Mapping Manual Laboratory Tasks to Robot Movements in Digital Pathology Workflow

Area of Science:

• Medical Laboratory Automation
• Robotics in Healthcare
• Digital Pathology

Background:

• Pathology laboratories face challenges with labor shortages and repetitive tasks.
• The integration of automation is crucial for improving efficiency and diagnostic speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a fully autonomous workflow for pathology laboratories.
• To assess the capabilities of a collaborative robot and custom manipulator in performing clinical laboratory tasks.

Main Methods:

• Integration of Gemini AS Automated Slide Stainer, ClearVue Coverslipper, and Pannoramic 1000 digital slide scanner with a UR5e robotic arm.
• Development of a 9-degrees-of-freedom robotic system including a custom manipulator with specialized grippers and a camera.
• Training the robotic arm on a minimum of 24 distinct laboratory tasks.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of a fully autonomous workflow for essential clinical laboratory tasks.
• The robotic system demonstrated precise handling of equipment, magazines, and slides.
• The custom manipulator proved mechanically compatible with standardized robot interfaces.

Conclusions:

• The autonomous workflow effectively mitigates labor shortages in pathology.
• This automation accelerates diagnostic processes by handling repetitive tasks efficiently.
• The developed system enhances overall efficiency in pathology laboratory operations.