Method, system, and apparatus for managing experimental protocols

Abstract

The present invention improves the efficiency of automatic execution of experiment protocols. A specific application (900) executed in a terminal device (400) sets a first parameter in accordance with the amount of a sample contained in a specific container (Cnt 2) used in an experiment protocol. A specific application (900) sets a second parameter in accordance with the amount of change of a sample in a specific process that uses the specific container (Cnt 2) in the experiment protocol. A control device (110) automatically executes the experiment protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter. The specific application (900) updates the first parameter using the second parameter.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to methods, systems and devices for managing experimental protocols. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, configurations for managing experimental data are known. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an experimental equipment control framework that enables easy and rapid implementation of control of a liquid chromatograph, a liquid capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and a gas chromatograph in a chromatography data system. The experimental equipment control framework disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 implements a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for specifying how much of which sample is to be injected into which position of an experimental vessel (e.g., a plate, well, or vial) by a multi-sampler. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Agilent Technologies, "Controlling the Agilent 1260 Infinity / 1290 Infinity II Multisampler (G7167A / B) in Waters Empower 3 Environment" (https: / / www.agilent.com / cs / library / technicaloverviews / public / ICF_Empower_Multisampler.pdf) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an experimental container containing at least one sample (content) is used in an experimental protocol, the amount of each of the contents may change from the amount before the experimental protocol is performed. When an experimental container used in an experimental protocol is reused, the amount of the contents of the experimental container set in the configuration for managing experimental data must be updated in order to accurately execute the experimental protocol that uses the experimental container again. If the amount of the contents of the experimental container is updated by a user every time an experimental protocol is completed, this may reduce the efficiency of automatic execution of the experimental protocol. However, Non-Patent Document 1 does not consider efficient updating of the amount of the contents of the experimental container.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its object is to improve the efficiency of automatic execution of experimental protocols. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A method according to one aspect of the present invention manages an experimental protocol via a specific application executed on a terminal device, the method including the steps of: setting a first parameter of the specific application in response to an amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol; setting a second parameter of the specific application in response to an amount of change in the sample in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol; controlling an experimental device to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first and second parameters; and updating the first parameter using the second parameter after the specific process is completed.

[0007] A system according to another aspect of the present invention manages an experimental protocol. The system includes an experimental device, a terminal device, and a control device. The terminal device executes a specific application. The control device controls the experimental device. The specific application sets a first parameter of the specific application according to the amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol. The specific application sets a second parameter of the specific application according to the amount of change in the sample in a specific process that uses the specific container in the experimental protocol. The control device automatically executes the experimental protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter. The specific application updates the first parameter using the second parameter.

[0008] An apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention manages an experimental protocol via a specific application. The apparatus includes a memory unit and a processing unit. A specific program for implementing the specific application is stored in the memory unit. The processing unit executes the specific program. The processing unit sets a first parameter of the specific application in accordance with the amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol. The processing unit sets a second parameter of the specific application in accordance with the amount of change in the sample in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol. The processing unit controls the experimental apparatus to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter. After the specific process is completed, the processing unit updates the first parameter using the second parameter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the method, system, and device according to the present invention, after a specific process of an experimental protocol is executed, the contents of a specific container are automatically updated according to the amount of change in the contents in the specific process. The method, system, and device according to the present invention eliminates the need for a user to update the amount of the contents of a specific container each time an experimental protocol is completed, thereby improving the efficiency of automatic execution of the experimental protocol. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment management system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device of FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI configuration of an experiment container management module of the experiment protocol management application in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI configuration of a sample information setting window that is displayed when the Add button or the Browse button in FIG. 3 is pressed. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an experiment container management module that is displayed when the OK button is pressed in the sample information setting window of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sample information setting window that is displayed when the reference button corresponding to sample 1 is pressed in the sample setting window of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state in which settings related to the tubes in FIG. 1 are displayed in the experimental container management module. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI configuration of an experiment protocol design module of the experiment protocol management application of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a process is selected in the automated experiment system window of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a processing node corresponding to the processing selected in FIG. 9 has been added to the protocol design window. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a sample container corresponding to the container node in FIG. 10 is designated. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the designation of the experimental container corresponding to the container node in FIG. 11 has been completed. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a directed graph that is an example of an experimental protocol design. [Figure 14]14 is a diagram showing a sample variation setting window that is displayed when the processing node of FIG. 13 is operated by a user through a GUI. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how information about samples for which variation amounts have been set in the sample variation amount setting window of FIG. 14 is displayed in the sample information setting window after the experimental protocol has been executed. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server device in FIG. [Figure 17] 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of an automatic experiment based on an experiment protocol that is carried out in the automatic experiment management system of FIG. 1. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment management system according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device of FIG. 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment system according to a second modification of the embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device of FIG. 20. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated in principle.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment management system 1000 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic experiment management system 1000 includes an automatic experiment system 1, a server device 200, a database 300, and a terminal device 400. The database 300 is connected to the server device 200. The database 300 stores, for example, information about the automatic experiment system 1, information about samples (e.g., cells, bacterial strains, or reagents), information about experimental containers, information about the contents of the experimental containers, experimental protocols, and output data (experimental results) resulting from the execution of the experimental protocols. The terminal device 400 includes an input / output unit 430. The input / output unit 430 includes a display 431, a keyboard 432, and a touchpad 433. The terminal device 400 is, for example, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet. The automatic experiment system 1, the server device 200, and the terminal device 400 are connected to each other via a network NW. The network NW may include, for example, the Internet, a WAN (Wan Area Network), or a LAN (Lan Area Network). It should be noted that there may be two or more terminal devices connected to the network NW, and there may be two or more automated experiment systems.

