JPH10197509A - Data management device for analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the easiness in the searching operation for the data acquired through analysis. SOLUTION: A user issues an instruction about throttling of the analytical data in the sequence of schedule, analysis (specimen injection), and channel (S10). If a search is instructed, the stored region for the desired analytical data is found using the search condition items (schedule name, date of analysis, specimen name, etc.) acquired in the throttling process (S11, S129, and the applicable file is read and displayed (S13). In the case the user wants to make retrieval through direct input of retrieval condition items such as specimen name, etc., in the middle of throttling, he/she has only to make an appropriate addition to the retrieval condition items acquired automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer for analyzing data collected by measuring a sample to obtain a result, and for storing various data and performing data retrieval as needed. Regarding the management device. This data management device can be used in a wide range such as a liquid chromatograph device and a gas chromatograph device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a liquid chromatograph (LC) analyzer. The LC analyzer comprises an analyzer 10 for analyzing a target sample and a data processor 20 for analyzing data obtained by the analyzer 10 to obtain an analysis result such as quantitative or qualitative analysis. The control unit 15 included in the analysis unit 10 appropriately controls each unit of the analysis unit 10 according to the analysis conditions input and set by the user. The liquid sending section 11 supplies an eluent to the column 13 at a predetermined flow rate, and the auto injector 12 injects a certain amount of liquid sample into the eluate. The injected liquid sample is sent to the column 13 along with the flow of the eluent, and when passing through the column 13, is temporally separated according to the components and elutes from the outlet of the column 13. The eluate is detected by various detectors 14 such as a spectrophotometer and an electric conductivity detector,
The detection signal is sent to the data processing unit 20.

[0003] The central part of the data processing section 20 is a personal computer (PC) 21.
The data processing described later is performed by incorporating and executing a predetermined data processing program in the program. Detector 14
Are converted into digital data and stored in an external memory 22 such as a hard disk via the personal computer 21. Thereafter, the personal computer 21 creates a chromatogram from the stored data based on predetermined data processing conditions, and executes data processing such as peak detection, identification or quantification of each peak. Then, the analysis result is displayed on the display 23. In the example of FIG. 6, two measurements are performed so that the same eluate is measured simultaneously.
Detectors 14 of the same or different types are provided in parallel.

[0004] The following procedure is used when performing automatic analysis of a plurality of samples using the above apparatus. The user performs a predetermined operation using the input unit 24 including a keyboard and a mouse, and displays a schedule table called a sample schedule on the display 23. On this sample schedule screen, when the number of a plurality of samples including the standard sample, the analysis conditions (for example, the injection amount of the sample), and the like are input and the start of analysis is instructed, the control unit 15 controls each unit according to the sample schedule. Perform a series of analyzes of multiple samples automatically. When the same or another user performs another series of analysis,
The sample schedule screen is displayed again, and appropriate input settings are made in the schedule table.

By the way, in the analysis by the above-mentioned LC analyzer, reanalysis processing is performed by changing data processing conditions using data obtained by performing chromatographic analysis in the past (hereinafter referred to as “analysis data”), In order to check the reliability of the results, analysis conditions and data processing conditions are often checked to check the analysis process of a standard sample or an unknown sample. Therefore, the analysis data is kept stored in the external memory 22 even after the data processing is performed once, and the data obtained by performing the analysis processing on the same data by changing the data processing conditions (hereinafter referred to as “post-processing data”) Is often stored in the external memory 22 without being discarded. For this reason, the amount of data stored in the external memory 22 becomes enormous, and when performing re-analysis processing of the analysis data, it is necessary to search for desired data from the enormous data.

