GB2571254A

GB2571254A - Sensor based instrument health monitoring

Info

Publication number: GB2571254A
Application number: GB1802408.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fritze Roland; Reinhardt Marcus; Bürk Oliver
Original assignee: Stratec Biomedical AG
Current assignee: Stratec Biomedical AG
Priority date: 2018-02-14
Filing date: 2018-02-14
Publication date: 2019-08-28
Also published as: GB201802408D0

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring operation of a diagnostic device (20) to determine the health of the device is disclosed. The method comprises recording, using one or more vibrational sensors (30), vibrational movements produced during the operation of the diagnostic device (20) and comparing the recorded vibrational movements with stored vibrational patterns in a database (50). One or more status messages are generated on a display device (40) based on the comparison.

Description

Title: Sensor based instrument health monitoring

Field of the invention [0001] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for monitoring operation of a diagnostic instrument.

Prior Art [0002] Methods for monitoring the operation of devices using acoustic sensors or accelerometers are known in the art. For example, international patent application No. WO 2017/083120 Al (University of California) teaches a cutting tool with an accelerometers and acoustic sensors for monitoring the operation of the cutting tool. US Patent No. 5,045,669 (General Electric) teaches the use of an acoustic sensor to monitor the operation of a laser processing tool. The sensors are not integrated into the devices for monitoring them but are attached to the devices for monitoring the operation of the devices.

[0003] Acoustic sensors or accelerometers mounted on a test stand are known. These test stands are used to record the vibrational signals of the device and develop signal parameters for testing the medical device. The vibrational signals are recorded and processed to identify patterns indicative of a malfunctioning of the medical device. The information gathered from these test stands is useful but cannot be used when the medical devices are in the field. Typically, a medical device is only put into a test stand when the medical device has begun to malfunction.

[0004] The use of a vibrational movement sensor to monitor a medical device in use is, however, not known in the art.

[0005] Currently the monitoring of the operation of medical or diagnostic devices in use is carried out by using, for example, position sensors, light barriers, and temperature sensors. These sensors provide useful diagnostic information when the medical or diagnostic device is in operation, but do not necessarily indicate ageing of components in the medical devices. Selfdiagnosis tests are run from time-to-time on the medical or diagnostic device to check that the medical device is operating correctly and to attempt to determine malfunctioning of components in the device. Such malfunctioning includes ageing of the components in the device, vibrating or sliding components, or components that have become loose within the device. The malfunctioning can only be detected, however, if there is an identifiable effect on the sensors already installed in the medical or diagnostic device.

Summary of the invention [0006] This document discloses a method for monitoring operation of a diagnostic device which comprises recording vibrational movements produced during the operation of the device, comparing the recorded vibrational movements with previously stored vibrational patterns and generating status messages for the diagnostic device based on this comparison. The terms diagnostic device and diagnostic instrument are used synonymously and comprised in vitro diagnostic devices.

[0007] The monitoring of the vibrational movements enables real-time monitoring of the operation of the diagnostic device. No test runs are necessary, because the sensors can collect data during operation of the device. For example, the stored vibrational patterns can be indicative of component failure (or potential component failure) or indicative of the ageing of one or more of the components. The method enables the replacement of a component that is likely to fail in the near future (so-called predictive maintenance).

[0008] The vibrational movements recorded are at least one of acoustic waves or mechanical vibrations. It will be appreciated that the distinction between the acoustic waves or the mechanical vibrations is not exactly defined. For example, mechanical vibrations of the diagnostic device lead to vibrations in the surrounding air that will be detected as acoustic signals.

[0009] The vibrational movements are measured by one of an acoustic sensor, such as a microphone, or a vibration sensor, such as an accelerometer. These examples of measuring instruments are, however, not limiting of the invention.

[0010] The disclosure also teaches an apparatus which comprises one or more vibrational movement sensors which are located within the diagnostic device. The device can be connected with a display. Potential error messages, like the need to replace aging components for instance, can be transferred to initiate a predictive maintenance action to avoid a shutdown of the device.

[0011] In one aspect of the apparatus, a database is stored in a cloud. The database can include a plurality of different vibration patterns representative of different states of the diagnostic device.

Description of the figures [0012] Fig. 1 shows an example of the apparatus of the invention.

[0013] Fig. 2 shows an example of the method of the document.

