Automation
validating their application part. Important fea- tures here are electronic signatures, audit trail and log file documentation (Figure 16).
Figure 17:A new enclosure for the Hamilton NIMBUS automated liquid handling workstation which includes side integration bays for plate stackers, hotels or third party devices
11, 58, 211 and 820, EU Annex 11, GLP and GMP. Eppendorf as a vendor has taken care of the major part of the required system validation and qualification, leaving users more time to focus on
NIMBUS is the family of compact liquid handling workstations from Hamilton Robotics (
www.hamiltonrobotics.com). The platform is offered in two versions – 96-channel, for microplate applications such as plate replications, serial dilutions and reagent additions, and the NIMBUS4 with up to four independent channels that can be configured with any combination of 1mL or 5mL pipetting heads, for tube-to-tube, tube-to-plate and plate-to-plate transfers. A num- ber of NIMBUS enhancements are planned for introduction at SLAS 2012. These include a new Shift and Scan accessory that enables integrated barcode reading and sample tracking. Also new is a Hamilton Gripper for a variety of plate handling movements, including to and from off-deck third- party devices. New NIMBUS software, called Instinct, will also be introduced. The new software offers a user-friendly interface and the ability to generate wizard-guided scripts for automatic deck layout creation. This easy-to-use Instinct software shortens user learning curves. Enclosed NIMBUS systems will also now be available with Integration Bays on the sides to accommodate instrument accessories such as stackers and third-party devices that can be accessed with Hamilton grippers. The enclosure can be equipped with an optional high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which deliv- ers clean air to the pipetting work surface. A clean pipetting environment is important in a range of applications such as sample preparation for cell culture and cell-based assays and DNA and RNA amplification setup. Additional third-party device capabilities will be introduced on an ongoing basis to meet the changing demands of NIMBUS users (Figure 17).
Figure 18: Front left: Hudson PlateCrane EX with 5 stacks, Hudson PA1000 Barcode Print & Apply in back left, Liconic STX110 incubator in back right and Genetix CloneSelect Imager in front left. System will apply barcodes to plates either on the fly or as an off-line process. Plates are loaded into the incubator, then removed on schedule to the reader, then back to incubator. Data is collected and logged. User is alerted by email to any errors, exceptions and the end of the process
34
Hudson Robotics (
www.hudsonrobotics.com) con- tinues a 28-year tradition of delivering advanced controls and tools to all levels of lab automation users. The latest version of SoftLinx (version V), the company’s powerful and easy to use automa- tion scheduling program, is now available at no charge to most labs. The improved features in SoftLinx V allow users to determine the level of automation they need. Basic methods for integra- tion of 1-3 instruments to Hudson’s PlateCrane or StackLink stacker systems are simple to create and run. Advanced methods with exception handling, email notification, barcode management and multi-users can be created and delivered as turnkey
Drug Discovery World Winter 2011/12
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