Symbion Systems, Inc., a leader in providing analytical instrument control, analysis, and connectivity software, today announced the release of Symbion-DX, Version 2.1. The new version preserves all of the advanced features of earlier versions while adding several new capabilities, including a significantly expanded instrument control, spectroscopic data processing, and methods development capabilities. The result is a true universal “Spectroscopic Data System” for use in LIMS, pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology (PAT) development, and online process monitoring.

Symbion-DX, Version 2.1 is a result of the on-going joint development program between Symbion and its partner General Electric Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. Among the advances included are an easy-to-use “drag and drop” visual programming wizard, an integral OPC server, and a completely redesigned HMI (Human Machine interface) capability.

In common with the earlier versions of Symbion-LX, Version 2.1 provides a standardized platform for controlling a wide range of spectrometers and other analytical instruments. In addition, it provides comprehensive data manipulation and application development capabilities as well as the ability to communicate with numerous chemometric routines, other third party programs, and enterprise-wide data systems.

With Version 2.1, Symbion-DX becomes a fully Windows(TM) compliant program, with attractive features such as the ability to integrate analytical data into reports written in Word(TM) or other Windows programs. At the same time, it provides a high degree of data and user interface standardization while supporting all of the unique requirements of specific instruments. This is made possible by a series of tabbed windows, some of which — such as “Data Display” and “Math” — are the same for all instruments. Others, such as the “Control/Collect” are specific to individual instruments. The user simply selects the instrument he wishes to operate and the instrument control panel will be customized for that instrument. Finally, Version 2.1 provides the capability of storing data either as files or in a modern SQL database. The latter provides comprehensive search capability as well as ease of handoff of data to other software entities such as multivariate programs and data historians.