Instrument Troubleshooting for Non-Event Malfunctions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated biological liquid testing and processing instruments often experience complex, multi-factorial malfunctions without error codes, leading to prolonged instrument downtime due to the difficulty in diagnosing and resolving these non-event malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a database with pre-populated non-event issues and associated corrective actions, enabling input of search criteria through a user interface, parsing and normalizing the search strings into a meta-data schema, and searching the database with normalized search strings to generate a listing of corrective actions and associated corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated biological liquid testing instruments are used to process specimens, then productivity and automation are improved, but device complexity increases leading to more frequent malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument includes a self-service troubleshooting system that automatically generates error codes and provides diagnostic information without requiring external expert intervention. The system serves itself by incorporating embedded databases of non-event issues and corrective actions, allowing operators to independently resolve malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary troubleshooting system that mediates between the complex instrument malfunction and the operator. This intermediary system includes error code generation, database searching, and corrective action recommendation, bridging the gap between the complex instrument and the user.
2Ease of operation
If error codes are generated for malfunctions, then ease of operation is improved for diagnosed errors, but non-event malfunctions without error codes remain difficult to diagnose
Solution Approach 1:
The troubleshooting system serves multiple functions: it handles both error-coded and non-event malfunctions through a unified interface. The database search functionality and corrective action recommendations work for all types of malfunctions, making the system universal rather than requiring separate approaches for different error types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-populating a database with non-event issues and associated corrective actions before malfunctions occur. This advance preparation allows rapid troubleshooting when non-event malfunctions happen, as the diagnostic information is already structured and searchable.
3Reliability
If comprehensive troubleshooting information is provided for all possible malfunctions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The troubleshooting information is segmented into discrete, searchable units in a database structure. Each non-event issue and corrective action is stored as a separate record that can be independently searched and retrieved, breaking down the comprehensive information into manageable segments rather than a monolithic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual troubleshooting systems with an automated information processing system. Instead of physical manuals or expert knowledge transfer, the system uses database storage, electronic searching, and digital recommendation delivery to provide comprehensive troubleshooting information.
4Loss of time
If rapid troubleshooting is implemented through automated systems, then loss of time is reduced, but measurement precision and diagnostic accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where operator observations and outcomes are fed back into the database. This allows the system to learn from actual troubleshooting outcomes and improve diagnostic accuracy over time while maintaining rapid response capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of troubleshooting non-event malfunctions. The methods include providing a database including pre-populated non-event issues and associated corrective actions, inputting search criteria regarding a particular non-event issue via entry of a search string at the user interface, parsing and normalizing the search string into a meta-data schema to produce a normalized search string, searching the database with the normalized search string to generate a listing of one or more particular corrective actions, and receiving the listing of one or more particular corrective actions that are associated with the normalized search string. Apparatus configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.