PATHFINDER900 PLUSTAKING THE STRESS OUT OF

MANAGING YOUR SAMPLES

Lab automation made easy

Up to 40 rack positions with no predefined input or output positions. You can set the system up how best it suits your lab’s workflow!

Huge storage area underneath - great for consumables and accessories

Takes variety of sample racks and supports different third party analyzer racks

Samples are quick and easy to identify in the coloured sample racks

Easy loading of consumables at the back, you can do this without stopping the instrument!

Rack loading of samples from 3 sides, several operators can access the system without getting in each other’s way.

You don’t even have to stop the instrument to load or unload racks!

KEY BENEFITS

DD Improves laboratory workflow and sample Turn Around Time

DD Minimizes manual handling errors and decision steps

DD Decreases biohazard exposure

DD Reduces lost or misplaced tubes

DD Reduces RSI injuries

DD Assists in tracking samples as they move through the laboratory

DD Frees up lab staff for more productive work

Configurable specimen tray swaps out in less than a minute! Fantastic! It allows you to change the instrument configuration as your workflow changes.

Stat position for priority sample

Easy operator interaction through 17” touch screen LCD - can be located on the left or right side

Handy shelf at convenient height - holding area for your next sample racks Light tower

to indicate instrument status

PaThFINdEr 900 PluSAim Lab Automation Technologies’

PathFinder 900 Plus is a high speed robotic

workstation that automatically processes and

manages the distribution of sample tubes

in the busy pathology laboratory ready for

analysis or storage. The system automates a

number of manual processes including:

− Loading and unloading of specimen

tubes in sample racks

− Determination of the patient id and

sample type of each presented tube

− Decapping of primary tubes

− The preparation and labeling of

secondary tubes

− Aliquoting of sample into multiple

labeled secondary tubes

− Capping of secondary and

primary tubes

− Sorting of tubes into different

destination racks

− Interfacing with the LIS

While sophisticated in design, the day-to-

day use of the instrument is simple and

straightforward.

uNIquE Modular dESIgNThe PathFinder 900 Plus is a truly modular

system with a number of modules arranged

around a two lane conveyor track. Each

module is dedicated to a specific function

MODULE

1MODULE

2

DUAL LANE TRACK

ID MODULE

SO

RT

ER

4

SORTER 3

EaSY-To-uSE SoFTWarEInteraction with the PathFinder 900

Plus software is through an intuitive,

icon-driven Graphical User Interface

(GUI) with a web-style layout that

provides a high level of familiarity to the

novice operator.

At a glance the home page reveals the

status of the entire system. The operator

can be guided through each module,

providing more detailed information

about the hardware, consumables and

running state.

The GUI also provides the system

administrator with the ability to

configure the system for the laboratory’s

particular requirements. Spreadsheet

style configuration pages present data

in a readable, easily edited format.

The GUI can also be viewed on any PC

on the same network as the PathFinder

900 Plus allowing the system to

be monitored and/or reports to be

generated remotely

99 Dynamic interface that updates

system status in real time

99 Full management and

workflow reporting

99 Workflow productivity graphs

and statistics

99 Ability to track, search and

locate tubes on demand

99 Complete customization of

work area and tube types

99 Web based technology which

allows multiple PCs to use the

same interface

99 In-built user diagnostics with

pop up help screens

99 Available in different languages

and sample tubes are transported around the

system between modules in pucks.

The basic system includes four sorter modules

and a sample tube ID module with the facility

to accommodate up to 4 function modules as

shown in the schematic diagram below.

The different function modules that can be

fitted to the system are:

Position Function Module

1 De-capping or Capping

2 Secondary Tube Preparation

3 Aliquot (also de-caps

the primary tube)

4 De-capping or Capping

The flexibility in the design allows the

system to be customised to suit the

automation needs of your laboratory.

For example, if presented tubes are to

be aliquoted into secondary tubes, the

system is equipped with a Secondary Tube

Preparation module and an Aliquot module.

To increase the de-capping throughput

or to de-cap tubes without aliquoting, a

De-capping module can be added. Finally,

to selectively foil cap secondary tubes or

re-presented uncapped tubes, a Capping

module can be installed in the remaining

function module position.

Alternatively, if aliquoting is not required, a

PathFinder 900 Plus could be equipped

with 2 De-capping modules, 2 Capping

modules or even 1 De-capping module

and 1 Capping module.

99 Automated aliquoting and

distribution of secondary tubes

99 Automated decapping and

distribution of decapped

primary tubes

99 Recursive distribution of samples

based on test priority

99 Auditing test panel completeness

99 Capping and archiving of

samples into low cost

storage racks

99 Foil sealing and sorting of

prepared “send out” tubes

ready for transport

aPPlICaTIoNS

MODULE

3MODULE

4

DUAL LANE TRACK SO

RT

ER

1

SORTER 2

FlExIBIlITYThe PathFinder 900 Plus has been

developed with flexibility as an essential

design criteria. Sample racks can be

loaded or unloaded from the front or

either side of the instrument onto easily

configurable specimen trays. Any rack

position (and there can be up to 40 in

total) can be set up as either an input or

an output position giving ultimate flexibility

in the layout. As a result, the instrument

can be set up specifically to suit the

layout of your laboratory and orientated

to optimize your laboratory’s workflow.