[0013] The server device 200 provides the terminal device 400 with an experiment protocol management application 900 (specific application) as a Web application. The experiment protocol management application 900 is displayed on the display 431 of the terminal device 400 via the Web browser 600. The experiment protocol management application 900 includes an experiment protocol design module and an experiment container management module. The keyboard 432 and touchpad 433 accept GUI (Graphical User Interface) operations by the user on the experiment protocol management application 900. That is, the user of the terminal device 400 sets the contents of the experiment containers to be used in the experiment protocol by GUI operations via the keyboard 432 and touchpad 433. The user of the terminal device 400 also uses the GUI operations to select an automated experiment system in the experiment protocol management application 900 and design an experiment protocol to be executed by the automated experiment system.

[0014] The experiment protocol specifies the processing order of at least one experiment device included in the automated experiment system selected by the user. The terminal device 400 transmits the experiment protocol designed by the user to the server device 200. The server device 200 transmits the experiment protocol to the automated experiment system specified by the user of the terminal device 400. By interposing the server device 200 between the terminal device 400 that designs the experiment protocol and the automated experiment system 1 that executes the experiment protocol, multiple terminal devices 400 and multiple automated experiment systems 1 can be managed collectively by the server device 200.

[0015] The automated experiment system 1 includes a control device 110 and multiple experimental devices 120. The control device 110 controls the multiple experimental devices 120 to automatically execute an experiment protocol from a server device 200. The multiple experimental devices 120 include a robot arm 121, an incubator 122, a liquid handler 123, a microplate reader 124, a centrifuge 125, and a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LCMS) 126. Note that the automated experiment system may include only one experimental device.

[0016] The robot arm 121 moves the experimental containers containing samples to the experimental devices corresponding to each of the multiple processes according to the order of the processes defined in the experimental protocol. The experimental containers include, for example, a tube Cnt1 or a microplate Cnt2. The tube Cnt1 has one sample storage space. The microplate Cnt2 has multiple wells as multiple sample storage spaces. Multiple samples can be stored in each of the sample storage spaces of the tube Cnt1 and the multiple sample storage spaces of the microplate Cnt2.

[0017] The incubator 122 cultures cells while controlling the temperature. The liquid handler 123 automatically distributes (dispenses) a fixed amount of sample into each of multiple wells of a microplate. The microplate reader 124 measures the optical properties of the sample in the microplate (for example, absorbance measurement and fluorescence intensity measurement). The centrifuge 125 separates the components of the sample by centrifugal force. The LCMS 126 performs mass spectrometry to separate the components of the sample separated by the liquid chromatograph according to their mass-to-charge ratio (m / z).

[0018] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device 400 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal device 400 includes a processor 421, a memory 422 and a hard disk 423 as storage units, a communication interface 424, and an input / output unit 430. These are connected to each other via a bus 440 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0019] The hard disk 423 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, an operating system (OS) program 41 and a web browser program 42 are stored on the hard disk 423. In addition to the data shown in Fig. 2, the hard disk 423 also stores, for example, settings and outputs of various applications. The memory 422 is a volatile storage device and includes, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

[0020] The processor 421 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 421 loads a program stored in a hard disk 423 into a memory 422 and executes the program. The processor 421 is connected to a network NW via a communication interface 424.

[0021] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the GUI configuration of the experiment container management module 700 of the experiment protocol management application 900 of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows settings related to the microplate Cnt2 (specific container) of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the experiment container management module 700 includes an experiment container information window 710, a physical location window 720, a sample setting window 730, a sample storage space window 740, and a selection cursor Cr.

