Laboratory Device for Processing Samples and Methods Using the Same

• US 20100021352A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Birrer, Armin, Trueeb, Heinz, Brauner, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/104
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/20 Resilient mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

The invention relates to devices and methods for the identification of test tubes in a test tube rack using RFID technology.

Claims

1. A laboratory device for processing samples, comprising:

a rack holding element for holding a test tube rack, and

an antenna structure element for wireless coupling with an RFID chip, the antenna structure element comprising a carrier with at least two antennas applied thereon,

wherein the carrier is made of thin and flexible material, and wherein the antenna structure element is positioned adjacent to the rack holding element in such a manner as to enable coupling with an RFID chip of a test tube rack being inserted into the rack holding element.

2. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the test tube rack is capable of holding at least one test tube.

3. The laboratory device according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna holding element capable of holding the antenna structure element.

4. The laboratory device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna holding element is positioned adjacent to the rack holding element in such a manner as to enable coupling with an RFID chip of a test tube rack inserted into the rack holding element.

5. The laboratory device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna holding element forms part of the test tube rack.

6. The laboratory device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna holding element forms part of a rack holding assembly capable of receiving the test tube rack.

7. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of the antenna structure element are printed on the carrier.

8. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of the antenna structure element are deposited on the carrier.

9. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of the antenna structure element are adhered onto the carrier.

10. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of the antenna structure element comprise a material selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.

11. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of the antenna structure element are produced by a (photo-)lithography process.

20. A method for coupling an RFID chip in a laboratory device according to claim 1 by means of a pair of antennas, comprising the steps of:

placing the RFID chip adjacent to the pair of antennas;

subsequently energising each antenna of the pair of antennas.

21. A method for coupling an RFID chip in a laboratory device according to claim 1 by means of a pair of antennas, comprising the steps of:

placing the RFID chip adjacent to the pair of antennas;

simultaneously energising each antenna of the pair of antennas.

12. A test tube rack comprising:

at least one test tube receptacle capable of holding at least one test tube having an RFID assembly, and,

an antenna holding element capable of holding an antenna structure element for wireless coupling with an RFID chip, the antenna structure element comprising a carrier with at least two antennas applied thereon,

wherein the carrier is made of thin and flexible material and wherein the antenna holding element is shaped such that the antenna structure element held therein is bent so as to place the at least two antennas in pairs in an angular position to each other adjacent to the at least one test tube receptacle.

13. The test tube rack according to claim 12, wherein the antenna holding element is an antenna receptacle.

14. The test tube rack according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the antenna holding element or antenna receptacle is saw tooth-shaped.

15. The test tube rack according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the antenna holding element or antenna receptacle, respectively, is meander-shaped.

16. The test tube rack according to claim 12, wherein the angle between the at least two paired antennas is between about 0°

and about 180°

.

17. The test tube rack according to claim 16, wherein the angle between the at least two paired antennas is between about 60°

and about 120°

.

18. The test tube rack according to claim 16, wherein the angle between the at least two paired antennas is between about 80°

and about 100°

.

19. A rack holding assembly comprising:

a rack holding element for holding a test tube rack, and

an antenna holding element capable of holding an antenna structure element for wireless coupling with an RFID chip, the antenna structure element comprising a carrier with at least two antennas applied thereon,

wherein the carrier is made of thin and flexible material, and wherein the antenna holding element is positioned adjacent to the rack holding element in such a manner as to enable coupling with an RFID chip of a test tube rack being inserted into the rack holding element.

22. An antenna structure element for wireless coupling with an RFID chip, the antenna structure element comprising a carrier with at least two antennas applied thereon, wherein the carrier is made of thin and flexible material effective for bringing the at least two antennas in pairs into an angular position with each other.

23. A laboratory device for processing samples, comprising:

a rack holding element capable of holding a test tube rack, and

an antenna structure element for wireless coupling with an RFID chip, the antenna structure element comprising a carrier with at least two antennas applied thereon, the carrier being made of thin and flexible material,

wherein the antenna structure element is positioned adjacent to the rack holding element in such a manner as to enable coupling with an RFID chip of a test tube rack being inserted into the rack holding element.