Decoupled Guidance System for IVD Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current analytical systems face challenges in ensuring secure and accurate operation, especially when less trained personnel must use them, as existing guidance methods are integrated with the software and require validation upon changes, leading to resource inefficiencies and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A decoupled guidance system where a second application provides user input guidance for an IVD task without directly exchanging data with the primary application, allowing for flexible adaptation to different tasks and preventing errors by masking unnecessary interface elements, thus avoiding the need for full software validation upon guidance updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guidance information is integrated with the primary application software, then users receive comprehensive support, but any changes to guidance require full software validation which increases time and resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the guidance application from the primary analysis application into two independent components. The guidance application runs as a separate process that communicates with the primary application through a standardized interface, allowing independent development, testing, and validation of guidance information without affecting the primary application's validation status.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized interface acts as an intermediary between the guidance application and the primary application. This interface layer allows the guidance system to interact with the primary application's user interface elements without direct integration, enabling guidance updates without requiring full software validation of the primary application.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed operation guidance for complex analytical systems, then less trained personnel can operate the system, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance application automatically detects the current state of the analysis system and provides context-relevant guidance information without requiring users to navigate through complex menus or search for instructions. The system monitors user actions and system state, then presents appropriate guidance steps, reducing the cognitive load on users.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance information is presented as an overlay layer on top of the existing user interface, utilizing the vertical dimension of the display. This allows guidance content to be displayed without modifying the primary application's interface structure, maintaining simplicity while providing comprehensive support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the guidance system allows flexible adaptation to different IVD tasks, then the system becomes more versatile, but error prevention capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance system applies different levels of guidance detail and restriction based on the specific IVD task and user needs. For routine tasks, streamlined guidance is provided, while for complex or high-risk operations, more detailed and restrictive guidance is automatically applied. The system can mask specific interface elements to prevent erroneous inputs in critical situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance system dynamically adapts its behavior based on the current task context, user actions, and system state. It can adjust the level of guidance provided, mask relevant interface elements, or provide warnings in real-time, allowing flexible adaptation while maintaining error prevention through context-aware control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for guiding user input on a computer system of an analysis system that includes an in vitro diagnostic, IVD, device. The IVD device is coupled to the computer system that includes a display, processor, and memory to store applications being executable on the processor. A first application includes instructions that generate on the display a first graphical user interface that includes a set of user interface elements. Each user interface element is positioned in a defined region within the first graphical user interface. The first application includes instructions that control the IVD device to perform an IVD task that includes a sequence of IVD actions. The user activation of the IVD action is performed using a corresponding user interface element. The memory includes geometry data describing a display position for each interface element.