Distributed Laboratory Instrument Console Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized data management systems in laboratory environments are prone to outages, inefficient scaling, and require costly upgrades due to peak traffic and compatibility issues with various laboratory instruments, leading to disruptions and underutilization of resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an integrated console environment where laboratory instruments locally store and manage data, using data access components to distribute data storage and analytics across the network, allowing client devices to access data directly from the instrument console, reducing reliance on centralized systems and enabling tailored applications for each instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centralized data management center is used to store and manage all laboratory data, then data accessibility across the enterprise is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to outages and performance degradation affecting the entire enterprise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized data management system into distributed segments by implementing local data storage on individual laboratory instruments. Each instrument maintains its own data store, eliminating the single point of failure at the centralized server while still allowing enterprise-wide data access through the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data management layer that coordinates between distributed instruments and client devices. This intermediary layer handles data routing, access control, and synchronization without requiring direct connections to all instruments, thereby improving reliability while maintaining accessibility.
2Reliability
If backup or redundant servers are used to reduce outage effects, then system reliability is improved, but data access disruption occurs during failover and backup servers may also go offline during traffic spikes
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting data storage across multiple independent instruments rather than relying on a single centralized system with backups, the patent eliminates the failover disruption time. Each instrument independently stores its data locally, so no failover process is needed when one instrument fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by storing data locally at each instrument before any outage occurs. This local data cache acts as a cushion that maintains operation during outages without requiring backup servers to come online, thereby eliminating disruption time.
3Productivity
If servers and storage devices are over-provisioned to account for peak traffic, then data access capability during peak loads is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates due to underutilization during non-peak times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data access load across multiple distributed instruments instead of concentrating it at a single centralized server. Each instrument handles its own data access locally, which eliminates the need for over-provisioning at the central level and improves overall resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling each instrument to store and access its own data locally rather than relying on centralized resources. This local data caching approach reduces the peak load on any single server, allowing for more efficient resource allocation and reduced energy consumption during non-peak times.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the entire centralized system is updated when one instrument is upgraded, then system compatibility is maintained, but update complexity and downtime increase due to the need to accommodate new protocols and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into independent instruments with their own data stores and processing capabilities. This segmentation allows individual instruments to be upgraded with new protocols or configurations without affecting other instruments, thereby reducing update complexity while maintaining overall system compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each instrument to have its own customized configuration and protocol stack. This enables instruments to be upgraded independently with the latest technologies while maintaining compatibility with the rest of the system through standardized communication interfaces, reducing overall update complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and apparatus for an integrated console environment for diagnostic instruments are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a laboratory analyzer configured to generate patient sample result data by performing an analysis on a biological sample from a patient and quality control data by performing an analysis on a control biological sample with known properties. The example apparatus also includes a first laboratory instrument memory configured to locally store the patient sample result data among a plurality of other patient sample result data and a first data access component at a first address configured to provide access to the first laboratory instrument memory. The example apparatus further includes a second laboratory instrument memory configured to locally store the quality control data among a plurality of other quality control data and a second data access component at a second address configured to provide access to the second laboratory instrument memory.