Sample analysis device

Abstract

The present invention is a sample analysis device that includes a plurality of units for which one parameter or a plurality of parameters are set, the sample analysis device comprising: a display part (70); a parameter value acquisition part (42) that acquires values of the parameters for each of the units; and a display processing part (43) that displays a parameter value display screen (80) displaying the acquired values of the parameters, that sets display columns (842–845) for respective units at positions on the display screen reflecting the processing execution order of the units by the sample analysis device, and that displays names of each unit and of the parameters of the relevant unit, and also the values of the parameters of said unit acquired by the parameter value acquisition part, in the display column for the relevant unit.

Description

Sample analyzer

[0001] The present invention relates to a sample analyzer having a plurality of units, each of which has one or more parameters set thereto.

[0002] Inductively coupled plasma mass sample analyzers are used to quantify harmful metal elements and other substances contained in liquid samples, such as environmental water collected from rivers, lakes, and other sources, or drinking water (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The inductively coupled plasma mass sample analyzer includes an inductively coupled plasma ion source and a mass analyzer. The inductively coupled plasma ion source generates inductively coupled plasma from argon gas, and an atomized liquid sample is introduced into the plasma to generate atomic ions from components contained in the liquid sample. The atomic ions generated by the inductively coupled plasma ion source are introduced into the mass analyzer, where they are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio and detected by an ion detector.

[0003] An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer includes an inductively coupled plasma ion source as a sample introduction section, which introduces and ionizes a liquid sample to be analyzed; a mass analyzer that separates and detects ions generated by the ion source according to their mass-to-charge ratio; an interface that separates the sample introduction section, which is at approximately atmospheric pressure, from the downstream high-vacuum section; and a gas cell that removes undesired ions such as argon-attached ions. The controller, which controls the operation of these units, acquires the values ​​of multiple parameters from each unit at predetermined times (e.g., at the start of analysis, at regular time intervals, etc.) and determines that the unit is in a normal state if the values ​​are within a predetermined normal range. On the other hand, if any parameter value is outside the normal range, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and an error message including the name of the unit or parameter and an error code is displayed on the display screen.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-156332

[0005] Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers have multiple units, each with its own set of parameters. However, unless you are familiar with the overall configuration, it can be difficult to understand the meaning of each parameter. For example, there may be multiple parameters indicating gas flow rates (volume / time). This is because many instrument configurations include multiple gas-injection units, such as a sample spray unit, ion introduction unit, and ion collision unit, which are required to complete the mass analysis. Each unit must be configured and monitored for its own gas flow rate. In these cases, users encounter multiple gas flow parameters, but inexperienced users may have difficulty determining which processing unit each gas flow parameter corresponds to. Furthermore, error messages often include the names of units and parameters, making it difficult to determine the state of the analytical sample in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer that is causing the error. Furthermore, not only when an error occurs, but also when starting an analysis or changing analytical conditions, it can be difficult to determine which unit and which parameter to identify in order to understand the state of the target location.

[0006] Although an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer has been described as an example here, the same problem as above also exists in other types of sample analyzers that have multiple units, each of which has one or more parameters set.

[0007] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a technique that makes it possible to easily grasp the correspondence between the parameters in each unit and the location within the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in a sample analyzer having multiple units, each of which has one or more parameters set.

[0008] The present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is a sample analyzer having a plurality of units, each of which is set with one or more parameters, and further comprising: a display unit; a parameter value acquisition unit that acquires the values ​​of the one or more parameters for each of the plurality of units at a predetermined timing; and a display processing unit that displays a parameter value display screen that displays the values ​​of the parameters acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit, and sets a display column for each unit on the parameter value display screen at a position that reflects the order in which processing of the plurality of units is executed in the sample analyzer, and displays the name of the unit and the parameters in that unit, and the values ​​of the one or more parameters for each of the plurality of units acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit, in the display column for that unit.

[0009] In the sample analyzer according to the present invention, a parameter value display screen is set on the display unit, with display fields for each unit reflecting the order in which the processes of the multiple units are executed in the sample analyzer, and the names and values ​​of one or more parameters for each unit are displayed in the display field for that unit. Therefore, by visually checking the positions where these are displayed, the user can easily grasp the correspondence between the parameter names for each unit and their locations within the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, making it easier to understand the parameter settings and the meaning of parameters that have caused errors.

[0010] The present invention relates to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, ...

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a sample analyzer according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The sample analyzer of this embodiment is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

[0012] 1 shows the main configuration of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 of this embodiment. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 includes an ionization section 10, a mass analysis section 20, and a control and processing section 40.

