Automated Laboratory System Route Plan for Sample Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laboratory automation systems face inefficiencies and reliability issues in processing biological samples due to the lack of a systematic approach to distribute and optimize processing actions across multiple automated systems, leading to potential sample contamination and unnecessary repetition of actions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that accesses and processes sample data to generate route plans for automated laboratory systems, optimizing the distribution of processing actions across different systems based on their capabilities and states, thereby minimizing sample handling and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If processing actions are distributed across multiple automated laboratory systems without systematic coordination, then system versatility and processing capacity are improved, but sample contamination risk and processing reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the first computing device receives operation data from the second automated laboratory system indicating completed actions, and uses this feedback to generate an updated route plan that prevents redundant actions and minimizes contamination risk while maintaining processing capacity across multiple systems
Solution Approach 2:
The first computing device acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the first and second automated laboratory systems, managing the distribution of processing actions and ensuring systematic coordination to prevent sample contamination while utilizing the processing capacity of multiple systems
2Productivity
If multiple automated laboratory systems process the same biological sample independently, then processing speed and productivity are improved, but unnecessary repetition of actions increases and efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from operation data about completed actions to dynamically update the route plan, ensuring that subsequent processing systems skip already-performed actions and only execute remaining necessary steps, thereby maintaining high processing speed while eliminating redundant operations
Solution Approach 2:
The first computing device generates a comprehensive route plan in advance that identifies and assigns all necessary processing actions to appropriate systems, preventing unnecessary repetition by pre-coordinating the processing workflow across multiple automated laboratory systems
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is provided. The method comprises: accessing, by a first computing device, sample-processing data, wherein the sample-processing data comprise information indicative of a set of procedures to be carried out on a biological sample, wherein each procedure comprises one or more actions; obtaining, by the first computing device, ALS1 state data, wherein the ALS1 state data comprise information indicative of a state of a first automated laboratory system-ALS1; obtaining, by the first computing device, ALS2 operation data, wherein the ALS2 operation data comprise information indicative of an ALS2 set of actions of at least a first procedure, wherein the ALS2 set of actions either has been carried out or is scheduled to be carried out by a second automated laboratory system-ALS2-on the biological sample; generating, by the first computing device, ALS1 processing data by using the sample-processing data, the ALS1 state data and the ALS2 operation data, wherein the ALS1 processing data comprise information indicative of an ALS1 set of actions of at least a second procedure of the sets of procedures; and initiating, by the first computing device, the generation of an ALS1 route plan for the first automated laboratory system, the ALS1 route plan being based on the ALS1 processing data.