User Interfaces for University Laboratory Work cells

Malcolm CrookProcess Analysis & Automation

Lecturer, MChem Course, University of Surrey Lecturer, MSc Course Trinity College DublinAdvisory Board, University of Manchester

Purpose of presentation to show …

Software options– Vendor specific– Vendor independent

Hardware options– Usually decided by user

Systems integration– Putting the system together

Tailoring projects– Making the system useable

analyze sample

prepare sample

analyze sample

prepare sample

Laboratory automation - the process

collect sample

report results

Key system requirements

Run a batch of plates Run another batch of plates if present Keep track of the data Reliable Easy to use

Software Choices

Event driven/real-time scheduler/sequencer– Can handle timings– Can handle decisions– Can handle unknown plate quantities

Overlord2 is an EVENT DRIVEN SCHEDULER Time driven/static scheduler

– Handles multiple timings (incubations) Overlord Scheduler is a TIME RESOLVED

SCHEDULER

control and scheduling software

STATIC

hit the GO button

know exactly what will happen

at any time in the process

EVENT DRIVEN

hit the GO button

Follow a process

control software - summary

Event driven scheduling– Overlord2– real-time

static scheduling– OVERLORD Scheduler– time driven

Either

common features

support for over 300 instruments data handling facilities utilizes original instrument software can integrate with most databases

– SQL server, oracle, access 21 CFR part 11 compliant full system tracking error notification error recovery

which product ?

Advantages Disadvantages

Very FlexibleTrue Dynamic Scheduling

Takes longer to setup

Very easy to useObeys critical timingsSchedules fixed processes

Cannot make decisions

Overlord2

OVERLORD Scheduler

Overlord2

real-time/event driven icon based drag and drop set-up flow chart interface very flexible dynamic scheduling

– decisions can be made in real-time

Software Structure

Instrument Interface

Run native instrument control software

Instrument Interface

Instrument Interface

Software Structure

Overlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Run native instrument control software

Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionalityOverlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Instrument Interface

Supervisor layer

Software Structure

Overlord2

Overlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Run native instrument control software

Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionality

Event driven

Overlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Instrument Interface

Overlord2

which product ?

Advantages Disadvantages

Very FlexibleTrue Dynamic Scheduling

Takes longer to setup

Very easy to useObeys critical timingsSchedules fixed processes

Cannot make decisions

Overlord2

OVERLORD Scheduler

OVERLORD Scheduler

static/time driven icon based drag and drop Gantt chart interface optimise and interleave different assays each assay run with exact incubation timings very easy to create an assay add new assays when the system is running

OVERLORD Scheduler

HARDWARE OPTIONS

Most manufacturers Most instruments Over 300

instruments 450 licenses Used in

– USA– Europe – Japan– Australia

HARDWARE OPTIONSPlate transport

Plate transfer choice

Stackers PerkinElmer LS PlateStak Thermo RapidStak plate stacker Velocity 11 BenchCel Stacker Hudson PlateSilo Magstar Stacker Titertek Titan

Robots automate.it KiNEDx SCARA

arm Mitsubishi robots Staubli robots Caliper (Zymark) Twister I & II Thermo CataLyst 5 & X Denso VS-6556E robot Hamilton Microlab SWAP Hudson Plate Crane PAA X-Link Sands Technology robot range

HARDWARE OPTIONS – stackers

PE PlateStak Thermo RapidStak

automate.it SCARA

HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots

Mitsubishi

HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots

HARDWARE OPTIONSPeripheral equipment

HARDWARE OPTIONS- peripheral equipment

Plate manipulatorHigh content plate reader

Peripherals

HARDWARE OPTIONS - liquid handling

Reagent dispensing

Flexdrop

Liquid Handling

PlateWash

HARDWARE OPTIONSStorage/containment

HARDWARE OPTIONS - storage

Inheco 12 place incubator Thermo Cytomat range of incubators Liconic range of incubators Hamilton (TekCel) PlateStore Thermo (Jouan) MolBank Incubator Caliper Scitec Carousel

Storage

HARDWARE OPTIONS - containment

Bench workcell automate.it SAFEcel automate.it SAFEcel L automate.it SAFEcel C2 automate.it connect 2 robot solution

Systems Integration

what is an integrator ?

instruments are BRICKS software is the CEMENT integrator puts it together like a BUILDER

hardwaresoftware integration

system

example systemsNo stacker

StackerRobot

Tracked robot

no stacker or laboratory robot

PerkinElmer JANUS systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_jpm_lo.wmv

stacker only

automated TTP Mosquito systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/nano_mosquito_lo.wmv

automated PerkinElmer PlateStak systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_pe_lo.wmv

laboratory robot systems

automated Genimic Solutions Hummingbird systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/hummingbird_lo.wmv

automated GE Healthcare IN Cell 1000 systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/hcs_1000_lo.wmv

factory robot systems

automated dilute & seal systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/mitsubishi_dilute_seal_lo.wmv

automated cell systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/ppw_lo.wmv

tracked robot system

Milk analysis workcellhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/milk_lo.wmv

Tailoring systems

Overlord2 - Customizable

user GUI & runtime module separable can use different GUI, Microsoft Excel could be used different run engines can be run processes the flow using Overlord variables overlord instrument drivers developed quickly all components can be modified master or slave all errors handled with different options .NET framework, API will be utilized flexible GUI makes writing assays easier

User layer

Software Structure

Experiment Manager

Overlord2

Overlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Run native instrument control software

Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionality

Event driven

Overlord2 Driver

Instrument Interface

Instrument Interface

Experiment Manager – User layer

Add an experiment

Experiments added

Experiment running

Experiment complete

External collaborations

Overlord2 GE: Automation front ends Molecular Devices StakMax Labcyte 810 Pod: Automation layer Caliper ACES programme TAP: Automation layer Matrical automated workcell

OVERLORD Scheduler PerkinElmer: JANUS Project Manager

conclusion

laboratory automation has a number of key stages choice

– hardware– software

scheduler choice User front end choice

– integration make the system what was required not what was

asked for committed to technically relevant cost effective

solution