Computer-automated laboratory

Computer Automated Laboratory System/ Environmental Waste Database System... 

CALS—See Computer automated laboratory system CAS On-Line, 22,95 Central limit theorem, 115 Certificate of analysis, 21 Clustering methods, 91,93-97 Clusters technology, 42... 

Computer-Based Laboratory for Developing Practical Automated Feedback Control Systems for Batch Polymerizations... 

The development and widespread use of computers and microprocessors in control laboratory instruments has made it possible to fully automate a laboratory, including interfacing instruments directly to a LIMS. In the fully automated laboratory, a sample is logged into a LIMS, then transferred to a laboratory where it is prepared for analysis by a robot, which then transfers it to an autosampler or analyzer. Once analyzed, the data is transferred through a communications link to a device which could convert the raw data into information that a customer needs. For example, in a simple case, a nmr spectrum could be compared to spectra on file to yield an identification of an unknown. In more complex instances, a data set could be compared to standards and by using pattern recognition techniques the LIMS would be able to determine the source of a particular raw material. Once the data is reduced and interpreted, the LIMS becomes the repository of the information. A schematic for such a fully automated laboratory is shown in Figure 2 (6). 

While science writers today extoll the virtues of computer controlled laboratory instrumentation, knowledgeable lab dentists recognize the extent to which automated equipment can "free" the scientist from his laboratory investigations. A similar appraisal occurred in the crime laboratory. Crime laboratory directors soon recognized that no amount of modern equipment could reduce the ever-growing case load if there were not enough laboratory scientists to use the equipment. Adequately prepared laboratory scientists were needed to use the equipment to produce results which could be interpreted in a meaningful manner relative to the cases at hand. In other words, we have not as yet found the way to get the "computer" to testify under oath on the stand ... 

EU publishes GMP for Medicinal Products, which include computer system expectations 1995 U.S. EPA releases final version of Good Automated Laboratory Practice... 

There are inevitable interfaces between the application areas of the various sets of procedures and the computer systems to which they apply, as indicated in Figure 3.3. Client-server technology is typically the deciding factor in determining whether control system and laboratory application projects would be better served by IT system procedures. Another example might be that robotic systems used to automate laboratories would be better served by control system procedures. 

This list of tasks is not necessarily complete but demonstrates the complexity of the software engineering task of integrating automation in a laboratory. Although the functions of the LIS and LAS are often provided on separate computers, they may also be integrated on a single computer. Several manufacturers (e.g., MDS AutoLab, Odysis, and Zymark) have process control software that can manage many functions in an automated laboratory. However, the... 

Unmanned satellite laboratories are a possible alternative to a central laboratory facility. To demonstrate the practicality of such an approach, investigators at the University of Virginia have developed remote automated laboratory systems- (RALS) designed to automate POCT in hospital intensive care units. The results from the analytical instruments in each RALS are sent to a central monitoring workstation several floors away from the satellite laboratory by a network interface, where results are viewed and either accepted or rejected by a trained medical technologist before being released for clinical use. Error codes built into the analytical instruments are also passed to the main laboratory by the computer netw ork. Technologists in the control center can also shut down the satellite laboratory when necessary, as in the case of instrument failure. Patient information is downloaded from the hospital information system in real time so that users can select their patients and the tests to perform from a fist presented on the computer touchscreen. 

Thus several of these researchers have begun to think about designing process-oriented healthcare information systems that adjust naturally to changes in resources and organizational structures. Computer-interpretable models based on clinical workflows have already been implemented within the context of specific different fields, such as stroke and cancer therapy. A snapshot of part of an automated laboratory workflow is in Table 7.1.2 These authors as well as others have considered special kinds of networks for healthcare workflow that issue simple reminders and serve as an organizer in a healthcare office environment in which duties are widely shared. 

The construction of a fully automated laboratory where all manual steps - from chemical synthesis to product characterization - are managed by robots is no longer a futuristic dream. Currently, about 20 companies are specialized in the design of chemistry robots of different sizes and levels of automation [15,16 Chapt. 19]. The robotized laboratory for chemical synthesis has to be connected with databases for building blocks, for reaction information, and for library information.The tools for data analysis should be accessible to the operator to design libraries and lead optimization in cooperation with specialists for screening, bioinformatics, database management, computational and medicinal chemistry, and for compound characterization. 

Figure 19.2. Resource exploitation in automated laboratories The different resources (gray boxes) can be used by either automated systems (yellow area) or laboratory personnel (blue area).The process of laboratory work-procedures can be managed by the means of computer technology (information logistics) as well as automation technology (sample logistics).

In these, the gas phase is suitably collected and subjected to the subsequent analytical determinations in a discontinuous fashion. Although the classical distillation systems have fallen into disuse since the advent of the advantageous gas chromatography, their automation has fostered the development of assemblies of some Interest. Chipperfleld et al. [2] reported a computer-controlled laboratory fractional column for small-scale preparations in which a microcomputer controls the column-jacket temperatures, boil-up rate and reflux ratio to achieve optimum separations. A schematic diagram of the dls-... 

A term used to cover a broad range of systems, including automated manufacturing equipment, control systems, automated laboratory systems. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) and computers running laboratory or... 

Special-purpose computing. In laboratory experiments and scientific applications, minicomputers are use to control experiments and process information generated by the experiment. Minicomputers are powerful tools for automating manufacturing and for testing products. They also can be used for controlling machines such as large planes and ships. 

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