Tamper Evident Point of Containment, Inventory and Accountability System and Method

• US 20130194080A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Michelle Hossenlopp, The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Bowden, Robert A., Hossenlopp, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 9,336,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/42 Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation
• 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 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

The system in at least one embodiment provides a tamper evident specimen sample lock that in a further embodiment includes an embedded storage medium. They system and method in at least one embodiment allows for efficiently and securely creating, maintaining, identifying, tracking, and controlling inventories (either prospective or retrospective) of biological and chemical sample containers and their contents, while eliminating potential loss and degradation associated with handling the samples. The system in at least one embodiment provides a sample container tray or cryogenic box having one or more integrated RFID readers within an associated smart lid that sense RFIDs associated with the individual samples thereby eliminating the need to remove, visually inspect, and/or handle the samples.

Claims

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10. A tamper evident sample locking device comprising:

a central hub, wherein said central hub is capable of abutting an end of a specimen sample container;

multiple elongated locking members attached to said central hub, wherein said multiple elongated locking members are capable of engaging the exterior surface of the specimen sample container and each include;

a plurality of locking structures longitudinally spaced along the length of said locking members; and

a locking collar having multiple locking apertures, wherein said locking apertures are capable of;

receiving and securely engaging the exterior surface of a specimen sample container, and

receiving and locking said multiple locking structures of said multiple elongated locking members.

11. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 10, further comprising an embedded data storage device attached to said central hub.

12. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 11, wherein said embedded data storage device provides an electronic indication of tampering upon the removal of the sample container.

13. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 10, wherein said specimen sample container is securely locked within said elongated locking strip such that removal of the specimen sample container provides a physical indication of tampering on said elongated locking strip.

14. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 10, wherein said central hub, said elongated locking members, and said locking collar are formed of a resilient material.

15. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said central hub, said elongated locking members, and said locking collar provides a physical indication of tampering upon the removal of the specimen sample container.

16. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 10, wherein said multiple locking structures are selected from the group comprising ball-like structures, barbs, teeth, arrowheads or conical shaped members, concave and flat structures, conical structures.

17. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 10, wherein said multiple elongated locking members include pointed tips.

18. A method comprising:

writing information related to an individual sample to an RFID device, wherein said RFID device is uniquely associated with said sample;

placing said individual sample in a specimen container device, wherein said specimen sample device is attached to said RFID device;

writing any updated information to said RFID device;

storing said specimen sample container, wherein said specimen sample container is stored within an environment that maintains the integrity of said specimen sample; and

inventorying said specimen sample container by interrogating said RFID associated with said specimen sample container.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising analyzing said specimen sample, wherein said analysis may require that the specimen sample container be sent to a laboratory.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said information related to an individual sample includes at least one of the date, a unique identification of the specimen sample container, text, and research data.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said updated information includes at least one of the date, time and sample lot size.

22. A method for maintaining, tracking, and identifying the integrity of a specimen sample, the method comprising:

writing information related to a stored specimen sample to an RFID device, wherein said RFID device is associated with said sample;

removing said specimen sample from storage;

placing and locking said RFID device on a specimen sample container enclosing said specimen sample;

returning said specimen sample container to storage, wherein said specimen sample container is stored within an environment that maintains the integrity of said specimen sample; and

inventorying said specimen sample container by interrogating said RFID associated with said specimen sample container.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

writing any updated information to said RFID device; and

analyzing said specimen sample, wherein said analysis may require that the specimen sample container be sent to a laboratory.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein said information related to an individual sample includes at least one of the date, a unique identification of the specimen sample container, text, and research data.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said updated information includes at least one of the date, time and sample lot size.

26. A tamper evident sample locking device, comprising:

an elongated locking strip having two ends that are foldable to mate with each other, wherein said elongated locking strip is made of a resilient material that provides a physical indication of tampering and includes;

an opening capable of receiving and securely engaging the exterior surface of a specimen sample container;

locking mechanisms disposed on said elongated locking strip, wherein said locking mechanisms fittingly engage with and lock to each other when said ends of said elongated locking strip are folded to mate with each other;

wherein the specimen sample container is securely locked within said elongated locking strip such that removal of the specimen sample container provides a physical indication of tampering on said elongated locking strip.

27. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 26, further comprising an embedded data storage device attached to said elongated locking strip.

28. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 26, wherein

said elongated locking strip further includes at least one depression, and

said embedded data storage device is disposed within at least one depression.

30. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 28, wherein

said elongated locking strip further includes at least one depression, said embedded data storage device is disposed within one or more of said at least one depression, and

said embedded data storage device is securely sealed between said ends of said elongated locking strip when said locking mechanisms are engaged.

31. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 27, wherein said embedded data storage device is an RFID device.

32. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 27, wherein said embedded data storage device provides an electronic indication of tampering upon the removal of said sample container from said elongated locking strip.

33. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 26, wherein said elongated fastening strip further includes at least one fault line, wherein said at least one fault line allows the elongated fastening strip to fold more easily.

34. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 26, wherein said locking mechanisms include openings and raised projections, wherein each of said projections engage with and lock to at least one of openings.

49. The tamper evident sample locking device according to claim 26, wherein said opening is proximate the middle of said elongated locking strip.

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