DEVICE HAVING RFID TAG AND FLUIDICS ELEMENT

• US 20130214040A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers Nederland BV (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Beerling, Bernardus Jozef Maria, Van Lankvelt, Petrus Johannes Wilhelmu, Meertens, Wendela, Nieuwenhuis, Jeroen Hans
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/54 Labware with identification means identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers G01N35/00732
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

A device such as a disposable cartridge has an RFID tag (30) having an antenna (10), and a fluidic element (20, 160), the antenna having a shape to at least partly enclose an area, at least a part of the fluidic element being located in this area. By having such a structure, the device can be made more compact or the antenna can be made larger, and hence the costs for a given performance can be reduced, or the storage space for a given number of devices can be reduced.

Claims

1. A device having a fluidic element and an RFID tag, the RFID tag comprising an antenna, the antenna having a shape to enclose at least partly an area, at least a part of the fluidic element being located in this area.

2. The device of claim 1, the device being a disposable cartridge for single use.

3. The device of claim 1 and having a store for storing data relating to the device or a fluid sample held by the device, the data being accessible to a tag reader.

4. The device of claim 1 having a protective cover to protect both the antenna and the part of the fluidic element.

5. The device of claim 1, the antenna comprising a loop antenna extending around the perimeter of the space.

6. The device of claim 1, the antenna being suitable for operation at a frequency within any one of the ranges of 10 to 15 MHz and 860-960 MHz.

7. The device of claim 1, the fluidics element comprising any one or more of:

a reservoir for retaining a fluid sample, a channel for receiving a fluid sample, and a filter for filtering a fluid sample.

8. The device of claim 1, and having an aperture for receiving a sample in the form of a drop of blood, and for mixing preloaded magnetic particles to bind to proteins in the drop of blood.

9. A system for testing fluid samples, the system comprising a device as set out in claim 1, and a reader for testing a fluid sample held in the device, and for reading data relating to the fluid sample from the RFID tag via the antenna.

10. A system for testing fluid samples according to claim 9, the data to be read comprises calibration information relating to test materials used for testing the fluid sample.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the calibration information is stored in a storage device on the RFID tag.

12. A system according to claim 10, further comprising means for adjusting the calibration information dependent upon the length of time between assembly of the device and use of the device.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein an expiry time is stored after which the device can no longer be used.

14. A method of testing a fluid sample held by a device as set out in claim 1, having the steps of coupling the device to a reader, testing the fluid sample held in the device, and reading data relating to the device or the fluid sample from the RFID tag via the antenna.

15. A method of testing a fluid sample according to claim 14 wherein reading data includes adjusting the read data in accordance with calibration information relating to test materials used for testing the fluid sample.