Laboratory Analyzer Vision Guidance for Pipetting Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory analyzers face challenges in guiding users through manual pipetting workflows accurately, leading to potential deviations from the target workflow due to confusion between reagent positions and pipetting orders, which can result in false analysis results.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory analyzer system comprising a computing device, a pipette connected to the device, and a camera that acquires vision analysis data during the pipetting process. The system displays a predetermined workflow and compares actual data to target data, signaling deviations to ensure correct pipette and reagent vessel positions and volumes, thereby guiding the operator through the process accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual pipetting workflow is provided without automated guidance, then the operator has flexibility in performing the pipetting process, but the risk of deviation from the target workflow increases due to confusion between reagent positions and pipetting orders
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the manual pipetting process through a camera and compares actual operations against the target workflow. Real-time feedback is provided to the operator through visual and acoustic signals when deviations are detected, such as incorrect reagent selection or improper pipetting sequence, thereby maintaining workflow accuracy while preserving operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical manual operation with an automated vision-based monitoring and recognition system. The camera captures images of reagent vessels and pipette positions, and the computing device automatically identifies and validates the operator's actions against the predetermined workflow, substituting mechanical guidance with intelligent automated verification
2Productivity
If multiple reagent vessels are placed in multiple compartments without automated identification, then the setup is simple and quick, but positions for cuvettes and reagents can be mixed up by accident leading to false results
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy of the physical reagent arrangement through vision analysis. The camera captures images of the reagent vessels in their compartments, and the computing device generates a digital representation that is automatically compared against the target workflow configuration, enabling rapid setup verification without manual checking
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of reagent positions and pipetting actions. The vision system automatically identifies reagent vessels, tracks pipette movements, and validates operations against the target workflow without requiring external verification or manual intervention, thereby maintaining both speed and accuracy
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A laboratory analyzer (100) for manually handling a plurality of reagents is disclosed. The laboratory analyzer (100) comprises a computing device (102) comprising a display (104) for displaying a workflow of a pipetting process comprising a plurality of method steps to an operator, a pipette (106) for pipetting reagents connected to the computing device (102), a plurality of compartments (110, 112, 114, 116, 118) for receiving a plurality of reagents vessels (120, 122, 124, 126, 128) including reagents to be pipetted by means of the pipette (106), a camera (130) connected to the computing device (102), wherein the camera (130) is adapted to acquire data from a vision analysis of at least the plurality of compartments (110, 112, 114, 116, 118) during manually carrying out a pipetting process by the operator according to the workflow, wherein the computing device (102) is adapted to compare the data to target data correlated to the plurality of method steps of the workflow. Further, a method for operating a laboratory analyzer (100) for manually handling a plurality of reagents is disclosed.