Bernd Göde

Flexible R&D integration platform of process informatics for automated medical applications and mobile data acquisition

In medical studies, an increasingly decentralized automated information acquisition occurs. Innovations assume for example a multi-parameter mobile sensor system combined with compact mobile computers (such as PDAs) communicating via Bluetooth or other wireless interfaces. Data sets from manual investigations and automated examination procedures arise in distributed systems. This results in above-average requirements of configuration for medical R&D applications. On the other hand in medical research projects involving test persons, there is a need for accumulating data from various examinations, for selecting data sets according to any criteria and for using the data on different targets. Fulfilling these demands, an open Web-based integration platform was developed. It is based on a workflow-oriented information management for laboratory and examination characteristic processes, picking up experiences of flexible, hierarchical laboratory automation. A process mapping and communication framework is proposed for workflow documentation as well as systems coupling with mobile medical data acquisition. It can be freely configured for application in medical examination by including process automation. Challenges of a universal, decentralized acquisition of arbitrary even time-based process parameters are archived by using service-oriented communication protocols. An exemplary project presentation illustrates potential and advantages of the developed integration platform.

Laboratory Information Management Systems - An Approach as an Integration Platform within Flexible Laboratory Automation for Application in Life Sciences

Pharmaceutical and biotechnological research claims high throughput of experimental assays running on automated laboratory systems. Complex and flexible laboratory automation requires adaptive laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and a suitable LIMS systems integration. Therefore, the direct, automated, and bi-directional communication between LIMS and laboratory components (sensors, analytical instruments, robot process control systems, cell handling systems, etc.) is key to secure and efficient control of the thereby generated data. The heterogeneous laboratory environment requires a flexible open framework that permits an appropriate syntax and semantic conversion for exchanging the data. After a detailed analysis of different laboratory processes in life science automation, loose system coupling based on a service-oriented approach is suggested for vertical and horizontal systems integration in LIMS. Thus, the involved systems benefit from data consistency and usability. Independence and robustness of the systems is ensured. Extended functionalities (such as integrated process tracking with embedded data visualizations in LIMS) as well as the fulfillment of comprehensive collaborative tasks become possible. This article presents a general concept for this kind of framework by describing an example of a process mapping in the field of drug discovery within LIMS.

Flexible End2End Workflow Automation of Hit-Discovery Research

The article considers a new approach of more complex laboratory automation at the workflow layer. The authors purpose the automation of end2end workflows. The combination of all relevant subprocesses—whether automated or manually performed, independently, and in which organizational unit—results in end2end processes that include all result dependencies. The end2end approach focuses on not only the classical experiments in synthesis or screening, but also on auxiliary processes such as the production and storage of chemicals, cell culturing, and maintenance as well as preparatory activities and analyses of experiments. Furthermore, the connection of control flow and data flow in the same process model leads to reducing of effort of the data transfer between the involved systems, including the necessary data transformations. This end2end laboratory automation can be realized effectively with the modern methods of business process management (BPM). This approach is based on a new standardization of the process-modeling notation Business Process Model and Notation 2.0. In drug discovery, several scientific disciplines act together with manifold modern methods, technologies, and a wide range of automated instruments for the discovery and design of target-based drugs. The article discusses the novel BPM-based automation concept with an implemented example of a high-throughput screening of previously synthesized compound libraries.

Agile Business Process Management in Research Projects of Life Sciences

In life science laboratories the sub-process automation of methods with semi- or full automated, isolated solutions called islands of automation and several IT sys tems dominate. There are deficits in networking of these sub-processes. The RD they use heterogeneous resources, and com bi ne automated, semi-automated, and manual activities in high-variable process chains with a high number of control structures. This characteristic of LSA-processes makes high demands on an integrated process management that contains an interdisciplinary collaborative process control and the documentation of the global process from for example purchasing, sample storage, method development to analytics and interpretation of results as well as the extraction of knowledge.

