The new JavaLin/PDI Portable Device Interface is the most advanced small format clinical interface Dawning Technologies, Inc. has released to date. The JavaLin/PDI is the fifth generation of intelligent clinical interfaces from Dawning and provides an unparalleled range of features and capabilities primarily aimed at the connection of clinical instruments to information systems. The PDI can be used to establish individual instrument or other device connections directly to a LIS, or as part of a larger scale JResultNet middleware system controlling many devices.

The clinical version JavaLin/PDI is principally a new platform for Dawning's JResultNet Interface Engine Software, our middleware application. The PDI hardware is a modular design that provides more power in a smaller footprint than our previous devices and allows for future expandability. It can serve one or two analyzers and host system connections. The PDI runs any of the Instrument Driver Modules available in our Java Driver Library.

The JavaLin/PDI interface supports a variety of communication protocols including HL7, ASTM, XML, CSV and direct database connections. This is made possible by the JResultNet software embedded in the PDI. JResultNet is a powerful Java-based middleware application that is both robust and very user-configurable. In addition to providing device-to-host system connectivity, the JavaLin/PDI also provides an array of other functionality including rules based processing and message customization, complete message mapping control, a number of diagnostic features and much more. Optional features available include more advanced rules features, review/edit/release by exception controls, QC system integration and more.

JavaLin/PDI reflects our 20+ years in the clinical connectivity market, providing another powerful middleware tool at an affordable price.

Using the JResultNet core, the JavaLin is capable of capturing every element of data produced by an analyzer and sending any desired message structure to the host information system. A high degree of control over the instrument connection is combined with robust mapping tools to allow a best fit with any information system.

The JavaLin, by virtue of its embedded JResultNet, provides complete control over message mapping to and from both analyzer and host system. On the analyzer side, default tables are included for the most common message elements: test names, test values, flags, action codes, priorities and sample types. On the host side, default tables provide control over all aspects of HL7 and ASTM field position mapping. This mapping capability is not available on any other interface product without the use of costly centralized server applications, and it assures that you can meet the requirements of both your instruments and LIS.

The JavaLin includes a Simple Rules Plug-in as a basic component of the embedded JResultNet software. This provides an enormous array of user customizations to optimize the flow of data in your lab, including:

• add predetermined comments to records that pass or fail a defined rule
• suppress any unwanted message components from the analyzer or the LIS
• map instrument flags to result value fields
• add flags to the message based on data in the record (results too high, low, positive or negative, etc.)
• set up a test panel going to the analyzer
• change test priorities based on data in the download message, such as test name or ID

The Simple Rules feature allows considerable flexibility in processing instrument data, avoiding software customizations and the associated delays and costs. Rules are defined without programming, using a series of intuitive GUI tools to define, save, import and export. This capability provides the lab a way to handle situations that currently require manual input or some other workaround. Multiple rules can be applied simultaneously.