Multi-sample test system for increasing utilization of laboratory chamber equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-sample test system for increasing the utilization of chamber equipment used in laboratories in the bio or pharmaceutical field. The present invention has an advantage in that when a plurality of samples having different test end times are simultaneously tested in one piece of test equipment, a test end time point of each sample is distinguished and the test end is notified to a terminal of a user testing the corresponding sample, thereby increasing the utilization of the test equipment and reducing a conventional burden for testers to individually memorize a test end time point.

Description

Multi-sample experiment system to increase the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for efficiently utilizing experimental equipment used in the bio or pharmaceutical fields.

[0002]

[0003] In laboratories such as those in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical fields, a wide range of experiments are conducted using reagents, samples, etc.

[0004] However, while many users wishing to conduct experiments in a laboratory have limited space and physical access to available equipment. Therefore, if a specific experimenter is using a specific piece of equipment, other experimenters must wait until the experiment ends. However, if the experimental conditions are the same and the equipment is available, the waiting experimenter may choose to begin their experiment immediately without waiting for the already occupied experimenter to finish. In this case, the end time of the experimenter who started first differs from that of the experimenter who started later, creating the inconvenience of having to constantly monitor their own end time.

[0005] Meanwhile, current experimental equipment can be divided into those that require logging in and those that do not. As digital information becomes increasingly important, there's a growing trend toward recording "who conducted what experiment" on experimental equipment.

[0006] Therefore, even if the experimental conditions are the same, as illustrated in Figure 1, once a specific individual logs in and occupies the experimental equipment, no one else can use it. Even if permission is sought from the person already occupying the equipment and shared use is permitted, the experiment starts and ends at different times, requiring each user to individually monitor the experiment end time.

[0007] Moreover, because photostability testing of raw materials or finished products for pharmaceuticals can take several months, users have the inconvenience of having to remember when the test ends.

[0008]

[0009] The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-user system that allows multiple users to conduct experiments simultaneously with one experimental device and that notifies the end of an experiment for each user or sample, thereby increasing the usability of laboratory equipment.

[0010]

[0011] A multi-sample system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem comprises: an experimental equipment equipped with a chamber for forming an experimental space; a time setting unit for inputting an identifier of a sample to be tested in the chamber and an experimental end time of a regular sample; a multi-timer for individually counting the experimental end times of at least two or more samples set in the time setting unit; and a control unit for receiving time information from the multi-timer, distinguishing the end times of the plurality of samples when testing a plurality of samples with different experimental end times in the experimental equipment, and providing an experimental end notification signal for each individual sample.

[0012] At this time, the control unit transmits and receives data through wired or wireless communication with the central server or user terminal.

[0013] In addition, when the control unit determines that the experiment end time of the sample has been reached, it can notify the user conducting the experiment of the sample of experiment end information to the terminal.

[0014] Here, in the case where there are multiple users experimenting with the sample, the control unit can distinguish the user experimenting with the sample whose experiment end time has expired and notify the user's terminal of the end of the experiment.

[0015] In addition, the user terminal displays information on the experimental equipment, sample information, experimental title, experimental date, and experimental end time on the screen of the user terminal along with a notification of the end of the experiment from the control unit.

[0016] Meanwhile, the above experimental equipment further includes a display, and the display displays a multi-timer corresponding to the sample, and the multi-timer displays the experimenter's name and the sample's name along with the experimental time counting.

[0017] In addition, when the control unit receives a login signal from another user in the case where there is a user already occupying the experimental equipment, it controls the display to display the ID of the occupant, the experiment title, and the experiment end time.

[0018] Additionally, when the control unit receives an input signal for user switching from a logged-in user, it can display experimental information suitable for the switched user on the screen.

[0019] Furthermore, the server can transmit and receive data through wired and wireless communication with a plurality of experimental equipment, and transmit an experiment end signal for the sample received from each of the experimental equipment to the terminal of the experimenter.

[0020]

[0021] In experiments in fields such as biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, where the present invention applies, the experimental conditions for reagents, samples, pharmaceutical raw materials, and finished products are largely identical. In these situations, the multi-user system of the present invention allows multiple people to conduct experiments simultaneously on a single piece of equipment, and individual experiment completion notifications can be sent. Furthermore, when linked to a central experiment management system, experimenters are notified of the end of the experiment via their personal mobile phones, thereby reducing their experimental burden and allowing them to focus on other experiments or tasks.

[0022]

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a screen requesting user login information in a typical chamber-type experimental device.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a schematic configuration of the entire multi-sample experiment system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-integrated system in which a multi-sample experimental system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to multiple experimental devices.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an example of a chamber-type experimental device that can be applied to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a screen showing a multi-timer according to one embodiment of the present invention on a display.

[0029] Figure 7 is a table that organizes information stored in memory related to the experimental time of a sample tested according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing content that notifies the end of an experiment on the screen of a user terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the experimental process of a multi-material experimental system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032]

[0033] The present invention is capable of various modifications and embodiments. Specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but rather to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known technologies will be omitted if they are deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0034] The core of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a multi-user system that allows multiple users to conduct experiments simultaneously on a single experimental device by distinguishing the experimental end time of each sample and notifying the user conducting the experiment of the end of the experiment to the terminal of the user.

[0035] Hereinafter, multi-user systems for increasing the usability of laboratory chamber equipment according to the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of a multi-user system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-integrated system in which a multi-user system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to a plurality of experimental equipment.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the multi-user system of the laboratory chamber equipment according to the present invention basically includes one or more experimental equipment (10), a control unit (30 in FIG. 5) provided in each experimental equipment, a user terminal (B), a central server (S), etc., which are connected via a network so that data such as experimental information performed on the corresponding experimental equipment can be transmitted and received between each other, thereby computerizing the information. In other words, the experimental equipment (10) and the user terminal (B) are connected via a network centered on the server (central management system, S), and the experimental equipment (10) and the user terminal (B) can also transmit and receive data between each other via wired or wireless communication.

[0038] Here, the user terminal (B) is a terminal of an experimenter or administrator that transmits and receives information about the experimenter's experiment content through a communication network, and can be implemented as, for example, a mobile phone, smart phone, PDA (personal digital assistant), tablet PC (tablet personal computer), notebook, smart watch, or other electronic device that can perform communication, receive input from the experimenter, and output a screen, or a similar device.

[0039] Additionally, the server (S) can monitor the status of all experimental equipment and experiments in use in the laboratory. More specifically, the management information stored on the server (S) includes laboratory equipment information such as samples or reagents, types of experimental equipment, experimental equipment information, experimenter information, experiment title, experiment time, experiment end time, and experiment conditions. This information can be backed up, tamper-proofed, and tracked and monitored.

[0040] The communication network may be implemented using at least some of the following wired, wireless, or other communication methods known to date or to be discovered in the future: TCP / IP, Local Area Network (LAN), Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, and others. While many communications are conducted via communication networks, the following description omits any mention of communication networks for the sake of brevity.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an example of chamber-type experimental equipment that can be applied to a multi-sample experimental system according to the present invention.

[0042] The experimental equipment (10) illustrated in Fig. 4 is a CO2 incubator that artificially simulates in vivo-like environmental conditions inside a chamber (11) to aid cell growth. However, the experimental equipment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any chamber-type experimental equipment that has an experimental space formed inside and allows for experiments on multiple samples together can be applied. For example, a constant temperature and humidity chamber, a temperature test chamber, an industrial oven, a photosafety test chamber, a pharmaceutical safety test chamber, a thermal shock test chamber, a battery test chamber, etc. can be applied.

[0043] In chamber-type experimental equipment (10) such as this, a sample is placed inside a chamber (11) to create an environment with a predetermined temperature, humidity, light irradiation, etc., and bacteria are cultured for a predetermined period of time or duration or safety tests for pharmaceuticals, etc. are conducted. For this purpose, a heater, a humidifier, a fluorescent lamp, a UV-A lamp, etc. may be installed in the chamber-type experimental equipment.

[0044] Here, any sample that can be tested in chamber-type experimental equipment can be considered. For example, this could include biological samples for testing in the biotechnology field, pharmaceutical materials or finished products, and even batteries for testing the environmental reliability of products.

[0045] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a screen showing a multi-timer on a display according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a table summarizing information stored in memory related to the experimental time of a sample being tested according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating content notifying a user terminal of the end of an experiment according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, a multi-sample experiment system of a chamber-type experimental device may include an experimental device (10), a display (12), a multi-timer (20), a control unit (30), an alarm unit (40), a communication unit (50), and a memory (60).

[0047] The above experimental equipment (10) is a chamber-type experimental equipment and has been previously described in detail, so a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0048] The above display (12) is installed as an LCD panel on the upper part of the experimental equipment (10). The display (12) performs the function of inputting or displaying experimental information. In other words, it plays a role of being able to visually show the content related to the experiment to the user, and at the same time, it also plays the role of a control panel that inputs the content related to the experiment and transmits it to the control unit (30). To explain in more detail, the display (12) can input or display on the screen login information, environmental variables inside the chamber (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), experimental content for each user, experimental schedule, time related to the end time of the experiment, etc. At this time, the input of the display (12) can be input not only by touch basically, but also by utilizing interfaces such as a keyboard, voice input, visual sensor (e.g., barcode, etc.), radio sensor (e.g., RFID, etc.), MEMS sensor, etc.

[0049] The above display (12) includes a time setting section (not shown) for inputting the experiment end time of the sample to be tested in the experimental equipment (10), and a timer (20) for counting the experiment end time for the sample set in the time setting section is displayed.

[0050] In particular, the present invention is to distinguish the end time of the experiment for each sample and to notify the end of the experiment to the terminal of the user conducting the experiment of the sample when a plurality of samples with different end times are simultaneously tested in one experimental device (10).

[0051] To this end, the present invention applies a multi-timer (20) that individually inputs and counts the experimental end times for at least two or more samples and notifies them.

[0052] Fig. 6 illustrates a multi-timer (20) implemented in a display (12), showing five timers that count the experimental end times for a total of five samples in one experimental device. The present invention is not limited thereto, and when a total of nine samples are tested, they can be displayed separately using nine timers.

[0053] This multi-timer (20) displays the concepts of date, hour, minute, and second. More specifically, the multi-timer (20) can be used to set and start the date, hour, minute, and second for the end of the experiment, and can count and display the date, hour, minute, and second until the set time.

[0054] Furthermore, the multi-timer (20) may include user information and sample information. In other words, the multi-timer (20) may display and inform information about the sample being counted and the user (experimenter) conducting the experiment along with the elapsed experimental time.

[0055] For example, the first timer could indicate that 30 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 15 seconds had elapsed in the experiment on Subject A's Sample 1, and the third timer could indicate that 89 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 15 seconds had elapsed in the experiment on Subject B's Sample 1. The second timer could indicate that the total 90-day experiment time on Subject A's Sample 2 had ended by displaying 'STOPPED'.

[0056] The screen on which the above multi-timer (20) is displayed can display information about each multi-timer (20) together in a separate table. To elaborate further, the experimenter information, sample information, experiment date, experiment end time, current experiment elapsed time, and whether the experiment has been ended (STOPPED) can be displayed together with the multi-timer or selectively by organizing the data in a table consisting of columns and rows.

[0057] Here, the multi-timer (20) and the table data can be automatically generated when the user logs in and enters information such as the experimenter's name, sample name (or sample type), experiment title, experiment date, and experiment end time on the displayed user screen. At this time, the time of the multi-timer (20) can be counted when the user separately presses the start button provided on the multi-timer. In addition, the multi-timer (20) is electrically connected to the control unit (30) and transmits the counted time information to the control unit (30).

[0058] The above alarm unit (40) outputs a notification signal visually or audibly according to the instructions of the control unit (30). For example, if the alarm unit (40) includes a speaker, it can output a guidance voice message such as, "The experiment on User A's sample 1 has ended, so please check." through the speaker, and can also display this through the display (12).

[0059] The above communication unit (50) transmits and receives information with a server (S) or a user terminal (B) via a communication network. For example, the communication unit (50) may provide a notification signal regarding the end of a sample experiment to the user terminal (B) according to instructions from the control unit (30). The communication technology used by the communication unit (50) may vary depending on the type of communication network or other circumstances. In this case, when multiple users are conducting experiments on one experimental device (10), the end of the experiment can be notified to each user, and when one user is conducting experiments on multiple samples, the end of the experiment can be notified to each sample.

[0060] In this regard, Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the content that notifies the user terminal (B) of the end of the experiment. As illustrated in Fig. 8, when the control unit (30) notifies the user terminal (B) of the end of the experiment, the user terminal (B) displays information such as experimental equipment information, experimenter information, experiment title, sample information, experiment date, and experiment end time on the screen. As a result, the user can easily check which experimental equipment and which sample under which experiment title the experiment has ended.

[0061] The above memory (60) stores information generated for the operation of the experimental equipment (10) or during its operation. In addition, the memory (260) can store information such as experimenter information, experiment title, sample information, experiment date, and experiment end time, which are input to the display (12) or the user terminal (B). In addition, the memory (60) can store programs and data for configuring various screens to be displayed in a specific area of ​​the display (12). Meanwhile, when the memory (60) is implemented as a sum of several devices that are physically separated from the control unit (30), communication between the several devices may be required. Here, for the sake of simplicity, it will be explained assuming that the memory (60) is implemented as one object of the control unit (30).

[0062] The above control unit (30) can control the overall operation and each component of the experimental equipment (10). In the present embodiment, the control unit (30) can receive time information from the multi-timer (20) and determine the experiment end time for multiple samples. As mentioned above, the experiment end time may vary depending on the sample, and the experiment end time according to the sample type may be matched in advance and stored in the memory (60).

[0063] Accordingly, when testing multiple samples in the experimental equipment (10), the control unit analyzes the time information counted from the multi-timer (20) and the experimental end time of each sample stored in the memory (60), and when it is determined that the experimental end time of a specific sample has been reached, it signals the end of the experiment to the user terminal (B) testing the sample through the communication unit (50).

[0064] For example, when the control unit (30) receives a signal from the second timer of FIG. 6 that the 90-day experiment time for sample 2 of experimenter A has ended, it analyzes this with the experiment end time of experimenter A of FIG. 7 stored in the memory, and when it determines that the experiment for sample 2 of experimenter A has ended, it can control the configuration of the system so that information such as experiment equipment information, experimenter information, experiment title, sample information, experiment date, and experiment end time are displayed on the screen of experimenter A's terminal.

[0065] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the experimental process of a multi-sample experimental system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] As illustrated in Figure 8, we examine the experimental process of a sample in a multi-user system, where multiple users simultaneously conduct experiments on a single piece of experimental equipment. The experimental stages are broadly divided into the login stage, experiment title registration stage, experiment end time registration stage, user switching stage, experiment progress stage, and experiment end stage.

[0067] 1. The login step (S20) consists of the following actions.

[0068] First, the user logs in through the touch screen of the display. More specifically, i) When logging in, press the "Login" button, and when the "Login pop-up window" appears, enter the "User ID" and "User Password." ii) You can log in regardless of whether someone else is already logged in. iii) In this case, the display screen switches to the dedicated screen of the last person to log in. iv) The "User ID" is registered on the login list screen.

[0069] Next, the process for logging out is the same as logging in. More specifically, i) To log out, click the "Log Out" button, then enter your "User ID" and "Password" when the "Log Out Pop-up Window" appears. ii) You can also check the box directly on the login list screen to display the "Log Out Pop-up Window." iii) Logged out users are removed from the login list screen.

[0070] 2. The experimental content registration step (S50) is as follows.

[0071] Users who are already logged in can enter the title of their experiment on the display. More specifically, i) the registered experiment title will be displayed as "Experiment Title" along with the "User ID" on the login list screen. ii) The screen displaying the "Experiment Title" allows users to enter sample information, the experiment date, and the experiment end time corresponding to the experiment title.

[0072] 3. If another user is in the middle of an experiment, user switching (S30)(S40) is performed as follows.

[0073] If a user is already occupying the equipment, a screen appropriate for that user will be displayed. Namely, i) the ID and experiment title of the occupying user will be displayed. ii) the end time of the occupying user will be displayed.

[0074] Afterwards, when another logged-in person switches users on the login list screen, the screen appropriate for the switched person is displayed.

