JP5910826B2 - Control device for liquid sampling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for a liquid sampling device. In particular, the present invention relates to a control device for a liquid sample collection device that collects a liquid sample from a sample container on a sample rack using a sampling needle.

  In a liquid chromatograph, in order to efficiently analyze multiple samples, multiple vials into which liquid samples to be analyzed are respectively injected, or microplates into which liquid samples are respectively injected into multiple compartments are used as sample racks. It is mounted and liquid samples are collected in order and analyzed. An apparatus for automatically collecting a liquid sample in this way is called an autosampler, and operates based on parameters set in advance by a user (for example, Patent Document 1).

  One of the operating parameters of the autosampler is the stroke length of the sampling needle that collects the liquid sample from the vial (the length by which the sampling needle is lowered from the reference position). The sampling needle descends according to the stroke length value set in advance by the user and collects the liquid sample.

  In the liquid chromatograph, a plurality of types of sample racks are used in consideration of the amount and characteristics of the liquid sample. When the type of sample rack is different, the shape of the sample rack (such as the height of the bottom) and the type of sample container (such as a vial or microplate) mounted on the sample rack are different. Therefore, the range (allowable width) of the stroke length in which the tip of the sampling needle descends to a position lower than the surface of the liquid sample and higher than the bottom surface of the sample container differs depending on the type of sample rack. Therefore, the user needs to set an appropriate stroke length value according to the type of sample rack. If the value of the stroke length is too small, the tip of the sampling needle does not reach the surface of the liquid sample in the sample container, and the liquid sample cannot be collected. If the stroke length is too long, the tip of the sampling needle will collide with the bottom surface of the sample container and be damaged.

  When a user uses a liquid chromatograph, it takes time to confirm the type of sample rack and set the value of the sampling needle stroke length each time. Therefore, conventionally, two types of liquid chromatograph control devices as described below have been used.

The first control device acquires information regarding the type of sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph from the liquid chromatograph, and allows the user to input an appropriate stroke length value. This control device stores information on the allowable stroke length for each sample rack that can be mounted on the liquid chromatograph in advance. If the value entered by the user is inappropriate, re-enter it. Prompt.
In this control apparatus, a screen 100 as shown in FIG. 1A is presented to the user. When the user presses the sample rack detection button 102 shown on the screen 100, the type name of the sample rack is displayed in the area 101 on the screen of the control device. Then, the user confirms the type name of the displayed sample rack and inputs a value in the stroke length input field 103.

The second control device can set the value of the stroke length without specifying the type of the sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph in advance. In this control device, a standard value of the stroke length corresponding to each of the sample racks that can be mounted on the liquid chromatograph is stored in advance. Then, when the liquid chromatograph is online, the type of the sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph is specified, and the standard value corresponding to the sample rack is automatically set as the stroke length.
Normally, as described above, the control apparatus is caused to set the stroke length based on the standard value stored in advance. However, the user can change the stroke length when necessary, such as when the amount of liquid sample in the sample container is small. In this case, the user inputs an offset value for the stroke length. At this time, the control device does not specify the type of sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph. When the liquid chromatograph is online, the controller identifies the type of sample rack installed in the liquid chromatograph and automatically sets the stroke length value from the offset value and the standard value. To do.
In this control apparatus, a screen 110 as shown in FIG. 1B is presented to the user. “Auto” is displayed in the column 111 indicating the type of the sample rack, and the user inputs an offset value of the stroke length into the stroke length input column 112 as necessary.

JP 2011-252718

  When analyzing a sample using a liquid chromatograph, input parameters for each setting item such as column type, sample injection amount, column oven temperature, mobile phase type and flow rate (linear velocity). To set the analysis conditions. The stroke length of the sampling needle is also set as one of these parameters. It takes time and effort for the user to set analysis conditions each time a sample is analyzed. In addition, the standby time during which the liquid chromatograph main body is not operated while being activated becomes long. Therefore, normally, before starting the liquid chromatograph body, the user sets multiple analysis conditions on the control device side, creates a method file that describes each of those conditions, and saves it in the storage unit. Keep it. Then, when the measurement is performed, the method file is read from the storage unit, and the analysis is performed under the analysis conditions described in the method file.

