Single Point Chain of Custody in Distributed Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional laboratory automation systems in in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environments face inefficiencies due to the inability to leverage available resources and capacity, resulting in diminishing returns, and lack of guaranteed chain of custody for sample handling.
Innovation Solution
A distributed automation system with a single acquisition point for sample identification, an automation track with continuous tracking of carrier identities and positions, and a cover system to detect breaches, ensuring continuous chain of custody and reducing the need for multiple identification stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple identification stations are deployed at each decision point in traditional laboratory automation systems, then chain of custody can be maintained, but system complexity and hardware requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple identification stations into a single identification station located at the central decision point. The central controller integrates the functionality of what would otherwise be distributed identification stations, allowing one station to serve multiple modules through centralized monitoring and control of the automation track.
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller acts as an intermediary between the single identification station and multiple analyzer modules. It receives identification data from the single station and distributes the necessary information to relevant modules, eliminating the need for each module to have its own identification station while maintaining proper chain of custody.
2Productivity
If traditional distributed architecture with multiple decision points is used, then sample handling can be distributed across modules, but throughput is reduced due to delays at each decision point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from multiple distributed decision points and consolidates it at a single central decision point. This eliminates the repeated identification delays that occur at each module interface, allowing samples to move more efficiently through the system while the central controller manages sample routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The single identification station performs identification upfront at the central decision point before samples are routed to various modules. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary identification data is captured once, and the central controller can then efficiently route samples without requiring additional identification steps at downstream modules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional systems are added to distributed architecture, then system capacity increases, but resource utilization diminishes due to inefficiencies in traditional approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller provides universal functionality that serves multiple analyzer modules with a single identification station. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle diverse sample routing scenarios without requiring dedicated identification hardware at each module, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining system expandability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a combination of an automation system that continuously tracks the identity and positions of all of its pucks with a single sample identification station and covers/interlocks in order to provide sample chain of custody without the need to re-identify the sample at points of interaction (aspiration, de-capping, etc.). This eliminates the need to have sample identification stations at each interaction point. This reduction of hardware allows the system to be cheaper, smaller, and more reliable. It also allows not only the automation system, but also existing pre-analytical / analytical equipment connected to the automation system, to run more efficiently.