Microscan Introduces New Traceability And Inspection Solutions For Life Sciences
Microscan, the technology leader for automatic identification in Life Sciences, announced recently new products for life sciences data traceability and inspection during this week at the Lab Automation conference in Palm Springs. The new solutions are based on the technologies of machine vision, illumination, and auto ID.
"As the inventor of the laser diode barcode scanner, Microscan was the first company to bring life sciences customers automatic identification and barcode tracking for applications such as lab automation, clinical chemistry, in vitro-diagnostics, and bio-sciences," explains Andy Zosel, Microscan's Director of Product Management. "Microscan recently expanded our technology portfolio deeper into 2D applications and machine vision inspection. Our new MS-96 Vial Reader is an example of that."
Microscan's new MS-96 Vial Reader is a complete traceability solution designed specifically for Lab Automation environments to capture and analyze 96 tiny Data Matrix codes in a single read. The MS-96 Vial Reader provides quick and reliable audit tracking of arrays of solutions and compounds, which in turn can enable more efficiency and greater test throughput. Powering the MS-96 Vial Reader is Microscan's new Visionscape® machine vision software. The MS-96 user interface displays images of all 96 vials and indicates read and no read status. After the symbols are read, the data can be exported to a database or stored as a comma-delimited ASCII file for further analysis by a spreadsheet package.
"Machine vision inspection is a powerful tool that can benefit life sciences companies by enabling more areas where efficiencies, cost reduction, or quality improvements can be gained by automating precise inspection, measurement, or gauging tasks," continues Zosel, who also noted that Microscan's recent acquisition of Siemens' machine vision business allows it to offer complete track, trace, and control solutions for laboratory automation.
In addition to introducing the MS-96 Vial Reader and Visionscape® machine vision software, a member of the Microscan Team is teaching the all day course "Introduction to Bar Code Technology" as part of the Association for Lab Automation's (ALA) short course program. Course instructor is Sr. Field Applications Engineer Niels Wartenberg, who has lead bar code technology courses for the ALA since 2001 and has more than 16 years of experience in auto ID for life science applications. In addition, Wartenberg is a published author in various life sciences publications, including a tutorial in the application and theory of bar coding for the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation.
About Microscan
Microscan is a global leader in technology for precision data acquisition and control solutions serving a wide range of automation and OEM applications. Founded in 1982, Microscan has a strong history of technology innovation which includes the invention of the first laser diode barcode scanner and the 2D symbology, Data Matrix. Today, Microscan remains a technology leader in automatic identification and machine vision with extensive solutions for ID tracking, traceability and inspection ranging from basic barcode reading up to complex machine vision inspection, gauging, and measurement.
As an ISO 9001:2000 certified company recognized for quality leadership in the US, Microscan is known and trusted by customers worldwide as a provider of quality, high precision products. Microscan is a Spectris company. For more information, visit: www.microscan.com
SOURCE: Microscan