[0006] Regarding such data retrieval, the conventional L
In the C analyzer, two types of methods are used to narrow down desired data. The first is a search by attribute. That is, the analysis data to be searched includes a plurality of analysis (sample injection) belonging to a specific schedule.
, And further belongs to a particular channel (here the different detectors are called channels) in that particular analysis. Therefore, when the user performs a predetermined operation to find desired analysis data in the order of schedule → analysis → channel and instructs a search, finally, the data file is stored from the storage location in the external memory 22 where the data file is stored. The desired analysis data is read out and displayed on the display 23.

[0007] In order to perform such a search, unique identifiers (IDs) relating to schedules and analyzes, which are different for each schedule, analysis, etc., are used. The correspondence between the upper and lower layers of the schedule and the analysis and the analysis and the channel is managed by a set of identifiers or a table showing the connection between them. Finally, the data file is read from the storage location in the external memory 22 with reference to the table in which the identifier of the analysis data and the storage location of the data file are described, and the search is performed.

The second search method uses a search condition item. The search condition items are individual items that can specify analysis data such as schedule name, sample name, analysis date and time, analyst name, channel number (or detector name),
When the user inputs and sets a desired condition with respect to one or more search condition items and instructs a search, one or more pieces of analysis data matching the condition are searched. This search method has the inconvenience that undesired analysis data will be searched at the same time unless the search condition items are set in detail.
This is very useful when it is desired to retrieve all data relating to a specific sample name regardless of which schedule it belongs to.

[0009]

As described above, each of the two data retrieval methods has its own features. When a user performs a desired data retrieval, the user selects any appropriate method. However, when the data amount becomes enormous, it may not be possible to search well by any of the methods. That is, the search by the attribute uses the identifier automatically added as described above, which has no relationship with the search condition item. Therefore, for example, a specific schedule using the attribute is used. After narrowing down the analysis data belonging to, there is an inconvenience that it is not possible to further narrow down the individual search condition items therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data management device for an analysis device which can easily perform a data search operation and can perform an efficient analysis operation. To provide.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. A data management device for managing the results obtained by: a) storage means having a storage area for storing data files composed of analysis data or results of analysis processing; b) a plurality of hierarchically configured Input means for narrowing down the target analysis by selecting a desired one from the table of c), and c) condition extracting means for acquiring a plurality of search condition items for the analysis selected by the input means. D) search means for searching the storage means for analysis data satisfying each condition of the search condition item obtained by the condition extraction means.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a data management apparatus according to the present invention, for example, a schedule table listing a plurality of schedules, an analysis table listing a plurality of sample analyzes in an arbitrary schedule in the schedule table,
And, a table is hierarchically configured such as an analysis data table listing a plurality of analysis data different from each other in a given analysis in the analysis table, and a user can input a specific schedule, a specific schedule by an input unit. The target analysis is narrowed down by sequentially selecting the analysis as in the analysis.

In the conventional data management device, identifiers such as schedules and analyzes selected for such narrowing down are sequentially traced, and finally the information of the storage location of the data file of the target analysis data is reached. In contrast,
In the data management device of the present invention, the condition extracting means acquires various search condition items such as a schedule name, an analysis date and time, and a sample name for the selected schedule, analysis or analysis data. The search means receives the plurality of search condition items, searches for analysis data satisfying the conditions, finds a storage location of the data file, reads out the data file from the storage location in the storage means, and outputs the data file. I do.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An LC analyzer which is an embodiment of an analyzer having a data management device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the LC analyzer according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 6, but the processing content when performing data search in the data processing unit 20 is different. This difference can be dealt with by changing the processing program of the personal computer 21 constituting the data processing unit 20.

First, the procedure of the analysis operation in this analyzer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As preparation for analysis, the user inputs and sets analysis conditions and processing conditions (step S1). That is, the user enters the input unit 2
When a predetermined operation is performed in step 4, an interactive screen for setting analysis conditions of each unit of the analysis unit 10 is displayed on the display 23. The user inputs necessary analysis conditions for the liquid sending unit 11 and the like one item at a time on this screen. Also, regarding processing conditions, necessary items such as components, analysis time, and concentration are input.
Then, when the input is completed, an appropriate file name is determined and a save instruction is given. Upon receiving the instruction, the personal computer 21 stores the input analysis conditions and processing conditions as a single setting file (method file) in a predetermined area of the external memory 22 (step S2).

