System and method for maintaining, tracking and identifying the integrity of a disposable specimen container with a re-usable transponder

• US 20030174046A1
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Abrams
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Abrams
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US10/363,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/007 Devices specially adapted for forensic samples, e.g. tamper-proofing, sample tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A method of maintaining, tracking and identifying the integrity of a disposable specimen container comprising the steps of: writing to an RFID device attached to an individual specimen vial information including the date and a unique identification of the vial; putting sample in the specimen vial; writing to the RFID device attached to the specimen vial information including the time and the day; storing the vial in an environment to maintain its integrity; sending the vial to a laboratory for analysis; inventorying the vials by scanning the RFID attached to the individual vials; and separating the RFID device from the vial so that the RFID device may be re-used.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining, tracking and identifying the integrity of a disposable specimen container comprising the steps of:

(a) writing to an RFID device attached to an individual specimen vial information including the date and a unique identification of the vial;

(b) putting sample in the specimen vial;

(c) writing to the RFID device attached to the specimen vial information including the time and the day;

(d) storing the vial in an environment to maintain its integrity;

(e) sending the vial to a laboratory for analysis;

(f) inventorying the vials by scanning the RFID attached to the individual vials; and

(g) separating the RFID device from the vial so that the RFID device may be reused.