Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular system function
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-14
2001-08-14
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular system function
C340S506000, C340S521000, C340S524000, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275150
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a user interface for a biomedical analyzer system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fully integrated graphic user interface (GUI) for a biomedical analyzer system.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Presently, almost every medical laboratory has some form of a Laboratory Information System (LIS) to collect and manage patient test data. To date, however, no emphasis has been placed on developing such systems to operate in a manner that is user friendly or intuitive. To the contrary, they have typically been difficult to operate, requiring the operator to be familiar with many commands and procedures. For example, when analyzing patient test data, the operator was required to manually validate test results by manually checking exceptions against historical instrument performance and/or patient data. Thus, much of the validation process was left to individual operator discretion and experience.
Recently many medical laboratories have added Laboratory Automation Systems (LAS) to control the processing of biological samples. Again, however, these systems have not been particularly user friendly, for example, only providing error messages rather than directing the user to take appropriate corrective action. In addition, when present, the LAS has in the past been operated as an independent system from the LIS, providing little or no integration. Further, many systems required individual control systems for each biomedical analyzer instrument. Thus, laboratories having more that one instrument required multiple, independent controls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a user friendly GUI for a biomedical analyzer system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated LIS and LAS for use in a biomedical laboratory.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple means for validating exceptions in patient sample data.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a graphical alarm system for use with a biomedical analyzer system.
The above and other objects are achieved in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention by a user interface for use on the computer of a biomedical analyzer system having at least one biomedical analyzer instrument. The user interface inputs work orders, including sample and test id's, and transmits instructions to the instrument. The instrument performs the requested tests and sends the results to the computer, where they are stored. The test results are compared to exception review criteria to identify exception test results for operator review. Exception test results are also indicated by a graphic icon on the display of the computer. The exception test results may be compared by an operator to validation data gathered from the instrument and stored in the computer. The operator may then select a disposition for the exception test results.
In another aspect of the present invention, alarm conditions are communicated by the instrument to the computer. The user interface then communicates the alarm conditions to an operator by using a graphic image of the instrument and an affected part. Additional information may then be provided to the operator by selecting the affected component.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in connection with the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5396224 (1995-03-01), Dukes et al.
patent: 5896086 (1999-04-01), Ida
Allen Gary L.
Chamberlain Marsh
De Luzuriaga Luis
Kennel Donald J.
Mandler Alan
Bayer Corporation
Klawitter Andrew L.
Paolino John M.
Pope Daryl
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