JP2004085356A - Analytical device and analytical system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein it is troublesome to confirm the analysis progress state of each analytical device when a plurality of analytical devices are installed and operated simultaneously. <P>SOLUTION: When requested from a browser of a personal computer 100 through a network 300, in a controller 1 of an LC analytical device, a device-inside analysis progress information collection part 14 collects analysis progress information in the device, and a device-outside analysis progress information collection part 16 collects analysis progress information in other analytical devices 202-204 through the network 300. A list making part 17 integrates the analysis progress information, and makes a list wherein, for example, an analytical device name, an analysis registrant name, a status (progress state), a finish time or the like are described. Information of the list is transmitted from a Web server 12 to the personal computer 100 through the network 300, and displayed on a screen by the browser. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an analyzer such as a liquid chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and the like, and an analysis system including a plurality of such analyzers connected to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a liquid chromatograph, when performing analysis on a plurality of samples, for example, an analysis schedule in which a vial number and an injection amount are set in an autosampler is designated, and samples are sequentially collected by an autosampler according to the schedule and analyzed. To obtain analysis data. Usually, the operator can check the progress of the analysis according to the schedule on the screen displayed on the display unit of the analyzer. In recent years, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”) is often used as a data processing / control device of an analyzer. In such an apparatus, a personal computer (PC) connected one-to-one with the analysis unit is used. You can check the progress of the analysis.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, facilities and companies using such analyzers often install a plurality of analyzers and operate them almost continuously in order to operate each analyzer efficiently. In such an environment, the operator wants to check the operation status of each analyzer, perform an analysis by searching for an available analyzer, or check the progress of multiple analyses in charge of the operator. There are various requirements such as cases. However, conventionally, it has been necessary for an operator to go to the installation location of each analyzer and confirm the analysis progress status of the analyzer using the analyzer or a personal computer connected to the analyzer. Therefore, when a large number of analyzers are installed and the installation locations are far apart, it is necessary to look at all the analyzers in order to grasp the operation status of the entire analyzer, which is very troublesome. It was inefficient.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer and an analysis system that can easily confirm the progress of analysis in a plurality of analyzers. It is in.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An analyzer according to the present invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem is an analyzer connected to one or more other analyzers via a network so as to be able to perform data communication with each other.
a) In-device information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in the analysis device;
b) external information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in another analysis device via a network;
c) information integration means for integrating the analysis progress information collected by the in-apparatus information collection means and the out-of-apparatus information collection means so as to be displayed in a predetermined format;
d) display means for displaying the integrated analysis progress information;
It is characterized by having.
[0006]
Further, an analysis system according to the present invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem is an analysis system in which a plurality of analyzers and at least one client terminal are connected to a network, respectively.
At least one analyzer is
a) In-device information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in the analysis device;
b) external information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in another analysis device via a network;
c) information integration means for integrating the analysis progress information collected by the in-apparatus information collection means and the out-of-apparatus information collection means so as to be displayed in a predetermined format;
Transmitting the integrated analysis progress information configured by the information integration means to the client terminal via a network based on an instruction from the client terminal, and displaying the integrated analysis progress information on a display screen of the client terminal. And
[0007]
Embodiments and effects of the present invention
In the analyzer according to the present invention, the in-apparatus information collecting means collects the analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in the analyzing apparatus, and the out-of-apparatus information collecting means is connected to a network other than the analyzing apparatus. Analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in another analyzer is collected by communication via the network. Analysis progress information includes, in addition to analysis status information (e.g., waiting before execution, during execution, termination, occurrence of an error, etc.) of analysis automatically progressed according to an analysis schedule table instructing an analysis procedure in each analyzer, The information may include information for identifying a person in charge of the analysis, a scheduled end time of the analysis, and the like. Such analysis progress information in each analyzer is collected in the analyzer, and the information integrating means is configured to integrate the analysis progress information so that it can be displayed in a predetermined format, typically a list format. Then, the display means displays a list of such analysis progress information on the screen.
