System, method, and apparatuses for maintaining, tracking, transporting and identifying the integrity of a disposable specimen container with a re-usable transponder

• US 7,070,053 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CSP Technologies Incorporated (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CV Holdings, LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert, Giraud, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US10/140,698
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-105, 215/250, 215/253, 220/265, 220/503, 220/527, 220/600, 220/629, 600/573, 738/649.1, 604224-226, 235/375, 235/385, 340/572.1, 206/459.5
• US Class Current: 206/459.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5453 for test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code

Abstract

A method of maintaining, tracking and identifying the integrity of a disposable specimen container comprising the steps of: writing to an RFID device attached to an individual specimen vial information including the date and a unique identification of the vial; putting sample in the specimen vial; writing to the RFID device attached to the specimen vial information including the time and the day; storing the vial in an environment to maintain its integrity; sending the vial to a laboratory for analysis; inventorying the vials by scanning the RFID attached to the individual vials; and separating the RFID device from the vial so that the RFID device may be re-used.

Claims

1. A container comprising a disposable vial and a cap, wherein a bottom surface of the vial is recessed from a bottom end of a vial sidewall, the bottom surface comprised of:

a ring depending from the bottom surface in a direction away from the bottom surface to a first height dimension;

a plurality of lugs, which are integral with the ring, extending from the ring in a direction further away from the bottom surface to a second height dimension greater than the first height dimension;

wherein a space is defined inside the ring in which a RFID tag can be positioned, and wherein the lugs can be fixed into a position in which they extend over the tag when the tag is positioned in the space.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface is offset from the bottom end of the vial by a rim.

3. The container of claim 2, further comprising a notch located in the rim of the vial.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the rim is provided with a plurality of ribs.