Diagnostic Instrument Maintenance Scheduling by Usage Probability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Point of care (POC) diagnostic instruments face reduced availability due to maintenance activities, which conflict with active usage periods, leading to increased turnaround times and delayed results.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects activity proximity to the diagnostic instrument using a detection unit, processing signals to determine a probability of use, and schedules maintenance processes to avoid conflicts with active usage, thereby ensuring the instrument is available for testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance processes are performed regularly, then reliability of the diagnostic instrument is improved, but availability for diagnostic testing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance scheduling system dynamically adjusts maintenance timing based on real-time detected activity patterns and probability of use. Instead of fixed periodic maintenance, the system continuously monitors operator presence and instrument usage patterns, then schedules maintenance during periods of low probability of use, making the maintenance schedule flexible and adaptive to actual operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic instrument autonomously monitors its own usage patterns and schedules maintenance without external intervention. The detection unit continuously tracks activity in proximity to the instrument, the processor calculates probability of use based on this data, and the system automatically determines optimal maintenance timing, enabling the instrument to self-manage its maintenance schedule.
2Reliability
If maintenance frequency is increased, then reliability is improved, but loss of time for diagnostic testing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temporal parameter of maintenance scheduling from fixed periodic intervals to variable timing based on activity probability thresholds. By monitoring activity patterns and calculating probability of use, the system identifies optimal windows for maintenance that minimize disruption to diagnostic testing, effectively changing when maintenance occurs rather than how often it is mandated.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit continuously monitors activity in proximity to the instrument and provides real-time feedback to the processor. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust maintenance scheduling based on actual usage patterns, ensuring maintenance is performed during low-activity periods and minimizing impact on diagnostic testing throughput.
3Productivity
If maintenance is scheduled during high-activity periods, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but instrument availability during critical testing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of scheduling maintenance during high-activity periods when operators are present, the system inverts the approach by scheduling maintenance during low-activity periods when probability of use is below thresholds. The detection unit identifies periods of low operator presence and schedules maintenance during these windows, ensuring maintenance occurs when it least impacts diagnostic testing availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method of operating a diagnostic instrument such that maintenance processes do not conflict with operator activity is presented. A maintenance process conflicts with operator activity if the probability of use of the diagnostic instrument is above a usage probability threshold. The probability of use of the diagnostic instrument is determined based on detected presence and/or movement of an operator in the proximity of the diagnostic instrument and/or operation of the diagnostic instrument.