[0008]
Therefore, the operator can check the progress of the analysis in another analyzer while staying at the place where the analyzer is installed. Therefore, for example, it is easy to efficiently operate all the analyzers by searching for an analyzer that is vacant at that time or that will be vacant soon. Further, even if each analyzer is installed at a remote place, there is no need to look around to check the operation status, and the work efficiency is improved.
[0009]
In the analysis system according to the present invention, similarly to the above-described analyzers, after the analysis progress information is aggregated from a plurality of analyzers into a certain analyzer, the analysis progress information is integrated and in a list format or the like. Although the information is configured to be displayed, the information is transmitted to the client terminal via the network and displayed on the display screen of the client terminal. The client terminal referred to here is a personal computer, and may be configured to have a function of analyzing and processing analysis data obtained by the analysis device or a function of a database server for storing such data. it can. Therefore, in this analysis system, the operator can check the analysis progress status of all the analyzers while staying at the installation location of the client terminal.
[0010]
When the analysis progress information is displayed in the form of a list, depending on the purpose, for example, it is desired to confirm only the analysis that is being performed across a plurality of analyzers, or to check only the analysis registered by the user. Since there are various requests for confirmation, it is convenient if the information integration means has a function of updating the display by appropriately changing the order of the display contents in accordance with an instruction based on the request. This makes the analysis progress information displayed on the display means very easy to see, which contributes to further improvement in work efficiency.
[0011]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an LC analyzer will be described as an example of the analyzer according to the present invention.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an entire analysis system including an LC analyzer 201 according to the present embodiment. In this analysis system, four LC analyzers 201 to 204 and one personal computer 100 are connected to a network 300 such as an intranet. Since the four LC analyzers 201 to 204 have the same configuration, FIG. 1 shows the internal configuration of only one of them.
[0013]
The LC analyzer 201 includes, as a unit for performing analysis, a liquid sending pump 2 for sending an eluent to a column, a column oven 4 having a column for separating a sample component therein, and an eluent sent to the column by the liquid sending pump 2. An autosampler 3 for injecting a sample solution into the sampler and a detector 5 for sequentially detecting sample components eluted from the column are provided, and the operation of each of these components is controlled or controlled in accordance with set analysis conditions and the like. A controller 1 for collecting detection signals from the detector 5 is provided.
[0014]
A predetermined calculation program is installed in the personal computer 100. By executing the calculation program, an appropriate calculation process can be performed on the data collected by each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204. I have. However, such data processing may be performed not by a general-purpose personal computer but by a dedicated data processing device (for example, a chromatopack manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the main functions of the controller 1 in one LC analyzer 201 in FIG. 1 in more detail.
[0016]
The controller 1 functionally creates a network interface (I / F) 11 that is connected to the network 300 and transmits and receives data via the network 300, and creates Web contents to be provided to the outside via the network 300. The Web server 12 that decodes external requests on the Web and transmits the requests to various units, and controls the operations of the liquid feed pump 2, the autosampler 3, the column oven 4, and the detector 5 included in the LC analyzer 201. A device control unit 13 for transmitting a control signal via the in-device communication interface 15, and an operation of the liquid feed pump 2, the autosampler 3, the column oven 4, and the detector 5 which are substantially integrated with the device control unit 13. Analysis progress information collection unit 14 for collecting analysis progress information on the progress of analysis achieved by An external device analysis progress information collection unit 16 that collects the respective analysis progress information from the controller 1 included in the other LC analyzers 202 to 204 via the network 300; The system includes a list creation unit 17 for creating a list, an operation unit 18 including operation keys for instructing various operations in the controller 1, and a display unit 19 for displaying characters and graphics.