Several operators can access the system

at the same time without getting in each

other’s way.

The flexibility also characterises the way the

system processes samples. Tubes can be

directly picked from or placed into different

analyzer racks or low cost PathFinder

automation racks. The PathFinder sample

racks are conveniently available in different

capacities and colors and make ideal

destination or storage racks. Operators are

alerted to empty input racks or full output

racks as soon as they need replacement.

Even partially filled racks can be replaced

at any time without stopping the instrument

and impacting throughput. The system

layout can be changed in a matter

on minutes as the workload changes

throughout the day.

FuNCTIoNalITYWith simple robust functionality, the

PathFinder 900 Plus has been designed

to meet the many day-to-day challenges

associated with sample management.

The PathFinder 900 Plus represents the

fourth generation in tube automation

systems designed by Aim Lab Automation

Technologies. It takes proven technology

from Aim Lab’s earlier lab automation

platforms, enhances these and integrates

them with innovative new design elements

to improve overall performance. Unique

technologies such as the tube type

identification by image analysis and foil

capping are patented technologies.

Specific capabilities include:

− Full clot detection.

− Processing capped or uncapped

primary tubes.

− Recapping a primary tube with its

original cap or a foil cap.

− Foil capping of secondary tubes to

IATA requirements for air transport.

− Multiple aliquots per primary tube.

− Ability to manage multiple tubes of the

same type with the same barcode.

CoMPaCT SIzEWith a footprint of only 2.5m x 1.4m

(8.2’ x 4.6’) and a working area that allows

operator access from both the front and

the sides, the PathFinder 900 Plus is

compact in size for the functionality and

flexibility it offers. The component modules

fit through a standard doorway so the

system can be subsequently assembled

on site with minimal disruption to existing

infrastructure or the laboratory layout.

hIgh ThroughPuTThe PathFinder 900 Plus boasts a

consistently high sample throughput.

Sample tubes are processed at a rate up

to 1,200 tubes per hour when sorting and

the throughput is maintained at over 900

tubes per hour even when 30% of the

primary tubes processed are aliquoted into

a secondary tube (1:1).

The dual track design allows parallel sample

processing to improve overall efficiency.

Samples that require only sorting will

bypass sample queues for aliquoting and

capping. The PathFinder 900 Plus workcell

controller monitors the input workload to

automatically optimise the work directed

to each module. This workload balancing

capability ensures maximum throughput

performance of each module is maintained

under varying workloads.

THROUGHPUT

Up to 1,200 sorted tubes/hour (sorting only).

Up to 1,000 de-capped tubes/hour (de-capping only)

Up to 1,100 foil capped tubes/hour (capping only)

Up to 560 total tubes/hour de-capping and aliquoting (1 primary: 3 secondary)

SAMPLE ID

Positive barcode identification

Tube type recognition

PRESEnTED TUbES

Handles most standard sample collection tubes from major tube manufacturers

Diameter: 12 - 16 mm

Height: 63mm – 120mm (depending on rack)

RAck TyPES

PathFinder racks - 20, 50 or 128 well sample racks, available in different colors

Choice of rack adapters for loading different analyzer racks

Stat/error rack

SORTInG AREA cAPAcITy

Up to 1,016 samples (16mm OD tubes)

Up to 2,064 samples (13mm OD tubes)

LIS InTERfAcE

Bi-directional interface; CLSI/NCCLS LIS2-A (ASTM E 1394-91)

DIMEnSIOnS

2.5m (8.2’) L x 1.4m (4.6’) W x 1.8m (5.9’) H

POwER SUPPLy

220 - 240VAC, 50 - 60Hz, 2400W

OPERATInG TEMPERATURE RAnGE

10°C - 35°C (50°F - 95°F)

UTILITIES REqUIRED

Power

Network point

Compressed air

cERTIfIcATIOn

Designed and manufactured in accordance with ISO13485

2004/108/EC and 2006/95/EC

PaThFINdEr 900 PluS SPECIFICaTIoNS

www.aimlab.com

International Head Office

10-22 hornibrook Esplanade,

Clontarf, qld 4019, australia

P: +61 7 3897 1600

F: +61 7 3283 7922

E: aimlab@aimlab.com

ThE PaThFINdEr FaMIlYTo compliment the PathFinder 900 Plus,

Aim Lab Automation Technologies also

offers smaller bench top automation

systems - the PathFinder 450S for

dedicated sorting applications and the

PathFinder 350A for post analytical

capping and archiving of sample tubes.

The PathFinder family share the same

interface specification. One or more

PathFinder systems (either 450S or 350A)

can integrate with the PathFinder 900 Plus

to provide a network of systems enabling

error free sample prioritizing and tracking

within the same site or between laboratories

which share a common LIS system

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PathFinder 450S Sorter

PathFinder 350A Archiver