[0013] The ionization unit 10 has an ionization chamber 11 at approximately atmospheric pressure, within which a plasma torch 12 is disposed. The plasma torch 12 is composed of a sample tube through which a liquid sample atomized by a nebulizer gas flows, a plasma gas tube formed around the sample tube, and a cooling gas tube formed around the plasma gas tube. The plasma torch 12 also includes an autosampler 13 that introduces the liquid sample into the sample tube of the plasma torch 12, a nebulizer gas supply source 14 that supplies nebulizer gas to the sample tube, a plasma gas supply source 15 that supplies plasma gas (argon gas) to the plasma gas tube, and a cooling gas supply source (not shown) that supplies cooling gas to the cooling gas tube.

[0014] The mass analysis unit 20 includes a first vacuum chamber 21 and a second vacuum chamber 22, arranged in this order from the plasma torch 12 side. The first vacuum chamber 21 is an interface with the ionization chamber 11, and a sampling cone 211 is provided on the ionization unit 10 side, and a skimmer cone 212 is provided on the partition wall between the first vacuum chamber 21 and the second vacuum chamber 22. The second vacuum chamber 22 is equipped with a gas cell 221, a quadrupole mass filter 223, and an ion detector (electron multiplier) 224. The gas cell 221 is connected to a gas supply unit 222 that supplies a predetermined gas (an inert gas such as helium) at an appropriate timing. The first vacuum chamber 21 and the second vacuum chamber 22 are evacuated to a predetermined vacuum level by a rotary pump or a turbomolecular pump (not shown).

[0015] The control / processing unit 40 includes a memory unit 41. The memory unit 41 stores information such as the names of the units constituting the ionization unit 10 and the mass analysis unit 20, the locations of each unit, the names of the devices arranged in each unit, images (pictograms) illustrating each device, the names of the parameters to be acquired in each unit, the timing for acquiring the values ​​of each parameter, and the normal values ​​(normal value ranges) of each parameter. Different normal values ​​for parameters may be set during measurement standby and during measurement execution. Furthermore, parameter values ​​are not limited to numerical values. For example, the parameter values ​​for the door of the housing of the device main body are "open" and "closed." The acquired parameters are not limited to parameters related to the analysis conditions set by the user, but also include detection results acquired from sensors (not shown).

[0016] The storage unit 41 also stores appropriate information necessary for performing sample analysis (measurement conditions such as the mass-to-charge ratio of target ions of each element during SIM measurement, analytical information such as calibration curves, etc.) Furthermore, the storage unit 41 sequentially stores parameter values ​​acquired by a parameter value acquisition unit 42 (described later) and signals output from the ion detector 224 during measurement.

[0017] The control / processing unit 40 also includes, as functional blocks, a parameter value acquisition unit 42, a display processing unit 43, an error determination unit 44, and an analysis control unit 45. The actual entity of the control / processing unit 40 is, for example, a general personal computer, and each of the above functional blocks is realized by executing a dedicated program pre-installed on the processor. In addition, an input unit 60 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display unit 70 such as a liquid crystal display are connected to the control / processing unit 40.

[0018] The measurement itself in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 of this embodiment is the same as in the conventional one, but will be briefly explained here.

[0019] When the user specifies measurement conditions by a predetermined operation via input unit 60 and commands the start of analysis, analysis control unit 45 reads the specified measurement conditions from memory unit 41 and creates a measurement execution file. After the measurement execution file is created, when the user commands the start of measurement, the first sample set in a predetermined position in autosampler 13 is supplied to the sample introduction tube. In parallel with this, nebulizer gas is also supplied to the sample introduction tube from nebulizer gas supply source 14, plasma gas is supplied to the plasma gas tube from plasma gas supply source 15, and cooling gas is supplied to the cooling gas tube from cooling gas supply source.

[0020] The sample is supplied to the sample introduction tube and atomized by the nebulizer gas, and then introduced into the argon plasma 121 generated at the tip of the plasma torch 12 to generate atomic ions. The generated atomic ions are introduced into the mass analysis unit 20. In the mass analysis unit 20, undesired ions such as argon adduct ions are removed by a gas cell 221, and the ions are mass-separated by a quadrupole mass filter 223 and then detected by an ion detector 224. In the mass analysis unit 20, target ions of elements specified in the measurement conditions are subjected to SIM measurement.

[0021] When the measurement of all samples is completed, the analysis control unit 45 reads out the calibration curves for each element stored in the memory unit 41, and quantifies each element by comparing the measured intensity of the target ion of each element with the calibration curve.

