Workflows for defining a sequence for an analytical instrument

• US 9,424,398 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dionex Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dionex Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: McLeod, Fraser S., Sauter, Peter, Roming, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): LOFTIS, JOHNNA RONEE
• Application Number:
  US12/645,280
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/7.26, 705/7.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Methods, systems and GUIs for defining a sequence of analyzes for an analytical instrument using a workflow are described. A method includes receiving user inputs including workflow parameters for defining the sequence, and automatically defining the sequence for the analytical instrument based on the workflow parameters, including creating rules for the sequence. The rules are persistent for subsequent use of the sequence. The rules are defined by the user, e.g., an administrator, who creates or edits the workflow. The administrator can leave some choices available to operators who run the workflow, or can lock selections down.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for implementing a sequence of analyses on an analytical laboratory instrument, comprising:

at a computer system networked with a plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, the computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

receiving user inputs from a first user defining a workflow including workflow parameters for controlling a sequence of injections capable of being performed by each of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, wherein the workflow parameters include sequence header information and one or more of;

sample block information, bracket information and sequence footer information, in which the sequence header information defines the injections at a beginning of the sequence, in which the sample block information defines a number of injections to be performed for each physical sample, in which the bracket information defines the injections for each bracket, in which the sequence footer information defines the injections at an end of the sequence;

receiving from a second user a request to generate the sequence of injections for execution on a user selected type of analytical instrument of the plurality of distinct types of laboratory instruments in accordance with the workflow;

in response to the request to generate the sequence of injections, generating the executable sequence of injections according to the workflow parameters, including;

when the user selected type is a first type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a first sequence header including a plurality of first header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a first sequence of injections for the first type of analytical laboratory instrument in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the first sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the first sequence; and

when the user selected type is a second type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments different from the first type, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a second sequence header including a plurality of second header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a second sequence of injections for the second type of analytical laboratory instrument distinct from the first analytical laboratory instrument and in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the second sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the second sequence; and

causing a first instrument that is one of the first and second types of analytical lab instruments to execute sequentially the injections composing the sequence of injections that is defined by the workflow according to the created rules for the sequence of injections.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user inputs including changes to the workflow parameters for defining a respective sequence; and

automatically updating the respective sequence based on the changes to the workflow parameters and in accordance with the rules for the respective sequence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the workflow parameters include one or more of:

a workflow type, an instrument for which the sequence is to be defined, one or more methods that make up a sequence, and one or more associated files.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting use of the first sequence header and first sequence of injections to the first type of analytical laboratory instrument and restricting the second sequence header and second sequence of injections to the second type of analytical laboratory instrument.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting resulting experimental data from the one or more analytical laboratory instruments.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input from an operator for an incomplete workflow; and

updating the incomplete workflow with the received input.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the input includes missing information selected from the group consisting of:

an instrument method, instrument type, processing method, report definition, and data presentation layout.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the injections used in the first and second sequence headers comprise one or more standard injections occurring prior to the first and second sequences of injections respectively.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second sequence headers are different due to differences in the first and second types of analytical laboratory instruments.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a maximum number of samples allowed between bracketing injections value;

wherein the first and second sequences of injections are automatically defined so as to comply with the maximum number of samples value.

11. A computer-implemented method for implementing a sequence of analyses on an analytical laboratory instrument, comprising:

on a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

receiving user inputs for defining a workflow including workflow parameters for defining a sequence of analyses for the analytical laboratory instrument, wherein the workflow parameters include sequence header information and one or more of;

sample block information, bracket information and sequence footer information, in which the sequence header information defines the injections at a beginning of the sequence, in which the sample block information defines a number of injections to be performed for each physical sample, in which the bracket information defines the injections for each bracket, in which the sequence footer information defines the injections at an end of the sequence;

automatically defining the sequence of analyses for the analytical laboratory instrument in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the sequence;

receiving user inputs including changes to a lifecycle state of the workflow, wherein the lifecycle state is one of;

workflow in development, workflow ready for use, workflow approved for use, and workflow retired;

automatically updating the lifecycle state based on the changes; and

permitting use of the sequence of analyses based on the lifecycle state of the workflow and user privileges, including causing the analytical laboratory instrument to execute sequentially analyses composing the sequence of analyses according to the created rules for the sequence, the updated lifecycle state of the workflow and the user privileges.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bracket information includes one or more of:

maximum samples per bracket, maximum brackets per sequence, number of alternate brackets, and use bracket block after sequence header.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a plurality of user selection options for changes to the lifecycle state of the workflow, including at least two of;

workflow in development, workflow ready for use, workflow approved for use, and workflow retired; and

wherein the receiving user inputs comprises receiving a user selection of one of the provided options for changes to the lifecycle state.

14. A set of graphical user interfaces to assist a user in a workflow for defining a sequence of analyses for each of at least two distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments of a plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments networked with a computer system, the graphical user interfaces presented on the computer system with memory, a display, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface, comprising:

a first section presented on the display for receiving user inputs defining a workflow including changes to a lifecycle state of the workflow, wherein the lifecycle state is one of;

workflow in development, workflow ready for use, workflow approved for use, and workflow retired, wherein the workflow parameters include sequence header information and one or more of;

sample block information, bracket information and sequence footer information, in which the sequence header information defines the injections at a beginning of the sequence, in which the sample block information defines a number of injections to be performed for each physical sample, in which the bracket information defines the injections for each bracket, in which the sequence footer information defines the injections at an end of the sequence;

a second section presented on the display for receiving user inputs including workflow parameters associated with the workflow, wherein the workflow parameters include one or more of;

a workflow type, sequence header information for a first instrument for which the sequence is to be defined, one or more methods that make up the sequence, and one or more associated files, wherein in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, the user inputs control a first sequence header and a second sequence header and also control a first sequence and a second sequence of injections performed respectively by a first type and a second type of at least two distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments of the plurality of analytical laboratory instruments, the first sequence and the second sequence of analyses being persistent for subsequent use; and

wherein the computer system is configured to cause an analytical laboratory instrument that is one of the first and second types of analytical lab instruments to execute sequentially analyses composing one of the first and second sequences of analyses according to both the created rules for the respective sequence of analyses and the lifecycle state.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 14, including a sequence setting section presented on the display wherein the sequence setting include one or more of:

report definition, data presentation layout, preferred channel, sequence name, sequence location, and sequence description.

16. The graphical user interface of claim 14, including a sequence layout parameters section presented on the display wherein the sequence layout parameters include one or more of:

maximum samples per bracket, maximum brackets per sequence, number of alternating brackets, number of sequence headers, use of bracket block after the sequence header, sample block information, and sequence footer information.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 14, including an option allowing a user to restrict use of the first sequence header and first sequence of injections to the first type of analytical laboratory instrument and restricting the second sequence header and second sequence of injections to the second type of analytical laboratory instrument.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a server computer networked with a plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving user inputs from a first user defining a workflow including workflow parameters for controlling a sequence of injections capable of being performed by each of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, wherein the workflow parameters include sequence header information and one or more of;

sample block information, bracket information and sequence footer information, in which the sequence header information defines the injections at a beginning of the sequence, in which the sample block information defines a number of injections to be performed for each physical sample, in which the bracket information defines the injections for each bracket, in which the sequence footer information defines the injections at an end of the sequence;

receiving from a second user a request to generate the sequence of injections for execution on a user selected type of analytical instrument of the plurality of distinct types of laboratory instruments in accordance with the workflow;

in response to the request to generate the sequence of injections, generating the executable sequence of injections according to the workflow parameters, including;

when the user selected type is a first type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a first sequence header including a plurality of first header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a first sequence of injections for the first type of analytical laboratory instrument in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the first sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the first sequence; and

when the user selected type is a second type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments different from the first type, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a second sequence header including a plurality of second header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a second sequence of injections for the second type of analytical laboratory instrument distinct from the first analytical laboratory instrument and in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the second sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the second sequence; and

causing a first instrument that is one of the first and second types of analytical lab instruments to execute sequentially the injections composing the sequence of injections that is defined by the workflow according to the created rules for the sequence of injections.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

receiving user inputs including changes to the workflow parameters for defining a respective sequence; and

