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Tempurity
System from Networked Robotics - Frequently Asked Questions
What types of organizations use networked-based real-time quality data collection and monitoring?
Networked Robotics current customers include major biotech and research
organizations, major hospital research centers, a national stem cell
bank, major food processing companies and restaurants, warehousing
companies, and major university laboratories.
What kinds of quality data are collected and monitored? The answer to this question keeps changing as new connection types are supported by Networked Robotics. Temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, voltage, contact alarm state, and others. Different methods of data collection are used for different kinds of monitored devices. A single Networked Robotics network device can collect data from up to four very diverse sources. Each data acquisition port on our hardware can either connect directly to the data communication port of your freezer, refrigerator, or incubator or to Networked Robotics' own proprietary digital sensors. Our network hardware can be upgraded through the network to support quality enhancements and new connection types as they become available. What makes Tempurity cost effective over other monitoring systems? We believe that we have lowered the overall total costs of ownership such that it is now appropriate to extend the quality benefits of an automated data collection and monitoring system to all of your company's freezer, refrigerators, and incubators. We have lowered the costs by: 1) Quickly self-installable units that can be connected through your current network in 3 different ways. 2) Allowing centralized or decentralized if you desire, but flexible and widely accessible, monitoring across not only labs but across buildings, sites, and nations. 3) Providing common regulatory support in documentation and validation.
Yes. Connections to Tempurity require some network experience. For larger institutions the information technology group should be involved. The process is similar to that of connecting a home DSL or Cable broadband router to the network. The appropriate network address must be configured. A subnet mask must be entered and the Networked Robotics network hardware should be set for the type of monitored device from which to collect data such as humidity or temperature or oxygen concentration. The Networked Robotics Tempurity Quick Connect Guide document, available from the download or documentation pages goes through the connection process.
(N)etwork (T)elemetry (M)onitoring (S)ystem.
Our network hardware must be connected to your network - and to your monitored device. There are 3 general ways to install our network hardware, all utilizing standard network technology. 1) By placing the NTMS on the network in the room to be monitored (usually attached directly to a freezer or incubator) and then attaching the freezer to the NTMS. 2) By placing the NTMS in a network closet and attaching the freezer directly to the wall plate. 3) By connecting the NTMS to a wireless bridge and connecting the monitored device to the NTMS. By providing the flexibility to connect in different ways, all of your devices are easily connected both initially, and after a move. See the support section of our web site for further information.
At large facilities 25% of freezers move each year. Many of these moves are due to the moves of the laboratories themselves. You will be repeating the installation and configuration process as changes are made within your organization. Quick connection times ensure that coverage is established rapidly after a move.
Tempurity can be connected to the network either wired or wirelessly. Wireless connections to Tempurity are accomplished via standard, low cost, wireless bridges, available from network companies like Cisco/Linksys. Some vendors sell products that are based on wireless monitoring but use proprietary wireless protocols. With Tempurity each freezer becomes a node on your standard network and is subject to standard wireless network security and management procedures. With other systems a proprietary wireless connection is made between your monitored device and a proprietary central station over protocols that may be open to eavesdropping. Networked Robotics TPL3 temperature probes provide a bright indicator light that indicates a proper connection. Battery life will never be an issue. Once connected always connected. Regulated facilities may have yet to complete an evaluation of wireless capabilities for regulatory use.
The Tempurity System uses all-digital components. Temperature is measured with integrated circuits rather than with resistive techniques like thermocouples or thermistors. Resistive techniques need internal correction factors to account for nonlinearities or temperature effects. In contrast, the values collected by Networked Robotics sensors are the values reported. You can use the common Telnet network utility to read temperatures from Networked Robotics probes. These will be the same readings reported by the Tempurity Monitor.
Tempurity is unique among monitoring systems in that the collection, and the review of data are split into two network components, the Tempurity Server and the Tempurity Monitor. Any Windows XP computer can run either or both components. The Tempurity Server acts as the network collector. It reaches out, collects and stores temperatures as specified in the Tempurity Server Configuration Utility. The Tempurity Monitor is constantly watching the Tempurity Server over the network to find out if the server has detected any out-of-range conditions, or alarms. Because of the division of labor between Server and Monitor, alarm notifications can be defined by anyone, anywhere. This gives an incredible flexibility to the monitoring function. How accurate is the system? It depends on the type of connection that you have. The Tempurity System either connects directly to its monitored devices or uses Networked Robotics proprietary digital sensors. If the direct connection method is used then the system uses the freezer or other instrument's internal probe and simply communicates this value to Tempurity. See the instrument manufacturer's specifications for the accuracy of these devices. Networked Robotics' advanced TPL3 digital temperature probes, our most commonly sold sensor, report to .1 degree C. There is a distribution of accuracies, but a common standard error is one half degree at zero C. At -55 C to -80 C common errors are 3 degrees C. Probes are the most accurate at physiological temperature where errors are about .1 to .2 degrees C. How many computers do I need to run Tempurity? You only need one computer to run Tempurity. In this case the Tempurity Server and the Tempurity Monitor run on the same computer. However there are usually more Monitors running - one on each client machine. Also, the system may need to rely on another computer that you already have, your e-mail server. The system has three levels of alarming. The first level occurs anytime that the system detects an out-of-range condition. This is not usually considered serious (a temporarily opened door for example). These conditions are recorded to a file and are indicated on the main monitor screen but do not generate alarm notification conditions. When the temperature stays CONTINUOUSLY out of range for a defined time period Tempurity triggers a stage one or yellow alarm. If the temperature still is continuously out of range for a longer period it triggers a stage 2 alarm. Both stage 1 and 2 alarms are written to an alarm log. The time thresholds at which temperature alarms or communication alarms occur can be set for each device individually.
