Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer Automated Analysis Condition Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chromatograph mass spectrometers require manual and time-consuming adjustments of analysis conditions to prevent overlapping measurement periods, which can lead to reduced precision and reproducibility in qualitative analyses, especially when multiple compounds with close predicted retention times are analyzed.
Innovation Solution
A chromatograph mass spectrometer with an automated analysis condition table creation mechanism that adjusts the start and end times of measurement events to ensure measurement point time intervals fall within a set upper limit, thereby eliminating overlapping periods and improving data point density for accurate peak analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of analysis conditions is performed to prevent overlapping measurement periods, then measurement precision is improved, but analysis time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of measurement point time intervals before actual measurement. The analysis condition table creation unit calculates the measurement point time interval for each compound based on predicted retention times and measurement time ranges, and adjusts conditions in advance to ensure intervals are within acceptable ranges, preventing overlapping measurement periods before analysis begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the analysis condition table creation unit calculates measurement point time intervals, compares them against predetermined acceptable ranges, and automatically adjusts measurement start/end times or time ranges when intervals exceed limits. This closed-loop feedback ensures measurement precision is maintained without manual intervention.
2Productivity
If automated analysis condition table creation is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to overlapping measurement periods
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system incorporates feedback by calculating measurement point time intervals and comparing them against predetermined acceptable ranges. When intervals exceed limits indicating potential overlapping, the system automatically adjusts measurement parameters to bring intervals within acceptable ranges, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving automation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment of analysis conditions with automated computational calculation. The analysis condition table creation unit uses algorithms to calculate measurement point time intervals and automatically adjust measurement parameters, substituting manual operator intervention with automated computational logic that maintains both efficiency and precision.
3Reliability
If measurement time ranges are extended to capture all compounds, then detection completeness is improved, but measurement point time interval increases reducing data density
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters including start times, end times, and time ranges based on calculated measurement point time intervals. When extending measurement time ranges to capture all compounds would cause intervals to exceed acceptable limits, the system modifies these parameters to maintain optimal data point density while ensuring all compounds remain within measurement windows.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the precision and reproducibility of chromatogram peak waveform shapes and quantitative values by automatically adjusting analysis conditions, reducing the burden on analysts and minimizing errors in quantitative analyses.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid chromatograph (LC) part (1) for separating various compounds contained in a sample
Implementation Method 2
a mass spectrometry (MS) part (2) for performing mass spectrometry on the various separated compounds
Implementation Method 3
a quadrupole mass filter (25) which selectively allows only ions having specific mass-to-charge ratios derived from the target compound to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
After an analysis condition table for measuring each compound is automatically generated in accordance with a compound table, the loop time is calculated for each measurement section for which the overlapping of measurement events differs. If the loop time exceeds a specified value in a given measurement section of a given compound, the event with the earliest end time and the event with the latest start time are extracted from among the overlapping measurement events, and the intermediate time between the end time and the start time is found to adjust the length of each measurement event. By repeating this process, a parameter in the analysis condition table is corrected so that the loop time becomes equal to or less than the specified value.