In a scenario where a laboratory is required to perform a plurality of tests on biological samples from a plurality of tubes in a manner that satisfies certain constraints, it is possible that the laboratory could handle the samples and assign them to machines in a manner which ensures that the relevant constraints are met. This could include using matrices and optimization functions to represent tubes, tests, machines and prescriptions, and could also include dynamically determining whether and how to aliquot the samples so as to meet the constraints given the conditions under which the samples would be processed.

The invention relates to a laboratory instrument for the instrument-controlled handling of a partial problem in a treatment process which contains treatments of at least one laboratory sample. The invention moreover relates to a system containing a plurality of such laboratory instruments, wherein the system serves for the instrument-controlled handling of a problem containing a plurality of these partial problems in the treatment process of at least one laboratory sample. And the invention relates to a method for the instrument-controlled handling of a partial problem in a treatment process which contains treatments of at least one laboratory sample.

In an automatic analyzer in which required maintenance can be executed efficiently, without omission, an operation control unit controls operations of an analysis module (ISE, AU1, AU2) including a sample vessel transport mechanism, a reagent vessel transport mechanism, a reaction vessel transport mechanism, a sample dispensing mechanism, and a reagent dispensing mechanism, and of a display unit, and analyzes a sample accommodated in a reaction vessel. The operation control unit stores a validity period for each maintenance item of the analysis module (ISE, AU1, AU2) and an execution time for each maintenance item in a memory, displays an execution time together with an identification representation of execution priority level based on the expiration dates on the display unit, rearranges the display order of the maintenance items on the basis of the execution priority level, in accordance with an operator's instruction inputted through an operation input portion.

A method for operating a laboratory automation system, having: a control device and a transport system with carriers and a first empty carrier queue provided with a first fixed number of queue spaces, each assignable an empty carrier; the method comprising: providing additional queue spaces, each assignable an empty carrier, assigning a first number of additional queue spaces from the additional queue spaces to the first empty carrier queue, operating the first empty carrier queue with the first fixed number of queue spaces plus the first number of additional queue spaces, assigning, in response to receiving operation data in the control device, a second number of additional queue spaces from the additional queue spaces to the first empty carrier queue and operating the first empty carrier queue with the first fixed number of queue spaces plus the second number of additional queue spaces. Further, a laboratory automation system is provided.

A distribution system is disclosed. The distribution system comprises a transport plan comprising logical positions, carriers for transporting objects, a drive system to move the carriers on the transport plan between logical positions, a control system configured for controlling the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane via logical positions, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with graphs of nodes, wherein the routing system is configured for calculating the planned routes considering balancing of surface usage of the transport plane, and wherein the routing system is configured for considering temporal blocking of logical positions and/or a considering variable move length and/or considering a variable reservation length.

The present invention is provided with a sample rack insertion unit 12 that is capable of holding one or more sample racks 5 having mounted therein one or more sample containers 6 accommodating a sample to be analyzed, one or more analysis devices 2, 3 for analyzing the sample accommodated in the sample containers 6, a sample rack conveyance unit 14 for conveying the sample racks 5 from the sample rack insertion unit 12 to the analysis devices 2, 3, and a control device 4 for acquiring, for each analysis device 2, 3, load information that is information expressing an operating condition of the analysis device 2, 3, and, if there is an analysis device 2, 3 for which the load information is larger than a predetermined conveyance permission value, carrying out control so as to stop the conveyance of the sample racks 5 from the sample rack insertion unit 12 to the analysis device(s) 2, 3. As a result of this configuration, it is possible to mitigate in-device sample conveyance congestion occurring as a result of the insertion of many samples and keep the sample environment and analysis processing power at high levels.

A server stores a set of laboratory applications to process batches of samples. The server receives, from a first lab administrator, a selection of a subset of the laboratory applications to process the batches of samples and an admin configuration for a laboratory application in the subset. The server receives configuration(s) of batch(es) to be used for running at least a portion of the subset of laboratory applications configured according to the admin configuration. The server receives, from a first scientific device, a request to run a laboratory application form the first subset to process a batch. The server provides the laboratory application(s) that are capable of being executed using the first scientific device. The server receives, from the first scientific device, a selected laboratory application. The server transmits, to the first scientific device, a signal for executing a first part of the selected laboratory application.

Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of further reducing carryover between specimens. The automatic analyzer includes a first dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a first analysis item group having a high possibility of carryover, a second dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a second analysis item group having a low possibility of carryover, an input unit for receiving an input of analysis information related to a plurality of analysis items for a specimen, a classification unit for classifying the analysis information into the first analysis item group and the second analysis item group, and a determination unit for determining a dispensing sequence for each specimen for the first analysis item group and determining a dispensing sequence for each analysis item for the second analysis item group.

Methods and devices are provided for computer implemented improvement of process performance of automated laboratory protocols that typically require at least one liquid handling step that is performed by using a liquid handling apparatus under the operative control of a processor. The methods comprise: i. defining at least one liquid handling step in the protocol that comprises a liquid handling operation; ii. selecting at least a first and at least a second process factors for the at least one liquid handling step in the protocol, wherein the first and second process factors are different and are selected from the group consisting of: an equipment process factor; a liquid process factor; and a protocol process factor; iii. assigning parameter variations for the first and second process factors selected for investigation; iv. performing a plurality of test runs on the liquid handling apparatus to determine the effects of the parameter variations for the first and second process factors; v. analysing the results of the plurality of test runs to identify the one or more test runs that show optimal process performance; and vi. amending the automated laboratory protocol to improve process performance of the liquid handling apparatus.

A computer implemented method to allocate control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is provided. The laboratory system comprises a storage, a transport system, and at least two analyzers. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. Information is presented for distributing the total control sample volume into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. Information is also presented for distributing the control sample aliquots to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.