[0022] In the experimental vessel information window 710, information about the experimental vessel is set. The information about the experimental vessel includes, for example, the name and type of the experimental vessel, and information about the volume of the sample holding space. In FIG. 3, the name and type of the microplate Cnt2 are set to "Container 2" and "Plate," respectively. In addition, the number of wells, the number of columns, and the well volume (uL), which are information about the volume of the sample holding space of the microplate Cnt2, are set to 96, 12, and 200.0, respectively.

[0023] In the physical position window 720, the position of the experimental equipment where the experimental vessel is placed is set. The incubator 122 has positions In1 and In2 where the experimental vessel can be placed. The liquid handler 123 has positions Lq1, Lq2, and Lq3 where the experimental vessel can be placed. In FIG. 3, position Lq2 is set as the position of the microplate Cnt2 ("vessel 2").

[0024] In the sample setting window 730, samples to be contained in each of at least one storage space included in the experimental vessel are set. In the sample setting window 730, the position (address) of each of at least one storage space included in the experimental vessel and the samples to be contained in that position are set. In the sample setting window 730, an Add button 731 is displayed for each address of the experimental vessel, and a Delete button 732 and a Browse button 733 are displayed for each sample. When the user presses the Add button 731, a sample information setting window (not shown in FIG. 3) is displayed, and the sample set in the sample information setting window is added to the address corresponding to the pressed Add button 731. When the user presses the Delete button 732, the sample displayed in the row corresponding to the pressed Delete button 732 is deleted from the address corresponding to that row. When the user presses the Browse button 733, a sample information setting window containing information about the sample is displayed.

[0025] In the sample holding space window 740, of the at least one holding space, the holding space at the address where the sample is set in the sample setting window 730 is highlighted. The sample holding space window 740 displays the opening of each of the at least one holding space as viewed from the sample injection direction. In FIG. 3, the sample holding space window 740 displays 12 columns 1 to 12 of the microplate Cnt2 and 8 rows A to H. As displayed in the sample holding space window 740, the microplate Cnt2 has 96 wells formed in a matrix. The address of each of the 96 wells of the microplate Cnt2 is specified by a combination of a row identifier and a column identifier (for example, A1).

[0026] In the sample setting window 730, sample 1 and sample 11 are set at address A1, sample 2 is set at address A2, sample 3 is set at address A3, and sample 4 is set at address A4. In the sample setting window 730, the row with address A3 is selected. As a result, in the sample storage space window 740, the interiors of the wells with addresses A1 to A4 are highlighted, and the outline of the well with address A3 is displayed in bold. The experiment protocol management application 900 allows the amount of sample to be set for each sample storage space included in the experiment container.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the GUI configuration of a sample information setting window 800 that is displayed when the Add button 731 or the Browse button 733 in Fig. 3 is pressed. As shown in Fig. 4, the sample information setting window 800 includes a basic information window 810 and a strain window 820. Fig. 4 illustrates a case where the Add button 731 corresponding to address A3 in the sample setting window 730 in Fig. 3 is pressed.

[0028] The basic information window 810 includes a combo box 811 and edit boxes 812, 813, 814, 815, and 816. The combo box 811 specifies the sample type (e.g., cells or reagents). The edit box 812 specifies the name of the sample. The edit box 813 specifies a description of the sample. The edit box 814 specifies the volume (uL) of the sample. The edit box 815 specifies the weight (mg) of the sample. The edit box 816 specifies a uniform resource locator (URL) to a database containing detailed sample information. In FIG. 4, "cells" is specified as the sample type, "Sample 31" is specified as the sample name, "100" is entered as the sample volume, and "50" is entered as the sample weight. The strain window 820 displays multiple strains previously registered in the experimental protocol management application 900. In FIG. 4, strain 31 is selected. When the user presses the OK button, the plurality of sample information parameters of the experimental protocol management application 900 are set to the plurality of pieces of information of the sample set in the basic information window 810. The plurality of sample information parameters are associated with the sample identifier set in the basic information window 810.

[0029] Figure 5 is a diagram showing the experimental container management module 700 that is displayed when the OK button is pressed in the sample information setting window 800 of Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5, sample 31 has been added to address A3 in the sample setting window 730. Note that when the delete button 732 corresponding to sample 31 is pressed, the display of the sample setting window 730 becomes the same as the display of the sample setting window 730 of Figure 3.

