Configurable Injector Emulation for Consistent Chromatography Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional injectors in liquid chromatography systems lack flexibility, limiting their operational capabilities and resulting in different separation results when used with various injector types.
Innovation Solution
A configurable injector system that can emulate different injector types by receiving input data defining an injection profile, allowing it to operate like various injectors, including feed injection and sample loop injection, and adjust its operation to match the characteristics of the injector to be emulated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional injectors are used with different injector types, then the system can handle various injection methods, but the separation results differ and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal injector design that can perform multiple injection functions (feed injection, sample loop injection, and other chromatographic methods) through a single device. The injector includes a sample accommodation volume, valve arrangement, and control unit that can be configured via input interface to emulate different injector types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized injectors while maintaining consistent separation results across all injection methods
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple injector types are used to achieve different injection methods, then injection flexibility increases, but device complexity and the need for multiple injectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple injector functions into a single universal injector device. The injector comprises a sample accommodation volume, valve arrangement, and control unit that can be configured through an input interface to emulate different injector types including feed injection and sample loop injection, thereby reducing the number of physical injectors needed from multiple to one while maintaining full functional variety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes configurable parameters and control settings to change the operational characteristics of the single injector. By receiving input data defining different injection profiles and adjusting internal valve arrangements and timing sequences, the injector can switch between different injection methods without physical modification, effectively using parameter changes to achieve multiple functions
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable injector for injecting a fluidic sample in a separation path of a sample separation apparatus includes a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample to be injected into the separation path, a valve arrangement fluidically couplable with the separation path, fluidically coupled with the sample accommodation volume, and being controllable for injecting the fluidic sample into the separation path, an input interface configured for receiving input data indicative of an injection profile of an injector to be emulated by the configurable injector, and a control unit configured for controlling the configurable injector, in particular the valve arrangement, so that the configurable injector is operated in accordance with the injection profile to thereby emulate the injector to be emulated.