Detailed description of the invention [0014] Fig. 1 shows an example of the apparatus (10) of the invention. The apparatus (10) monitors a diagnostic device such as an automated analyzer for in vitro laboratory analysis, e.g. for patient samples like blood, plasma or other body fluids. Proximate to the diagnostic device (20) are one or more vibrational movement sensors (30). In Fig. 1 only two vibrational movement sensors (30) are shown, but this is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0015] A first vibrational movement sensor (30a) is shown located close to, but not directly attaching or in contact with the diagnostic device (20). The first vibrational sensor (30a) is an acoustic sensor, such as a sensitive microphone. A second vibrational movement sensor (30b) is shown directly in contact with the diagnostic device (20) and is, e. g. an accelerometer for measuring movement of the diagnostic device (20).

[0016] It will be appreciated that a number of other vibrational movement sensors (30) could be located within the diagnostic device (20).

[0017] The vibrational movement sensors (30) are connected to a digital signal processor (35) which receives and records data signals from the vibrational movement sensors (30) and processes the vibrational patterns measured by the vibrational movement sensors (30). The digital signal processor (35) also includes a local data storage buffer which is able to store at least part of the data signals.

[0018] This processing could be done, for example, by a Fourier transformation of the recorded measurements. The digital signal processor (35) is able to produce an output which is shown on a display device (40). The output could include but is not limited to status messages such as preventive maintenance measures, predicted component failures and erroneous operation of the diagnostic device (20). The output is produced by comparing known patterns of component failures and/or erroneous operation of the diagnostic device.

[0019] In one aspect of the invention, the digital signal processor (35) is connected to a database (50), which is located in a remote storage, such as in the cloud. The database (50) will store a plurality of vibrational patterns, which have been pre-recorded and can be used by the digital signal processor (35) in order to transfer the status messages to a display device (40). The digital signal processor (35) can send the unprocessed data signals and/or the processed data to the database (50) to detect defects or unexpected operation data. Relevant data may be transferred to a database or cloud memory for feature engineering to detect whether the device is working in good condition or if there are deviations from the good state. It is an advantage that a technician can be informed prior to a shutdown of the device. The amount of data may be reduced to essential data like amplitude, frequencies or rate of change. An unexpected shutdown of the diagnostic device may result in transfer of raw data to be able to recognize a critical state earlier during future applications. The new information in the database (50) enables the analysis of the component failure or erroneous operation of the diagnostic device (20) to be regularly updated. This information can be combined with reported observations of the malfunctioning of the diagnostic device (20) for example by a user or a test engineer to develop knowledge about how the diagnostic device might malfunction. The information in the database (50) can also be correlated with observations made on a test stand.

[0020] In step 200, the apparatus (10) is initiated and performs a self-diagnosis in step 210. Once the apparatus has been self-diagnosed and is confirmed to be working correctly, the one or more vibrational movement sensors (30) will record vibrational movements in step 220 and pass these recorded vibrational movements to the digital signal processor (35) for processing in step 230. As noted above, the processing step 230 could, e. g. be a Fourier transformation or a cepstrum analysis of the recorded patterns or could comprise, descript or could continue its wavelet transformations. The digital signal processor (35) can carry out a statistic or analyses of the patterns, such as detecting extreme values, variance, crest values, effectiveness, distribution correlation between there is different patterns and different frequencies, etc.

[0021] In step 240 the processed patterns are compared to previously known patterns, such as those stored in the database (50), and conclusions are reached about the operating status of the diagnostic device (20).

Reference Number List

Apparatus

Diagnostic Device

Vibrational movement sensors

Digital signal processor

Display device

Database

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a diagnostic device (20) comprising:

- recording, using one or more vibrational sensors (30), vibrational movements produced during the operation of the diagnostic device (20);

- comparing the recorded vibrational movements with stored vibrational patterns in a database (50);

- generating a message for initiating a predictive maintenance action based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrational movements are one of acoustic waves or mechanical vibrations.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the status messages comprises at least one of preventive maintenance, predicted component failures, erroneous operation.

4. An apparatus (10) for monitoring operation of a diagnostic device (20) comprising:

- one or more vibrational movement sensors (30) located within the device (20).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vibrational movement sensors (30) are one of acoustic sensors or accelerometers.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, further comprising a data base (50) storing a plurality of patterns representative of states of the diagnostic device (20).

7. The apparatus of one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the one or more vibrational movement sensors (30) are attached to the diagnostic device (20).

8. The apparatus of one of claims 4 to 7, connected to a display device (40) for displaying status messages of the diagnostic device (20)