[0030] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a sample information setting window 800 that is displayed when the reference button corresponding to sample 1 is pressed in the sample setting window 730 of Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 6, "reagent" is set as the type of sample 1, "200" is set as the volume, and "80" is set as the weight.

[0031] 7 is a diagram showing the state in which settings related to tube Cnt1 (specific container) in FIG. 1 are displayed in the experimental container management module 700. As shown in FIG. 7, in the experimental container information window 710, "Container 1" is set as the name of tube Cnt1, "Tube" is set as the type, and "400" is set as the volume. In the physical location window 720, the position In1 of the incubator 122 is set as the location of tube Cnt1. In the sample setting window 730, samples 10, 101, and 102 are set in address A1, and the row corresponding to sample 102 is selected. Since tube Cnt1 has one sample storage space, one sample storage space is shown in the sample storage space window 740.

[0032] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the GUI configuration of the experiment protocol design module 500 of the experiment protocol management application 900 of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 8, the experiment protocol design module 500 includes a cue list window 510, a protocol list window 520, a protocol design window 530, an automated experiment system window 540, an experiment container window 550, and a selection cursor Cr.

[0033] A queue in which multiple protocols are ordered is displayed in the queue list window 510. In Fig. 8, queues q1 and q2 are displayed in the queue list window 510. Experimental protocols are displayed in the protocol list window 520. In Fig. 8, experimental protocols p1, p2, and p3 are displayed in the protocol list window 520, and experimental protocol p3 is selected.

[0034] In the protocol design window 530, an experimental protocol is designed in the form of a directed graph. In the directed graph, the connection relationships between multiple nodes are defined as edges. The directed graph is saved as graph structure data in accordance with a predetermined structured data format. Examples of the structured data format include XML (eXtensible Markup Language) or JSON (JavaScript (registered trademark) Object Notation). Multiple nodes that can be selected as vertices of the directed graph are formed as a GUI and include container nodes, processing nodes, and data nodes. The container nodes correspond to containers (experimental containers) that contain samples to be processed by at least one experimental device. The processing nodes correspond to the processes of each device included in the automated experimental system. The data nodes correspond to output data from the processing of the experimental device.

[0035] The protocol design window 530 is divided into a container area 531, a processing area 532, and a data area 533. In the initial state when starting to design an experimental protocol, the processing area 532 displays a start node Ms that indicates the start of the experimental protocol, an end node Me that indicates the end of the experimental protocol, and an edge E10 that points from the start node Ms to the end node Me.

[0036] The automated experiment system window 540 displays processes that can be performed by at least one experimental device included in the automated experiment system selected by the user. In FIG. 8, automated experiment system 1 is selected. "Container transport" is displayed as a process that can be performed by the robot arm 121. "Cell culture" is displayed as a process that can be performed by the incubator 122. "Liquid dispensing" is displayed as a process that can be performed by the liquid handler 123. "Absorbance measurement" and "Fluorescence intensity measurement" are displayed as processes that can be performed by the microplate reader 124. "Centrifugation" is displayed as a process that can be performed by the centrifuge 125. "Mass spectrometry" is displayed as a process that can be performed by the LCMS 126.

[0037] The lab vessel window 550 displays the lab vessels set in the lab vessel management module 700 in Fig. 3. In Fig. 8, a tube Cnt1 ("container 1") and a microplate Cnt2 ("container 2") are displayed.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a process is selected in the automated experiment system window 540 of Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 9, the user selects "Absorbance Measurement" in the automated experiment system window 540 and drags it between the start node Ms and the end node Me.

[0039] 10 is a diagram showing how a processing node corresponding to the process selected in FIG. 9 has been added to the protocol design window 530. As shown in FIG. 10, a processing node M3 corresponding to "absorbance measurement" has been added between the start node Ms and the end node Me and selected. With the addition of processing node M3, a container node C2 and a data node D1 are automatically added to the container region 531 and the data region 533, respectively.

[0040] The start node Ms and the processing node M3 are connected by an edge E1 extending from the start node Ms to the processing node M3. The processing node M3 and the end node Me are connected by an edge E2 extending from the processing node M3 to the end node Me. The container node C2 and the processing node M3 are connected by an edge E24 extending from the container node C2 to the processing node M3. The processing node M3 and the data node D1 are connected by an edge E31 extending from the processing node M3 to the data node D1. The edge E24 indicates that the experimental container corresponding to the container node C2 is input to the process corresponding to the processing node M3. The edge E31 indicates that the output data of the process corresponding to the processing node M3 corresponds to the data node D1. The addition of a processing node automatically adds the container node and the data node connected to that processing node, thereby streamlining the design of the experimental protocol. In FIG. 10, the container node C2 and the edge E24 are shown with dotted lines because the sample container corresponding to the container node C2 is not specified.

