Apparatuses and methods for wireless monitoring and control of supplies for environmental sampling and chromatographic apparatuses

Abstract

Purchase orders for chromatographic columns and sampler tubing are entered into based on estimating usage for a year. An initial partial shipment is made of tagged columns or tubing as the tubing or columns are used. An RFID transmits trigger signals until an order point is reached at which time a new partial shipment is made. This process is repeated until the end of the year.

1 . A method of controlling inventory of component parts of a chromatographic system comprising the steps of:
 manufacturing a part of the chromatographic system with a wireless communication device on it;   recording a date of manufacture of the part of the chromatographic system on the wireless communication device; and   periodically checking the date of manufacture of the part of the chromatographic system in inventory to reduce overall shelf time.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further including the step of maintaining an inventory of chromatographic parts on a microprocessor. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  further including the step of transferring data from the wireless communication device on the chromatographic part to a data base on the microprocessor. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  in which characteristics of the parts are recorded on the wireless communication device and used to classify parts in the inventory. 
     
     
         5 . An instrument management system comprising:
 at least one multiple fraction instrument;   a general control system;   said at least one multiple fraction instruments including at least a corresponding one of a plurality of first wireless communication devices;   said general control system including a second wireless communication device;   said general control system including a memory containing a data base;   said database including data useful in managing a usage of at least some types of component parts of the plurality of multiple fraction instruments.   
     
     
         6 . An instrument management system in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said at least one multiple fraction instrument is a chromatographic control system;
 said chromatographic control system comprising a plurality of component parts of the liquid chromatographic control system; at least one of the plurality of component parts having a selected characteristic;   said at least one of the plurality of component parts having said selected characteristic having a tag associated with the said at least one component part;   a microprocessor;   said tag being capable of transmitting information to the microprocessor;   said microprocessor including a memory containing a database;   said tag including indicia;   means for causing said tag to transmit indicia to the microprocessor; and   said microprocessor including receiver means for receiving the transmitted information and entering the information into said data base indicating a number of component parts having said selected characteristic.   
     
     
         7 . A chromatographic control system in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said data base includes an inventory target number recorded into it. 
     
     
         8 . An instrument management system in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the data base includes at least one of data indicating a number of at least some types of component parts in said plurality of multiple fraction instruments, an average rate of usage of the types of component parts and a manufacturer's inventory of the type of component parts, and a model number, a price and a source of a type of part whereby comparisons are made as to reliability of the type of part by manufacturer and make of the part, and a rate of usage of components by individual customers whereby customer's needs can be forecast and used for management purposes, wherein the rate of usage of components is used to determine an inventory of component parts needed, and target inventory minimum and maximum and an actual number of the component parts on hand; said system providing an alert signal when either are exceeded. 
     
     
         9 . A method of managing instrument systems comprising the steps of:
 transmitting data from each of a plurality of multiple fraction instruments useful in managing usage of at least some types of component parts of the plurality of multiple fraction instruments to a wireless communication device in communication with a general control system from a plurality of first wireless communication devices each of which is in communication with a corresponding one of the plurality of multiple fraction instruments;   recording data useful in managing the usage of at least some types of component parts of the plurality of multiple fraction instruments in a data base within a memory of the general control system; and   using the data useful in managing the usage of at least some types of component parts of the plurality of multiple fraction instruments to manage the multiple fraction instrument system.   
     
     
         10 . A method of managing instrument systems in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the step of recording data in the data base includes at least one of the steps of recording data indicating at least a number of at least some types of component parts in said plurality of multiple fraction instruments and an average rate of usage of the types of component parts and the manufacturer's inventory of the type of component parts; recording a model number, a price and a source of a type of part whereby comparisons are made as to reliability of the type of part by manufacturer and make of the part; recording a rate of usage of components by individual customers whereby customer's needs can be forecast and used for management purposes; wherein the rate of usage of components is used to determine an inventory of component parts needed, recording target inventory minimum and maximum and an actual number of the component parts on hand; said system providing an alert signal when either are exceeded; and wherein recording new purchases by customers and increases and changes in materials, parts and processes whereby increases and decreases in purchases of the materials and parts can be predicted using the information in the data base. 
     
