User interaction with automated analytical apparatus

• US 20130043361A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bernet, Roland, Huesler, Robert, Ochsenbein, Raymond, Wassermann, Johann Florian
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/274.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification

Abstract

A method of interaction between an automated analytical apparatus for performing an analytical process and a user is disclosed comprising displaying all features necessary for performing the analytical process on a display which is mounted on the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of interaction between an automated analytical apparatus for performing an analytical process in at least one analytical module, and a user, said method comprising displaying all features necessary for performing said analytical process on a display, wherein said display is mounted in front of said automated analytical apparatus, wherein said mount of said display is constructed and arranged to move the display laterally along at least one of said modules, and wherein moving the display into a position overlapping with a module, access to the module is prevented, and when moving the display into a position not overlapping with a module, access to the module is enabled.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising accessing a module, wherein said display is moved to a position not overlapping with said module.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises display of the loading status of the apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises display of the loaded consumable amount.

5. The method according to claims 1, wherein said display comprises information on when the modules are accessible for loading or unloading of consumables and/or reagents.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising unlocking a drawer by requesting drawer unlock via the display.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein control and operation of the apparatus are fully managed via said display.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein additional control devices are absent.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying walk-away time until reload of the apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying next required user action by showing differently colored time windows for different user action on said display.

11. An automated analytical apparatus comprising at least one module for performing an analytical process, a control unit and a display, wherein said display is mounted in front of said analytical apparatus, wherein said mount of said display is constructed and arranged to move the display laterally along at least one module of said apparatus, wherein, when the position of the display is overlapping with a module, access to the module is prohibited and when the display is located in a non-overlapping position of said module, access to said module is enabled, and wherein all features necessary for performing the analytical process are displayed on said display.

12. The analytical apparatus of claim 11, wherein said mount of said display is coupled to a guiding rail on at least one module of said apparatus.

13. The analytical apparatus of claim 12 wherein said guiding rail is mounted on top of said at least one module.