METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR REAL TIME EXECUTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF CONCURRENT TEST PROTOCOLS ON A SINGLE DEVICE
First Claim
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1. A computer-assisted method for scheduling biological or chemical assays comprising:
- a) providing a set of input processes defining the biological or chemical assays to be performed by one or more devices, wherein an individual device comprises a plurality of stations, wherein said stations are selected from the group containing sample preparation stations, detection stations, and assay stations that provide consumable reagents and wherein at least one of said stations is a detection station;
b) generating a list of one or more subtasks for each of the input processes, wherein each subtask is to be performed by a single station of the one or more devices;
c) using a flexible scheduling algorithm to generate an ordered schedule of subtasks for the plurality of stations of the one or more devices such that when the subtasks are performed by the one or more devices, the input processes are completed in a manner more efficiently than if the input processes were performed sequentially by the plurality of stations;
d) instructing the stations to perform the associated subtasks according to the generated schedule of subtasks; and
, optionallye) using at least one detection station to collect information regarding the status of an individual biological or chemical assay and utilizing said information to maintain or modify the schedule of subtasks.
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Abstract
Provided herein are medical testing devices, systems, and methods that integrate multiplex, multi-technology, multi-configuration, multisample, or multi-threading capabilities. These capabilities are achieved using one or more of a level operations and communications architecture, a protocol execution engine, and a machine vision and processing system, method, or device in order to make testing of biologic or other samples more efficient in terms of cost, time, energy, or by prioritizing at least one other objective.
60 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method for scheduling biological or chemical assays comprising:
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a) providing a set of input processes defining the biological or chemical assays to be performed by one or more devices, wherein an individual device comprises a plurality of stations, wherein said stations are selected from the group containing sample preparation stations, detection stations, and assay stations that provide consumable reagents and wherein at least one of said stations is a detection station; b) generating a list of one or more subtasks for each of the input processes, wherein each subtask is to be performed by a single station of the one or more devices; c) using a flexible scheduling algorithm to generate an ordered schedule of subtasks for the plurality of stations of the one or more devices such that when the subtasks are performed by the one or more devices, the input processes are completed in a manner more efficiently than if the input processes were performed sequentially by the plurality of stations; d) instructing the stations to perform the associated subtasks according to the generated schedule of subtasks; and
, optionallye) using at least one detection station to collect information regarding the status of an individual biological or chemical assay and utilizing said information to maintain or modify the schedule of subtasks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device that performs a variety of biological or chemical assays comprising:
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a sample collection station, configured to accept a sample; a plurality of stations, wherein said stations are selected from the group containing sample processing stations, detection stations, and supply stations that provide consumable reagents; a computing unit that is configured to generate an ordered schedule of subtasks for the plurality of stations based on a set of input processes defining the biological or chemical assays to be performed on a sample, wherein each subtask is to be performed by a single station, such that when the subtasks are performed by the device, the set of input processes are completed in a manner more efficiently than if the plurality of processes were performed sequentially, and wherein said computing unit is capable of modifying said schedule of subtasks in real-time; and a control unit that is configured to individually control the plurality of stations to perform their associated subtasks according to the generated schedule of subtasks.
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15. A computer-assisted method for scheduling a plurality of processes on one or more devices, comprising:
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a) providing a set of input processes defining biological or chemical assays to be performed by the one or more devices, wherein an individual device comprises a plurality of stations, wherein said stations are selected from the group containing sample preparation stations, detection stations, and assay stations that provide consumable reagents; b) generating a list of one or more subtasks for each of the input processes, wherein each subtask is to be performed by a single station of the one or more devices; c) for each of the one or more subtasks, determining specified constraints selected from the group consisting of subtask resource requirements, the duration of time required, and subtask ordering requirements; and d) determining at least one schedule of subtasks and assignment of resources to each subtask in order to complete the entire set of processes consistent with all the specified constraints. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code, language, or instructions for performing a method for determining a subtask order and for assigning resources to each subtask, said method comprising:
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a) for each of the subtasks, determining the subtask resource requirements and subtask ordering requirements; b) determining a current state of a device, wherein the device comprises a plurality of stations, wherein said stations are selected from the group containing sample preparation stations, detection stations, and assay stations that provide consumable reagents, wherein said state of the device comprises the time to reach the current state from the starting point;
the order of completed subtasks, their starting times, and resource allocations;
which subtasks are remaining to run, currently running, and complete; and
which resources are available, in use, or unavailable due to certain types of previous use;c) generating a list of heuristically reasonable device operations that can be performed next, based on the current state of the device, the subtask resource requirements, and the subtask ordering requirements; d) generating a new state based on said list of device operations; e) repeating (b)-(d) until the method has generated the state or set of states in which all the processes are completed; f) determining the sequence(s) of state(s) based on efficiency of the sequences of states; and g) outputting at least one of said sequences of state(s). - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A computer-assisted method for scheduling biological or chemical assays comprising:
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providing a system comprising one or more stations, an individual station configured to accept a sample and perform at least one subtask for a biological or chemical assay with said sample; receiving, at said system, at least one sample, upon which at least one station is configured to perform at least one subtask; generating a schedule for said plurality of subtasks formed by said one or more stations based on the efficiency of said schedule and anticipated availability of said one or more stations; receiving, at said system, at least one additional sample, upon which at least one station is configured to perform at least one subtask; and maintaining or modifying said schedule based on the efficiency of said schedule, anticipated availability of said one or more stations, and subtasks to be performed on said at least one additional sample. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for performing biological or chemical assays, comprising:
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a sample collection unit, configured to accept a sample; a plurality of stations, an individual station configured to accept at least a portion of said sample and perform at least one subtask for the biological or chemical assay with said portion of said sample; and a controller that generates a schedule for said plurality of subtasks performed by said plurality of stations based on the efficiency of said schedule and anticipated availability of said plurality of stations, and that provides instructions that effects operations of said plurality of stations to perform said subtasks in accordance with said schedule. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification