C h a p t e r 2
Instrumentation extends beyond the
world of electronics into the world
of scientific discovery. Scientific
instrumentation refers to any tools
that a scientist would use in laboratory
experiments and field research, as well
as tools for quality assurance, quality
control, and routine analysis, such as
contract lab operations. In these cases,
the performance of the instrumentation
could be the limiting factor in discovery.
A major application area of scientific
instrumentation is drug discovery and
life sciences. This field, highly focused on
the cellular and molecular level, can have
implications ranging from the discovery
of new drugs to quality assurance in
manufacturing flows. In any case, drug
discovery and life sciences aim to gain a
better understanding of the properties of
biological and molecular structures and
the byproducts of processes.
In this context, an important trait of
instrumentation is achieving the fastest
sample throughput possible without
sacrificing accuracy and sensitivity. A
high sample throughput allows for more
tests per hour, which in turn shortens
total experimentation time or enables
lower effective cost per test and faster
decision-making. Sensitivity, on the other
hand, is a measure of the instrument's
ability to measure minute changes and
is often measured in parts per billion or
parts per trillion.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
Designing an instrument suitable
for measuring your desired
resolution can be overwhelming
at first. For instance, in micro-
scale research, it is essential
that instruments lock in on your
window of interest while ignoring
all the noise."
Jason Muller
Senior Instrumentation Engineer,
Thermo Fisher Scientific
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8 Industry Experts Discuss the Role of Instrumentation in Modern Technology