[0041] Figure 11 is a diagram showing the state in which a sample container corresponding to the container node C2 in Figure 10 is specified. As shown in Figure 11, the user selects "Container 2" in the experimental container window 550 and drags it to the container node C2.

[0042] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the state in which the designation of the experimental container corresponding to the container node C2 in Fig. 11 is completed. As shown in Fig. 12, the container node C2 is selected, and the container node C2 and the edge E24 are shown by solid lines.

[0043] Figure 13 shows a directed graph DG, which is a design example of experimental protocol p3. The directed graph DG represents an experimental protocol that is completed by further designing from the state shown in Figure 12. As shown in Figure 13, the directed graph DG includes a start node Ms, an end node Me, processing nodes M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6, container nodes C1 and C2, and data nodes D1 and D2. The processing nodes M1 to M6 correspond to "cell culture," "liquid dispensing" (specific processing), "absorbance measurement," "centrifugation," "liquid dispensing," and "mass spectrometry," respectively, shown in the automated experiment system window 540.

[0044] Start node Ms and processing node M1 are connected by edge E11 pointing from start node Ms to processing node M1. Processing nodes M1 and M2 are connected by edge E12 pointing from processing node M1 to M2. Processing nodes M2 and M3 are connected by edge E13 pointing from processing node M2 ​​to M3. Processing nodes M3 and M4 are connected by edge E14 pointing from processing node M3 to M4. Processing nodes M4 and M5 are connected by edge E15 pointing from processing node M4 to M5. Processing nodes M5 and M6 are connected by edge E16 pointing from processing node M5 to M6. Processing node M6 and end node Me are connected by edge E17 pointing from processing node M6 to end node Me.

[0045] Container node C1 and processing node M1 are connected by edge E21 pointing from container node C1 to processing node M1, while container node C1 and processing node M2 ​​are connected by edge E22 pointing from container node C1 to processing node M2.

[0046] Container node C2 and processing node M2 ​​are connected by edge E23 pointing from container node C2 to processing node M2. Container node C2 and processing node M3 are connected by edge E24 pointing from container node C2 to processing node M3. Container node C2 and processing node M4 are connected by edge E25 pointing from container node C2 to processing node M4. Container node C2 and processing node M5 are connected by edge E26 pointing from container node C2 to processing node M5. Container node C2 and processing node M6 are connected by edge E27 pointing from container node C2 to processing node M6.

[0047] Processing node M3 and data node D1 are connected by edge E31 pointing from processing node M3 to data node D1, while processing node M6 and data node D2 are connected by edge E32 pointing from processing node M6 to data node D2.

[0048] FIG. 14 shows a sample change amount setting window 560 (specific GUI) that is displayed when a user performs a GUI operation (e.g., double-clicks) on processing node M2 ​​(specific node) in FIG. 13 . In the sample change amount setting window 560, the change amount of the contents of the experimental container used in the double-clicked processing node is set. FIG. 14 shows that, of the tube Cnt1 (container 1) and the microplate Cnt2 (container 2) used in processing node M2, container 2 is selected and the change amount of the contents of container 2 is set. In the experimental protocol management application 900, processes included in the experimental protocol are represented as processing nodes included in a directed graph, so that the change amount of the contents of the experimental container can be easily set via the sample change amount setting window 560 that is displayed by GUI operation on the processing node. Furthermore, in an experimental protocol designed as a directed graph, the container node corresponding to the experimental container and the processing node corresponding to the process using that experimental container are connected by edges, making it easy to understand the correspondence between the experimental container and the process using that experimental container.

[0049] 14, an increase of 10 uL is set as the change amount for sample 1 at address A1. A decrease of 20 uL is set as the change amount for sample 2 at address A2. When the user presses the OK button, at least one change amount parameter (second parameter) of the experiment protocol management application 900 is set to the change amount for at least one sample set in the sample change amount setting window 560. The at least one change amount parameter is associated with the identifier of the experiment container selected in the sample change amount setting window 560.

[0050] After the change in the content of the experimental vessel is set in the sample change setting window 560 of Fig. 14, an experimental protocol including a process (specific process) using the experimental vessel is executed. Of the multiple sample information parameters for each of the at least one sample contained in the experimental vessel used in the specific process, the parameter related to quantity (first parameter) is automatically updated by the experimental protocol management application 900 after the specific process is completed, using the change parameter set for the sample in the sample change setting window 560.

