Robotic laboratory

Citation

(1998), "Robotic laboratory", Industrial Robot, Vol. 25 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1998.04925aaf.002

Robotic laboratory

Robotic laboratory

Lehigh Valley Hospital is the first hospital in the country to install and have in continuous operation the latest robotics technology in its clinical laboratory. Health Network Laboratories (HNL). The LAB-InterLink automation system and the Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics Vitros 950AT chemistry system analyser with on-track sampling was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This development is the first stage in a full robotics initiative that will have robotized chemistry, coagulation, hematology and immunochemistry work stations. The project includes the development and integration of automated instruments capable of on-track or robotic arm sampling, software with testing algorithms, and specimen transportation and routing systems. "The application of robotics to perform clinical laboratory testing is a new concept to the health care industry" said David G. Beckwith PhD, vice president of Network Laboratory Services. "Very few large commercial laboratories have successfully automated the analysis of clinical specimens and even fewer hospitals have embarked on this venture. We are the first to employ a system without downtime". The robotics laboratory automates HNL's entire sample receipt and scheduling, transport, analysis and reporting process. The result is a cost-effective system, with improved quality and productivity. "The system delivers results back to physicians in real time so important patient management decisions can be made in a timely fashion", said John J. Shane, MD, HNL medical director. The automated testing division combines the traditional laboratory disciplines of chemistry, hematology and coagulation, and some aspects of immunochemistry into one testing unit. Physician orders and the specimens are introduced to the automated system at a manual work station through a process called scheduling. An automated specimen carrier transportation system then uses robotics and specially designed software to deliver samples to the appropriate workstation with advanced automated instruments for testing. This occurs with no human intervention. The sample then travels to an archiving station. The project, consisting of a total of ten workstations for scheduling and testing will be completed by the end of the year.

According to Beckwith, the decision to invest in automation requires a sufficient volume of automated testing so a reasonable return on investment is possible. Other considerations deal with the flexibility of the system with regards to instrument vendors, leveraging current investments to support the new automation, maintenance by on-site staff and software that effectively improve patient management and outcomes. Positioning itself to respond to changing market conditions, HNL undertook an organizational redesign in late 1996 that was supported by the robotic initiative. The design of the customized system was the result of a strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics. LAB-InterLink Inc., Abbot Diagnostics and Sunquest Information Systems. "The laboratory robotics project combines four automation industry leaders' strengths. In each area of the laboratory work station ­ instrumentation, robotics and automation, and information", Beckwith said. "We knew we would need to break new ground to fully automate our laboratory and to do this we had to establish innovative strategic partnerships. It has been exciting and rewarding to see former vendors become business partners". J&JCD is partnering with HNL for the chemistry, coagulation and immunochemistry work stations. The first to be operational is the Vitros 950AT chemistry analyzer. Released in January, the Vitros 950AT provides for on-track sampling of specimens, eliminating the need for robotics to transfer samples from the track to the testing instrument. The system also applies 1,400 rules to verify results or identify the need for technologist intervention. The hematology work station will be established this spring. The Cell-Dyn 4000, introduced by Abbott in February is the first to employ three independent measurement technologies enabling the automated measurement of new blood cell parameters and improving the resolution of conventional parameters.

LAB-InterLink is responsible for the laboratory automation/robotics system at HNL. The LAB-Frame (R) custom system was designed through simulation modeling. The system's software identifies and routes specimens to testing stations and archiving, interfaces with instrument software to ensure quality results, gathers results for verification, and transfers those results to other information systems. The software to handle the critical transfer of information between the laboratory automation system, the laboratory information system and the hospital or health care network information system was developed by Sunquest and LAB-InterLink. "Automation and robotics help Health Network Laboratories leverage resources and be more cost effective while maintaining the hospital's high quality standards for patient care", Beckwith said. "Improvements like these strengthen our competitive position and, in the long run, help keep jobs in the region". HNL and LVH are divisions of Lehigh Valley Health Network, which also includes home health, hospice, pharmacy, and durable medical equipment, among others. The network is a member of PennCARE, a provider-led, integrated health care delivery system composed of nine hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania and participating members of their medical staffs. Based in Allentown, PA, LVH is a community-based health care institution and a regional referral center for trauma, burn, kidney transplant, perinatal, cardiac and cancer care. It has more than 660 patient beds and a medical staff of 700 working in more than 50 specialties. As Pennsylvania's oldest and largest teaching hospital, LVH is a chief clinical campus of Penn State University's College of Medicine Hershey.

(Source: BRA.)