US-20260126417-A1 - SAMPLE MANAGER, SYSTEM AND METHOD

US20260126417A1US 20260126417 A1US20260126417 A1US 20260126417A1US-20260126417-A1

Abstract

A method of aspirating a sample includes moving a sample needle downward to a first position so a tip of the sample needle touches a bottom of the sample container, determining that the tip of the sample needle is in the first position where the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container, after the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container, incrementally moving the sample needle upward from the first position, determining the sample needle has moved a predetermined distance upward from the first position and then aspirating a sample in the sample container.

Inventors

David Zielinski

Assignees

WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A method of aspirating a sample, the method comprising: moving a sample needle downward to a first position so a tip of the sample needle touches a bottom of the sample container; determining that the tip of the sample needle is in the first position where the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container; after the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container, incrementally moving the sample needle upward from the first position; determining the sample needle has moved a predetermined distance upward from the first position; and after the determining the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position, aspirating a sample in the sample container.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: before the moving the sample needle downward to the first position so the tip of the sample needle touches the bottom of the sample container, using an optical sensor in determining a starting position of the sample needle system relative the sample container.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: using an optical detection system in determining that the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: prior to moving the sample needle downward so the tip of the sample needle touches the bottom of the sample container: sensing, by the optical detection system, that a stripper foot is pressing upon a top of the sample container with a predetermined amount; and puncturing the top of the sample container with a puncture needle.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position further comprises: sensing, by the optical detection system, that the stripper foot is pressing upon the top of the sample container.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a spring operably attached to the stripper foot deflects a predetermined amount.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: using an encoder system in moving the sample needle and determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container further comprises: moving the sample needle a pre-specified aspiration depth within the sample container; incrementally moving the sample needle downward toward the bottom of the sample container; and determining that an encoder output of a latter incremental step has not changed relative to an encoder output of a prior incremental step.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: reducing current in a motor controlling movement of the sample needle during the incremental moving the sample needle downward toward the bottom of the sample container.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: increasing the current in the motor controlling movement of the sample needle after the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: accounting for a deflection of a sample platter upon which the sample container rests caused by contact of the tip of the sample needle touching the bottom of the sample container, prior to the aspirating the sample in the sample container.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: compensating for a relative position between the sample container and the sample platter in determining the predetermined distance upward.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a control system is configured to control the moving of the sample needle, the aspirating the sample, and configured to perform the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container and the determining that the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample needle is included in a sample needle carriage assembly that includes a stripper foot, puncture needle and separate drive motors for the sample needle and the puncture needle.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the tip of the sample needle and the bottom of the sample container is less than 1.1 mm prior to the aspirating the sample.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising minimizing a residual volume to less than 1 uL by ensuring the tip of the sample needle remains within 1.1 mm from the bottom of the sample container prior during the aspirating the sample.
17 . A liquid chromatography system configured to perform the method of claim 1 , the liquid chromatography system comprising: a solvent delivery system; a sample manager having a thermal chamber; a sampling mechanism mounted within the thermal chamber, the sampling mechanism including a sample platter mounted in the thermal chamber, and a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system including the sample needle, the sample delivery system configured to transfer the sample from the sample container located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream; a liquid chromatography column located downstream from the solvent delivery system and the sample delivery system; and a detector located downstream from the liquid chromatography column.
18 . The liquid chromatography system of claim 17 , further comprising: a control system that is configured to control the moving of the sample needle, the aspirating the sample, and configured to perform the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container and the determining that the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position.
19 . A liquid chromatography sample manager configured to perform the method of claim 1 , comprising: a thermal chamber; and a sampling mechanism mounted within the thermal chamber, the sampling mechanism including a sample platter mounted in the thermal chamber, and a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system including the sample needle, the sample delivery system configured to transfer the sample from the sample container located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream.
20 . The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 19 , further comprising: a control system that is configured to control the moving of the sample needle, the aspirating the sample, and configured to perform the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container and the determining that the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/188,635, filed Mar. 23, 2023, titled “Sample Manager, System and Method,” which is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/323,255 , filed Mar. 24, 2022, titled “Sample Manager, System and Method,” which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to liquid chromatography systems. More particularly, the invention relates to liquid chromatography sample managers, and associated systems and methods. BACKGROUND Chromatography is a set of techniques for separating a mixture into its constituents. For instance, in a liquid chromatography system, a pump takes in and delivers a mixture of liquid solvents to a sample manager, where an injected sample awaits its arrival. In an isocratic chromatography system, the composition of the liquid solvents remains unchanged, whereas in a gradient chromatography system, the solvent composition varies over time. The mobile phase, comprised of a sample dissolved in a mixture of solvents, passes to a column, referred to as the stationary phase. By passing the mixture through the column, the various components in the sample separate from each other at different rates and thus elute from the column at different times. A detector receives the elution from the column and produces an output from which the identity and quantity of the analysis may be determined. Prior to being provided into the liquid chromatography system, the sample may be provided to a sample manager. The sample manager may be configured to prevent the sample from degrading or becoming otherwise damaged while providing the sample into the liquid chromatography system. Sample managers are regularly interacted with by technicians and as such must be user friendly, dependable, accurate, reliable, serviceable, and cost effective. Improved sample managers, systems and methods, would be well received in the art. SUMMARY In one embodiment, a method of aspirating a sample includes moving a sample needle downward to a first position so a tip of the sample needle touches a bottom of the sample container; determining that the tip of the sample needle is in the first position where the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container; after the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container, incrementally moving the sample needle upward from the first position; determining the sample needle has moved a predetermined distance upward from the first position; and after the determining the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position, aspirating a sample in the sample container. Additionally or alternatively, the method further includes before the moving the sample needle downward to the first position so the tip of the sample needle touches the bottom of the sample container, using an optical sensor in determining a starting position of the sample needle system relative the sample container. Additionally or alternatively, the method further includes using an optical detection system in determining that the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position. Additionally or alternatively, the method further includes prior to moving the sample needle downward so the tip of the sample needle touches the bottom of the sample container: sensing, by the optical detection system, that a stripper foot is pressing upon a top of the sample container with a predetermined amount; and puncturing the top of the sample container with a puncture needle. Additionally or alternatively, the determining the sample needle has moved the predetermined distance upward from the first position further comprises: sensing, by the optical detection system, that the stripper foot is pressing upon the top of the sample container. Additionally or alternatively, a spring operably attached to the stripper foot deflects a predetermined amount. Additionally or alternatively, the method further includes using an encoder system in moving the sample needle and determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container. Additionally or alternatively, the determining that the tip of the sample needle is in contact with the bottom of the sample container further comprises: moving the sample needle a pre-specified aspiration depth within the sample container; incrementally moving the sample needle downward toward the bottom of the sample container; and determining that an encoder output of a latter incremental step has not changed relative to an encoder output of a prior incremental step. Additionally or alternatively, the method further includes reducing current in a motor controlling movement of the sample needle during the incremental moving the sample needle downward toward the bottom of the