[0051] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how information about Sample 1, for which a change amount was set in the Sample Change Amount Setting window 560 of FIG. 14, is displayed by the Sample Information Setting window 800 after the experimental protocol has been executed. Referring to FIGS. 6, 14, and 15, the volume and weight shown in FIG. 15 are increased by 10 μL and 4 mg from the volume and weight shown in FIG. 6. The volume and weight amounts shown in FIG. 15 are each increased by 5% (= 10 / 200) from the amount shown in FIG. 6, based on the 10 μL increase for Sample 1 set in FIG. 14.

[0052] In the automatic experiment management system 1000, after a specific process of an experimental protocol is executed, the contents of the experimental container are automatically updated according to the amount of change in the contents during the specific process. The automatic experiment management system 1000 eliminates the need for a user to update the amount of the contents of the experimental container each time an experimental protocol is completed, thereby improving the efficiency of automatic execution of the experimental protocol.

[0053] Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of server device 200 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 16, server device 200 includes processor 201, memory 202 and hard disk 203 as storage units, communication interface 204 as a communication unit, and input / output unit 205. These are connected via bus 210 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0054] The hard disk 203 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, an operating system (OS) program 51 and an automatic experiment management program 52 are stored on the hard disk 203. In addition to the data shown in Fig. 16, the hard disk 203 also stores, for example, settings and outputs of various applications. The memory 202 is a volatile storage device and includes, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

[0055] The processor 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 201 loads programs stored on a hard disk 203 into a memory 202 and executes them to realize various functions of the server device 200. For example, the processor 201, which executes the automatic experiment management program 52, provides an experiment protocol management application 900 to the terminal device 400. The processor 201 is connected to the network NW via a communication interface 204.

[0056] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of an automatic experiment based on an experiment protocol performed in the automatic experiment management system 1000 of FIG. low 17, in S11, the terminal device 400 sets the contents of the experimental containers. In S12, the terminal device 400 designs an experimental protocol in the form of a directed graph, sets the amount of change in the contents of the experimental containers used in the experimental protocol, and transmits the experimental protocol to the server device 200. In S13, the server device 200 transmits the experimental protocol to an automated experiment system selected by the user of the terminal device 400. In S14, the control device of the automated experiment system automatically executes the experimental protocol received from the server device 200. In S15, the control device transmits output data of the processing included in the experimental protocol to the server device 200. In S16, the server device 200 updates parameters related to the amount of content of the experimental containers in the experiment protocol management application 900.

[0057] [Variation 1] In the embodiment, the case where an experiment protocol designed in a terminal device is transmitted to the automated experiment system via a server device has been described. However, the experiment protocol may also be transmitted directly from the terminal device to the automated experiment system.

[0058] Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment management system 1100 according to a first variation of the embodiment. The configuration of the automatic experiment management system 1100 is the same as that of the automatic experiment management system 1000 in Fig. 1 except that the server device 200 and database 300 are removed and the terminal device 400 is replaced with 400A. Since the rest of the configuration is the same, the description will not be repeated. An experiment protocol management application 900A is displayed on the display 431 of the terminal device 400A.

[0059] Fig. 19 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device 400A of Fig. 18. The configuration of the terminal device 400A is the same as that of Fig. 2, except that an automatic experiment management program 52A is added to the hard disk 423. Since the rest of the configuration is the same, a description will not be repeated. When the automatic experiment management program 52A is executed by the processor 421, automatic execution of the experiment protocol by the experiment protocol management application 900A and the automatic experiment system is realized.

[0060] [Variation 2] The experiment protocol may be designed in the control device of the automatic experiment system. Fig. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic experiment system 1B according to a second variation of the embodiment. The configuration of the automatic experiment system 1B is the same as that of the automatic experiment system 1 of Fig. 1, except that the control device 110 is replaced with 110B. Since the rest of the configuration is the same, the description will not be repeated.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 20, the control device 110B includes an input / output unit 130 and a computer 140 (processing unit). The input / output unit 130 includes a display 131 (display unit), a keyboard 132 (input unit), and a mouse 133 (input unit). The display 131, keyboard 132, and mouse 133 are connected to the computer 140. The GUI of the experiment protocol management application 900B is displayed on the display 131. The keyboard 132 and mouse 133 accept GUI operations on the experiment protocol management application 900B by the user. That is, the user performs desired GUI operations on the experiment protocol management application 900B by operating the keyboard 132 or the mouse 133 while referring to the display on the display 131.

