Patent ID: 7790026

Claim:
An apparatus for analyzing each of a plurality of samples, comprising: a plurality of chromatographic systems, each system comprising a chromatography column and at least one pump associated with the column to establish a flow of eluant from each column following a selected elution protocol; a single mass spectrometer system for analyzing the eluant from said plurality of chromatography systems; a selector valve positioned between the said plurality of chromatographic systems and said mass spectrometer, the selector valve selectively permitting flow of eluant from each chromatographic system to reach the mass spectrometer in sequence; and a computer control device that contains as input information a data collecting window for each sample; the data collecting window representing the anticipated arrival time at said mass spectrometer for a target portion of the eluant for the selected elution protocol, the computer control device selecting samples for introduction to said plurality of chromatographic systems and controlling the selector valve to selectively direct eluant flow from said plurality of chromatography systems to the mass spectrometer, where the selecting of samples and the controlling of the selector valve is based on the input information of the samples such that each sample is sequentially analyzed during its data collection window by the mass spectrometer.