Apparatuses and Methods for Wireless Monitoring and Control of Environmental 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 and environmental sample collectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable instrument comprising:
 at least one chromatographic column; said at least one chromatographic column having a plurality of sensors spaced along its length;   at least one wireless communication device on said portable instrument;   at least some of said plurality of sensors being configured to communicate with the at least one wireless communication device;   an input for the chromatographic column;   a readout device coupled to said portable instrument, said readout device operably connected to said wireless communication device, wherein readings from the plurality of sensors may be displayed.   
     
     
         2 . A portable instrument in accordance with  claim 1  further including a positioning device configured to provide a location of an operation of said portable instrument; said positioning system being able to record a position of said at least one chromatographic column. 
     
     
         3 . A portable instrument in accordance with  claim 2  in which said positioning device is a global positioning system. 
     
     
         4 . A portable instrument comprising:
 a sample collector for collecting a plurality of liquid samples, said sample collector configured for receiving a plurality of sizes of containers;   at least one container of said plurality of sizes of containers having a mounted nonvolatile memory, said mounted nonvolatile memory configured for receiving and storing information;   a wireless communication device mounted on said at least one container, said wireless communication device configured to receive an information signal and transmit said information signal to said mounted nonvolatile memory;   a positioning system mounted within said portable instrument, said positioning system configured for receiving a positioning signal and determining a position of said portable instrument;   wherein said sample collector is configured for
 receiving said plurality of liquid samples over time; 
 depositing at least one sample of said plurality of liquid samples in said at least one container; 
 transmitting said information signal to said wireless communication device; said information signal including at least said position of said portable instrument; and 
 rendering said mounted nonvolatile memory tamper proof. 
   
     
     
         5 . The portable instrument in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said sample collector is further configured for operation within an environment comprising a portion of a liquid from which said plurality of liquid samples is collected, said environment being external to said sample collector. 
     
     
         6 . The portable instrument in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of sizes of containers further includes at least one size of test tube container. 
     
     
         7 . The portable instrument in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said information signal further includes at least one of: a history of at least one sample of said plurality of liquid samples and instructions for processing said at least one sample of said plurality of liquid samples. 
     
     
         8 . The portable instrument in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said positioning system is further configured to receive and interpret signals from a plurality of global positioning systems. 
     
     
         9 . The portable instrument in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said information signal further comprises at least one of: a time said at least one sample was collected, a customer for which said at least one sample was collected, a source identification of the at least one sample and a test step to be performed on said at least one sample.