  In the first control device, the user inputs the stroke length value after acquiring information on the sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph. That is, in the first control device, the user cannot set the stroke length value unless the liquid chromatograph is powered on and online. Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot create a method file in which analysis conditions are described in advance.

  On the other hand, in the second control device, the stroke length value can be set without specifying the type of sample rack mounted on the liquid chromatograph. Therefore, as usual, the user can create a method file in advance. As described above, usually, the control apparatus is caused to set the stroke length based on a standard value stored in advance. However, if there is a small amount of liquid sample in the sample container, the liquid sample may not be collected if the stroke length value is set based on the standard value. Increase the length value. However, since the stroke length value is automatically set from the offset value and the standard value when the liquid chromatograph is turned on and brought online, the stroke length value is an appropriate value. Not exclusively. That is, there is a possibility that the offset value input by the user is too large and the tip of the sampling needle is damaged.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to control the liquid sampling device, which can set an appropriate value for the stroke length of the sampling needle regardless of whether or not the communication with the liquid sampling device is possible. Is to provide a device.

The present invention made to solve the above problems is a control device for a liquid sample collection device for collecting a liquid sample from a sample container on a sample rack using a sampling needle,
a) a storage unit storing a plurality of sample rack types that can be mounted on the liquid sampling device, and allowable width information in which the allowable width of the stroke length of the sampling needle is associated;
b) Screen presenting means for displaying a screen for allowing the user to input the stroke length of the sampling needle for each of the plurality of sample racks;
c) a determination unit that refers to the allowable width information and determines whether all stroke length values input by the user are within the allowable width range;
d) When the determination means determines that all stroke length values input by the user are within the allowable range, the stroke lengths input for each of the plurality of sample racks and the plurality of sample racks. A stroke length information holding unit that associates the value of
e) a sample rack identifying means for identifying a sample rack mounted on the liquid sample collecting device;
f) Stroke length setting means for extracting a stroke length value associated with the sample rack identified by the sample rack identification means from the stroke length information and setting a stroke length value for operating the sampling needle; ,
It is characterized by providing.

In the control device of the liquid sample collecting device according to the present invention, the allowable width information regarding each of the plurality of sample racks that can be mounted on the liquid sample collecting device is stored in advance, and the stroke length value input by the user is the allowable width. Stroke length information is created by determining whether the range is within the range. This stroke length information can be created even when the liquid sampler is offline. Thereafter, when the liquid sample collecting device is brought online, the sample rack identifying means identifies the sample rack mounted on the liquid sample collecting device, and the stroke length setting means operates the sampling needle based on the stroke length information. Set the stroke length value.
Therefore, when the control device of the liquid sample collecting device according to the present invention is used, it is possible to set an appropriate value of the stroke length of the sampling needle regardless of whether or not the communication with the liquid sample collecting device is possible. .
When a plurality of sample racks are mounted on the liquid sample collection device, the sample rack identifying means identifies each of the plurality of sample racks mounted. Further, the stroke length setting means extracts a stroke length value associated with each of the specified plurality of sample racks from the stroke length information, and sets a stroke length value for each sample rack.

In the control device for a liquid sample collection device according to the present invention, stroke length information in which an appropriate value of the stroke length is associated with each of a plurality of sample racks that can be mounted on the liquid sample collection device is created.
When the same type of sample rack is mounted, it is rare to change the stroke length of the sampling needle each time an analysis is performed. Therefore, the stroke length information holding section, it is desirable to store the stroke length information before term memory unit. The storage unit usually initialized by administrator after device purchase, a change is added information when necessary, the environment setting information is stored. For example, by configuring the stroke length information holding unit to change the environment setting information based on the stroke length information and save it in the storage unit , the user inputs the stroke length of the sampling needle each time analysis is performed. Save time and effort.

