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=Laboratory Automation = | =Laboratory Automation = | ||
*'''What Lab Automation has to offer ?''' | |||
**Use of '''integrated automated/robotic equipments''' to perform standard wet lab protocols. | |||
**Possible Benefits: | |||
***'''Accuracy''' | |||
***'''Reproducibility''' and '''systematic approach''' | |||
***'''High throughput''' | |||
***'''No sleep/ No food''' needed (the last known weaknesses of PhDs/Post Docs ...) | |||
**Advanced integrated platform could help you to '''directly map your lab activities into a informatoin workflow''' from stocks to research findings, improving '''traceability''' and '''reliability'''. | |||
**'''Quantify and track the variability you introduce''' in your protocols. And consequently, you should get a better idea of the intrinsic variability of the process you observe. | |||
**Use a Design of Experiments approach to '''optimize your protocols'''. | |||
**A '''high level description of protocols''' could allow to build a'''repository of standard protocols''' (so far, each platform has it own script language). | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
== | ==Automated Liquid Handler== | ||
=== | ===Hardware side=== | ||
====Pipetting technologies==== | ====Pipetting technologies==== | ||
*Air based | |||
*Liquid based(more accurate than air based techno) | |||
*Features to look at: | |||
**liquid level detection and tracking | |||
**clot detection | |||
**washable and/or disposable probes | |||
**max and min volumes. | |||
**accuracy at different pipetting volumes. | |||
**ability to define liquid classes to adjust pipetting parameters to the nature of the liquid. | |||
====Gripper: Moving stuff around==== | |||
*enables you to move around tubes, plates. | |||
*having the ability to rotate the gripper can be a huge plus. | |||
*essential tool to get an integrated workflow with 3rd-party equipments (plate reader, PCR ...) | |||
===Software side=== | |||
==== | ====Utilities==== | ||
*Managing your deck space (what is where). | |||
*Building your protocols (scripts) | |||
*System calibration | |||
====Connectivity==== | ====Connectivity==== | ||
*Software: | *Software: | ||
**database handling | **database handling (internal and external ones) | ||
**communication protocols: RS232, CAN, CSV files | **communication protocols: RS232, CAN, CSV files | ||
*Hardware: | *Hardware: | ||
===Automation friendly equipments=== | |||
*PCR machine: | *PCR machine: | ||
*Plate reader: | *Plate reader: | ||
*Centrifuge: | |||
*Incubator: | *Incubator: | ||
*Shakers: | |||
*Peltier units: | |||
===Products evaluated=== | |||
*Eppendorf | *Eppendorf | ||
*Perkin Elmer | *Perkin Elmer | ||
*Sias | *Sias | ||
*Tecan | *Tecan | ||
===Links=== | |||
*[http://www.labautomation.org/index.cfm Association for lab automation] | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_Automation Lab Automation on Wikipedia] | |||
*[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v421/n6923/full/421661a.html Nature: Lab automation and robotics: Automation on the move (Tim Chapman)] | |||
*[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci;295/5554/517 Science: Robotic Laboratory Automation (James Boyd)] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:15, 26 May 2007
Vincent 16:12, 25 May 2007 (EDT):During the last couple of months I have been evaluating some Lab Automation platforms. This page intends to list stuff I have learnt about the current technologies around. Feel free to edit its content or to add your own experience with Lab Automation equipments.
Laboratory Automation
- What Lab Automation has to offer ?
- Use of integrated automated/robotic equipments to perform standard wet lab protocols.
- Possible Benefits:
- Accuracy
- Reproducibility and systematic approach
- High throughput
- No sleep/ No food needed (the last known weaknesses of PhDs/Post Docs ...)
- Advanced integrated platform could help you to directly map your lab activities into a informatoin workflow from stocks to research findings, improving traceability and reliability.
- Quantify and track the variability you introduce in your protocols. And consequently, you should get a better idea of the intrinsic variability of the process you observe.
- Use a Design of Experiments approach to optimize your protocols.
- A high level description of protocols could allow to build arepository of standard protocols (so far, each platform has it own script language).
Overview
Automated Liquid Handler
Hardware side
Pipetting technologies
- Air based
- Liquid based(more accurate than air based techno)
- Features to look at:
- liquid level detection and tracking
- clot detection
- washable and/or disposable probes
- max and min volumes.
- accuracy at different pipetting volumes.
- ability to define liquid classes to adjust pipetting parameters to the nature of the liquid.
Gripper: Moving stuff around
- enables you to move around tubes, plates.
- having the ability to rotate the gripper can be a huge plus.
- essential tool to get an integrated workflow with 3rd-party equipments (plate reader, PCR ...)
Software side
Utilities
- Managing your deck space (what is where).
- Building your protocols (scripts)
- System calibration
Connectivity
- Software:
- database handling (internal and external ones)
- communication protocols: RS232, CAN, CSV files
- Hardware:
Automation friendly equipments
- PCR machine:
- Plate reader:
- Centrifuge:
- Incubator:
- Shakers:
- Peltier units:
Products evaluated
- Eppendorf
- Perkin Elmer
- Sias
- Tecan
