For those of you who don’t know, Leuk and Carry transport blood products from the Blood Bank on the second floor of the Children’s Hospital to locations throughout the Medical Center. Their firstborn will follow in his or her parents' footsteps, only he or she will carry deliveries from Central Supply.

The newest robot won’t replace any human employees, instead, it will improve the services provided by Central Supply.

“It would take two to three new full-time employees to do the work of one robot,” said Dick Daffin, MUSC product evaluation coordinator.

Leuk and Carry’s first six months of employment at MUSC have been both productive and entertaining, according to Blood Bank Manager Margaret Murphy. “In the past three months, the robots have made more than 5,550 trips and have a 96 percent success rate in getting to and from their destination,” she said.

And they may be two of MUSC’s most popular employees. “Both patients and employees alike have come to see the robots or to have their children’s pictures taken with them for show and tell,” Murphy said.

Leuk and Carry came to MUSC in March 1997 to give technologists in MUSC’s Transfusion Services more time to devote to blood typing, cross matching and preparing blood products. Since their arrival, Murphy said the turnaround time of the Blood Bank has improved. Daffin hopes to have similar success in Central Supply.

Running on batteries, the robots are completely self-guided and can be easily programed with an ATM-style keypad to make several stops, and with the push of a button, return to base. A secured compartment keeps the robot’s payload safe.

With the Medical Center layout in their memory, the robots can effectively navigate the corridors of the hospital. Through infrared radio signals, they can even summon an elevator and open electrically operated doors.

Daffin hopes to have the newest addition to the Central Supply staff oriented by November.

Leuk and Carry’s first offspring will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week and travel the same hospital pathways as his or her parents.

Robot ‘firstborn’ on the way—name needed

MUSC’s first robot couple, Leuk Hallwalker and Carry O’Cyte, are expecting! Will it be a boy or a girl? You decide.

Name Leuk and Carry’s firstborn and win dinner for two at the Wickliffe House. Leuk and Carry work 24 hours a day, seven days a week delivering blood products from Transfusion Services, on the second floor of the Children’s Hospital, to locations throught the Medical Center.

Leuk and Carry’s firstborn will follow in his or her parents’ footsteps, only he or she will be transporting deliveries from Central Supply.

Send your entry by e-mail to Dick Daffin (DAFFIND), drop it by room 311, St. Francis Annex, or leave a message on 792-3981.

The competition ends Oct. 10. You may enter as many times as you wish.