CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC ANALYZER PERFORMANCE ESTIMATOR
First Claim
1. A method for estimating performance of at least an analyzer for processing test samples at a site comprising the steps of:
- preprocessing customer selected input data;
specifying a clinical diagnostic analyzer to be simulated;
selecting at least one parameter from the group consisting of a test mix, a retest rate, and resealing of data, wherein the resealing reflects the number of analyzers being deployed;
simulating performance of the clinical diagnostic analyzer by executing a simulation software; and
providing a measure of the performance of the clinical diagnostic analyzer, for pseudo-samples marked Routine or STAT, at least one member of the group consisting of a Maximum Turn Around Time, an Average Turn Around Time, a 95% Turn Around Time, a Maximum Throughput, Consumable Usage, a Walk-Away Time, and a Downtime, wherein the performance measure may further include an Arrival and Exit Rate Graph and a Cumulative Turn Around Time Graph.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed methods and devices relate to tools for on-site and customizable evaluation of the performance of clinical diagnostic analyzers or automation systems by executing a portable simulation program utilizing actual data from a site of interest. The portable simulation program consists of an Intelligent LIS pre-processor, implementation of a simulation model, and analytical and graphical means to determine and present the performance metrics. This permits a realistic evaluation of the clinical diagnostic analyzers before installing the equipment, thus aiding in making decisions including a decision to buy or appropriately configure clinical diagnostic analyzer. The analysis also allows customers to modify the laboratory setup, improve delivery schedules, with better sample scheduling and storage, and in adding equipment.
41 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for estimating performance of at least an analyzer for processing test samples at a site comprising the steps of:
-
preprocessing customer selected input data; specifying a clinical diagnostic analyzer to be simulated; selecting at least one parameter from the group consisting of a test mix, a retest rate, and resealing of data, wherein the resealing reflects the number of analyzers being deployed; simulating performance of the clinical diagnostic analyzer by executing a simulation software; and providing a measure of the performance of the clinical diagnostic analyzer, for pseudo-samples marked Routine or STAT, at least one member of the group consisting of a Maximum Turn Around Time, an Average Turn Around Time, a 95% Turn Around Time, a Maximum Throughput, Consumable Usage, a Walk-Away Time, and a Downtime, wherein the performance measure may further include an Arrival and Exit Rate Graph and a Cumulative Turn Around Time Graph. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A portable software instruction bearing memory device for providing software instructions to at least one computing device, the computing device comprising a processor and buffer memory;
- the software instructions including commands for executing a simulation software package to evaluate the performance of a candidate clinical diagnostic analyzer based on user approved data and user selected configuration of the candidate clinical diagnostic analyzer whereby the simulation software package causes generation of a report on the performance of the candidate clinical diagnostic analyzer for pseudo-samples marked Routine and STAT.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
13. A simulation apparatus for simulation performance of a clinical diagnostic analyzer comprising:
-
a preprocessor for formatting and organizing customer approved input data including data corresponding to Routine and STAT samples; a simulator based on a selected clinical diagnostic analyzer definition; and a user interface providing an output, for samples marked standard and urgent, comprising at least one member of the group consisting of a Maximum Turn Around Time, an Average Turn Around Time, a 95% Turn Around Time, a Maximum Throughput, Consumable Usage, a Walk-Away Time, and a Downtime, wherein the output may further include an Arrival and Exit Rate Graph and a Cumulative Turn Around Time Graph. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A software package comprising:
-
means for preprocessing customer selected input data; means for specifying a clinical diagnostic analyzer to be simulated with data collected for at least one member of the group consisting of a test mix, delay due to retesting, and downtime; means for simulating performance of the clinical diagnostic analyzer; and means for reporting data collected in the simulation for at least one of standard samples, urgent samples and combined standard and urgent samples, wherein the means for reporting data include at least one member of the group consisting of a Maximum Turn Around Time, an Average Turn Around Time, a 95% Turn Around Time, a Maximum Throughput, Consumable Usage, a Walk-Away Time, and a Downtime, wherein the means for reporting data may further include an Arrival and Exit Rate Graph and a Cumulative Turn Around Time Graph.
-
-
18. Apparatus for simulating a clinical diagnostic analyzer comprising:
-
means for providing standardized data from data stored in a data store, the means for providing including any necessary preprocessing of the stored data; means for accessing at least one clinical diagnostic analyzer definition; means for identifying assay protocols for processing pseudo-samples extracted from the standardized data; means for scheduling processing of a plurality of pseudo-samples from the pseudo-samples extracted from the standardized data; means for evaluating whether a test result on the plurality of pseudo-samples requires retesting; means for collecting performance metrics on the plurality of pseudo-samples, wherein the performance metrics are selected from the group consisting of a Maximum Turn Around Time, an Average Turn Around Time, a 95% Turn Around Time, a Maximum Throughput, Consumable Usage, a Walk-Away Time, and a Downtime, wherein the means for collecting performance metrics may further include an Arrival and Exit Rate Graph and a Cumulative Turn Around Time Graph.
-
Specification