns registered in the column DB 18 is displayed. Now, when the analyst selects the top-level name “DB-5 ms” in the registered column table 21 by a click operation or the like and clicks the select button 22, the data stored in the column individual information 181 for that column is displayed. The contents are read out through the database manager 14 and the contents are displayed in the selected column display column 23. Note that a new column can be registered in the column DB 18 from the condition setting screen 20.
[0018]
When the analyst wants to check the usage history of the column displayed in the registered column table 21, the user selects the desired column by a click operation or the like, and then clicks the usage history display button 24. Then, the use history display screen 30 shown in FIG. 4 is newly displayed overlapping the condition setting screen 20. The use history display screen 30 includes information of the use history information 182 of the column DB 18, and displays the latest total analysis time and total operation time at that time as indicated by reference numeral 31 in the figure. The analyst and analysis date in the usage history table 32 are items that are automatically registered each time an analysis is performed, but the sample name, sample concentration, and comments are items that the analyst himself inputs. Therefore, among the past usage history information, the analyst must input the sample name, sample concentration, etc., but the total analysis time and the total operation time, which are the best guidelines for estimating the life of the column, must be input by the analyst. It is automatically updated regardless of. As a result, the analyst checks the usage history of the column to be used, and if necessary, changes the column used, replaces the column itself, or corrects the analysis conditions in consideration of the degree of column deterioration. Or you can.
[0019]
In addition, a system check screen can be displayed on the display unit 16 separately from the use history display screen 30 so that the degree of deterioration of the column is visually displayed easily and easily. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing such a system check screen 40. In the GC / MS analysis unit 10, in addition to the column in the GC unit, a septum, an insert, etc. of the sample vaporization chamber, and in the MS unit, a filament for generating thermoelectrons, an ion source, a detector, etc. are maintained (for example, cleaned) or It is subject to replacement of parts. Therefore, in order to visually notify the extent of the remaining time until the maintenance / replacement time, the above-described elements to be maintained or replaced are shown by simulated pictures on the system check screen 40 in FIG.
[0020]
Here, when the standard of column replacement (use time limit) is 100 hours, for example, the column deterioration degree display 41 on the system check screen 40 is displayed in green until the total analysis time reaches 80 hours, When the analysis time is in the range of 80 to 90 hours, the same column deterioration degree display 41 is displayed in yellow, and when the total analysis time exceeds 90 hours, the same column deterioration degree display 41 is displayed in red. Thereby, the analyst can easily recognize the degree of deterioration of the column to be used by the display color. Of course, in various other forms, the degree of deterioration and the degree of use of the column can be easily displayed.
[0021]
It is to be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and it is apparent that modifications and modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometry system including a data management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a system check screen.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a setting screen for selecting a column.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a column usage history display screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 GC / MS analysis unit 11 Column 12 Processing / control unit 13 Analysis / operation time calculation unit 14 Database manager 15 Operation unit 16 Display unit 17 Data storage unit 18 Column database (DB)
181, individual column information 182, usage history information 183, other information 20, condition setting screen 21, registration column table 22, selection button 23, selection column display field 24, usage history display button 30, usage history display screen 31, total analysis Time / total operating time display 32 ... Use history table 40 ... System check screen 41 ... Column deterioration degree display

Claims (1)

In a data management device for a chromatograph that separates components of a sample using a column,
a) a database for storing various information including usage history information which is a usage time or an index value corresponding to the usage time,
b) a usage history management unit that calculates the usage time of the column being used or an index value corresponding thereto during the analysis operation, and updates the usage history information stored in the database for the column based on the calculated usage time. ,
c) instruction means for an analyst to select and instruct a column to be used for analysis from the columns stored in the database prior to analysis;
d) display means for displaying at the time of the selection instruction, based on the use history information of the column stored in the database, so as to present to the analyst information which is a measure of the suitability of use of the column.
A data management device for a chromatograph, comprising:

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