Next, a correspondence table called a template is created to define the correspondence between the plurality of method files created as described above and the sample (step S3). That is, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the input unit 24, an interactive screen for creating a template is displayed on the display 23, so that a sample name (or sample number) is input and used for analyzing the sample. Select a method file. In response to this operation, the personal computer 21 receives the sample management table, the method file management table, and
A binding management table describing the correspondence between the sample and the method file is created and stored in a predetermined area of the external memory 22 (step S4).

Although a detailed description of each table is omitted, the binding management table shows a method file corresponding to each sample described in the sample management table, and the method file main body is included in the method file management table. A pointer indicating the stored area of the external memory 22 is described. Therefore, by sequentially tracing from the sample management table, the pointer reaches a method file pointer used for analyzing a desired sample.

Next, the user creates a schedule for determining the analysis order of a plurality of samples (step S).
5). That is, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the input unit 24, an interactive screen for creating a schedule is displayed on the display 23, so that the name of the sample to be analyzed is directly input or a list of sample names registered in advance is displayed. The analysis order is set by selecting a desired one from the table.
When the schedule is set, the personal computer 21 refers to the above-mentioned sample and method management table and connection management table to search for a method file corresponding to each sample.

Before starting the analysis, the method file is read from the external memory 22, and an instruction signal is sent to the control unit 15 based on the analysis conditions included in the method file. The controller 15 responds accordingly to the
For example, the operation of each unit is controlled to perform the LC analysis (step S6). The detection signal obtained by the detector 14 by the LC analysis is A / D converted and sent to the personal computer 21.
One analysis data file is stored in the external memory 22 for each analysis (step S7). After that, the personal computer 21 creates a chromatogram from this data,
Waveform processing and arithmetic processing are performed on the chromatogram based on the processing conditions in the method file, and qualitative or quantitative analysis is performed (step S8). The result processed in this way is stored in the external memory 22 as one processed data file for each analysis (step S
9).

For example, a data file of analysis data is managed as follows. FIG. 2 is an example of a conceptual diagram of a database structure for managing a data file of analysis data in the analyzer. This database consists of the following four tables. (1) Schedule management table (＠ management / schedule) 30 (2) Schedule management table (＠ management / line) 31 for each row (analysis or sample injection) (3) Analysis data file management table (＠ management / analysis) (Data) 32 (4) Combination management table ({relation / line-analysis) 33 describing the correspondence between a schedule and a concatenated key consisting of schedule lines and analysis data files

Each of the three management tables 30 to 32 is completed independently, and the combined management table 33 has a function of associating the upper and lower management tables. That is, the binding management table 33 indicates the analysis data file corresponding to the sample set in each line of the schedule.
And the association is made by a unique identifier.

Next, a description will be given of a data search in the case of performing a re-analysis process using the analysis data file stored in the external memory 22 as described above. Also in the LC analyzer of this embodiment, there are two methods: a method of narrowing down data by attributes, and a method of searching for data that meets the conditions by inputting and setting a plurality of search condition items.
One can be used.

[Search by Attribute] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a search method using attributes in this embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the display 23 during this search.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing an example of a table for data search displayed in FIG. FIG. 4A is a schedule table in which one line corresponds to one sample schedule, and the schedule name, execution date and time, executor, and the like executed in the past are listed. FIG. 4B is an analysis table created for each sample schedule. One line corresponds to the analysis of one sample, and the sample name, analysis date and time, analyst, and the like are listed. FIG. 4C shows a data table created for each analysis of one sample. One row corresponds to detection by one detector, and different channel numbers are assigned.

