Methods and Systems for Using RFID in Biological Field

• US 20170087555A1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morris, Richard D., Mack, Jerome A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5453 for test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• 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 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Biological reagent carrier devices and methods are disclosed, which employ RFID techniques to associate information with biological reagents.

Claims

1. Apparatus for associating information with a biological reagent, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier for supporting the biological reagent; and

at least one RFID tag comprising a carrier RFID antenna coupled to the carrier, wherein the RFID tag is operable to be read by an RFID reader and wherein the RFID tag comprises identification information for the biological reagent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a microarray.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a surface plasmon resonance array.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a reaction plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a tube carrier for holding a plurality of tubes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a microfluidic card.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier RFID antenna is embedded in an interior portion of the carrier during a carrier manufacturing process.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier RFID antenna is adhesively applied to at least part of an exterior portion of the carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one instrument having an instrument RFID reader for reading the identification information; and

at least one output interface that provides output information regarding an identification of the biological reagent while the instrument is performing operations in connection with the biological reagent.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instrument comprises a non-transparent enclosure that substantially prevents optical scanning of a barcode on an object positioned within the instrument.

12. Apparatus for associating information with a biological reagent, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier for supporting the biological reagent; and

at least one RFID tag comprising a carrier RFID antenna coupled to the carrier, wherein the RFID tag is operable to be read by an RFID reader and wherein the RFID tag comprises supplemental information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the biological reagent comprises a nucleic acid and the supplemental information comprises information regarding a sequence of the nucleic acid.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the supplemental information comprises information regarding past experiments performed with the biological reagent.

15. Apparatus for associating information with a biological reagent, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier for supporting the biological reagent; and

at least one RFID tag comprising a carrier RFID antenna coupled to the carrier, wherein the RFID tag is operable to be read by an RFID reader and wherein the RFID tag contains rights information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rights information comprises information regarding a license for use of the biological reagent.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rights information is adapted to be read by a biological instrument for reagent processing, the biological instrument comprising a reader for the RFID tag.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rights information further comprises information regarding a number of times the biological reagent can be used in connection with a particular assay.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rights information comprises information regarding whether the biological reagent has been subject to a recall.