Method And System For Designing, Storing, and Executing Workflows For Laboratory Processes

• US 20080177612A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sciformatix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sciformatix Corporation
• Inventors: Starink, Jean Paul Pascual, Kent, John Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/019,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

A method and system for designing, storing, and executing workflows for laboratory processes have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises executing a workflow. The workflow includes a process activity, a system activity, and a flow control activity. A first user interface is adapted to collect one or more process elements for the process activity. The process activity is collected with form elements, the form elements identifying containers. The containers include plates, tubes, and bottles holding samples. States are associated with the samples and containers. The states are automatically changed as the workflow is completed. A second user interface is provided to create a customized workflow.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

executing a workflow, the workflow including a process activity, a system activity, and a flow control activity;

providing a first user interface that is adapted to collect one or more process elements for the process activity;

collecting the process activity with form elements, the form elements identifying containers, the containers including plates, tubes, and bottles holding samples;

associating states with the samples and containers;

automatically changing the states as the workflow is completed; and

providing a second user interface to create a customized workflow.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the workflow is a custom workflow.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the flow control activity comprises:

receiving a worklist;

interpreting the worklist; and

generating a first output.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising initiating the system activity to notify a user via e-mail of a result, the result including progression to a second process activity.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising storing the first output in a workflow repository.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating unique barcodes for each of the containers.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein scanning the barcodes triggers a second process activity that is part of the workflow.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the custom workflow is generated by modifying the process activity, the system activity, and the flow control activity.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the custom workflow is generated from scratch.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface is generated from meta-data provided to the second user interface.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the process activity, the system activity, and the flow control activity follow a sequence and the second user interface allows the sequence to be modified and additional activities to be added.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the customized workflow can be designed and executed using one or more configurations, the configurations including online, offline, and queued.

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform:

executing a workflow, the workflow including a process activity, a system activity, and a flow control activity;

providing a first user interface that is adapted to collect one or more process elements for the process activity;

collecting the process activity with form elements, the form elements identifying containers, the containers including plates, tubes, and bottles holding samples;

associating states with the samples and containers;

automatically changing the states as the workflow is completed; and

providing a second user interface to create a customized workflow.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the workflow is a custom workflow.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the flow control activity comprises:

receiving a worklist;

interpreting the worklist; and

generating a first output.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to further perform initiating the system activity to notify a user via e-mail of a result, the result including progression to a second process activity.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to further perform storing the first output in a workflow repository.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the custom workflow is generated by modifying the process activity, the system activity, and the flow control activity.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the custom workflow is generated from scratch.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first user interface is generated from meta-data provided to the second user interface.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the process activity, the system activity, and the flow control activity follow a sequence and the second user interface allows the sequence to be modified and additional activities to be added.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the customized workflow can be designed and executed using one or more configurations, the configurations including online, offline, and queued.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to further perform generating unique barcodes for each of the containers.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein scanning the barcodes triggers a second process activity that is part of the workflow.