System Examples

LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. creates systems that are tailored to meet the needs of each client. Due to the wide range of configurations available, the systems described here are presented as examples of the common solutions. Illustrations of the example systems are attached.

Client Requirements

Example 1

This client requires a compact automation system to receive specimen tubes, verify bar codes stored in the LIS, centrifuge where necessary and sort all tubes into analyzer instrument racks prior to analysis. Following analysis and verification of results, tubes are sorted to trays for post-analytical refrigerated storage.

In a traditional hospital laboratory where each department is in its own room -- hematology in one area, chemistry in another etc., this system can be installed in the centralized specimen reception area. The laboratory receives 150 to 250 specimen tubes per hour at peak times and about 1000 tubes per day. Approximately half of these tubes require centrifuging and a small portion require aliquotting.

These requirements define a basic system; as the laboratory grows and perhaps begins to adopt more modern open plan concepts, the system can be expanded to include more functionality -- for example direct connection to analyzer instruments or an automated aliquotter.

The LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. Solution

This system is configured from the following LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. modules:

• Transport System - the conveyor that forms the system backbone.
• Specimen Sorter – tubes are loaded into the system using storage trays and then placed into the module.  The tubes are then loaded automatically loaded onto the system.  Following additional tube preparation (if required) the tubes are returned or stay in the Specimen Sorter and are automatically loaded into the appropriate analyzer instrument racks.
• Automated Centrifuge - specimen tubes requiring centrifugation are routed to this module where they are transferred automatically from the conveyor and loaded into the refrigerated self-balancing centrifuge. After processing, specimens are reloaded automatically onto the conveyor.
• Uncapper - tubes requiring aliquotting or cap removal before presentation to an analyzer are processed by this module. Tubes which do not require cap removal simply by-pass the module.
• Automation System Controller - this is the LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. computer which controls the automation system and which interfaces with the LIS. The interface with the LIS is simple; the LIS sees the RRUSH™ system like any other piece of equipment in the laboratory and it sends it test requests.

The layout of our systems can be adjusted easily at the time of placing an order to suit a laboratory’s space requirements, to improve the overall laboratory workflow and to accommodate convenient pedestrian movements.

Client Requirements

Example 2

This client requires a comprehensive system to fully automate the handling and preparation of specimen tubes. Typically, this customer handles over 400 tubes per peak hour and about 2,500 tubes per day. For labor savings, quality and/or safety reasons the client does not wish to expend any labor for specimen handling after the specimen tube is loaded onto the automation system.

The system can be installed in a clinical reference laboratory or centralized hospital laboratory such that the specimen reception and analytical areas are linked by the Transport System. The analyzers can be arranged along the Transport System. Robotic interfaces load and unload the analyzers directly, or specimens are positioned for analyzers with direct sampling capabilities. Specimen storage is automated.

The LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. Solution

This system contains the following LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. RRUSH™ modules:
           

• Transport System - the conveyor that forms the system backbone.
• Loading Station - where lab personnel load previously bar-code labeled tubes on the system. Tubes have bar-code labels applied at the time of collection or when the orders are entered into the LIS. Tubes that do not match the LIS work lists or which have illegible bar codes are diverted to the reject lane. These tubes are automatically rejected at this point allowing simple human intervention and correction.
• Automated Centrifuge - specimen tubes requiring centrifugation are routed to this module where they are transferred automatically from the conveyor and loaded into the refrigerated self-balancing centrifuge. After processing, specimens are reloaded automatically onto the conveyor.
• Uncapper - tubes requiring aliquotting or cap removal before presentation to an analyzer are processed by this module. Tubes which do not require cap removal simply by-pass the module.
• Specimen Sorter - tubes are loaded automatically into appropriate analyzer instrument racks. Following analysis, racks are returned to the Specimen Sorter, results are verified and, if necessary, repeats are made. Tubes may be redirected automatically to other analyzer racks or placed in a storage tray.
• Automated Aliquotter - tubes requiring aliquots pass through this module that first prepares the required number of secondary tubes then aspirates from the primary into the secondary tubes.
• Robotic Analyzer Interface - specimens destined for processing on selected analyzers can be transferred automatically from the conveyor system and loaded into the analyzer. Following analysis, tested specimens are returned robotically to the Transport System.
• On-Line Analyzer Interface - it positions specimens to enable selected analyzers equipped with external sampling capabilities to aspirate specimen directly from the Transport System. This eliminates the need for aliquotting and enables specimens to remain on the LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. RRUSH™ system from the time of specimen reception to storage.
• Recapper - this module is configured for high volume insertion of new removable caps onto the primary and secondary tubes requiring capping. The RRUSH™ system is usually configured for open tube transport and recapping is done prior to storage only.
• Refrigerated Storage Manager - an on-line refrigerated storage module that stores up to 3700 specimens. The storage location is recorded by the Automation System Controller and made available to the LIS for later automated or manual retrieval.
• Automation System Controller - this is the LABOTIX™ Automation Inc. computer which controls the automation system and which interfaces with the LIS. The interface with the LIS is simple; the LIS sees the RRUSH™ system like any other piece of equipment in the laboratory and it sends it test requests.

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