JP3812139B2 - Chromatographic data processor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus for a chromatographic apparatus, and more specifically, data for executing a process of creating a chromatogram based on data obtained by chromatographic analysis and displaying the chromatogram on a display screen. The present invention relates to a processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In gas chromatograph and liquid chromatographic analysis, each component that is separated and eluted in time by a column or the like is sequentially detected by a detector, and based on the detection signal of the detector, the elapsed time is plotted on the horizontal axis and the relative intensity. A chromatogram representing the (concentration) on the vertical axis is created.
[0003]
For example, in gas chromatographic analysis, even when columns of the same type and shape are used, factors such as changes in the lot and liquid phase of the column over time, or the flow rate (or flow rate) of the carrier gas flowing through the column, Measurement results differ depending on various analysis conditions such as column temperature. Therefore, an analysis is actually performed by setting a certain analysis condition for a certain known component, and the chromatogram obtained by the analysis is compared with a chromatogram already acquired for the same component in the past. It is often performed to determine the appropriateness of setting conditions or to repeat analysis to find appropriate analysis conditions.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to perform the comparative study as described above in the conventional chromatographic apparatus, after the actual analysis is completed, the chromatogram obtained by the analysis and the reference chromatogram are displayed on the same screen of the display, It is necessary to compare the peak positions (that is, holding times) and peak heights. In addition, when a function capable of displaying a differential chromatogram obtained by calculating a difference between two chromatograms is provided, the above comparison can be easily performed by using such a function.
[0005]
However, in such a method, since comparison is possible only after a long time analysis of several minutes to several tens of minutes, analysis conditions cannot be efficiently examined. In particular, when searching for analysis conditions that change the analysis conditions little by little to obtain a retention time that is approximately the same as the target peak in the reference chromatogram, the analysis required is usually repeated multiple times. The time will be quite long.
[0006]
In addition, there is an apparatus having a function of creating a chromatogram based on data acquired up to that time while continuing the analysis when an operator performs a predetermined operation during the chromatographic analysis. By utilizing such a function, it is possible to compare and examine the incomplete chromatogram obtained up to that point and the reference chromatogram even during the analysis. However, in such a method, the operator has to perform a troublesome operation in order to display the chromatogram during the analysis.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a chromatographic data processing apparatus that can be easily compared with past analysis results without troublesome operations even during analysis. It is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a chromatographic data processing apparatus for creating a chromatogram based on data acquired by chromatographic analysis and displaying it on a screen of a display means.
a) storage means for storing data constituting a reference chromatogram;
b) creating a chromatogram based on the data read from the storage means, and creating a background image containing the chromatogram;
c) an execution image creation means for creating a chromatogram based on data sequentially acquired during analysis and sequentially creating an execution image including the chromatogram as the analysis proceeds;
d) In addition to the image synthesizing means for synthesizing the background image and the execution image and displaying them on the screen of the display means,
e) Image expansion / contraction means for expanding / contracting the background image and / or the execution image in the vertical axis direction,
f) Background image exchanging means for exchanging the background image according to the instructions of the operator,
g) a plurality of display means for displaying a plurality of reference programs in duplicate and / or in parallel;
It is characterized by providing at least 1 or more.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In this data processing apparatus, when the user designates a reference chromatogram, the background image creation means reads data corresponding to the designated chromatogram from the storage means, and based on this, the data in one image is read. A background image in which the chromatogram is fixedly drawn at a predetermined position is created. On the other hand, as the chromatogram analysis progresses, the execution image creation means sequentially receives the data detected by the detector of the chromatographic apparatus, and based on the data, the execution image creation means is incomplete at a predetermined position in one image (that is, Create an execution image with chromatograms (during analysis). The chromatogram curve in this execution image extends in the time axis direction as analysis progresses and new data is obtained. The image composition means composes the background image and the execution image and displays them on the screen of the display means. As a result, the display means displays the reference chromatogram and the chromatogram updated as needed during the analysis on the same screen.
[0010]
In the above configuration, the chromatograms can be displayed in an overlapping manner by making the display positions of the vertical and horizontal axes the same on the screen of both chromatograms. In this case, it is preferable to change the type of the chromatogram curve (solid line, dotted line, one-dot chain line, etc.) or change the display color of the line so that the two chromatograms can be easily distinguished. Further, both chromatograms can be displayed side by side by appropriately shifting the display positions of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis on the screen of both chromatograms.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
According to the chromatographic data processing apparatus of the present invention, the operator can immediately obtain a chromatogram obtained by the analysis and a reference chromatogram on the screen of the display means immediately after the start of the chromatographic analysis. Can be compared. Therefore, for example, when it is determined that the analysis at that time is not appropriate, the analysis can be stopped immediately, the analysis conditions can be reset, and the analysis can be executed again. As a result, there is no need to wait until the end of the analysis, so that the analysis can be performed very efficiently. Further, the operator can make an accurate determination while visually recognizing sequentially updated images without performing any troublesome operations.
[0012]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a chromatographic data processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a gas chromatograph apparatus provided with a data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an analysis procedure using the gas chromatograph apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a display in the data processing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of control.
[0013]
This apparatus is roughly divided into an analysis unit 10 that performs chromatographic analysis on a target sample to acquire data, and a data processing unit 20 that executes predetermined processing on the data. The analysis unit 10 is connected to a column 13 for temporally separating components contained in the sample, a sample injection unit 12 including a syringe for injecting a liquid sample, and an inlet of the column 13, and the sample injection unit A sample vaporizing chamber 11 for vaporizing the liquid sample injected from 12 and sending it to the column 13 together with a carrier gas, and a detector for detecting each sample component flowing out from the column 13 over time, connected to the outlet of the column 13 14 and an interface unit 15 that converts the detection signal from the detector 14 into digital data and then sends the digital data to the data processing unit 20.
[0014]
On the other hand, the data processing unit 20 is embodied by, for example, a personal computer or a work station. The central processing unit 21 includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a ROM 33, a display control unit 34, and the like. The keyboard 23, mouse 24, external storage device 25 such as a hard disk, printer 26, and the like. The central control unit 21 is loaded with a predetermined program, and a display function as described later is achieved by executing various processes according to the program. The central control unit 21 also has a function of controlling the operation of each unit of the analysis unit 10.
[0015]
Next, the analysis procedure in the chromatograph will be described with reference to FIG. In the external storage device 25, chromatogram data measured in the past (or provided from, for example, the device manufacturer) is stored in a file format for each analysis. The operator selects an appropriate one from the already acquired chromatograms and designates it as a reference chromatogram via the keyboard 23 or the mouse 24 (step S1). For example, when the file name of the chromatogram is known in advance, the file name can be directly input by the keyboard 23 or a list of stored chromatograms can be displayed on the screen 221 of the display 22. An appropriate one may be displayed by clicking with the mouse 24.
[0016]
When the reference chromatogram is designated, the central control unit 21 retrieves the data of the chromatogram file from the external storage device 25 (or internal memory), reads it, and creates a chromatogram based on this data. . The display control unit 34 creates a background image A as shown in FIG. 3A including the reference chromatogram A1 at a predetermined position and stores it in the image memory (step S2). Displayed above (step S3). At this point, if the displayed chromatogram is not desired, the operator may select the data file again.
[0017]
Next, when various analysis conditions are set by the operator via the keyboard 23 or the mouse 24 and the start of analysis is instructed, the analysis unit 10 starts chromatographic analysis of the target sample (step S4). That is, a carrier gas having a substantially constant flow rate is allowed to flow through the column 13 via the sample vaporizing chamber 11, and a predetermined amount of liquid sample is injected into the sample vaporizing chamber 11 from the sample injection unit 12. The injected sample is immediately vaporized and carried on the carrier gas into the column 13. And while passing through the column 13, each sample component is temporally separated according to its holding time and reaches the outlet of the column 13. Each sample component is detected by the detector 14 and converted into digital data by the interface unit 15.
[0018]
The central control unit 21 starts reading detection data from the interface unit 15 almost simultaneously with the sample injection. Then, after performing appropriate arithmetic processing such as filtering on the read data, it is stored in the internal memory and a chromatogram (hereinafter, this chromatogram is referred to as “executed chromatogram”) is created based on the data. To do. Then, the display control unit 34 draws the execution chromatogram B1 with the vertical and horizontal axes at the same position as the vertical and horizontal axes of the reference chromatogram A1, as shown in FIG. 3 (a). Image B is created (step S5). At this time, a display color different from the curve of the reference chromatogram A1 is selected as the display color of the curve of the execution chromatogram B1. Then, the background image A and the execution image B are combined and displayed on the screen 221 of the display 22 (step S6). In FIG. 3A, the reference chromatogram A1 is indicated by a solid line, and the execution chromatogram B1 is indicated by a dotted line. Of course, in addition to displaying with a different display color, the line type may be actually changed as shown in the figure.
[0019]
As described above, the detector 14 sequentially detects each sample component, and the detection data obtained by sampling the detection signal at a predetermined time interval is sent to the central control unit 21. Every time new detection data is obtained or every time a predetermined number of new detection data is obtained, the execution chromatogram B1 is updated, and the execution image B is also updated accordingly (step S7). As a result, on the screen 221 of the display 22, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the execution chromatogram B1 whose curve is extended with the passage of time is superimposed on the reference chromatogram A1 displayed in a fixed manner. Is drawn.
[0020]
After the analysis is started, the operator visually recognizes the image displayed on the screen 221 of the display 22 while, for example, shifting the peak position with respect to the target sample component in the time axis (horizontal axis) direction in both chromatograms A1 and B1. When the amount is determined and it is determined that the analysis being performed is not appropriate, the stop of the analysis is instructed by a predetermined operation of the keyboard 23 or the mouse 24. By this instruction, reading of the detection data is stopped and preparation is made so that the next analysis can be started. Specifically, for example, the sample component remaining in the column 13 is expelled from the column 13 in a short time by rapidly raising the column 13 temperature to a predetermined high temperature.
[0021]
In this way, after determining that the analysis conditions are not appropriate and stopping the analysis, the operator resets the analysis conditions and instructs the start of the analysis again. Although it is necessary to wait for a while until the preparation for the next analysis as described above is completed after the instruction to stop the analysis, the time is usually much shorter than the time required for the analysis. Therefore, it is possible to proceed with the analysis very efficiently as compared with the case where the analysis conditions are compared after waiting for the analysis.
[0022]
In the above embodiment, the horizontal axis of both chromatograms is the time axis, so the same scale is used. However, since the vertical axis is the relative intensity, one or both chromatograms are appropriately enlarged or reduced in the vertical axis direction. In this way, the peak heights can be easily compared. In the above-described embodiment, the reference chromatogram A1 and the execution chromatogram B1 are overlaid. However, as shown in FIG. 3C, the reference chromatogram A1 and the execution chromatogram B1 may be displayed in parallel at different positions on the same screen. .
[0023]
In addition, the reference chromatogram can be specified even after the analysis is started. For example, when it is determined that the reference chromatogram initially selected by the operator is not appropriate, another reference chromatogram is read out even during the analysis. It is good also as a structure which can replace an image. In addition, not only one reference chromatogram but also a plurality of reference chromatograms may be read out simultaneously and superimposed or displayed in parallel. Further, the above embodiment is merely an example, and it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a gas chromatograph apparatus provided with a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an analysis procedure by the gas chromatograph apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a concept of display control in the data processing apparatus of the present embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Analysis part 20 ... Data processing part 21 ... Central control part 22 ... Display 23 ... Keyboard 24 ... Mouse 25 ... External storage device 34 ... Display control part

Claims (1)

In a chromatograph data processing device that creates a chromatogram based on data acquired by chromatographic analysis and displays it on the screen of the display means,
a) storage means for storing data constituting a reference chromatogram;
b) creating a chromatogram based on the data read from the storage means, and creating a background image containing the chromatogram;
c) an execution image creation means for creating a chromatogram based on data sequentially acquired during analysis and sequentially creating an execution image including the chromatogram as the analysis proceeds;
d) In addition to the image synthesizing means for synthesizing the background image and the execution image and displaying them on the screen of the display means,
e) Image expansion / contraction means for expanding / contracting the background image and / or the execution image in the vertical axis direction,
f) Background image exchanging means for exchanging the background image according to the instructions of the operator,
g) a plurality of display means for displaying a plurality of reference programs in duplicate and / or in parallel;
A chromatograph data processing apparatus comprising at least one of the following.

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