Laboratory Automation Integrating equipment into a multi-vendor world

Laboratory AutomationLaboratory Automation

Integrating equipment Integrating equipmentinto a multi-vendor world into a multi-vendor world

ProgrammeProgramme

INTRODUCTION

INTEGRATION

SCHEDULING

SMALL SYSTEMS

HIGH THROUGHPUT SYSTEMS

SUMMARY

DATA HANDLING



Introduction Introduction

Your PresenterYour Presenter

• Malcolm Crook– Synthetic chemist– 12 years in industry (BP)– 19 years in automation– 11 years running PAA– 25 years writing software

– Visiting Reader in Chemistry at University of Surrey



Integration Integration

What do PAA offerWhat do PAA offer

• Scheduling software– OVERLORD™ Workstation– OVERLORD™ Scheduler

• Systems integration expertise• Data handling expertise

– links to LIMS– links to databases

• wide range of peripherals

PerkinElmer productsPerkinElmer products

Pipettingrobots

Platereaders

RobotsRobots

MitsubishiMitsubishi

Long reachDynamic vertical reach

Dextrous gripper



Scheduling Scheduling

SchedulingScheduling

Two types:• Real time scheduling

– All decisions are taken during the time frame of the run

– i.e. once the “GO” button is pressed• Pre-emptive scheduling

– All decisions are taken before the run starts– i.e. before the “GO” button is pressed

Real time schedulingReal time scheduling

• Advantages:– flexible– decisions can be taken during the run– error recovery easy

• Disadvantages– accurate timings are more difficult to set up– two accurate timings in a run are impossible

Pre-emptive schedulingPre-emptive scheduling

• Advantages:– one or more accurate timings are guaranteed– easy to set up

• Disadvantages– inflexible– decisions can not be taken during the run– error recovery more difficult

Scheduling - the choiceScheduling - the choice

pre-emptivereal-time

either



Our Automated SystemsOur Automated Systems

• complete solution using existing equipment• complete integration with other equipment• complete integration of hardware / software• integrated data handling

FEATURESFEATURES

• PC based, Windows 2000/XP• full password and user identification• full interfacing with LIMS via text files• icon based, flow chart interface• on-line context sensitive manual• drag and drop setup• European language support

OVERLORD™OVERLORD™

• flow diagrams• hierarchical control• interface• instrument control• general functionality• connection to the outside world• 21CFR user access• expandability

flow diagramsflow diagrams

• Natural method of experiment description• easy to understand• easy to explain to another• easy to check logic

All done

comment

Loop for n samples

Action 1

Action 2

Nextsample

N = 3 loops

N = 3

N = N + 1

comment

Loop for n samples

Action 1

Action 2

Nextsample

All done

hierarchical controlhierarchical control

• Organised programming• logical units of operations• reusable procedures


sub unit 1 etc ....

procedural unit 1 procedural unit 2 procedural unit 3

Main control loop

sub unit 2 sub unit 3


Pick sample platefrom hotel etc ....

dilute sample procedural unit 2 procedural unit 3

Run sample preparation loop

Place on Hamilton

Pick blank platefrom hotel

interfaceinterface

• flow diagram analogue• automatically filled in to aid programming• interface follows Microsoft visual specifications

Information header about procedure

Body of actions in procedure

End of procedure

Values & description at runtime

Scroll around the procedure

Palette of available commands

Toolbar of common functions


Branching on condition

Robot action

tooltips to aid interpretation

List of proceduresfor overview of complete

method

Instrument controlInstrument control

• any device that can be controlled by– serial communications– switch on/off– variable voltage

• use of equipment native control software– with automation interface– without automation interface

RuntimeRuntime

• full self documentation/audit trail• data storage on server/local disc• clear, easy to read runtime interface



Example of real time Example of real time scheduling 1scheduling 1

Plate readingPlate reading

• Process a stack of plates• pass through a plate reader• collate the results

Matrix PlateMate Plus

Hudson Plate Crane

Plate reader

Bulk dispenser

Plate washer



Example of real time Example of real time scheduling 2scheduling 2

MultiPROBE

SWAP robot

PlateSTAK

PlateSTAK



Example of pre-emptive Example of pre-emptive schedulingscheduling


Toolbar of common functions

Start with new assay for schedule

Start with plate types in assay

Fill in the assay name

Drag and drop the actions in the assay

Fill in the actions

optimise

optimise

Integrating a MultiPROBE II

Integrating a MultiPROBE IIIntegrating a MultiPROBE II

• Hit picking• batch of plates stored in MolBank• process plate for stage on Matrix Platemate plus• Instruments

– Jouan MolBank– PerkinElmer MultiPROBE II– Hamilton SWAP robot– Liconic plate store

MolBank

MultiPROBE II

Matrix PlateMate Plus

Liconic storage

MultiPROBE II

Hamilton SWAP



High Throughput Systems High Throughput Systems

System integrationSystem integration

• Same as all the other systems we have described• OVERLORD™ software control package• ability to use ‘large’ instruments

high throughput systemshigh throughput systems

• single computer control• same OVERLORD™ interface• maximum use of processing power• require maximum throughput• requires complex scheduling algorithms

– expensive– complicated– difficult to set up

Very high throughputVery high throughput

• One PC cannot control everything• processor switching on Windows inefficient

– one instrument 100%– two instrument 140% (not 200%)

• Multiply processor system required

Our answer …Our answer …

• Distributed processing• NetLORD™• allows any number of workstations• full efficiency of all workstations• logical control• unsophisticated control required

– cheap to install– easy to understand



High Throughput Systems High Throughput SystemsAmes II testAmes II test

NetLORD™NetLORD™

• New concept in multi instrument control• uses standard Ethernet protocols• full control of instruments over network• reduced need for scheduling algorithms• uses simple workflow control interface• low cost to implement

AdvantagesAdvantages

• uses same interface as OVERLORD™• PC / piece of equipment ensures throughput• no timing problems• redundancy can be built into the system

Bacteria additionIndicator addition

Plate readerIncubator

PCperipherals

KVMbox

4 PCs

Control of clients

From 3 PCsInstructed from

OVERLORD™ server



Data handling Data handling

Communication to the outside worldCommunication to the outside world

• Input– manual data input – experimental setup– text files, csv– data from LIMS– data from database

• Output– report/printer– data file, text file– data to LIMS– data to database

Data HandlingData Handling

Data can be handled with• Microsoft EXCEL• Microsoft WORD• Microsoft VB Scripts• Microsoft VB for Applications• Microsoft Access• Oracle SQL

EXCEL - data setup pageEXCEL - data setup page

EXCELEXCEL



Summary Summary

INTRODUCTION

INTEGRATION

SCHEDULING

SMALL SYSTEMS

HIGH THROUGHPUT SYSTEMS

SUMMARY

DATA HANDLING

SummarySummary

InformationInformation

• www.paa.co.uk– pictures– application notes– technical details– system descriptions

• PAA– [email protected]– +44 1252 373000

Documents

Laboratory Automation Integrating equipment into a multi-vendor world