Projects

MDA coagAutoLink

The MDA coagAutoLink-MR, a mobile robot

MARC has created several analytical workcells for the diagnostics industry. One such system is an automated sample manager/processor for the MDAŽ coagulation analyzer made by Organon Teknika Corporation. This automated system has been trademarked as the MDAŽ coagAutoLink, and provides a versatile series of robotic modules that automate coagulation testing.

This project resulted from the cooperative efforts of Organon Teknika Corporation, CRS Robotics Corporation, and MARC. The robotic-module concept allows labs to cost-effectively automate coagulation testing by combining the Multichannel Discrete Analyzer (MDAŽ) system for coagulation with the robotic modules. The core analytical components are proven technologies, namely the MDAŽ 180 or MDAŽ II.

Automated centrifugation in coagAutoLink

Laboratories can enhance their analytical capabilities with a robotic workcell that interfaces with either one or two MDAŽ instruments. The core automation component of the MDAŽ coagAutoLink workcell is a standard CRS Robotics A255 "human scale arm". The use of a robotic arm was dictated by the need to accommodate the diversity of tasks that technologists are challenged with. In today’s laboratory, the robotic arm can deal with instruments built for human interaction. The modular systems have been configured with enough flexibility to allow for loading and unloading of diagnostic analyzers, centrifuges, and sample transport options. In addition, the workcell system process controller can handle all the timing issues entailed in the multi-task duties it performs.

coagAutoLink with SPIN module

A further enhancement of the workcell is the use of a mobile robot (MDA coagAutoLink-MR) that provides a cost-effective sample-transport option that connects into the lab grid. The mobile robot delivers samples to the MDAŽ coagAutoLink from anywhere within approximately 1/4 mile on one floor. The configurability of the mobile robot route provides a significant increase in flexibility over pneumatic tubes. Furthermore, the mobile robot can be adapted to automatically pick up coagulation tubes and deliver them directly into the modular automation for processing and analysis.

For Organon Teknika, it was important to create a series of automation modules that would integrate with the existing MDAŽ system as economically as possible. The project was initiated to allow the MDAŽ 180’s or MDAŽ II’s to be retrofitted into any laboratory in the process of automating without requiring software changes and with minimal hardware upgrades. Therefore the collaborative effort between MARC, CRS Robotics, and Organon Teknika created four different modules: