Overview
SoftLinx™ is a powerful multitasking application for planning and running lab automation workcells. It is designed to make the programming and operation of lab automation workcells easy for lab personnel, yet flexible enough for custom modification by programmers.
Intuitive: The user interface includes a drag and drop flow chart-like interface which makes it easy to build a protocol that takes maximum advantage of your instrument configuration. Individual steps can be added, customized or removed, and series of independent or interdependent methods can be defined. Programming control can be added to introduce conditions to the flow of the protocol, and user defined methods can be added through a seamless interface to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) scripting.
Flexible: SoftLinx turns any large, integrated system into a combination of small virtual workcells, incorporating only the instrumentation that the user needs! SoftLinx’s large library of optional software interfaces for controlling third-party instruments are written in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) script. Users can even write their own, custom interfaces. SoftLinx allows users to start and run additional methods, even while others are already running, even using the same instruments, whether pre-planned or not!
Scheduling: SoftLinx’s opportunistic scheduling features find the most efficient way to perform complex protocols, running different stages of the process simultaneously, and deploying individual robots differently depending on the current state of the system. Any instrument can be run independently to support one-off experiments, while the software circumvents its unavailability to accomplish as much as possible in the meantime.
Predictive: SoftLinx’s predictive scheduler provides a graphical display of plate movement timing for each device in the workcell. SoftLinx assists in method optimization and uses the integrated robotics to always move plates to the next available instrument in the workcell, within the rules of the method. Most instrumentation can be run in “simulate” mode, so users can build and edit protocols without requiring any equipment to be available.
Applications
We have interfaces for many applications in the following categories. If you don’t see your application, get in touch with us!
Each interface has its own unique features, depending on the available functions on the instrument. In general, the interfaces open and close the microplate door, direct the instrument to run a particular protocol, and constantly check its status. With simple user modifications, your protocols can read the output of a run, and make on-the-fly responses, based on the results. This list is constantly changing as new interfaces are written. If you don’t see your instrument below, contact us, and we’ll build one.
Features
Uses a drag-and-drop flow chart approach to define every movement of each microplate and instrument during the entire assay.
- Develop Complete Assay Protocols – Define the timing and detailed parameters of each dispense, wash, shake, plate movement, incubation, etc.
- Add individual steps from a library of instrument functions – Each instrument’s interface provides a method object for every available function.
- Design complex conditional control structures – Method flow charts can contain additional complexity with the inclusion of “when” and “if-then-else” programming control structures. In addition, methods can be segmented into individual paths that can be directed to run non-stop, or a specific number of times. Furthermore, each segment can be programmed to start only after a specific process ends, whenever a plate is present on a specific instrument nest, or when a user defined variable reaches a predefined mathematical status.
- Include user-defined functions with Visual Basic for Applications -The control available to the user is greatly increased with the addition of user-defined functions with full access to Visual Basic for Applications ver. 4.2. Complex programming operations can be included that allow researchers to reach an unsurpassed level of sophistication with their protocols. Every instrument is treated as a programming object class with a full range of methods and properties. For example, one might need to deal with a series of reagent dispense steps as part of a sandwich ELISA protocol. Each step might involve a different dispense quantity, which can be easily dealt with using a VB “select case” statement, for example:
Select Case StepNumber
Case 1
micro10.Dispense (“50 ,ALL, 2147483647 ,0, 0 ,0, 0″) ’50 microliters
Case 2
micro10.Dispense (“25 ,ALL, 2147483647 ,0, 0 ,0, 0″) ’25 microliters
Case 3
micro10.Dispense (“10 ,ALL, 2147483647 ,0, 0 ,0, 0″) ’10 microliters
Case 4
micro10.Dispense (“25 ,ALL, 2147483647 ,0, 0 ,0, 0″) ’25 microliters
Case 5
micro10.Dispense (“40,ALL, 2147483647 ,0, 0 ,0, 0″) ’40 microliters
End Select
- Design processes that change dynamically based on results – A further level of flexibility can be added to an assay if the results generated by the readers are analyzed by user-defined code, and control decisions are made based on the nature of the incoming data. During the assay modeling and optimization stages, one might use such features when considering variations in assay conditions – such as reagent concentration and stoichiometry, incubation time, or the need for wash steps. During actual screens, cut-offs for second-tier screening can be adjusted based on statistical analysis of the incoming results. One can even consider an “interactive cherry-picking approach” in which the results of a reader determine if a plate should be considered for submission to a slower, more accurate reader – such as the use of a simple fluorescence method as a gateway to a flow cytometry analysis.
Work Cell Configurator
Add/remove, setup and configure the equipment in the workcell, so SoftLinx knows what methods and parameters are available.
- Add instruments as needed – The software only requires instruments to be configured if they are going to be used in the current methods. Idle instruments only add overhead to the overall control, and can be added any time they are needed.
- Configure instruments – Each instrument contains a number of features that can vary from one workcell to another. For example, The Hudson LabLinx can have tracks attached to either end with several positions where microplates can stop to initiate an action. These positions can even be incorporated into the decks of our SOLO and micro 1 or 10 liquid handlers. The PlateCrane can be taught to recognize many individual positions that can be important during a complex screen
- Constantly check instrument status/availability – SoftLinx’s ability to monitor the status of each device means that one does not have to worry about the effect of a temporary loss of availablity of any component – either due to damage, or one-off use by a lab-mate. SoftLinx will determine if an upcoming PlateCrane move will not be productive, and will find another way in which it can be used. This leads to the maximum level of efficiency of your protocols.
- Simulate unavailable instrumentation – In fact, none of the equipment needs to be available in order to develop new protocols. Most instruments can be run in “simulate” mode. This will allow methods to be built and tested to make sure conflicts or logjams don’t arise. Reliable time estimates can be determined as known time delays can be included in all steps. This can lead to the identifcation of the advantage of breaking a method into several parallel procedures to maximize instrument availability througout the screen.
Specs
- Multitasking executable program with built-in dynamic scheduling
- Connectivity to >100 lab automation devices with Hudson-supplied interfaces
- Icon-based drag-and-drop configuration and method editing
- Individual icons for each installed laboratory instrument
- Comprehensive menu of control icons allows writing of simple or complex methods
- Capable of writing and simultaneously executing multiple method threads
- Simple “VCR”-type buttons for starting and stopping methods
- Easy to use labware definitions screen
- Real-time display of all workcell actions during operation of system
- Supports full recovery from unscheduled shutdowns or interruptions
- Provides Platecrane EX plate operations, enabling operations like barcode reading to be performed while the mover holds the microplate
- Encrypted password entry and password change feature for all users
- Multi-level user access and permissions
- Data Audit trail to log all user permitted actions
- Supports major software packages-KC4, Softmax Pro, etc.
- Supports method change of a run, letting operators add plates to a run in progress
- Schedules run samples indefinitely; allows running unlimited samples or microplates
- Supports parallel assays, resulting in higher throughput
- Keeps track of each plate as it is being processed
- Complex methods can be built using functions such as loops; if-then statements, math and string functions, and timers for incubations
- Automates 5 or more methods/processes at a time
- Track method for changes to protocol setup
- Data Audit trail to log all user permitted actions
- Allows operators to add plates to a run already in progress
- Facilitates accurate event timing such as incubation periods
We encourage you to get in touch with us if you have specific questions about SoftLinx or would like to discuss how it can streamline your lab automation.