[0062] Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device 110B of Fig. 20. As shown in Fig. 21, a computer 140 includes a processor 141, a memory 142 and a hard disk 143 as storage units, and a communication interface 144. These are connected to each other via a bus 145 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0063] The hard disk 143 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, the operating system (OS) program 61 and the automatic experiment management program 52B (specific program) are stored on the hard disk 143. In addition to the data shown in FIG. 21, the hard disk 143 also stores, for example, the settings and outputs of various applications. The memory 142 is a volatile storage device and includes, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

[0064] The processor 141 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 141 loads programs stored on a hard disk 143 into memory 142 and executes them. Execution of the automatic experiment management program 52B by the processor 141 realizes automatic execution of the experiment protocol by the experiment protocol management application 900B and the multiple experimental devices 120. The processor 141 is connected to a network via a communication interface 144.

[0065] As described above, the method and system according to the embodiment and the first modification, and the device according to the second modification of the embodiment, can improve the efficiency of automatic execution of an experimental protocol.

[0066] [Aspect] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0067] (Item 1) A method according to one embodiment manages an experimental protocol via a specific application executed on a terminal device. The method includes the steps of setting a first parameter of the specific application according to the amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol, setting a second parameter of the specific application according to the amount of sample change in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol, controlling an experimental device to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter, and updating the first parameter using the second parameter after the specific process is completed.

[0068] In the method described in paragraph 1, after a specific process of an experimental protocol is executed, the content of a specific container is automatically updated according to the amount of change in the content in the specific process. This method eliminates the need for a user to update the amount of the content of a specific container each time an experimental protocol is completed, thereby improving the efficiency of automatic execution of the experimental protocol.

[0069] (Item 2) In the method according to item 1, the specific container has a plurality of sample holding spaces, and the step of setting the first parameter sets the first parameter to the amount of sample contained in each of the plurality of sample holding spaces.

[0070] According to the method described in the second paragraph, the amount of sample can be set for each sample storage space contained in a specific container.

[0071] (Item 3) The method according to item 1 further includes a step of designing the experimental protocol in the form of a directed graph including specific nodes corresponding to specific processes based on a user's GUI operation for a specific application. The step of setting the second parameter is performed via a specific GUI that is displayed in response to the user's GUI operation for the specific nodes.

[0072] According to the method described in Section 3, the processes included in the experimental protocol are represented as specific nodes included in a directed graph, making it easy to set the amount of change in the contents of the experimental container via a specific GUI that is displayed by GUI operations on the specific node.

[0073] (4) In the method according to the third aspect, the plurality of nodes selectable as vertices of the directed graph include a processing node corresponding to a process of the experimental device and a container node corresponding to a container for containing a sample to be processed by the experimental device. The step of designing the experimental protocol automatically adds a container node along with the addition of the processing node, and the container node and the processing node are connected by an edge directed from the container node to the processing node.

[0074] According to the method described in Section 4, in an experimental protocol designed as a directed graph, a container node corresponding to an experimental container and a processing node corresponding to a process using the experimental container are connected by an edge, so that the correspondence between the experimental container and the process using the experimental container can be easily understood.

[0075] (Item 5) A system according to one embodiment manages an experimental protocol. The system comprises an experimental device, a terminal device, and a control device. The terminal device executes a specific application. The control device controls the experimental device. The specific application sets a first parameter of the specific application according to the amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol. The specific application sets a second parameter of the specific application according to the amount of change in the sample in a specific process that uses the specific container in the experimental protocol. The control device automatically executes the experimental protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter. The specific application updates the first parameter using the second parameter.

[0076] In the system described in paragraph 5, after a specific process of an experimental protocol is executed, the contents of a specific container are automatically updated according to the amount of change in the contents in the specific process. This system eliminates the need for a user to update the amount of the contents of a specific container each time an experimental protocol is completed, thereby improving the efficiency of automatic execution of experimental protocols.

[0077] (Item 6) The system according to item 5 further includes a server device. The server device provides a specific application to the terminal device. The server device transmits an experiment protocol designed by the terminal device to the control device.

[0078] According to the system described in paragraph 6, a server device is interposed between a terminal device that designs an experimental protocol and a control device that controls the experimental equipment to execute the experimental protocol, thereby enabling multiple terminal devices and multiple control devices to be managed collectively by the server device.

[0079] (Item 7) An apparatus according to one embodiment manages an experimental protocol via a specific application. The apparatus comprises a memory unit and a processing unit. The memory unit stores a specific program that realizes the specific application. The processing unit executes the specific program. The processing unit sets a first parameter of the specific application according to the amount of sample contained in a specific container used in the experimental protocol. The processing unit sets a second parameter of the specific application according to the amount of change in the sample in a specific process that uses the specific container in the experimental protocol. The processing unit controls the experimental apparatus to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first parameter and the second parameter. After the specific process is completed, the processing unit updates the first parameter using the second parameter.

