Configurable Injector Control for Emulating Chromatography Injection Profiles
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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 emulates the operation of different injector types by receiving input data indicative of an injection profile, allowing it to behave like various injectors, including both feed injection and sample loop injection types, through a valve arrangement and control unit, enabling operation as multiple injector types with a single hardware setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional injector is used with fixed injection functionality, then the device structure remains simple, but the operational flexibility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The injector is designed with a universal valve arrangement that can perform multiple injection functions (feed injection, sample loop injection, and emulation of other injector types) through a single device structure. The control unit enables the same hardware to operate in different modes by receiving and executing different injection profiles, eliminating the need for multiple specialized injectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector incorporates a dynamic control system that can change its operational characteristics in real-time. The control unit receives injection profile data and dynamically adjusts the valve arrangement operation to emulate different injector types, allowing the device to adapt its behavior without physical reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple injector types are used to achieve different injection profiles, then the operational versatility is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single injector device is designed to universally perform the functions of multiple different injector types. The valve arrangement and control unit work together to provide feed injection, sample loop injection, and emulation capabilities, replacing the need for multiple specialized injector devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector includes an emulation function that copies the operational characteristics of other injector types. By receiving injection profile data that describes the behavior of different injector types, the system can replicate their injection patterns and performance characteristics without physically possessing those injector types.
3Reliability
If different injector types are used for various chromatographic methods, then the method-specific performance is optimized, but the system complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit enables dynamic switching between different injection profiles to match various chromatographic methods. The same physical injector can be reconfigured through software to emulate different injector types, allowing method-specific optimization without physical hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces physical hardware diversity with software-based configuration. Instead of using different physical injector types for different methods, the invention uses a single injector with software-controlled emulation of various injection profiles, substituting mechanical diversity with digital flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A configurable injector (40) for injecting a fluidic sample in a separation path (102) of a sample separation apparatus (10), wherein the configurable injector (40) comprises a sample accommodation volume (100) for accommodating the fluidic sample to be injected into the separation path (102), a valve arrangement (104) fluidically couplable with the separation path (102), fluidically coupled with the sample accommodation volume (100), and being controllable for injecting the fluidic sample into the separation path (102), an input interface (106) configured for receiving input data indicative of an injection profile of an injector to be emulated (108) by the configurable injector (40), and a control unit (70) configured for controlling the configurable injector (40), in particular the valve arrangement (104), so that the configurable injector (40) is operated in accordance with the injection profile to thereby emulate the injector to be emulated (108).