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Instrumentation Laboratory

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Success Story

ABSTRACT

Instrumentation Laboratory depends on Nucleus RTOS to provide the quality and reliability necessary to build their safety-critical instruments like the ACL TOP.

“We’ve been extremely happy with Nucleus RTOS through the entire product development from early breadboard through instrument integration to product validation. During breadboard development, it was the ease of bringing up the system and emulators; at instrument integration, it was the ease of debugging; and finally, at product validation, it was the comfort of knowing that Nucleus RTOS was highly reliable.”

Tim Kelleher, IL Vice President Software Strategy and Development

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Nucleus RTOS Chosen for the ACL TOP System from Instrumentation Laboratory

acl top One of the latest blood analysis instruments from IL is the ACL TOP coagulation instrument. The ACL TOP is a high throughput, fully automated instrument for the high-demand laboratory. This instrument has two main components; a personal computer and an analyzer. The analyzer can hold up to 120 samples and maintain 60 reagents. In order to process the samples, the analyzer contains many computer processors running simultaneously, namely, the rack controller, cuvette controller, and optical reading controller. All of these controllers utilize Nucleus RTOS. Each controller has an average of 20 tasks, 15 interrupt service routines, and 15 message queues.

As expected, these medical instruments must undergo extensive testing and field trials. Given IL’s critical product development, a problem with the operating system is not acceptable. Nucleus RTOS provides the quality and reliability needed by developers to build safety critical instruments like the ACL TOP.

Nucleus RTOS has a successful reputation for providing the foundation for many embedded applications in the medical instrumentation market.

Other enticing features of the Nucleus software package include well-documented source code and a very flexible business model.

“IL has been at the forefront of discovery in diagnostics for over 40 years. From critical care testing sites to high-volume laboratories, consumers can count on IL for advanced technology and superior performance. For IL to maintain this reputation, it is vital to select tools, such as Nucleus RTOS, that also meet this reputation.”

Tim Kelleher, IL Vice President Software Strategy and Development

About Instrumentation Laboratory

Instrumentation Laboratory (IL) develops and delivers blood analysis medical instruments. These blood analysis instruments are found in medical laboratories, emergency rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, and other hospital areas. The reliability of these instruments is vital to patient care so the software must be solid and robust to consistently produce accurate patient results.

Instrumentation Laboratory's ACL TOP System

Tools Used

Nucleus

Nucleus OS is an efficient real-time operating system (RTOS) with storage and database management, USB, networking and connectivity, multimedia technology and advanced graphical user interface capabilities.