In the control device for a liquid sampling apparatus according to the present invention, even when the liquid sampling apparatus is in an off-line state, an appropriate value for the stroke length is supported for each of a plurality of sample racks that can be mounted on the liquid sampling apparatus. The attached stroke length information can be created. Then, when the liquid sample collection device is in an online state, the sample rack mounted on the liquid sample collection device is specified, and a stroke length value for operating the sampling needle is set based on the stroke length information.
Therefore, when the control device of the liquid sample collecting device according to the present invention is used, it is possible to set an appropriate value of the stroke length of the sampling needle regardless of whether or not the communication with the liquid sample collecting device is possible. .

The figure which shows an example of the screen displayed when using the control apparatus of the conventional liquid sampling apparatus. The figure explaining the structure of one Example of the control apparatus of the liquid sampling device which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows an example of the stroke length input screen displayed on a display part in the control apparatus of a present Example. The figure which shows an example of the stroke length information in the control apparatus of a present Example.

  An embodiment of a control device for a liquid sampling apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a control device that controls an autosampler mounted on a liquid chromatograph.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 1 of the present embodiment functionally includes a storage unit 11, a screen presentation unit 12, a determination unit 13, a stroke length information holding unit 14, a sample rack identification unit 15, and a stroke length setting unit 16. The computer 10 includes the input unit 20 and the display unit 30 connected to the computer 10. The computer 10 is connected to the liquid chromatograph 2 by a communication cable.

  The storage unit 11 stores allowable width information associated with the type names and the allowable widths of the sampling needle stroke lengths for the eight types of sample racks that can be mounted on the autosampler of the liquid chromatograph 2. . As described above, the stroke length of the sampling needle is a length by which the sampling needle is lowered from the reference position inside the autosampler, and the allowable width is lower than the surface of the liquid sample and the sample container. This is the range of the stroke length that descends to a position higher than the bottom surface.

Operation | movement of the control apparatus 1 of a present Example is demonstrated.
As described above, the user sets analysis conditions by inputting parameters for setting items relating to each unit, such as column type, sample injection amount, column oven temperature, mobile phase type and flow rate. The stroke length of the sampling needle is also set as one of these parameters.
Normally, before the user activates the chromatograph 2 by turning on the liquid chromatograph 2, the user sets these parameters and creates a method file describing them. The created method file is stored in the storage unit. In this embodiment, a method file is created and saved in the same manner. Hereinafter, the procedure for setting the stroke length of the sampling needle in this embodiment will be described.

When the user starts setting the sampling needle stroke length, the screen presentation unit 12 displays a table as shown in FIG. This table allows the user to input the value of the stroke length for each of the eight types of sample racks that can be mounted on the autosampler of the liquid chromatograph 2.
As shown in FIG. 3 (b), when the user inputs each stroke length value, the determination unit 13 checks the allowable width information stored in the storage unit 11 and inputs all the stroke length values. Is within the allowable range. At this time, if the stroke length value input by the user is outside the allowable range, the target sample rack name and the stroke length value are displayed as shown in FIG. Is colored (indicated by hatching in FIG. 3B) to prompt the user to input again.
When the determination unit 13 determines that the stroke length value input or re-input by the user is within the allowable range, the stroke length information holding unit 14 inputs eight types of sample racks and each of them. The stroke length value associated with the stroke length value is held (see FIG. 4). Here, an example in which the stroke length information is held in a table format as shown in FIG. 4 is shown, but the stroke length information holding format is not limited to the table format.
The above operation is performed before the liquid chromatograph 2 is turned on, that is, the liquid chromatograph 2 is in an off-line state.

After the stroke length information is held in the stroke length information holding unit 14, when the user turns on the power of the liquid chromatograph 2 and the control device 1 and the liquid chromatograph 2 are online, the sample rack identifying unit 15 Information on the sample rack mounted on the autosampler of the liquid chromatograph 2 is acquired, and the type is specified.
When the type of the sample rack is specified, the stroke length setting unit 16 extracts the stroke length value associated with the sample rack from the stroke length information, and sets the sampling needle stroke length value.

