LABLYNX

As a collaborative team, we have meticulously searched for problems present in the industry, putting particular emphasis and focus on both the public and private healthcare system with a focus on medical drugs and essential sample transportation systems that have currently been put in place. From this, the ingenuous and innovative idea, supported by current studies and resources, has allowed us to navigate, negotiate, and present the planned development of an already in-use but not fully effective device. Merging the thrilling advancements of Artificial Intelligence and its subgroups, conjoined with the elementary knowledge we collectively have as a group that stems from the backgrounds of Engineering and Computer Science, the partial implementation of a robotic transportation system, now called LabLynx.

UN SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Empowered and Driven:
Delivering Solutions for Global Issues

Our prototype aims to gain the attention of laboratories, pathologists and nurses who are in need of support when it comes to the transportation of essential and vital specimens and medications within one ward to another; making them the main customer, followed by the potential desire to capture investors within the industry to further implement and make this project nationwide; making the vision of improving this existing product to inspire.

DESIGN STORY

Challenges

We believe that there is a gap in the market for the transportation of samples because blood samples are placed inside a transport box which is labelled with the contact details which is why we believe that creating a robot which will transport blood samples around the hospital to the pathology/lab this will be beneficial for the hospital as it will reduce the need for the samples to be transported manually and instead by robot. Another problem it could solve is it saves a lot of time for staff who must transport the specimens.

Solution

Our product provides the solutions of efficiency, accuracy, sample integrity, cost, safety, and resource allocation in hospitals. This type of automation supports a more error-resistant, and effective healthcare environment, which is beneficial for both healthcare providers and patients.

Use Case

Actors: Lab Technician (primary), Nursing Staff (secondary) Preconditions: The robot is fully charged and operational. The lab technician has prepared the samples for pickup. The laboratory system is ready to receive and process samples. Basic Flow: 1. The nursing staff or lab technician logs into the hospital’s central system and enters a transportation request for human samples, specifying pick-up and drop-off locations. 2. The system processes the request and dispatches the robot to the specified pick-up location. 3. The robot navigates to the pick-up location using predefined hospital maps and obstacle avoidance systems. 4. Upon arrival, the lab technician securely places the samples in the robot’s climate-controlled compartment and confirms the samples are ready for transport on the system. 5. The robot transports the samples directly to the designated laboratory, following the most efficient route. 6. Upon reaching the laboratory, the robot signals its arrival, and the laboratory staff retrieve the samples from the robot. 7. The laboratory staff scans the samples into the laboratory system for tracking and immediate processing. 8. The robot logs the completion of the delivery and returns to its docking station for charging or awaits further instructions for the next task.

TECHNOLOGIES

List of Essential Tools and Technologies

Raspberry Pi

Python

THE PROCESS

PROTOTYPE DESIGN

Stemming from the image our prototype, when the correct codes are entered, the hatch opens, leading to the temperature-controlled compartment. The compartment has tube holders. For this project, acrylic is used to build the compartment, such as the Raspberry Pi, sensors, and thermostat. An emergency button is placed under the chassis of the compartment as a security feature, as a security feature and this overrides the functionalities of the robot, temporarily halting its progress.

PLEDGE

Impact on the market

For this project we believe that there is a gap in the market for this as blood samples are placed inside a transport box which is labelled with the contact details which is why we believe that creating a robot which will transport blood samples around the hospital to the pathology/lab this will be beneficial for the hospital as it will reduce the need for the samples to be transported manually and instead by robot. Another problem it could solve is it saves a lot of time for staff who must transport the specimens.

Benefits Of This Product for The Hospitals:

This product will benefit the healthcare facilities in numerous ways. First and foremost, it will enhance efficiency by speeding up the process of moving samples from one department to another, reducing the time needed for laboratory testing and diagnosis.

using a robot for specimen transport can help minimize human error and contamination risks, as it eliminates the need for manual handling of samples.

This leads to more accurate test results and improves overall patient care. Overall, implementing a robot for specimen transport in a hospital can streamline operations, enhance patient outcomes, and create a safer environment for staff and patients.

Competitors:

The specimen tracking system is a competitor which tracks and minimizes the risk of errors and ensures that the sample’s integrity is preserved throughout the research process, the robot provides the same service due to the fact that it is being transported by a robot which is minimizing the risk of errors, However the robot also provides other forms of security such as using the patients details before allowing the robot to open

Cost:

Having a cheap robot for hospitals to transport specimens is essential because it allows healthcare facilities to save money overall. Hospitals already have tight budgets, and investing in an expensive specimen transport robot could strain their resources further.

By making the robot affordable, hospitals can allocate their funds towards other crucial areas like patient care and medical research.

Additionally, having an inexpensive transport robot enables smaller hospitals and clinics with limited budgets to benefit from this technology, improving efficiency and accuracy in specimen transportation across the entire healthcare system. In the end, a cost-effective solution benefits everyone involved

RESULTS

FINAL PRODUCT

Concerning our project we have analysed our market and highlighted our target audience, gradually tailoring our product to fit the efficient transportation needed. So far we have built the base for our robot and have started constructing and implementing our motor and Arduino Uno. Through our opportunistic planning, we projected our financials and cash flow resulting from the distribution of our product.