Laboratory instrumentation information management and control network

• US 20050038676A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Larson, Alain L., Showalter, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An interface point network (IPN) and a method for communication with a laboratory information system using an IPN, wherein the IPN includes at least one host computer in communication with at least one laboratory instrument, the laboratory information system and an interface point server in communication with the host computer and the laboratory information system, the interface point server being configured to function as a communication interface between the host computer and the laboratory information system in a manner responsive to a predetermined communication protocol.

Claims

1. A laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus, comprising:

a Laboratory Information System (LIS) configured to manage patient and laboratory information;

at least one laboratory instrument configured to run anatomical pathology tests relating to at least one patient;

at least one host computer in communication with said at least one laboratory instrument;

an interface point server (IPS) in communication with said host computer and said LIS, said interface point server configured to function as a communication interface between said host computer and said hospital laboratory information system in a manner responsive to a predetermined communication protocol, and said IPS comprising a first level interface for data communication and control between said LIS and said IPS, and said IPS comprising a second level interface for data communication and control between said at least one laboratory instrument and said IPS.

2. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one laboratory instrument comprises at least two automated slide staining systems, and said second level interface of said IPS controls data communication and control between said at least two automated slide staining systems and said IPS, and said second level interface of said IPS controls data communication and control among said at least two automated slide staining systems.

3. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one laboratory instrument configured to run tests relating to at least one patient includes said at least one host computer in communication with said at least one laboratory instrument as an integral part of said at least one laboratory instrument.

4. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined communication protocol governs data exchange, data management and integration of data in accordance with one of Health Level Seven (HL7) protocol, or IEEE 1073 standard for Medical Device Communications.

5. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one host computer is in communication with said at least one laboratory instrument via at least one of a wireless connection, a serial connection, a parallel connection and an Ethernet connection.

6. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hospital laboratory information system is in communication with the interface point server via at least one of an Ethernet connection and an Internet connection.

7. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one laboratory instrument comprises at least two automated slide staining systems, and said second level interface controls data sharing among said at least two automated slide staining systems.

8. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 7 wherein said data sharing among said at least two automated slide staining systems includes data comprising staining protocols;

user passwords and privileges;

reagent dispensers;

reagent vials;

cases;

keycodes;

templates;

panels; and

3^rd party reagents.

9. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laboratory information system manages the workflow for anatomical pathology in a laboratory, including at least one of pathology order placement;

slide processing optimization on multiple instruments;

slide identification through the process;

bar code use;

reagent use and supply;

reagent sharing between laboratory instruments; and

operator in-service qualification.

10. The laboratory instrument information management and control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laboratory information system is a hospital laboratory information system.

11. A method for communication between a laboratory information system and at least one host computer comprising the steps of:

configuring an interface point network including an interface point server (IPS) in communication with a laboratory information system and at least one host computer managing data and control for at least one anatomical pathology laboratory instrument, said at least one host computer including host data and being in communication with said at least one laboratory instrument;

operating said interface point server to broadcast a message across said interface point network, wherein said message includes information responsive to data present on said IPS;

determining if differences exist between said host data and said data present on said IPS; and

updating at least one of said IPS and said at least one host computer in a manner responsive to at least one of said host data and said data present on said IPS.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one host computer comprises more than one host computer and the method further includes the step of sharing of data among said more than one host computer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said sharing of data among said more than one host computer includes data comprising staining protocols;

user passwords and privileges;

reagent dispensers;

reagent vials;

cases;

keycodes;

templates;

panels; and

3^rd party reagents.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said laboratory information system manages the workflow for anatomical pathology in a laboratory, including at least one of pathology order placement;

slide processing optimization on multiple instruments;

slide identification through the process;

bar code use;

reagent use and supply;

reagent sharing between laboratory instruments; and

operator in-service qualification.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one host computer managing data and control for at least one anatomical pathology laboratory instrument is an integral part of said at least one laboratory instrument

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said interface point server (IPS) in communication with said laboratory information system communicates via a predetermined communication protocol that governs data exchange, data management and integration of data in accordance with one of Health Level Seven (HL7) protocol, or IEEE 1073 standard for Medical Device Communications.

17. A method for laboratory instrument information management and control, comprising the steps of:

configuring a Laboratory Information System (LIS) to manage patient and laboratory information in accordance with Health Level Seven protocol;

configuring at least two automated slide staining laboratory instruments to run anatomical pathology tests relating to at least one patient;

configuring at least one host computer in communication with said at least two slide staining laboratory instruments;

configuring a server in communication with said at least one host computer and said LIS, said server comprising a first level interface for data communication and control between said LIS and said server, and said server comprising a second level interface for data communication and control between said at least two automated slide staining laboratory instruments and said server, wherein said server is further configured for data sharing among said at least one host computer and said at least two automated slide staining laboratory instruments.

18. The method for laboratory instrument information management and control of claim 17 wherein said data sharing among said at least two automated slide staining laboratory instruments includes data comprising staining protocols;

user passwords and privileges;

reagent dispensers;

reagent vials;

cases;

keycodes;

templates;

panels; and

3^rd party reagents.

19. The method for laboratory instrument information management and control of claim 17 wherein said laboratory information system manages the workflow for anatomical pathology in a laboratory, including at least one of pathology order placement;

slide processing optimization on multiple instruments;

slide identification through the process;

bar code use;

reagent use and supply;

reagent sharing between laboratory instruments; and

operator in-service qualification.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said server in communication with said laboratory information system communicates via a predetermined communication protocol that governs data exchange, data management and integration of data in accordance with one of Health Level Seven (HL7) protocol, or IEEE 1073 standard for Medical Device Communications.