一種新型機(jī)器人系統(tǒng)被設(shè)計(jì)用于感染性疾病的體外診斷。這套系統(tǒng)已經(jīng)獲得了美國(guó)食品藥品管理局的許可。

BD Viper系統(tǒng)是實(shí)驗(yàn)室自動(dòng)化的新型解決途徑，該系統(tǒng)使用工業(yè)級(jí)別的機(jī)器人叫做選擇性依從裝配機(jī)器人臂(SCARA)。這種分類意味著這種機(jī)器人是多關(guān)節(jié)連接的(4-軸)，與人類的手臂相似。這種系統(tǒng)來(lái)自BD診斷公司(Baltimore, MD)，這是BD公司(Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA)的一個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)，能夠是手工和半自動(dòng)BD公司的ProbeTec系統(tǒng)DNA擴(kuò)增檢驗(yàn)實(shí)現(xiàn)自動(dòng)化，該檢驗(yàn)用于檢測(cè)衣原體和淋病。

BD Viper系統(tǒng)所有的孵育、擴(kuò)增和檢測(cè)，以及反復(fù)加樣工作都可以由機(jī)器人完成。SCARA途徑可以輸送各種設(shè)備，而無(wú)需各種泵、針筒、和試管，這通常被認(rèn)為是傳統(tǒng)實(shí)驗(yàn)室進(jìn)行維護(hù)和確保實(shí)驗(yàn)室可靠所必不可少的裝備。

這種高通量的Viper系統(tǒng)還解決了實(shí)驗(yàn)室技師嚴(yán)重短缺的困難。通過(guò)將手工操作時(shí)間縮短至最小，技師能夠利用“裝配與完成”工作流程，允許機(jī)器人控制操作過(guò)程。

Robotic System for Infectious Disease Testing
 
A new robotic system is designed for use in the in vitro molecular diagnostic testing for infectious diseases. The system has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The BD Viper system is a new approach to laboratory automation that uses an industrial class of robotics known as selective compliance assembly robot arm (SCARA). This classification means that the robot is multi-jointed (four-axis), similar to the human arm. The system, from BD Diagnostics (Baltimore, MD), a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), automates manual and semi-automated steps of BD’s ProbeTec system DNA amplification assay for the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Incubations, amplification, and detection all occur on the BD Viper system, with repetitive pipetting labor delegated to the robot. The SCARA approach delivers a robust instrument by eliminating all pumps, syringes, and reagent tubing, often thought of as the Achilles’ heel of traditional lab equipment in terms of maintenance and reliability.

The high throughput of the Viper system also helps address the critical shortage of technologists in laboratories. By minimizing hands-on-time, the technologist can take advantage of “l(fā)oad and go” workflow, allowing the robot to do the processing work.