When the user performs an appropriate operation using the input unit 24, a schedule table as shown in FIG. The user moves the cursor to the desired schedule line and double-clicks the mouse. Then, in response to this operation, FIG.
An analysis table as shown in (b) is displayed on the screen of the display 23. Next, the user moves the cursor to the desired analysis line and double-clicks the mouse. Then, in response to this operation, a data table as shown in FIG. 4C is displayed on the screen of the display 23. The user moves the cursor to a desired analysis data line and double-clicks the mouse. Thus, the user selects a target analysis (step S10).

In the conventional search based on attributes, when the above operation is performed, the identifier of the target (for example, analysis) selected by double-clicking is detected, and the management tables 30 to 32 shown in FIG. The storage location of the data file is searched with reference to the table 33. However, in the present embodiment, the personal computer 21 executes a process of acquiring a search condition item in each table in response to a double-click operation in each table (step S1).
1). That is, with respect to items described in each table such as the schedule name, the execution date and time of the schedule, and the sample name, the conditions are acquired for each of the selected schedule, analysis, and channel. When the user instructs a search operation, the personal computer 21 searches for analysis data matching the plurality of search condition items (step S12).
The search operation at this time is the same as the search by the next search condition item.

[Search by Search Condition Items] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a search method using search condition items. The user performs a predetermined operation to display a screen for inputting and setting search condition items on the display 23, and inputs appropriate conditions, such as a schedule name and a sample name, from the input unit 24 (step S20). The personal computer 21 searches for an analysis data file that matches the set search condition item (step S21). In order to search a pointer indicating a storage area of a desired analysis data file from the search condition items, it is preferable to use a search program for selecting a data file suitable for each search condition item by filtering. Then, when the pointer is found, a desired data file is obtained by reading the area of the pointer in the external memory 22, and this is displayed on the display 23 (step S22).

As described above, the data processing unit 2 of this embodiment
In the case of 0, the user's operation method for searching is not different from the conventional searching method using attributes, but internal data searching is performed using a search condition item without using an identifier unlike the conventional method. Therefore, for example, when the user narrows down to the analysis table as shown in FIG. 4B by the operation of the user and wants to further narrow down using the search condition items such as the sample name, for example, it is already obtained. It is only necessary to add a new search condition item to a search condition item such as a schedule name that is present, so that in operation, narrowing down by attribute and narrowing down by search condition item can be continuously performed in relation.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example, and it is apparent that modifications and modifications can be made as appropriate within the spirit of the present invention.

[0029]

As described above, according to the data management device of the analyzer according to the present invention, the two different search methods, that is, the conventional search using the attribute and the search using the search condition items, are removed and accumulated. Even if the data amount is enormous, the operation of narrowing down the desired data becomes easy. Therefore, the efficiency of the analysis work is improved.

Further, according to this data management device, the operation is performed by a different method of an attribute and a search condition item. However, the process of searching for an actual data file merely refers to the search condition item. There is no need for a conventional search program that searches by following identifiers.
The amount of programs is small, and the effort of creating programs is also reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an analysis operation in an embodiment of an analyzer provided with a data management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a database structure of analysis data in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a data search process based on an attribute according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a table displayed at the time of a data search operation based on attributes according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the procedure of a data search process using a search condition item in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid chromatograph analyzer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Analysis part 20 ... Data processing part 21 ... Personal computer 22 ... External memory 23 ... Display 24 ... Input part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A data management device for managing analysis data collected by an analysis unit that executes analysis of a plurality of samples according to a predetermined schedule and a result obtained by performing an analysis process on the analysis data. A storage means having a storage area for storing a data file composed of data or the result of analysis processing; andb) narrowing down a target analysis by selecting a desired one from a plurality of hierarchically structured tables. C) condition extracting means for obtaining a plurality of search condition items for the analysis selected by the input means, and d) each condition of the search condition items obtained by the condition extracting means. And a search unit for searching the storage unit for the analysis data to be satisfied.