As described above, in the control device 1 of the present embodiment, the allowable width information regarding each of the eight types of sample racks that can be mounted on the liquid chromatograph 2 is stored in the storage unit 11 in advance, After determining whether or not the stroke length value input by the user is within the allowable range, stroke length information is created. This stroke length information can be created even when the liquid chromatograph 2 is offline, and the created stroke length information is held by the stroke length information holding unit 14. After that, when the liquid chromatograph 2 is online, the sample rack identifying unit 15 identifies the sample rack mounted on the autosampler of the liquid chromatograph 2, and the stroke length setting unit 16 sets the corresponding stroke length value. Extract the stroke length information and set the stroke length value.
That is, when the control device 1 of the present embodiment is used, an appropriate value for the sampling needle stroke length can be set regardless of whether or not the liquid chromatograph 2 is online.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the stroke length of the sampling needle is set when the user sets a plurality of parameters related to analysis and creates a method file has been described. However, when the same type of sample rack is mounted, the value of the sampling needle stroke length is rarely changed every time analysis is performed. Therefore, the stroke length information holding unit 14 may be configured to incorporate the held stroke length information into a part of the environment setting information of the liquid chromatograph 2 and store it in the storage unit 11. The environment setting information is information set by the device administrator when the device is purchased, and is changed only when necessary. Therefore, the stroke length information holding unit 14 is kept configured to incorporate the stroke length information as part of the configuration information, to save the trouble to enter the value of the stroke length each time the user sets the analysis conditions Can do.

The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed or modified in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.
In the above embodiment, the liquid chromatograph 2 is taken as an example. However, the liquid chromatograph 2 can be used for various apparatuses having a configuration for collecting a liquid sample in a sample container mounted on a sample rack using a sampling needle. In the above embodiment, eight types of sample racks can be mounted, but naturally, the types of sample racks that can be mounted differ depending on the autosampler. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the stroke length information of the sampling needle is created while the liquid chromatograph is off-line, but naturally the stroke length information can be created even on-line. In this case, as soon as the stroke length information is created, the sample rack is specified and the stroke length is set.
In the above embodiment, the case where one sample rack is mounted on the liquid chromatograph 2 has been described. However, the stroke length is set by the same operation as described above for the liquid chromatograph 2 mounted with a plurality of sample racks. be able to. Specifically, each of the plurality of sample racks on which the sample rack identifying unit 15 is mounted is specified, and the stroke length setting unit 16 sets the stroke length value associated with each of the specified sample racks as the stroke length. Extract from the information and set the stroke length value for each sample rack.
In the above embodiment, the screen presentation unit 12 displays a screen for allowing the user to input the stroke length in the table format, and the stroke length information holding unit 14 also holds the stroke length information in the table format as an example. However, the display and storage formats can be changed as appropriate. In addition, when the screen presentation unit 12 displays a screen for allowing the user to input a stroke length, a table in which standard stroke length values corresponding to each sample rack are input in advance is displayed. You may comprise so that only a correct value may be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control apparatus 2 ... Liquid chromatograph 10 ... Computer 11 ... Memory | storage part 12 ... Screen presentation part 13 ... Determination part 14 ... Stroke length information holding part 15 ... Sample rack identification part 16 ... Stroke length setting part 20 ... Input part 30 ... Display section

Claims (2)

A control device for a liquid sample collection device that collects a liquid sample from a sample container on a sample rack using a sampling needle,
a) a storage unit storing a plurality of sample rack types that can be mounted on the liquid sampling device, and allowable width information in which the allowable width of the stroke length of the sampling needle is associated;
b) Screen presenting means for displaying a screen for allowing the user to input the stroke length of the sampling needle for each of the plurality of sample racks;
c) a determination unit that refers to the allowable width information and determines whether all stroke length values input by the user are within the allowable width range;
d) When the determination means determines that all stroke length values input by the user are within the allowable range, the stroke lengths input for each of the plurality of sample racks and the plurality of sample racks. A stroke length information holding unit that associates the value of
e) a sample rack identifying means for identifying a sample rack mounted on the liquid sample collecting device;
f) Stroke length setting means for extracting a stroke length value associated with the sample rack identified by the sample rack identification means from the stroke length information and setting a stroke length value for operating the sampling needle; ,
A control apparatus for a liquid sampling apparatus, comprising: The stroke length information holding unit, the control unit of the liquid sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the storing the stroke length information before term memory unit.

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