Asymmetric Solvent Containers Preventing Chromatography Errors

Solution Overview

Problem

Chromatography systems face challenges in consistently selecting and providing the correct solvents, leading to potential human error and contamination, which can affect the quality of separations and analyses.

Innovation Solution

A solvent container system with uniquely shaped containers and corresponding receiving positions on a tray, combined with identification codes and sensors, ensures that only the correct solvents are used by preventing incorrect container placement and tracking solvent quality and expiration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual solvent selection and placement is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of solvent placementVSAvoidsolvent selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric container shapes and corresponding asymmetric receiving position designs. Each container type (e.g., mobile phase A, mobile phase B, wash solvent) has a unique shape that only fits its designated receiving position. This asymmetric design eliminates human error in solvent selection while maintaining ease of operation, as users can quickly identify and place containers without complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If unique shaped containers with corresponding receiving positions are used, then reliability is improved by preventing incorrect solvent placement, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent identification accuracyVSAvoidcontainer and tray design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric container shapes and corresponding asymmetric receiving position designs. Each container type (e.g., mobile phase A, mobile phase B, wash solvent) has a unique shape that only fits its designated receiving position. This asymmetric design eliminates human error in solvent selection while maintaining ease of operation, as users can quickly identify and place containers without complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If multiple container types with unique shapes are implemented, then solvent quality control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent quality consistencyVSAvoidsolvent container handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric container shapes and corresponding asymmetric receiving position designs. Each container type (e.g., mobile phase A, mobile phase B, wash solvent) has a unique shape that only fits its designated receiving position. This asymmetric design eliminates human error in solvent selection while maintaining ease of operation, as users can quickly identify and place containers without complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3571500B1Devices providing solvent container identification

Publication Date: 2023.03.08 WATERS TECHNOLOGY CORP

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AI summary

Solvent containers and solvent container trays for chromatography systems are described for providing control over solvent supply and waste collection. Designated solvent containers and exclusively designated solvent containers provide solvents for use by chromatography systems. Control over solvent supply is achieved by requiring matched container shape and container receiving position shape within the tray, and additionally or alternatively, through solvent container coding readable by the solvent tray and chromatography system which provide information about the solvent container to the chromatography system.