Apparatuses and methods for wireless monitoring and control of enviromental sampling and chromatographic apparatuses

Abstract

A liquid chromatographic system includes columns, column mounting fixtures to which the columns are mounted, a detector, a collector, a controller and a plurality of RFIDs. A first RFID communicates with the controller and cooperating RFIDs mounted to other components provide information such as the history of components, parameters and the like. They also receive information from sensors relating to the operation of the liquid chromatograph, store the information and transmit it. Moreover, the RFIDs may substitute for hard wiring in many applications and may enable a central computer to control several liquid chromatographic systems.

1 . A multiple fraction instrument according to  claim 8  wherein said multiple fraction instrument including at least one liquid chromatographic system having:
 at least one column;   at least one column mounting fixture adapted to receive the at least one column;   at least one detector positioned to receive effluent from the at least one column;   at least one controller;   at least one other component of a liquid chromatographic system;   said at least one column having a first wireless communication device;   said at least one other component of a liquid chromatographic system having a second wireless communication device; and   said at least one controller having a third wireless communication device connected to it for communication with it;   at least one of the first, second and third wireless communication devices being positioned to communicate with at least another of first, second and third wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A liquid chromatographic system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the at least one detector is positioned to receive effluent from the at least one column; having a fourth wireless communication device in communication with at least one detector for transmitting information about detected species to the third wireless communication device, said liquid chromatographic system including at least one fraction collector and at least one collection vessel rack positioned to receive effluent from the at least one detector and including at least a fifth wireless communication device in communication with the at least one fraction collector and at least a sixth wireless communication device in communication with one of the third and the fifth wireless communication devices, a personal computer having a wireless communication device that communicates with a wireless communication device on the at least one controller wherein the personal computer has at least one of an electronic notebook in memory and records customized data therein. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of performing chromatography comprising the steps of: wireless transmitting of data representing a chromatographic curve for a chromatographic column recorded in a first wireless communication device attached to the chromatographic column when the chromatographic column is inserted into a column mounting fixture on a liquid chromatographic system;
 receiving the data representing a chromatogram on a second wireless communication device communicating with a controller for the liquid chromatographic system;   transmitting data representing the sequence of solvent conditions for the chromatographic curve from the second wireless communication device to a third wireless communication device communicating with a pumping system within the liquid chromatographic system;   pumping solvents in accordance with the sequence of solvent conditions transmitted to the third wireless communication device to pump the solvent to the chromatographic column;   wireless transmitting of data from a fourth wireless communication device communicating with at least one detector positioned to receive effluent from the chromatographic column to the second wireless communication device; and   transmitting data from said second wireless communication device to a readout device to indicate peaks detected by the at least one detector and to a fraction collector to activate collection of bands.   
     
     
         8 . A multiple fraction instrument comprising:
 at least one pumping system;   at least one flow path;   at least one flow path mounting fixture;   a container mounting fixture adapted to receive at least one container;   at least one controller;   said at least one pumping system having a first wireless communication device;   said at least one controller having a second wireless communication device; and   said at least one controller having a third wireless communication device positioned to communicate wirelessly with at least the first at least first and second wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         9 . A multiple fraction instrument in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising at least one analytical instrument connected to receive a fraction from at least one of said at least one flow path and said at least one container. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A liquid chromatographic system according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid chromatographic system is a multiple channel liquid chromatographic system:
 said controller having a gradient program stored within it;   a first wireless communication device communicating with the controller;   said liquid chromatographic system including at least two syringe pumps and at least two sources of liquid; at least one time proportioning electronically controllable liquid gradient switching valve; a second wireless communication device communicating with the at least one time proportioning electronically controllable liquid gradient switching valve; said switching valve being connected to switch liquid flow from one or the other of said at least two sources of liquid to an inlet of at least one of the at least two syringe pumps;   said first and second wireless communication devices being wired to transmit switching times of the at least one time proportioning electronically controllable liquid gradient switching valve to form gradient stored in said controller;   one of said at least two syringe pumps being used for each one of multiple channels;   each of said at least two syringe pumps having a displacement of at least five milliliters; and   said one of said at least two syringe pumps having a discharge outlet connected to a sample injection device and thence to a chromatographic column.   
     
     
         12 . A multiple channel liquid chromatographic system in accordance with  claim 11  in which said at least one wireless communication device includes a memory, wherein said memory has at least one of data recorded in it representing a starting concentration of a solvent whereby the chromatographic system may separate a preselected component of a sample with the starting concentration of said solvent and data recorded in it representing a chromatographic curve with a starting concentration for purifying said preselected component of a sample, whereby said chromatographic curve has an ending point. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A multiple fraction instrument in accordance with  claim 1  wherein multiple fraction instruments are liquid chromatographs and some are other types of instruments; said third wireless communication devices include a nonvolatile memory having a data indicating that fractions collected are to be applied to other analytical instruments and instructions for operations to be performed by the other analytical instruments. 
     