     
         11 . A fraction collection system comprising:
 at least one container holder;   a main frame;   a microprocessor mounted to said main frame;   said main frame including a liquid receiving means adapted to be connected to communicate with a fluid outlet from a detector;   said main frame being shaped and sized to receive at least one container holder in a container holder bed;   at least one distributor means for moving a distributor outlet from container to container and communicating with the liquid receiving means, whereby fractions may be deposited in containers;   said microprocessor communicating with a first wireless communication device;   said at least one container holder communicating with a second wireless communication device;   said container holder bed including a third wireless communication device;   said second and third wireless communication devices transmitting a signal to the third wireless communication device when said at least one container holder is positioned with respect to said at least one distributor means to receive liquid.   
     
     
         12 . A fraction collection system in accordance with  claim 11  in which at least one of said second wireless communication device includes a nonvolatile memory and said nonvolatile memory includes data identifying characteristics of said at least one container holder; and said third wireless communication device includes a nonvolatile memory containing data identifying characteristics of said at least one container holder, wherein a signal may be sent to said first wireless communication device when data stored in the nonvolatile memories of said second and third wireless communication device matches, wherein said second wireless communication device identifies an end use to be made of said at least one container holder. 
     
     
         13 . A fraction collection system in accordance with  claim 11  further including a valve that is automatically switchable to direct liquid to either the at least one distributor means or to waste; said switchable valve communicating with a fourth wireless communication device wherein the first wireless communication device transmits a signal to the fourth wireless communication device to switch the liquid from flowing to the at least one distributor means to flowing into waste when a peak is over. 
     
     
         14 . A fraction collection system in accordance with  claim 11  comprising:
 further including at least one container in said container holder; and   said second and third wireless communication devices transmitting a signal to the third wireless communication device when said at least one container holder is positioned with respect to said at least one distributor means to receive liquid.   
     
     
         15 . A method of collecting fractions comprising the steps of:
 sending an identification of at least one container holder when the at least one container holder is in position to receive liquid from a distributor of a fraction collector to a controller; and   permitting insertion of liquid into containers in the at least one container holder upon receiving the identification of the at least one container holder in position to receive the liquid and inhibiting insertion of liquid into containers when the at least one container holder is not in proper position.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein a second wireless communication device identifies characteristics of said at least one container holder, a third wireless communication device supplies data identifying characteristics of said at least one container holder, wherein a signal may be sent to a first wireless communication device when data stored in nonvolatile memories of said second and third wireless communication device matches, a third wireless communication device supplies data identifying an end use of said at least one container holder. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said at least one container is used in another instrument as indicated by said at least one container holder. 
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing paperwork associated with the purchases of consumables comprising the steps of:
 estimating a usage during a preset period;   obtaining tagged consumables;   recording an identification on the tagged consumables;   recording the identification of the tagged consumables with information about the tagged consumable in a database stored by a central source;   recording the amount of consumables to be supplied within the preset period of usage by the central source to a customer in the database in association with the identification;   providing a single shipment portion of the consumables to the customer;   transmitting at least one signal indicating the use of the tagged consumable by the customer to the database stored by the central source; and   initiating a shipment in response to a replacement signal, wherein a single purchase agreement between the central source and the customer results in a supply of consumables for preset period of use.   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the step of providing a single shipment portion of the consumables to the customer includes the steps of:
 providing an initial single shipment portion of chromatographic columns to a customer site, wherein the customer site includes a chromatographic system having a reader for wireless devices and a memory for recording identification of consumables and a trigger point indicating use of a column;   determining from a number of trigger points when an order point has been reached; and   transmitting a second single shipment portion of chromatographic columns upon determining that the order point has been reached.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the step of determining from a number of trigger points when an order point has been reached includes the step of initiating a trigger point when an operator of the chromatographic system resets the system to an initial state for the start of a chromatographic run. 
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the step of determining from a number of trigger points when an order point has been reached comprises the step of determining when trigger points accumulated since the prior shipment of the single shipment portion is one less than the total number of columns in the single shipment portion. 
     
