LC-MS Peak Detection Using GPU-Based Real-Time Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mass analysis systems, such as mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry systems, face limitations in performing real-time peak detection, leading to inconsistent results across applications and increased storage burdens due to the need for post-acquisition processing of raw continuum data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with a graphics processing unit (GPU) integrated into the data acquisition system to perform real-time peak detection, generating peak lists and making them accessible to plug-in modules, allowing for immediate processing and reduction of data storage requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If post-acquisition processing is performed on raw continuum data, then peak detection can be performed, but processing time is delayed and results are inconsistent across applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak detection consistencyVSAvoidprocessing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time peak detection during data acquisition by integrating processing logic into the data acquisition system itself. The system performs peak detection on incoming data streams immediately as data is collected, rather than waiting for post-acquisition processing. This preliminary action eliminates delays and ensures consistent results across applications by standardizing the detection process at the source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If raw continuum data is collected and stored, then complete data is available for analysis, but storage space requirements and processing burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential peak detection data from the raw continuum data stream during acquisition. Instead of storing complete raw data, the system identifies and extracts peak information (retention time, mass-to-charge ratio, intensity) in real-time, storing only these extracted features. This reduces storage requirements while maintaining the reliability needed for subsequent analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data reduction by conducting peak detection during acquisition and storing only peak lists rather than raw continuum data. This preliminary processing action eliminates the need to store vast amounts of raw data while preserving all necessary information for downstream applications, significantly reducing storage burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications perform post-acquisition processing, then specific analysis requirements can be met, but processing results become disjoined and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication-specific processingVSAvoidprocessing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a standardized peak detection process that occurs during data acquisition, creating a consistent foundation for all subsequent applications. By performing peak detection preliminarily and uniformly across all data streams, the system ensures that all applications start with the same processed data, eliminating disjoined results while still allowing each application to perform its specific analysis on top of this consistent baseline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3928092B1Real-time peak detection
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 WATERS TECH IRELAND LIMITED IE
  • EP3928092B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3928092B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3928092B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Devices, methods and computer readable media for real-time peak detection based on data received from an analytical instrument such as a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a LC-MS system (402) comprises a first computing device having one or more processors, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) (404) and a memory (406). Said first computing device is configured to receive raw data (410), to determine peaks, and to generate peak lists (408) in real-time. The peak lists are accessed by or provided to a data acquisition system (412). At least one second computing system is interfaced with the data acquisition system (412) and configured to connect one or more user computing devices, wherein the user computing devices are configured to access the one or more peak lists in real-time or substantially real-time.