Sample identification utilizing RFID tags

• US 20060213964A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruker Daltonik GmbH (Bruker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Varian Incorporated (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Leslie E., Excoffier, Jean-Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• 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 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5457 for container closures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums

Abstract

A sample container may include an open end, a closure member, a cap, and an RFID tag. The RFID tag may be positioned near the open end and includes a code uniquely identifying an analytical sample contained in the container structure. A sample handling apparatus may operate with one or more sample containers. The sample handling apparatus may include a robotic assembly for moving a sample probe device and a sample probe supported by a guide of the sample probe device. An RF transceiver antenna may be mounted to the guide for communicating with the RFID tag of the sample container. The sample probe device is moved into proximity with a sample container to read a code stored by an RFID tag attached to the sample container, whereby a sample contained in the sample container can be uniquely identified. The code can be associated with additional information relating to the identified sample.

Claims

1. A sample handling apparatus comprising:

a robotic assembly comprising a movable member;

a sample probe device mounted to and movable with the movable member, the sample probe device comprising a sample probe; and

an RF transceiver antenna mounted to the movable member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sample container accessible by the sample probe, the sample container comprising a first structure including an open end enclosing an interior, a second structure mounted to the first structure at the open end, and an RFID tag positioned near the open end, whereby the RF transceiver antenna is movable into proximity with the RFID tag for communicating therewith.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the RF transceiver antenna is substantially centered about the sample probe, and the RFID tag comprises an RF transmitting component substantially centered about a central axis of the sample container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a sample container holder including a plurality of sample sites for holding a plurality of respective sample containers, whereby the RF transceiver antenna is movable into proximity with the sample sites.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further wherein the sample probe device comprises a sample probe guide, the sample probe extends through the guide, and the RF transceiver antenna is mounted to the guide.

6. A method for uniquely identifying an analytical sample, comprising:

moving a sample probe device into proximity with a sample container, the sample probe device comprising an RF transceiver antenna and a sample probe; and

using the RF transceiver antenna to read a code stored by an RFID tag attached to the sample container, whereby a sample contained in the sample container can be identified.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising, after reading the code, associating the code with information relating to the identified sample.

8. The method according to claim 6, comprising using the sample probe to transfer a sample to or from the sample container.

9. The method according to claim 6, comprising using the sample probe to perform an analytical function in the sample container.

10. The method according to claim 6, comprising using the RF transceiver antenna to determine whether the sample container is present at a selected location.

11. The method according to claim 6, comprising inserting the sample probe through a closure member mounted to the sample container and into the sample container.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sample container is a target sample container positioned proximate to one or more neighboring sample containers including respective RFID tags, and using the RF transceiver antenna comprises communicating with the RFID tag of the target sample container without interference from RFID tags of the one or more neighboring sample containers.

13. A sample container comprising:

a first structure enclosing an interior and including an open end;

a second structure mounted to the first structure at the open end; and

means positioned near the open end for storing a code uniquely identifying a sample contained in the first structure and transmitting an RF signal bearing the code in response to activation by an RF transceiving device.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the interior enclosed by the first structure has a volume ranging from approximately 0.1 mL to approximately 1000 mL.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein the storing and transmitting means is positioned with the first structure.

16. The container of claim 13, wherein the storing and transmitting means is positioned with the second structure, which comprises a cap mounted to the first structure at the open end, and a closure member mounted to the first structure at the open end, whereby the interior is isolated from an environment external to the first structure.

17. The container of claim 16, comprising a closure member mounted to the first structure at the open end, whereby the interior is isolated from an environment external to the first structure.

18. The container of claim 13, comprising a closure member mounted to the first structure at the open end whereby the interior is isolated from an environment external to the first structure, and wherein the second structure comprises a cap mounted to the first structure at the open end, and the cap includes an aperture providing access to the closure member from the external environment.

19. The container of claim 13, wherein the storing and transmitting means comprises an RFID tag.

20. The container of claim 13, wherein the storing and transmitting means comprises an RF transmitting component substantially centered about a central axis of the container.