Screening


Beckman Coulter (www.beckmancoulter.com) develops systems that improve reliability through software functionality. Their systems combine best practice runtime reliability features with method development software for discovering errors before beginning a run. Obstructions on the deck of the liquid handler are known and the software pre- vents the pod from moving into a location where a crash could occur (collision detection) and will reroute gripper movements to move around obsta- cles (obstacle avoidance). Labware definitions pre- vent tips going lower in the well than the defined safe height. One or more tip touches can occur to every side or corner of the well. Volume tracking within methods prevents aspirating more liquid from a well than exists or overfilling a well. Using an accurate timing, location and resource model, SAMI EX’s planning scheduler allows a method to be reviewed without simulating the run. SAMI EX’s runtime software displays a view of the method showing plates numbered by family mov- ing through the flow chart. Any device failure can be addressed programmatically at the device mod- ule level, automatically by the system executive using response definitions, or interactively prompt- ing the user (through email alerts, alarm, and prompts). Assisting in error responses, every plate in the system is listed with its current location, position in the method and properties. Device modules can be reloaded/restarted, the method rescheduled, or families added to the method being run. Beckman’s development processes adhere to a strict ISO 9001:2008 registered quality systems. Systems are set up, maintained and serviced by a worldwide service organisation (Figure 12).


In CyBio’s (www.cybio-ag.com) Scheduler, inaccu- racies of measurement systems can be compensat- ed by appropriated tolerant measurement value descriptions, eg specification of lower and upper bounds. Furthermore, in case of an instrument fail- ure, alternative data results can be generated or the user can be requested to submit alternative data results. A typical example is the generation of sub- stitution barcodes during a barcode reader failure. Instrument failures should be handled automatical- ly as far as possible. However, this needs a flexible failure management which is not restricted to a local failure evaluation. Instead, the overall conse- quence on the workflow must be taken into account, including the prevention of deadlock con- ditions. The CyBio® Scheduler software has imple- mented a multi-level failure management, which ensures appropriate standard failure handling for any use case. The standard failure handling can be


Drug Discovery World Winter 2010/11


Figure 12: Beckman Coulter’s SAMI EX runtime Software


overridden or adapted. To evaluate the overall effects of a locally occurred failure, the CyBio® Scheduler software uses well-known mathematical methods (such as Petri nets). This ensures that the overall process effects can be determined (such as delays or a changed execution orders). Thus, dead- locks can be avoided by an appropriate active rescheduling. Potential sources of user mistakes can be proactively reduced by input verification


Figure 13: CyBio® Scheduler: designed to be dynamic, deadlock-free and fault-tolerant 67


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