[0017]
The personal computer 100 connected to the controller 1 via the network 300 is equipped with a browser such as Internet Explorer provided by Microsoft Corporation, and the browser is transmitted from the Web server 12 of the controller 1 to a Web such as a program or data. By receiving and analyzing the content and performing necessary processing, a predetermined screen including characters and graphics is formed on the display (display unit) of the personal computer 100. Examples of the Web content include an HTML document, an image, a script, plug-in data, a Java (registered trademark) applet, and the like.
[0018]
In the above-described analysis system, it is possible to set and instruct continuous analysis, additional analysis, additional analysis, etc. of multiple samples in each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204 by operation on the personal computer 100. Specifically, when a schedule table describing analysis conditions and order is created for each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204, the schedule table itself or a control signal according to the schedule table is transmitted via the network 300 to each LC analyzer. It is sent to the controller 1 of the analyzers 201-204. The device control unit 13 of the controller 1 sequentially collects samples by the autosampler 3 according to the contents of the schedule table and executes analysis.
[0019]
That is, under the control of the controller 1, the eluent is sucked from the eluent tank by the operation of the liquid sending pump 2 and supplied to the column at a constant flow rate. The autosampler 3 selects a plurality of pre-loaded samples in a predetermined order, and a sample of the selected sample is injected into the eluent at a predetermined timing. This sample is introduced into the column on the eluent, and each component in the sample is temporally separated while passing through the column controlled at an appropriate temperature by the column oven 4. The detector 5 sequentially detects the sample components eluted from the column with the passage of time, and the detection signal is converted to a digital signal by an A / D converter, and then passed to the controller 1. The controller 1 collects the data obtained by the analysis and sends the collected data to the personal computer 100.
[0020]
In the present analysis system, the operation when the operator wants to confirm the progress of the analysis that is performed or scheduled to be performed by each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0021]
The operator instructs the display of the analysis progress using the browser mounted on the personal computer 100. This instruction is transmitted from the personal computer 100 to the controller 1 of the LC analyzer 201 via the network 300. The controller 1 constantly monitors a request from the browser (step S1), and upon receiving a request from the browser, detects whether there is a controller for another LC analyzer connected to the network 300 (step S2). ). Then, the external analysis progress information collection unit 16 requests the controller 1 that has confirmed the connection to transmit the individual analysis progress information in the LC analyzers 202 to 204 (step S3). At the same time, the external analysis progress information collecting unit 16 requests the internal analysis progress information collecting unit 14 for the analysis progress information in the LC analyzer 201.
[0022]
In each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204, the in-device analysis progress information collecting unit 14 determines, for each of the LC analyzers 201 to 204, status information as analysis progress information, that is, for example, whether the analysis is being executed (Run) or not. Information such as whether it is in a waiting state (Ready) before or after execution or in a state in which the analysis is interrupted or stopped due to some trouble (Error) is collected as needed. Therefore, since the in-apparatus analysis progress information collecting unit 14 holds the latest status information in the LC analyzers 201 to 204, it is collected by the in-apparatus analysis progress information collecting unit 16 of the LC analyzer 201. , The latest analysis progress information of all the LC analyzers 201 to 204 connected to the network 300.
[0023]
Thereafter, the list creating unit 17 integrates the analysis progress information collected from its own in-device analysis progress information collection unit 14 and the analysis progress information collected from the controllers 1 of the other three LC analyzers 202 to 204. Then, one progress status list is created (step S4). Then, the Web server 12 transmits data constituting the progress list to the personal computer 100 via the network interface 11 (Step S5). In the personal computer 100, the browser processes this data and displays the analysis progress list on the display screen.
[0024]
Further, after or before the analysis progress list is displayed on the screen of the browser, when the operator performs a predetermined operation on the personal computer 100, the list creation unit receiving the instruction via the Web server 12 Reference numeral 17 rearranges the display order of each item in the list. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the reordering process in the list creation unit 17.