automatically updating the respective sequence based on the changes to the workflow parameters and in accordance with the rules for the respective sequence.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the workflow parameters include one or more of:

a workflow type, an instrument for which the sequence is to be defined, one or more methods that make up a sequence, and one or more associated files.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

restricting use of the first sequence header and first sequence of injections to the first type of analytical laboratory instrument and restricting the second sequence header and second sequence of injections to the second type of analytical laboratory instrument.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

receiving user inputs including changes to a lifecycle state of the workflow, wherein the lifecycle state is one of;

workflow in development, workflow ready for use, workflow approved for use, and workflow retired;

automatically updating the lifecycle state of the workflow based on the changes; and

permitting use of the sequence based on the lifecycle state of the workflow and user privileges.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

enabling a user to provide sequence layout parameters, including one or more of;

maximum samples per bracket, maximum brackets per sequence, number of alternating brackets, number of sequence headers, use of bracket block after the sequence header, sample block information, and sequence footer information.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

collecting resulting experimental data from the one or more analytical laboratory instruments.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

receiving input from an operator for an incomplete workflow; and

updating the incomplete workflow with the received input.

26. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality distinct types of networked laboratory instruments one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

receiving user inputs from a first user defining a workflow including workflow parameters for controlling a sequence of injections capable of being performed by each of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, wherein the workflow parameters include sequence header information and one or more of;

sample block information, bracket information and sequence footer information, in which the sequence header information defines the injections at a beginning of the sequence, in which the sample block information defines a number of injections to be performed for each physical sample, in which the bracket information defines the injections for each bracket, in which the sequence footer information defines the injections at an end of the sequence;

receiving from a second user a request to generate the sequence of injections for execution on a user selected type of analytical instrument of the plurality of distinct types of laboratory instruments in accordance with the workflow;

in response to the request to generate the sequence of injections, generating the executable sequence of injections according to the workflow parameters, including;

when the user selected type is a first type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a first sequence header including a plurality of first header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a first sequence of injections for the first type of analytical laboratory instrument in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the first sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the first sequence; and

when the user selected type is a second type of analytical lab instrument of the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments different from the first type, generating the sequence of injections by;

automatically defining a second sequence header including a plurality of second header injections in accordance with the sequence header information and a second sequence of injections for the second type of analytical laboratory instrument distinct from the first analytical laboratory instrument and in accordance with the one or more of the sample block, bracket and sequence footer information, including creating rules for the second sequence, wherein the rules are persistent for subsequent use of the second sequence; and

causing a first instrument that is one of the first and second types of analytical lab instruments to execute sequentially the injections composing the sequence of injections that is defined by the workflow according to the created rules for the sequence of injections.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

receiving user inputs including changes to the workflow parameters for defining a respective sequence; and

automatically updating the respective sequence based on the changes to the workflow parameters and in accordance with the rules for the respective sequence.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the workflow parameters include one or more of:

a workflow type, an instrument for which the sequence is to be defined, one or more methods that make up a sequence, and one or more associated files.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

restricting use of the first sequence header and first sequence of injections to the first type of analytical laboratory instrument and restricting the second sequence header and second sequence of injections to the second type of analytical laboratory instrument.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

receiving user inputs including changes to a lifecycle state of the workflow, wherein the lifecycle state is one of;

workflow in development, workflow ready for use, workflow approved for use, and workflow retired;

automatically updating the lifecycle state of the workflow based on the changes; and

permitting use of the sequence based on the lifecycle state of the workflow and user privileges.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

enabling a user to provide sequence layout parameters, including one or more of;

maximum samples per bracket, maximum brackets per sequence, number of alternating brackets, number of sequence headers, use of bracket block after the sequence header, sample block information, and sequence footer information.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

collecting resulting experimental data from the one or more analytical laboratory instruments.

33. The system of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

receiving input from an operator for an incomplete workflow; and

updating the incomplete workflow with the received input.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments are selected from the group comprising:

chromatography instruments, optical spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) spectrometers, mass spectrometers, radioactivity detectors, refractive index detectors, light scattering detectors, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV/Vis) detectors.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of distinct types of analytical laboratory instruments are selected from the group comprising a plurality of distinct types of chromatography instruments.