[0022] Next, the characteristic configuration of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0023] In the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 of this embodiment, while the power of the device is on (during measurement standby and measurement execution), the parameter value acquisition unit 42 acquires the value of each parameter stored in the memory unit 41 at a predetermined timing for each parameter. The display processing unit 43 displays the parameter values ​​acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit 42 on the screen of the display unit 70. The error determination unit 44 compares the value of each parameter acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit 42 with normal values ​​(a range of normal values; the same applies hereinafter) stored in the memory unit 41 to determine whether the parameter is normal or abnormal. The determination result by the error determination unit 44 is displayed on a parameter value display screen 80 (described below) by the display processing unit 43. Note that in this embodiment, whether a parameter itself is erroneous is determined by comparing the parameter value with the stored normal value. However, the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, the parameter causing the error may be identified based on an error determination algorithm.

[0024] 2 shows a parameter value display screen 80, which is an example of a display by the display processing unit 43. This parameter value display screen 80 is an example of a display in a measurement standby state. The parameter value display screen 80 includes a unit name display section 81, a pictogram display section 82, and a parameter value display section 83.

[0025] The unit name display section 81 displays the names of each unit (sample introduction system, interface, gas cell, and mass analyzer) of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1. The pictogram display section 82 displays pictograms, which are illustrations of the equipment arranged in each unit. The parameter value display section 83 displays the names of parameters associated with each equipment and the values ​​of those parameters acquired by the parameter value acquisition section 42. Similarly, pictograms and parameter values ​​are displayed for the main body of the apparatus.

[0026] In the parameter value display screen 80 shown in Figure 2, an "x" is superimposed on the pictograms for the instrument body and the mass analyzer unit, and a check mark is superimposed on the pictograms for the other units. This indicates that the parameter values ​​for the instrument body and the parameter values ​​for the devices located in the mass analyzer unit are out of normal, i.e., an error has occurred in the device. In addition, the display field 85 for the parameter in error is also displayed in red (Figure 2 is a monochrome drawing, so it is shown hatched). As in this embodiment, by displaying error information on pictograms, it is possible to check whether an error exists on a unit-by-unit basis in the analytical instrument, so that overall information about the error can be obtained before identifying the specific parameter that is causing the error.

[0027] In the example of Figure 2, it can be seen that there is an abnormality in the state of the stand and vacuum gauge belonging to the main body of the device, and in the pressure in the quadrupole mass filter 223 belonging to the mass analyzer unit (the pressure cannot be measured due to a malfunction of the pressure gauge).

[0028] Conventionally, when an abnormality occurred in any of the devices located in each unit of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, the display simply displayed an error message indicating the name of the unit or device and an error code, such as "An abnormality has occurred in ***. Error code: xxxxxxxx." As described above, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer has multiple units, each of which is equipped with one or more devices, and each device has multiple parameters. Therefore, unless one is familiar with the overall configuration, it is difficult to determine from the error message which part of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer the error is related to and what kind of error it is.

[0029] Furthermore, the display showing the internal status of the instrument was typically a table showing parameter names and parameter values ​​(see Figure 3). Therefore, unless one was familiar with the overall configuration, it was difficult for the user to determine which unit of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer the displayed parameter names and values ​​pertained to. Furthermore, inexperienced users often did not understand the relative relationships between the various units, so simply identifying the unit was not enough. Furthermore, when checking the status of the internal equipment at the start of an analysis or when changing analytical conditions, it was difficult to determine which unit's equipment and parameters to check in order to understand the status of the desired location.

[0030] 2 , the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 of this embodiment displays a parameter value display screen 80 having a display field for each unit that reflects the order in which the processes of each unit and the devices arranged in each unit are executed and their locations (relative positions). Specifically, in addition to a display field 841 relating to the entire inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1, a display field 842 for a sample introduction system unit, a display field 843 for an interface unit, a display field 844 for a gas cell, and a display field 845 for a mass analyzer are displayed in a positional relationship that reflects the order in which the processes of each unit are executed and the locations (relative positions) of the devices arranged in each unit. Therefore, by simply visually checking the units and the devices arranged in the units displayed on this screen, the user can grasp the process relationships and positional relationships of the units in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1 and the parameters associated with the units while overlooking the overall picture of the analysis being performed. Furthermore, when an error occurs, the display field 85 for the parameter in which the error occurred is displayed in red, allowing the user to easily grasp which parameter of which device arranged in which unit is experiencing an abnormality.

[0031] The above embodiment is merely an example and can be modified as appropriate in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

[0032] The above embodiment is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 1, but the same configuration as above can be adopted in various types of sample analyzers having multiple units, each of which has one or more parameters set.

[0033] In the above embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the value of each parameter acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit 42, the display column for that parameter value is displayed in color, but any appropriate display form that can be distinguished from the display columns for other parameter values ​​may be adopted. Furthermore, information on normal values ​​may also be displayed in the display column for the parameter in which an error occurs.

[0034] Aspects It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0035] (Item 1) One aspect of the present invention is a sample analyzer having a plurality of units, each of which is set with one or more parameters, further comprising: a display unit; a parameter value acquisition unit that acquires the values ​​of the one or more parameters for each of the plurality of units at a predetermined timing; and a display processing unit that displays a parameter value display screen that displays the values ​​of the parameters acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit, and that sets a display column for each unit on the parameter value display screen at a position that reflects the order in which processing of the plurality of units is executed in the sample analyzer, and displays the name of the unit and the parameters in that unit, and the values ​​of the one or more parameters for each of the plurality of units acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit, in the display column for that unit.

[0036] In the sample analyzer according to paragraph 1, a parameter value display screen is set on the display unit, with display fields for each unit reflecting the order in which the processes of the multiple units are executed in the sample analyzer, and the names and values ​​of one or more parameters for each unit are displayed in the display field for that unit. Therefore, by visually checking the positions where these are displayed, the user can easily grasp the correspondence between the parameter names for each unit and their locations within the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, making it easier to understand the parameter settings and the meaning of parameters that have caused errors.

[0037] (Clause 2) The sample analysis device according to clause 2 is the sample analysis device according to clause 1, wherein the display processing unit displays a pre-prepared image in the display field for each unit, which schematically represents the equipment placed in that unit.

[0038] In the sample analysis device according to paragraph 2, images, or so-called pictograms, that schematically represent the equipment placed in each unit are displayed, allowing users to intuitively understand which equipment is placed in which position in each unit.

[0039] (Clause 3) The sample analyzer according to paragraph 3 is the sample analyzer according to paragraph 1 or 2, further comprising: a memory unit in which information on normal values ​​for each of the parameters is stored; and an error determination unit that determines an abnormality related to the parameter by comparing the parameter value obtained from the parameter value with the information on normal values ​​stored in the memory unit, and the display processing unit displays the display column for the parameter determined to be abnormal by the error determination unit in a form that is distinguishable from the display columns for the other parameters.

[0040] In the sample analyzer according to the third aspect, when an abnormality occurs in a device within the device, it is possible to easily determine which parameter of which device belongs to which unit the abnormality occurs.

[0041] (4) The sample analyzer according to 4 is the sample analyzer according to any one of 1 to 3, wherein the sample analyzer is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer equipped with an inductively coupled plasma ionization unit, an interface, a gas cell, and a mass analyzer.

[0042] The sample analyzer according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 3 can be suitably used in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer equipped with an inductively coupled plasma ionization unit, an interface, a gas cell, and a mass analyzer, as described in paragraph 4.

[0043] LIST OF SYMBOLS 1...inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 10...ionization section 11...ionization chamber 12...plasma torch 121...argon plasma 13...autosampler 14...nebulizer gas supply source 15...plasma gas supply source 20...mass analysis section 21...first vacuum chamber 211...sampling cone 212...skimmer cone 22...second vacuum chamber 221...gas cell 222...gas supply section 223...quadrupole mass filter 224...ion detector 40...control / processing section 41...storage section 42...parameter value acquisition section 43...display processing section 44...error determination section 45...analysis control section 60...input section 70...display section 80...parameter value display screen 81...unit name display section 82...pictogram display section 83...parameter value display section 841...display field for the entire inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer 842...display field for sample introduction system unit 843: Display field for interface unit 844: Display field for gas cell 845: Display field for mass analyzer 85: Display field for parameter in which an error has occurred

Claims

1. A sample analyzer having a plurality of units, each of which is configured with one or more parameters, further comprising: A display unit; a parameter value acquisition unit that acquires values ​​of the one or more parameters in each of the plurality of units at a predetermined timing; a display processing unit that displays a parameter value display screen that displays the values ​​of the parameters acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit, and that sets display columns for the multiple units for each unit at positions on the parameter value display screen that reflect the order in which the processes of the multiple units are executed in the sample analyzer, and displays the names of the units and the parameters in the units, and the values ​​of the one or more parameters acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit for each of the multiple units, in the display columns for the units; a storage unit in which information on normal values ​​for one or more parameters in each of the plurality of units is stored; an error determination unit that determines an abnormality related to one or more parameters by comparing the values ​​of the one or more parameters in each of the plurality of units acquired by the parameter value acquisition unit with information of normal values ​​stored in the storage unit; Equipped with the display processing unit displays, in the display fields of the plurality of units, a display portion of the name and value of a parameter whose value has been determined to be abnormal by the error determination unit, in a form that can be distinguished from display portions of the names and values ​​of other parameters. Sample analysis equipment.

2. The sample analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the display processor displays, in each of the display fields of the plurality of units, a prepared image that schematically represents the device disposed in that unit.

3. 2. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the sample analyzer is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer comprising an inductively coupled plasma ionization unit, an interface, a gas cell, and a mass analyzer.