Any combination of alarm notifications is possible on every monitored device through the definition of alarm groups. For example, you can define e-mail to go to one person when a specific monitored device enters stage one alarm. You can define a text message to go to another person when the same device enters stage two alarm. Alarm notifications can be set independently for any individual monitored device or alarm stage. Pagers, e-mail, text message to cell phones are supported for most of the communications companies in the world. In Tempurity Version 2 voice alarms can be sent. No dialers or special hardware is needed. Alarm notifications are sent through the Tempurity Monitor. The Monitor can be easily downloaded and run simultaneously from any computer, each computer watches independently for alarms on the Tempurity Server. Each of these independently sends e-mail and text message alarms in response to the out-of-range conditions that are detected by the Tempurity Server.
US Food and Drug Administration's Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Clinical Practices (GCP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. US Environmental Protection Agency Good Automated Laboratory Practices (GALP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Your freezer must have a serial data communication capability. Almost all types of ultracold freezers with serial ports are compatible with direct connections through Tempurity. This includes brands from Revco, Forma, Harris, Kelvinator, VWR, Baxter, and Puffer-Hubbard. If your instrument does not have a serial port or is not compatible with one of the above formats you can use Networked Robotics' advanced TPL3U or RTD temperature probes to measure temperatures. See our product page for more information. Tempurity does not currently support direct connections with Sanyo ultracold freezers. NuAire freezers or the Powerfreezer line from Thermo-Forma.
You can use a Networked Robotics TPL3 temperature probes for monitoring these types of freezers. Accuracy at -75 C is about 3 degrees C.
Yes. TPL3 and TPL3U probes are waterproof. The water's temperature should not exceed 125 degrees Centigrade. TPL3U probes are designed for attachment underwater.
Yes. Customers sometimes prefer to put our temperature probes in containers filled with glycerin because it slows the response time of our probes - making them less sensitive to door opens for example.
Installation is available at larger institutions. It includes all cables and connections for monitored devices near an active network jack. Unless specified the fee does not include wireless network hardware or runs of new network wire or new wall plates. Regulated installations include the execution of an installation qualification form to confirm that the installation is as expected.
The serial number of network hardware, probe, and monitored devices are documented. A measurement is taken with a calibrated temperature measurement device that confirms the temperature reading. All records are initialed, dated, and approved according to FDA GLP regulations and Networked Robotics' Good Documentation procedures.
Networked Robotics staff is trained once a year on FDA GLP and GMP regulations and related procedures.
A web download allows you to install the Tempurity Monitor client software on your home computer or any other computer at any time without charge.
A communications alarm will be generated after the appropriate time threshold. This time threshold can be set to a low value of ten minutes. Reaction to a power failure depends on many factors. Because the system sometimes collects data via direct connections the system will not collect temperature values from these monitored devices unless the device itself is powered up. Although temperatures and other data types are not known to be out-of-range during this period the system will still issue alarm notifications, e-mail, text messages, and voice when there is an inability to obtain data from the monitored device as expected. The Tempurity Server and Monitor, and sometimes your corporate mail server must be operational in order for this function to occur. This may mean that power backup is needed on the relevant computer(s) and network equipment. Redundant monitoring is also possible with Tempurity and these can be off-site. Two or more Tempurity Server can collect temperatures from the same population of monitored devices for enhanced reliability.
The Tempurity System is designed for flexibility – to move to anywhere there is a network connection. In most cases there are no steps needed to resume collection- just plug in the NTMS network hardware in to an active network port at the new location. In some cases, depending on how your organization’s network manager has defined subnetworks, the NTMS device must be configured with a new IP address. In this case the collector (Tempurity Server) must also be reconfigured.
The NTMS hardware is capable of operating inside a refrigerator. If network is available inside the freezer the NTMS can operate with full function. The 60-page user manual for Tempurity Version 1 is available for download from our download page. An updated version for Tempurity Version 2, now in beta is expected soon.
No. But Networked Robotics uses NIST-certified laboratories to calibrate their equipment that is used in the calibration process and as such our calibrations are NIST-traceable. Probes can be calibrated by NIST-certified laboratories for an additional fee. Tempurity's temperature data is stored on the Tempurity Server - the computer running the Tempurity Server software. Tempurity data should be backed up through normal server backup procedures or other regularly scheduled backup. This is especially critical for regulated customers. An individual can never modify data through the Tempurity System. There are no facilities through Tempurity for changing data. Checksum files provide the capability to detect altered data.
Approximately 100Mb per year for 40 monitored devices.
21CFRPart11 compliance is usually evaluated by client organizations. The Tempurity system has been found to be compliant by some customers. Much depends on your procedures and how you operate the system. Networked Robotics has written an "Electronic Records Statement" that is available on request.
More than one Tempurity Server can collect temperatures from the same population of monitored devices for enhanced reliability. How many Tempurity Monitors do I need? In order to be notified when temperatures are out-of-range, at least one Tempurity Monitor must be running. This may be on the Tempurity Server computer or on another computer with network access to the Tempurity Server. More than one Tempurity Monitor can watch any Tempurity Server. Many monitors and many servers can be employed as needed.
Tempurity relies on a network message being able to travel from your home to the Tempurity Server. A firewall may block the message from reaching the server. Most firewalls can be configured to allow certain message types through. Your administrator may be able to configure the firewall, and other security features to allow the appropriate messages to pass through to reach the server. Can I also collect temperatures from my home? Yes. Although home networking environments are often different from industrial environments. See the support section of our web page.
The same issues apply as in the previous question. Messages must be able to reach the Tempurity Server through the network. Reduce the cost of temperature compliance and monitoring across your entire organization
October 2008 |
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