     
         19 . An instrument array in accordance with  claim 18  in which at least one of the other analytical instruments is a mass spectrometer, said first wireless communication device including a nonvolatile memory having data indicating that fractions collected are to be applied to an analytical instrument and instructions for operations to be performed by another analytical instrument. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A chemical processor comprising:
 at least one reaction station;   said at least one reaction station including a reaction time controller, a controllable pipette, a reactant vessel and a receptacle conveyor;   said at least one reaction station including at least a first wireless communication device;   a plurality of receptacles;   each of said plurality of receptacles communicating with and being attached to one of a corresponding second wireless communication device;   at least one analytical instrument;   said at least one analytical instrument communicating with a third wireless communication device;   at least one transfer console for transferring materials from a receptacle to said at least one analytical instrument;   at least some of said first, second and third wireless communication devices having a nonvolatile memory with data indicating at least one of the history of materials in the receptacle and instructions for processing the materials in the receptacle.   
     
     
         25 . A chemical processor in accordance with  claim 24  wherein the nonvolatile memory includes data indicating both a history of the materials in the receptacle and instruction for processing the materials in the receptacle. 
     
     
         26 . A method of chemical processing comprising the steps of:
 moving a receptacle containing a material to be processed to at least one reaction station;   performing at least one of the steps of adding a reagent to the receptacle, heating the receptacle, delaying further action for a reaction time and agitating the material in the receptacle;   recording the materials and steps performed on the materials in a wireless communication device attached to the receptacle; and   moving the receptacle to another reaction station.   
     
     
         27 . A method in accordance with  claim 26  including at least one of the step of recording processing instructions on the receptacle, the step of transferring the material to a second receptacle and recording the processing steps and materials in a wireless device on the second receptacle and the step of moving the materials to an analytical instrument and separating a product of reaction into a third receptacle and recording a history of the processing and materials on the third receptacle and the step of logging operations into an electronic notebook. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A chromatographic column comprising:
 an inlet end having an inlet port;   an outlet end having an outlet port;   tubular side walls between the inlet end and the outlet end;   at least one wireless communication device on at least one of the inlet end, outlet end and tubular side walls;   said at least one wireless communication device including a nonvolatile memory;   said nonvolatile memory having data recorded on it; and   said data including a precision of the column from run to run.   
     
     
         32 . A chromatographic column in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said data further includes at least one of data indicating a make and model of the column and a date of manufacture; data indicating a lot number of the column. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A chromatographic column in accordance with  claim 31  further including:
 a sensor;   at least one wireless communication device on at least one of the inlet end, outlet end and tubular side walls;   said sensor communicating with one of a column and an environment near a column part and contents of the column and communicating with the at least one wireless communication device.   
     
     
         35 . A chromatographic column in accordance with  claim 34  wherein said sensor and at least one wireless communication device include a plurality of sensors each of which communicates with a corresponding one of a plurality of wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         36 . A chromatographic column in accordance with  claim 35  wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors senses at least one of temperature, and pH. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A multiple fraction system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one column includes a first column; and a second column;   said first column having a first column inlet end with a first column inlet port;   said second column having a second column inlet end with a second column inlet port;   said first column having a first column outlet end with a first column outlet port;   said second column having a second column outlet end with a second column outlet port;   said first column having first column tubular side walls between the first column inlet end and the first column outlet end;   said second column having second column tubular side walls between the second column inlet end and the second column outlet end;   said liquid chromatographic system further including at least one wireless communication device on at least one of the first column inlet end, first column outlet end and first column tubular side walls; and at least one wireless communication device on at least one of the second column inlet end, second column outlet end and second column tubular side walls;   said at least one wireless communication device on the at least one of the first column inlet end, first column outlet end and first column tubular side walls including a nonvolatile memory;   said at least one wireless communication device on the at least one of the second column inlet end, second column outlet end and second column tubular side walls including a nonvolatile memory;   said outlet port of said first column communicating with the inlet port of said second column;   said at least one wireless communication device on the first column communicating with the at least said one wireless communication device on the second column whereby an indication may be given indicating a connection between the first and second columns;   said nonvolatile memory having data recorded on it; and   said data including a precision of the column from run to run.   
     
     
         39 . A chromatographic column in accordance with  claim 38  wherein said data further includes data indicating a make and model of the column and a date of manufacture. 
     
     
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