     
         22 . A method for making a cost of consumables predictable comprising the steps of:
 obtaining tagged consumables;   recording an identification on the tagged consumables;   recording the identification on the tagged consumable with information about the tagged consumables in a database stored by a central source;   providing the tagged consumables to a customer site, wherein the customer site includes apparatus for using the consumables having a reader for wireless devices and a memory for recording identification of consumables and a trigger point indicating the use of a consumable;   determining from a number of trigger points when an order point has been reached;   recording the number of trigger points between order points, wherein the number of trigger points between the order points indicates the amount of consumables used before a new order for consumables is submitted by the customer; and   determining the estimated product for a preset period and the estimated cost of the product for the preset period from the amount of consumables used before a new order for consumables is submitted by the customer.   
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 22  wherein the number of trigger points between order points is recorded in the central source and the estimated cost of the product for a preset period is determined for use in obtaining customer orders. 
     
     
         24 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the step of determining the estimated product for a preset period and the estimated cost of the product for the preset period from the amount of consumables used before an new order for consumables is submitted by the customer comprises the steps of:
 transmitting at least one signal indicating the use of the tagged consumables by the customer to the database stored by the central source; and   repeatedly initiating a shipment in response to an order signal, wherein a single purchase agreement between the central source and the customer results in a supply of consumables for a preset period of use.   
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the size of a single shipment portion is adjusted to accommodate temporary storage space. 
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling a supply of tagged chromatographic columns from a manufacturer to a customer of the manufacturer comprises the steps of:
 obtaining a column with a wireless communication device on it;   establishing an identification number related to the supply of tagged chromatographic columns to the customer;   recording the identification number with information about the columns in a database stored by the manufacturer;   recording a number of columns to be supplied within a preset period of time by the manufacturer to the customer in the database in association with the identification number;   transmitting an initial partial supply of columns selected by the customer to the customer;   transmitting a trigger signal indicating the use of a tagged column by an instrument from the wireless communication device to the manufacturer's database;   generating an order signal upon receipt of a predetermined number of trigger signals at the manufacturer's facility; and   initiating a shipment in response to the order signal.   
     
     
         27 . An instrument managing system comprising:
 a general control system;   said general control system including a wireless communication device;   a column;   said column having a wireless communication device associated with it;   the general control system including a memory containing a database;   the database including data useful in controlling a number of columns at a particular site;   said wireless communication device being capable of transmitting information to the general control system;   means for causing the wireless communication device to transmit indicia to a central control system upon use of a column;   said general control system including a receiver for receiving the transmitted information and entering the information into the database; said information including a number of the columns having a selected characteristic;   the database including an indication of the number of columns within a programmed schedule.   
     
     
         28 . An instrument managing system comprising:
 a central source;   a plurality of apparatus sites;   a communication network providing wireless communication between the central source and at least one of the plurality of apparatus sites;   said plurality of apparatus sites including apparatuses that use consumable products, tag readers and temporary storage space for storing at least some tagged consumable products;   said central source including a data storage facility capable of storing identification data for an apparatus, consumables, the location of the consumables, and a description of characteristics of the consumable.   
     
     
         29 . A method of controlling a supply of chromatographic columns from a manufacturer to a customer of the manufacturer comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a column with a wireless communication device on it;   establishing an identification number related to the supply of chromatographic columns to the customer;   recording the identification number with information about the columns in a database stored by the manufacturer;   recording a number of columns to be supplied within a preset period of time by the manufacturer to the customer in the database in association with the identification number;   transmitting an initial partial supply of columns selected by the customer to the customer;   transmitting a signal indicating the use of a column by an instrument from the wireless communication device to the manufacturer's database;   generating an order point signal upon receipt of a used column signal at the manufacturer's facility; and   initiating a shipment in response to the order point signal.   
     
     
         30 . An instrument managing system comprising:
 a general control system;   said general control system including a wireless communication device;   at least one tagged column;   said at least one tagged column having a wireless communication device associated with it;   the general control system including a memory containing a database;   the database including data useful in controlling a number of columns at a particular site;   said wireless communication device being capable of transmitting information to the general control system;   means for causing the wireless communication device to transmit indicia to a central control system upon use of a column;   said general control system including a receiver for receiving the transmitted information and entering the information into the database including a number of the column having a selected characteristic;   the database including an indication of a number of columns within a programmed schedule.