[bika-dev] Bika LIMS instrument interfaces Re: Another. Resolved

[lemoene <le...@bi...>]

Thanks Adrian

> Wrt instrument interfacing I am struggling to understand how this 
> works from the documentation.
>

> Probably the clue in the documentation is this part:
>
> "Only instruments for which the import templates are available in the 
> LIMS will be listed. Select the instrument where the results originate 
> from"
>

Could be

> Does the above mean that you need to configure the instrument within 
> BIKA yourselves?
>

Any coder can add these file imports, those available already are 
released on the AGPL with the system and are available on the import and 
export menu's - the latter for those instruments capable of 
bi-directional file exchanges.

Jordi and his team is developing another for our Brazilian friends on 
the list here and the technical documentation on how to do so is being 
developed in Bika's wiki, kindly sponsored by Aureo and team too.

As for serial interfaces, most sponsors seem to opt for proprietary 
middle ware as a quicker and more affordable, with Bika speaking to that 
via the same such file exchange mechanism, with the option to 
import/export the files either automatically or manually by authorised 
users.

Re getting these developed in say Python/Linux as FOSS remains first 
prize. I cc the dev list where this topic comes up from time to time 
(Alfonso are you listening?-) and also Huda and Nagesh who have plenty 
experience and starting to evaluate Bika Health now.

It'll be great if we can have sponsors put bounties on the interfaces 
and they then be taken on from a wide developer base to deliver a free 
standing instrument server that can be used by other projects too (Bill?-).

To get the ball rolling we might break the piggy bank and put a bounty 
on say the BD MGIT 960 or FACSCalibur that we regularly see in RFPs.

Any bids? We have good valid specs for both.

Any other instruments/specs sponsors? <grin>

> Is this a setup that can be done by end users?  If not, what 
> information would you require?
>

It'll all be available in the wiki real soon  now.

> I know that we have an instrument that uses ELISA as the calculation 
> method but do not have further details at the moment.  I believe it is 
> BioTek Elisa Plate Reader, but will confirm in another email. Also 
> please tell me the exact details that you require.
>

If it does file exchanges, a layout specification and example files are 
enough.

If serial/RS232 only, we can look around in the middleware catalogues. 
If you have a clear and up to date technical specification for the 
instrument's interface, please share that. Often difficult to get hold of.

Bests
Keep going!
l