[0075] In this case, the target control values ​​(temperature, humidity, start and end of control) inside the experimental equipment chamber are initially registered by the master, and only this master can change them.

[0076] 4. The experimental progress stage (S60) proceeds as follows.

[0077] During the experimental process, the control unit provides real-time information, including user logins, logouts, experiment titles, end times, and experimental conditions, to a central server connected to the Internet or an intranet. The central server can store, back up, prevent tampering, and track and audit the information.

[0078] 5. The experiment termination stage (S60)(S70) is divided as follows.

[0079] When a specific user's experiment time expires, the controller notifies the user of the experiment's completion and triggers an alarm in the alarm unit. The user's ID, experiment title, and experiment time are displayed. The central server then notifies the user's terminal of the experiment's completion. Once all registered experiments have concluded, the controller automatically terminates control and shuts down the experimental equipment.

[0080] As described above, the present invention can increase the usability of experimental equipment by allowing multiple users to conduct experiments simultaneously using a single experimental equipment, and can also individually notify the end of an experiment, allowing experimenters to focus on other tasks.

[0081] Meanwhile, FIG. 3, briefly mentioned above, is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-integrated system in which a multi-user system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to a plurality of experimental devices.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 3, the multi-user system of the present invention is connected to one or more experimental devices (10) and multiple user terminals (B) conducting experiments on each experimental device (10) via a network, and can transmit and receive all data and information necessary to provide a laboratory environment. To this end, a central server (S) can communicate with multiple different experimenter terminals (B) and multiple different experimental devices (10). Accordingly, experimenters can integrate and manage experimental information on various samples being tested on multiple experimental devices.

[0083] Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

[0084] In addition, although each embodiment of the present invention is based on a multi-sample experiment system, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and also includes a technical scope that can individually notify the end of the experiment for each sample when one user experiments on multiple samples with different experiment end times.

[0085]

[0086] The present invention relates to a multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, and can be widely used in the bio or pharmaceutical fields, where a wide range of experiments are conducted using reagents, samples, etc.

Claims

1. Experimental equipment equipped with a chamber that creates an experimental space; A time setting section for inputting the identifier of the sample to be tested in the chamber and the experiment end time of the sample; A multi-timer that individually counts the experimental end time for at least two samples set in the above time setting section; and A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the usability of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized by including a control unit that receives time information from the multi-timer when experimenting with multiple samples having different experiment end times in the above experimental equipment and distinguishes the end times of the multiple samples to provide an experiment end notification signal for each sample.

2. In claim 1, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the above control unit transmits and receives data through wired and wireless communication with a central server or a user terminal through wired and wireless communication.

3. In claim 2, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the control unit notifies the user of the experiment end information to the terminal of the user conducting the experiment of the sample when it is determined that the experiment end time of the sample has been reached.

4. In claim 3, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the control unit distinguishes a user experimenting with a sample whose experiment end time has expired when there are multiple users experimenting with the sample, and notifies the user's terminal of the end of the experiment.

5. In claim 4, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the user terminal displays information on experimental equipment, sample information, experiment title, experiment date, and experiment end time on the screen of the user terminal along with a notification of experiment end from the control unit.

6. In claim 1, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the usability of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the above experimental equipment further includes a display, the display displays a multi-timer corresponding to the sample, and the multi-timer displays the experimenter's name and the sample identifier of the corresponding experiment along with the experimental time counting.

7. In claim 1, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the control unit, when receiving a login signal from another user in the case where there is a user already occupying the experimental equipment, controls the display to display the ID of the occupant, the experiment title, and the experiment end time.

8. In claim 7, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the usability of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the control unit, when a logged-in user receives an input signal for user switching, displays experimental information suitable for the switched user on the screen.

9. In claim 1, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the usability of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the control unit allows only the user who first registered in the experimental equipment to change environmental control values ​​such as temperature and humidity inside the chamber.

10. In claim 2, A multi-sample experiment system for increasing the utilization of laboratory chamber equipment, characterized in that the server transmits and receives data through wired and wireless communication with a plurality of experimental equipment and transmits an experiment completion signal for the sample received from each of the experimental equipment to the terminal of the experimenter.

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