Yaskawa Motoman offers automation solutions for labor-intensive, high throughput areas of the clinical diagnostic lab. Standalone workcells provide "task-targeted" process automation, while integrated systems with a specimen transport conveyor process each specimen as needed to complete the full pre-analytic sequence. Ready-to-load specimen racks are delivered to the diagnostic instruments. Following completion of the analytic sequence, specimens may be recapped, logged and racked for archive storage.
Robots for Laboratory Testing & Processing
Let Yaskawa Motoman's laboratory automation team step through your current up- and down-stream processes with you to identify your pain points and uncover opportunities to improve speed, capacity and accuracy with automation. From there, we will propose a custom solution for your facility capable of:
- Managing workflow of specimens through the pre- and post-analytic sequence
- Integrating components of the automation system (sorting, conveyance, decapping, CSS, etc.)
- Connecting to the LIS to exchange specimen processing data and history
- Configurating to accommodate volume increases, workflow changes and additional process equipment
Future-Proof your System Investment
Yaskawa Motoman's track-based process automation solutions are scalable and can easily evolve to add/change processes, throughput and configuration as business needs change. The integrated system, connected by a specimen transport conveyor, manages the workflow of over 6,000 specimens per hour.
Systems are highly configurable to accommodate a variety of workflows, including:
Check-In / Check-Out
Throughput: 1,200 tubes per hour
The AutoSorter™ 1200 receives input from racks or conveyors. Reads barcode and sorts to target racks. Logs and consolidates post-analytic specimens for archive.
Container Scanning System
Throughput: 900 tubes per hour
Captures image to identify specimen or analyze label contents. Cap color, tube type, data matrix codes and text may be analyzed to determine the specimen processing sequence.
Aliquoter
Throughput: 360 daughter tubes per hour
Produces labeled daughter tubes, each with volume as instructed by the LIS. Automatically detects clots and QNS. Accepts a wide range of parent tube configurations.
Decapper
Throughput: 600 tubes per hour
Removes rubber stopper and threaded caps from most common tube sizes. Container is isolated from other tubes during decap process to protect against cross contamination.
Bulk Loader
Throughput: 1,000 tubes per hour
Tubes are hopper loaded, singulated and oriented. Barcode is read before placing tube in puck and linking to RFID.
Recapper
Throughput: 1,000 tubes per hour
Closes post-analytic tubes and aliquot parent/daughter tubes with a plastic insert that may be removed manually or automatically. Many sizes and styles of tubes may be capped.
Centrifuge
Throughput: 300 daughter tubes per hour
Loads tubes from track into centrifuge racks; exchanges racks at completion of centrifuge cycle; unloads spun tubes from centrifuge rack onto track.
Custom Process Solutions
Yaskawa Motoman offers extensive process engineering and development capabilities to address unique specimen processing and other clinical lab workflow needs. Solutions include: thaw and mix, relabeling, kitting, instrument connectivity, IT solutions and custom rack development.
Benefit from our experience in designing lab automation systems for some of the world's top clinical labs and schedule a consultation today.
Benchtop Solutions for Automated Sorting and Archiving
Yaskawa is the U.S. representative for Aim Lab Automation Technologies sorters and archivers. When your lab’s requirements do not reach the volume and complexity typical of large commercial labs, Yaskawa now offers a range of benchtop instruments to perform sample receiving, sorting, reformatting, foil sealing and archiving, including:
- PathFinder 350A Archiver - a compact benchtop robotic workstation designed for post analytical management of sample tubes (either open top or capped). It is used for automating the capping, sorting and archiving of sample tubes into storage racks.
- PathFinder 350D Decapper Sorter - a compact benchtop robotic workstation designed for pre-analytical management of incoming sample collection tubes, consisting of a sorter module coupled together with a decapper module. It is used for automating the decapping and sorting of sample tubes into different destination racks.
- PathFinder 450S Sorter - a compact benchtop workstation that registers and sorts presented specimen tubes into a number of different destination sample racks based on user defined rules. It can be used to automate any manual task in the laboratory where a decision needs to be made regarding the routing of a tube for testing or storage.
Laboratory Automation System Examples
Video
Case Study
Sorting Through the Details of an Automation Solution
Mayo Clinic
This article provides a thorough overview of Mayo Medical Laboratories' sort automation system, along with top lessons learned throughout the entire process of selecting, building, and implementing the system.
- System Selection Process
- System Overview
- Lessons Learned
- Results
Robotic Specimen Processing Systems
AutoSorter
Yaskawa Motoman offers a variety of AutoSorter specimen processing solutions that are ideal for a range of clinical laboratory environments. AutoSorter provides improved processing accuracy, specimen traceability and relieves laboratory staff of repetitive tasks and exposure to infection. Various configurations include centrifugation, decapping and sorting to instrument racks, as well as archive consolidation. They may be standalone or linked together with aliquoters, recappers and other process-specific instrumentation.
AutoSorter 1200
- Processes up to 1,200 specimens/hour for rack-based pre-analytic sorting and post-analytic sorting/archiving.
- Operates as a "standalone" sorter or as one in a series of processing stations in a conveyorized line.
- Configurable deck features drawers and/or flow-through conveyors to feed specimens into sorter and to present racks for sort targets.
View PDF
AutoSorter 2000
- Utilizing the AutoSorter 1200 platform, the AutoSorter 2000 addresses common requirements for high-volume commercial labs, such as bulk loading, various container types and data connectivity.
- Processes up to 2,000 specimens/hour for bulk-handled specimens.
View PDF
Lab Automation Articles
From the Y-Blog
Posted: 11/23/2020 6:08:18 PM by Craig Rubenstein
Now, more than ever, clinical laboratories are turning toward robotic automation to step up operations. From expanding services in unique ways to improving patient care, to fighting the current COVID-19 pandemic, the use of robots and peripheral tools is helping to create a pathway for success where these issues and more are concerned.
Read More
Posted: 3/23/2020 3:47:44 PM by Doug Burnside
Depending on your industry, location and unique circumstances, many of us are facing a new and different type of reality. I’ve compiled a list with some of the types of challenges that manufacturers, distributors, and even clinicians may currently be experiencing:
Read More
Posted: 8/8/2019 1:00:00 PM by Josh Leath
From the aerospace industry to the clinical laboratory, and everything in between, robotic automation can take factory production processes, task-targeted automation and other applications to the next level.
Read More
Posted: 7/15/2019 1:00:00 PM by Craig Rubenstein
The clinical laboratory market is rapidly evolving. What was once a strictly fee-for-service model is transitioning to a more value-based care approach known as Clinical Laboratory 2.0, where laboratories are expanding services in unique ways to improve patient care while yielding cost savings and maximizing efficiency.
Read More