Fraction Collector Threshold Generation for Liquid Chromatography

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for detecting peaks in a liquid chromatograph require complex and repetitive threshold setting operations, involving trial analyses and simulations to ensure accurate peak detection, which is time-consuming and cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A fraction collector control device that automatically extracts signal level and slope parameters from designated peaks, generates threshold candidates, and allows users to select optimal thresholds based on simulation results, reducing the burden of manual threshold setting and simplifying the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a common threshold is used to detect multiple peaks, then the detection process is simplified, but accurate detection of all peaks becomes difficult without repeated trial analyses and simulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethreshold setting operationVSAvoidpeak detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a trial analysis first to obtain a chromatogram, then automatically determines appropriate thresholds based on this preliminary data. The threshold determination unit calculates thresholds before actual peak detection, eliminating the need for repeated trial analyses and simulations while ensuring accurate peak detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the chromatogram obtained from trial analysis as feedback to automatically adjust and determine optimal thresholds. The threshold determination unit analyzes the chromatogram features and adjusts thresholds accordingly, creating a feedback loop that ensures accurate peak detection without requiring manual repeated adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual threshold adjustment is performed based on instinctive setting, then flexibility in detecting desired peaks is achieved, but the operation becomes very complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak selection flexibilityVSAvoidthreshold setting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold determination unit automatically performs the threshold setting function without requiring manual adjustment. The system serves itself by analyzing the chromatogram and autonomously determining optimal thresholds, eliminating the time-consuming manual trial-and-error process while maintaining the ability to detect desired peaks flexibly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically changes threshold parameters based on chromatogram analysis. The threshold determination unit calculates and adjusts threshold values dynamically according to the specific characteristics of each chromatogram, providing adaptability without manual intervention and significantly reducing the time required for threshold setting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If repeated trial analyses and simulations are performed, then accurate peak detection is ensured, but productivity decreases due to the repetitive nature of the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak detection accuracyVSAvoidanalysis throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the manual mechanical process of repeated trial analyses and simulations with an automated computational threshold determination unit. This unit automatically calculates optimal thresholds based on chromatogram analysis, eliminating the need for repeated physical trial runs and significantly improving analysis throughput while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold determination is performed as a preliminary automated step before actual peak detection. By calculating thresholds in advance based on chromatogram features, the system eliminates the need for repeated trial analyses and simulations, thereby increasing productivity while ensuring accurate peak detection in the main analysis process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11782034B2Fraction collector control device and preparative liquid chromatograph

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

A fraction collector control device includes a peak designation part that displays a chromatogram for setting and requires a user to select at least one peak in the chromatogram for setting, a parameter extraction part that extracts, as a parameter, a signal level and/or a slope at a start point and an end point of each peak designated by a user, and a threshold candidate generation part that generates, based on the parameter extracted by the parameter extraction part, a threshold candidate usable as a common threshold for detecting start points of all peaks designated by a user and a common threshold for detecting end points of all peaks designated by a user.