Systems for tracking and testing of medical specimens and data
First Claim
1. A system for tracking a sample comprising:
- a test tube having a cylindrical portion and a rounded bottom portion, the test tube comprising a top end configured for allowing sample insertion into an interior cavity and a bottom end having a chamber separated from the interior cavity, the chamber closed with a cap that forms a rounded end portion of the outer contour of the rounded bottom portion;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip within said chamber; and
a read-write device having a receptacle for said test tube and a read-write element, the receptacle configured to position the RFID chip within range of the read-write element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed inventions provide for improvements to data storage that is integral to sample containers such as test tubes. Systems and methods for enclosing radio frequency read/writeable chips within sample containers are described, as well as systems and methods for gathering data to be stored. Examples of useful medical contexts for the technology are presented, including for physician and lab blood testing data. Some embodiments disclose systems and methods that can track data and process samples with the help of a portable unit. Some embodiments of the portable units not only assist in entering, storing, and transmitting medical data, they also comprise novel systems that can process and or analyze whole blood. Accordingly, centrifuge portions are described, including two novel types of test tube valves that function in concert with the described centrifuge portions.
105 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for tracking a sample comprising:
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a test tube having a cylindrical portion and a rounded bottom portion, the test tube comprising a top end configured for allowing sample insertion into an interior cavity and a bottom end having a chamber separated from the interior cavity, the chamber closed with a cap that forms a rounded end portion of the outer contour of the rounded bottom portion;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip within said chamber; and
a read-write device having a receptacle for said test tube and a read-write element, the receptacle configured to position the RFID chip within range of the read-write element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of manufacturing a sample container in the shape of a test tube, the method comprising:
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providing a plastic material;
forming the plastic material in the general shape of a standard test tube with an open end that opens into a sample-containing portion, a closed end, and a chamber portion at the closed end, the chamber portion not open to the sample-containing portion;
inserting an RFID chip into the chamber portion; and
covering the chamber portion with a plastic cover that provides a rounded bottom end on the test tube. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of gathering information related to a medical specimen, the method comprising:
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providing a portable device that comprises a centrifuge and a computer;
entering victim and/or incident information into the portable device;
obtaining a biological sample from the victim and placing the sample in a sample container comprising an electronic data storage device;
processing the sample with the portable device; and
using the portable device to write electronic data to the electronic data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device for processing samples comprising:
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a computer having a user interface, the user interface comprising a data input device and a data projection device;
a centrifuge;
a sample holder; and
a wireless signal transmission/reception module. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A tilt valve comprising:
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a first valve portion with an insert stem having a first length and a first contacting portion that is wider than the insert stem; and
a second valve portion with a receiving stem having a second length, the second length greater than or equal to the first length, and a second contacting portion having approximately the same width as the first contacting portion. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of separating fluid components with a tilt valve, the method comprising:
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providing a test tube having side walls;
providing a fluid with components of different densities within the test tube;
providing a tilt valve within the test tube;
providing a centrifuge;
causing the tilt valve to assume an open position by rotating the test tube in the centrifuge. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification