Sample automation manager
A liquid chromatography system includes a solvent delivery system, a sample manager including a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with the solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system configured to inject a sample from a sample-vial into a chromatographic flow stream, a liquid chromatography column located downstream from the sample delivery system, and a detector located downstream from the liquid chromatography column. The sample delivery system further includes a first needle drive including a first sample needle configured to extract the sample from the sample-vial and deliver the sample to the liquid chromatography column, and a first syringe in communication with the first sample needle configured to meter extraction of the sample from the sample-vial. The sample manager further includes a sample automation system that includes a second needle drive including a second sample needle configured to add a volume of reagent to the sample-vial.
1. A liquid chromatography system comprising:
a solvent delivery system;
a sample manager including a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with the solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system configured to inject a sample from a sample-vial into a chromatographic flow stream;
a liquid chromatography column located downstream from the sample delivery system; and
a detector located downstream from the liquid chromatography column,
wherein the sample delivery system further includes:
a first needle drive including a first sample needle configured to extract the sample from the sample-vial and deliver the sample to the liquid chromatography column; and
a first syringe in communication with the first sample needle configured to meter extraction of the sample from the sample-vial;
wherein the sample manager further includes a sample automation system that includes:
a second needle drive including a second sample needle configured to add a volume of reagent to the sample-vial, wherein the second needle drive is further configured to draw the sample from the sample-vial and dispense the sample into a second sample-vial.
2. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , where the sample automation system of the sample manager further includes: a second syringe in communication with the second needle configured to meter drawn samples and the volume of reagent.
3. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , wherein the sample manager further includes: an RFID scanner configured to identify sample-vials being managed by the sample manager.
4. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , wherein the sample manager further includes: a mixer configured to automatically mix the sample within the sample-vial, wherein the mixer includes a magnetic structure configured to impart movement of a magnet within the sample-vial in order to mix the sample by creating a vortex inside the sample-vial through mechanical contact and rotation.
5. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , wherein the sample manager further includes: a heater system configured to apply heat to the sample-vial.
6. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , wherein the sample manager further includes: a sample-vial belt system including a belt drive having a first pulley, a second pulley and a belt, the belt having an outer surface configured to receive a plurality of sample-vials movable with the belt, the belt configured to move the plurality of sample-vials into a first position for the first sample needle to be inserted into one of the plurality of sample-vials, and a second position for the second sample needle to be inserted into one of the plurality of sample-vials.
7. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 , wherein the sample manager further includes a control system configured to control at least one of the following operations of the sample manager:
adding a specified volume of liquid to the sample-vial;
bringing the sample-vial over a mixer and activating the mixer for a predetermined time period;
transferring a specified volume from the sample-vial and dispensing the specified volume into a second vial;
heating the sample-vial for a predetermined period; and
scanning the sample-vial with an RFID scanner configured to identify the vial to the control system.
8. A liquid chromatography sample manager comprising:
a sample delivery system configured to inject a sample from a sample-vial into a chromatographic flow stream, wherein the sample delivery system further includes:
a first needle drive including a first sample needle configured to extract the sample from the sample-vial and deliver the sample to a liquid chromatography column; and
a first syringe in communication with the first sample needle configured to meter extraction of the sample from the sample-vial; and
a sample automation system that includes:
a second needle drive including a second sample needle configured to add a volume of reagent to the sample-vial, wherein the second needle drive is further configured to draw the sample from the sample-vial and dispense the sample into a second sample-vial.
9. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising a second syringe in communication with the second needle configured to meter drawn samples and the volume of reagent.
10. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising an RFID scanner configured to identify sample-vials being managed by the sample manager.
11. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising a mixer configured to automatically mix the sample within the sample-vial, wherein the mixer includes a magnetic structure configured to impart movement of a magnet within the sample-vial in order to mix the sample by creating a vortex inside the sample-vial through mechanical contact and rotation.
12. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising a heater system configured to apply heat to the sample-vial.
13. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising a sample-vial belt system including a belt drive having a first pulley, a second pulley and a belt, the belt having an outer surface configured to receive a plurality of sample-vials movable with the belt, the belt configured to move the plurality of sample-vials into a first position for the first sample needle to be inserted into one of the plurality of sample-vials, and a second position for the second sample needle to be inserted into one of the plurality of sample-vials.
14. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 8 , further comprising a control system configured to control at least one of the following operations of the sample manager:
adding a specified volume of liquid to the sample-vial;
bringing the sample-vial over a mixer and activating the mixer for a predetermined time period;
transferring a specified volume from the sample-vial and dispensing the specified volume into a second vial;
heating the sample-vial for a predetermined period; and
scanning the sample-vial with an RFID scanner configured to identify the vial to the control system.