Quantitation of chromatographic information

Claim 1

A method of obtaining a baseline corrected chromatogram, said method using a discrete, linear, translation invariant filter function a N .sup.α, where N is a measure of the filter function width and α is a parameter whose value determines signal to noise characteristics of the filter function, comprising the steps of: performing a chromatographic analysis of a sample to obtain a first chromatogram; filtering said first chromatogram with the filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram, and 60 set to filter out high frequency noise from said first chromatogram to obtain a second chromatogram having a first filtered baseline: filtering said second chromatogram with the filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram and α set to resolution enhance peaks in said second chromatogram to obtain a third chromatogram having a baseline which is substantially the same as said first filtered baseline; and subtracting said second chromatogram from said third chromatogram to obtain a fourth chromatogram which is baseline corrected.

Claim 2

A method of obtaining a baseline corrected chromatogram, said method using a discrete, linear, translation invariant filter function a N .sup.α, where N is a measure of the filter function width and α is a parameter whose value determines signal to noise characteristics of the filter function, comprising the steps of: performing a chromatographic analysis of a sample to obtain a first chromatogram; filtering said first chromatogram with the filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram, and 60 set to filter out high frequency noise from said first chromatogram to obtain a second chromatogram having a first filtered baseline: filtering said second chromatogram with the filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram and α set to resolution enhance peaks in said second chromatogram to obtain a third chromatogram having a baseline which is substantially the same as said first filtered baseline; and subtracting said second chromatogram from said third chromatogram to obtain a fourth chromatogram which is baseline corrected.

Claim 8

An apparatus for obtaining a baseline corrected chromatogram of a sample, said sample having a plurality of components, comprising: separation means for separating and eluting said components at different times; detection means for detecting said components that are eluted and for providing a signal corresponding to retention times in said separation means for said components, said signal hereinafter called a raw chromatogram; and computer means coupled to said detection means for analyzing said raw chromatogram, said computer means programmed to: define a filter function a N .sup.α that is a discrete, linear, translation invariant function, where N is a measure of the filter function width and α is a parameter whose value determines signal to noise characteristics of the filter function; filter said raw chromatogram with said filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said raw chromatogram, and α set to filter out high frequency noise from said raw chromatogram to obtain a second chromatogram having a first filtered baseline; filter said second chromatogram with said filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram and α set to resolution enhance peaks in said second chromatogram to obtain a third chromatogram having a baseline which is substantially the same as said first filtered baseline; and subtract said second chromatogram from said third chromatogram to obtain a fourth chromatogram which is baseline corrected.

Claim 9

An apparatus for obtaining a baseline corrected chromatogram of a sample, said sample having a plurality of components, comprising: separation means for separating and eluting said components at different times; detection means for detecting said components that are eluted and for providing a signal corresponding to retention times in said separation means for said components, said signal hereinafter called a raw chromatogram; and computer means coupled to said detection means for analyzing said raw chromatogram, said computer means programmed to: define a filter function a N .sup.α that is a discrete, linear, translation invariant function, where N is a measure of the filter function width and α is a parameter whose value determines signal to noise characteristics of the filter function; filter said raw chromatogram with said filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said raw chromatogram, and α set to filter out high frequency noise from said raw chromatogram to obtain a second chromatogram having a first filtered baseline; filter said second chromatogram with said filter function, with N set to approximate the width of peaks obtained in said first chromatogram and α set to resolution enhance peaks in said second chromatogram to obtain a third chromatogram having a baseline which is substantially the same as said first filtered baseline; and subtract said second chromatogram from said third chromatogram to obtain a fourth chromatogram which is baseline corrected.