Chromatography Data Filtering for Non-Uniform Scan Intervals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chromatography data filters fail to effectively handle non-uniform data sampling intervals in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), leading to unstable and unpredictable results due to irregularities in filter response and limited adaptability to dynamic changes in signal characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A chromatographic data filter operating on a time base shorter than the shortest data sampling interval, employing interpolation to adjust filter parameters and improve signal-to-noise ratio, thereby enhancing data stability and peak clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional chromatography data filter is used with non-uniform data sampling intervals, then the filter can process the data, but the filter response becomes unstable and unpredictable due to irregularities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter response stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to non-uniform sampling intervals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The filter operates on a fixed time base that is shorter than the shortest data sampling interval, allowing it to dynamically adapt to non-uniform sampling intervals while maintaining stable and predictable filter response. This dynamic approach enables the filter to handle variable scan times in MS/MS experiments without losing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the filter's time base to be shorter than the shortest data sampling interval. This parameter change allows the filter to process data points at irregular intervals while maintaining consistent filter behavior, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the filter time base is made shorter than the shortest data sampling interval, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves by 2X to 5X, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter processes data by segmenting it into smaller time intervals that are shorter than the shortest data sampling interval. This segmentation allows for more precise noise filtering and signal detection, improving the signal-to-noise ratio while managing computational complexity through structured processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter applies partial filtering by operating on a time base that is shorter than the shortest data sampling interval, processing only the necessary portions of the data at high resolution. This approach achieves superior signal-to-noise ratio improvement (2X to 5X) without requiring excessive computational resources for the entire dataset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If interpolation is used to adjust filter parameters for non-uniform sampling intervals, then peak smoothness and clarity improve, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak smoothnessVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is configured with a predetermined time base that is shorter than the shortest expected data sampling interval. This preliminary configuration allows the filter to be ready to process data points at any irregular interval without requiring complex real-time interpolation calculations, thereby maintaining peak smoothness while minimizing additional processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4657065A1Real-time chromatography data filter for scans with non-uniform data intervals
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 THERMO FINNIGAN LLC
  • EP4657065A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4657065A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4657065A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Systems and methods taught herein enable improved filtering of chromatography data acquired during a series of scans with non-uniform data sampling intervals (also referred to herein as "scan durations") by use of a chromatography data filter that operates on a time base that is shorter than any of the data sampling intervals in the series of scans. By employing a filter with such a time base, the systems and methods taught herein improve the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the resulting data and enhance the quality of chromatograms in mass spectrometry real-time signal processing, leading to clearer signals, reduced baseline noise, and smoother peaks in the chromatographic data.