Visual Simulation for the BPM-Based Process Automation

A graphical standard notation for the analysis and execution of operational business processes is available since 2011 the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0. A new possibility is now established to automate complex, longer-than-average, interdisciplinary process chains including a powerful human task management cost-efficiently. The end-to-end process automation in life science automation demands comprehensive systems integration in heterogeneous, hybrid automation environments. Already at the early stages of the development of such solutions exists a great need for simulations of process execution. The presented simulation solution, interesting also for other target industries, is an important tool to an early staged quality assurance, to a definition of the components related automation demand and a validation of the process model. This visual simulation system shows the potentials of a BPMS-based automation using an animated process model, application simulations of the distributed automation and information systems, controlled video sequences or application screenshots and corresponding detailed information. It supports the argumentation for process-controlled, model-based applications, which transform the currently autonomous sub-systems and isolated applications into an overall system with a comprehensive, reproducible process control and monitoring. This article explains the solution and the impact of the BPM-oriented process simulation.

A BPM-Based Approach of Human Task Support within Automated Workflows

The contribution addresses the potential of model-driven workflow automation that allows new kinds of human system interaction. A control of the endto- end process includes the seamless control of human tasks in conjunction with distributed automation solutions in addition to the simplified application-technical system integration. The human task support for applications in the life science automation increases significant the efficiency in the execution of experiments, serves to reduce stress for involved employees, and provides important contributions to the improvement of the quality management in the research. Mobile devices assist interesting opportunities for notifications and provision of information. The presented approach takes up the standard BPMN 2.0 published in 2011 as the graphical modeling and automation language for any business processes.

Improved compliance by BPM-driven workflow automation.

Using methods and technologies of business process management (BPM) for the laboratory automation has important benefits (i.e., the agility of high-level automation processes, rapid interdisciplinary prototyping and implementation of laboratory tasks and procedures, and efficient real-time process documentation). A principal goal of the model-driven development is the improved transparency of processes and the alignment of process diagrams and technical code. First experiences of using the business process model and notation (BPMN) show that easy-to-read graphical process models can achieve and provide standardization of laboratory workflows. The model-based development allows one to change processes quickly and an easy adaption to changing requirements. The process models are able to host work procedures and their scheduling in compliance with predefined guidelines and policies. Finally, the process-controlled documentation of complex workflow results addresses modern laboratory needs of quality assurance. BPMN 2.0 as an automation language to control every kind of activity or subprocess is directed to complete workflows in end-to-end relationships. BPMN is applicable as a system-independent and cross-disciplinary graphical language to document all methods in laboratories (i.e., screening procedures or analytical processes). That means, with the BPM standard, a communication method of sharing process knowledge of laboratories is also available.

A BPM-based approach of human task support within life science automation

The article addresses the potential of model-driven workflow automation that allows new kinds of human system interaction. A control of the end-to-end process includes the seamless control of human tasks in conjunction with distributed automation solutions in addition to the simplified application-technical system integration. The human task support for applications in the life science automation increases significant the efficiency in the execution of experiments, serves to reduce stress for involved employees, and provides important contributions to the improvement of the quality management in the research. Mobile devices assist interesting opportunities for notifications and provision of information. The presented approach takes up the standard BPMN 2.0 published in 2011 as the graphical modeling and automation language for any business processes.

Model-driven complex workflow automation for laboratories

This article addresses the potential of model-driven workflow automation in R&D laboratories of life sciences. The presented approach takes up the notation standard BPMN 2.0 published in 2011 as the graphical modeling and automation language for any business processes. The challenges and goals of the work presented here focus the overall control integration of activities and subprocesses executed by automation systems as well as manually. For it BPM-based generic automation platforms will be evaluated by representative examples using several information systems, hierarchical automation components up to complex laboratory robot solutions. It can be summarized, that the modern BPM methods and tools open a new efficient way for overall process automation in hybrid heterogeneous systems environments, not only in case of life science automation. The BPM approach has been confirmed as an efficient method of cross control and integration to use mobile transfer robots for connecting automation islands in future labs.

Architecture for a Combined Mobile Robot and Human Operator Transportation Solution for the Hierarchical Life Science Automation.

Modern laboratories for life sciences often include several different integrated automation systems to increase throughput and quality, to reduce efforts for human operators and to reduce the costs of processes. Typically, the planning and monitoring of methods are prepared and executed directly on local computers of the automation systems. Moreover, a manual replenishing of resources and a manual transfer of samples and labware between interacting automation systems are required in order to ensure end-to-end operations in a