[0080] In the device described in paragraph 7, after a specific process of an experimental protocol is executed, the contents of a specific container are automatically updated according to the amount of change in the contents in the specific process. This device eliminates the need for a user to update the amount of the contents of a specific container each time an experimental protocol is completed, thereby improving the efficiency of automatic execution of the experimental protocol.

[0081] It should be noted that, with regard to the above-mentioned embodiments and modified examples, it has been planned from the beginning of the application that the configurations described in the embodiments may be appropriately combined, including combinations not mentioned in the specification, to the extent that no inconvenience or contradiction arises.

[0082] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1,1B Automated experiment system, 41,42,51,61 Program, 52,52A,52B Automated experiment management program, 110,110B Control device, 120 Experimental equipment, 121 Robot arm, 122 Incubator, 123 Liquid handler, 124 Microplate reader, 125 Centrifuge, 130,205,430 Input / output unit, 131,431 Display, 132,432 Keyboard, 133 Mouse, 140 Computer, 141,201,421 Processor, 142,202,422 Memory, 143,203,423 Hard disk, 144,204,424 Communication interface, 145,210,440 Bus, 200 Server device, 300 Database, 400,400A Terminal device, 433 Touchpad, 500 Experimental protocol design module, 510, queue list window, 520, protocol list window, 530, protocol design window, 531, vessel area, 532, processing area, 533, data area, 540, automated experiment system window, 550, experiment vessel window, 560, sample variation setting window, 600, browser, 700, experiment vessel management module, 710, experiment vessel information window, 720, physical location window, 730, sample setting window, 731, add button, 732, delete button, 733, browse button, 740, sample accommodation space window, 800, sample information setting window, 810, basic information window, 811, combo box, 812-816 edit boxes, 820, strain window, 900, 900A, 900B, experimental protocol management application, 1000, 1100, automated experiment management system, C1, C2 vessel node, Cnt1 tube, Cnt2 Microplate, Cr selection cursor, D1, D2 data node, DG directed graph, E1, E2, E10-E17, E21-E27, E31, E32 edges, In1, In2, Lq1-Lq3 positions, M1-M6 processing nodes, Me end node, Ms start node, NW network, p1-p3 experimental protocol, q1, q2 queue.

Claims

1. 1. A method for managing an experiment protocol via a specific application executed on a terminal device, comprising: setting the amount of sample contained in a particular container used in the experimental protocol to a first parameter for the particular application; setting a change amount of the sample in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol as a second parameter of the specific application; controlling an experimental apparatus to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first parameters and the second parameters; and updating the first parameter using the second parameter after the specific processing is completed.

2. The specific container has a plurality of sample storage spaces, The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the first parameter comprises setting the first parameter to an amount of sample contained in each of the plurality of sample-receiving spaces.

3. further comprising a step of designing the experimental protocol in the form of a directed graph including specific nodes corresponding to the specific processes based on a user's GUI operation for the specific application; The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the second parameter is performed via a specific GUI that is displayed in response to a user's GUI operation on the specific node.

4. the plurality of nodes selectable as vertices of the directed graph include a processing node corresponding to a process of the laboratory equipment and a container node corresponding to a container containing a sample to be processed by the laboratory equipment; the step of designing the experimental protocol includes automatically adding the container node in conjunction with the addition of the processing node; The method of claim 3 , wherein the container node and the processing node are connected by an edge going from the container node to the processing node.

5. A system for managing experimental protocols, comprising: Experimental equipment, a terminal device that executes a specific application; a control device for controlling the experimental device; The specific application is setting the amount of sample contained in a particular container used in the experimental protocol to a first parameter for the particular application; setting a change amount of the sample in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol as a second parameter of the specific application; the controller automatically executes the experimental protocol using the first parameters and the second parameters; The specific application uses the second parameter to update the first parameter.

6. a server device that provides the specific application to the terminal device; The system according to claim 5 , wherein the server device transmits the experiment protocol designed by the terminal device to the control device.

7. A device for managing experimental protocols through a specific application, comprising: a storage unit in which a specific program for realizing the specific application is stored; a processing unit that executes the specific program, The processing unit setting the amount of sample contained in a particular container used in the experimental protocol to a first parameter for the particular application; setting a change amount of the sample in a specific process using the specific container in the experimental protocol as a second parameter of the specific application; controlling an experimental apparatus to automatically execute the experimental protocol using the first parameters and the second parameters; After the specific process is completed, the first parameter is updated using the second parameter.

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