User Interfaces for University Laboratory Work cells

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User Interfaces for University Laboratory Work
cells

• Malcolm Crook
• Process Analysis AutomationLecturer, MChem
  Course, University of Surrey Lecturer, MSc
  Course Trinity College DublinAdvisory Board,
  University of Manchester

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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

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Laboratory automation - the process
collect sample
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Key system requirements

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

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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

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control and scheduling software
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control software - summary

• Event driven scheduling
• Overlord2
• real-time

• static scheduling
• OVERLORD Scheduler
• time driven

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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

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which product ?

• Very Flexible
• True Dynamic Scheduling

• Takes longer to setup

Overlord2

• Very easy to use
• Obeys critical timings
• Schedules fixed processes

• Cannot make decisions

OVERLORD Scheduler
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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

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Software Structure
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
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Software Structure
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Written to access key functionality
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
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Software Structure
Overlord2
Event driven
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Written to access key functionality
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
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Overlord2
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which product ?

• Very Flexible
• True Dynamic Scheduling

• Takes longer to setup

Overlord2

• Very easy to use
• Obeys critical timings
• Schedules fixed processes

• Cannot make decisions

OVERLORD Scheduler
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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

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OVERLORD Scheduler
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• HARDWARE OPTIONS

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• Most manufacturers
• Most instruments
• Over 300 instruments
• 450 licenses
• Used in
• USA
• Europe
• Japan
• Australia

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• HARDWARE OPTIONS
• Plate transport

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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

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HARDWARE OPTIONS stackers
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HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots
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HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots
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• HARDWARE OPTIONS
• Peripheral equipment

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HARDWARE OPTIONS- peripheral equipment
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HARDWARE OPTIONS - liquid handling
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• HARDWARE OPTIONS
• Storage/containment

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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

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HARDWARE OPTIONS - containment

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

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• Systems Integration

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what is an integrator ?

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

hardware
software
integration
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example systems No stacker Stacker Robot Tracked
robot
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no stacker or laboratory robot

• PerkinElmer JANUS system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_jpm_
  lo.wmv

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stacker only

• automated TTP Mosquito system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/nano_mosqu
  ito_lo.wmv
• automated PerkinElmer PlateStak system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_pe_l
  o.wmv

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laboratory robot systems

• automated Genimic Solutions Hummingbird system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/hummingbir
  d_lo.wmv
• automated GE Healthcare IN Cell 1000 system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/hcs_1000_l
  o.wmv

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factory robot systems

• automated dilute seal system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/mitsubishi
  _dilute_seal_lo.wmv
• automated cell system
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/ppw_lo.wmv

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tracked robot system

• Milk analysis workcell
• http//www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/milk_lo.wm
  v

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• Tailoring systems

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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

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Software Structure
Experiment Manager
Overlord2
Event driven
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Overlord2 Driver
Written to access key functionality
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
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Experiment Manager User layer
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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

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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