[0025]
First, it is determined whether or not the order is the device name (step S11). If the order is the device name, the order in the list is rearranged in the order of the device name (step S12), and the updated list is transmitted to the browser (step S13). FIG. 5A is an example of a list when the device name order is specified. If the order is not the device name in step S11, it is determined whether or not the order is the analysis registrant (step S14). If the order is the analysis registrant, the order in the list is rearranged in the analysis registrant order (step S15). Then, the updated list is transmitted to the browser (step S13). FIG. 5B is an example of a list when the order of analysis registrants is specified. If the order is not the analysis registrant in step S14, it is determined whether the order is the status order (step S16). If the order is the status order, the order in the list is sorted in the order of status (step S17), and the updated list is updated. Is transmitted to the browser (step S13). FIG. 5C shows an example of the list when the status order is instructed. Furthermore, if the order is not the status order in step S16, it is determined whether or not the order is the analysis end time (step S18). If the order is the analysis end time, the order in the list is rearranged in the analysis end time order (step S19). Then, the updated list is transmitted to the browser (step S13). FIG. 5D is an example of the list when the order of the analysis end time is instructed.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the analysis progress information of the four LC analyzers 201 to 204 connected to the network 300 is collected in one table, and based on the instruction of the operator. They are rearranged and displayed in an easy-to-view order. Accordingly, the operator can see at a glance the status of the analysis for which he / she is the analysis registrant, at a glance, across a plurality of LC analyzers.
[0027]
Furthermore, in the order of each item described above, an appropriate change may be added such that descending order or ascending order can be selected.
[0028]
In the above embodiment, the personal computer 100 gives an instruction to the controller 1 of the LC analyzer 201 to display the analysis progress information list on the screen of the display unit. May be given to display an analysis progress information list on the screen of the display unit 19. Further, in the above embodiment, since the LC analyzers 202 to 204 have the same functions as the LC analyzer 201, any of the LC analyzers 201 to 204 can perform the same processing as described above. Note that, as described above, when it is determined that the analysis progress information of another analyzer is to be collected in the LC analyzer 201, the LC analyzers 202 to 204 perform the external device analysis progress information collection unit 16 and the list creation. Unnecessary functions such as the unit 17 can be deleted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an entire analysis system including an LC analyzer according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing main functions of a controller in one LC analyzer in FIG. 1 in detail.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation in the case where an operator wants to confirm an analysis progress status in the analysis system.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a sorting process in a list creation unit.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an analysis progress status list displayed on a display screen in the analysis system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller 11 ... Network interface 12 ... Web server 13 ... Device control unit 14 ... In-device analysis progress information collection unit 15 ... In-device communication interface 16 ... External device analysis progress information collection unit 17 ... List creation unit 18 ... Operation unit 19 ... Display unit 2 ... Sending pump 3 ... Autosampler 4 ... Column oven 5 ... Detector 100 ... PC 300 ... Networks 201-204 ... LC analyzer

Claims (3)

An analyzer connected to one or more other analyzers via a network so as to be able to perform data communication with each other,
a) In-device information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in the analysis device;
b) external information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in another analysis device via a network;
c) information integration means for integrating the analysis progress information collected by the in-apparatus information collection means and the out-of-apparatus information collection means so as to be displayed in a predetermined format;
d) display means for displaying the integrated analysis progress information;
An analyzer comprising: In an analysis system in which a plurality of analyzers and at least one client terminal are respectively connected to a network,
At least one analyzer is
a) In-device information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in the analysis device;
b) external information collecting means for collecting analysis progress information indicating the progress of analysis in another analysis device via a network;
c) information integration means for integrating the analysis progress information collected by the in-apparatus information collection means and the out-of-apparatus information collection means so as to be displayed in a predetermined format;
Transmitting the integrated analysis progress information configured by the information integration means to the client terminal via a network based on an instruction from the client terminal, and displaying the integrated analysis progress information on a display screen of the client terminal. And analysis system. The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information integration unit rearranges the order of the analysis progress information to be displayed in accordance with an external instruction.

Images