Spec-trac

• US 7,992,770 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2005
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Holley
• Original Assignee: Charles Holley
• Inventors: Holley, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/155,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,243 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/435, 235/440, 235/459, 235/470, 235/487, 235/485
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0242 Apparatuses, i.e. devices used in the process of preservation of living parts, such as pumps, refrigeration devices or any other devices featuring moving parts and/or temperature controlling components
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/50 Cryostats
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Spec-Trac is a computerized specimen rack storage system. The main focal point of the invention is the computerized storage racks that allow the user to scan barcode \ labeled specimens and place them in the rack as directed by the computer, using LED'"'"'s, proximity switches, and computer technology In addition, the rack'"'"'s are stored in refrigeration/freezer units that connect the racks to a network, and allow the racks to synchronize its database with the main storage server, using standard network wired or wireless technology. Specimen retrieval can occur at the computerized rack, individual storage units, or the main database server.

Claims

1. Spec-Trac specimen storage and retrieval system for small to medium size laboratories comprising:

computerized laboratory specimen storage racks connecting to a network, wherein the computerized laboratory specimen storage racks communicate back to a main database server using standard wired or wireless networking technology;

at least one or more refrigeration/freezer storage units to store said computerized laboratory specimen racks while not being actively used, utilizing CAT 5 and RJ45 connections back to an on-board switch that connects to a Local Area Network using standard wired, or wireless network technology;

a main laboratory specimen database storage server utilizing standard computing technology (wired or wireless) to communicate and store specimen location information within each specimen racks;

for future retrieval of said laboratory specimen(s), and wherein each storage unit will contain an adequate power strip to power each computerized rack stored in the laboratory specimen refrigeration/freezer units.

2. Networked, computerized specimen racks will allow users to readily store barcoded specimens wherein:

each slot in the specimen rack will have a corresponding LED and proximity switch;

the LED'"'"'s will be used as an end user interface, to identify a next available slot, to identify a slot containing a specimen an end user is looking for, wherein, a barcode reader connected to the rack using a standard USB connector, will scan a barcode, software will light the LED corresponding to a next available slot in the rack, which directs the user to place the specimen in the illuminated slot, a proximity switch will allow software to determine slot availability, an on board computer will then allow software to store the barcode number and slot position;

wherein, if the rack is connected to a laboratory network at a specimen test station, via an RJ45 connection or wireless interface, it will communicate that information to a main database server real-time, or, if not connected to a laboratory network, software installed on the on board computer will synchronize with a main laboratory database server, upon returning a rack to a storage unit, (refrigerator or freezer) and connected via an RJ45 network connection;

said racks utilizing software will keep track of unique internal slot identification numbers, such that each specimen storage rack utilizing standard computer client server technology hardware and software, will have a unique IP address, and each rack will be assigned to a specific organization section (i.e. chemistry, or hematology department) wherein said racks will be assigned to specific refrigerated storage units, but not specific shelves within the storage unit.

3. Spec-Trac, utilizing software installed on the onboard computer, will allow users to quickly retrieve specimens from a refrigerated storage rack, via multiple access points When a storage rack is actively being used to store new specimens in a specimen test station, the user will be able to identify subject specimens utilizing a keypad attached to the rack via a standard USB connector, wherein, by keying in a partial or whole barcode number, software will light the storage slot corresponding to the number entered, and, when removing older laboratory samples, the user can access an accession number, using a software client that communicates with a main laboratory database server, via a standard PC, the user can enter a partial or whole barcode number at a specimen test station, the software will light corresponding LED(s) across multiple specimen racks, in multiple storage units (refrigerators/freezers).

4. Spec-Trac will allow for efficient database storage and specimen maintenance, wherein;

expired samples are removed from a specimen storage rack, and the rack is returned to a storage (refrigerator/freezer) unit, for use to store new samples;

proximity switch(es) will reset the specimen storage slots to an open or available status and purge barcodes associated with the corresponding specimen storage slots, and when a specimen storage rack is either connected to an LAN using an RJ45 connection or returned to the storage unit (refrigerator) at the end of use, said specimen storage rack will synchronize with a main laboratory database server;

each rack containing a local database, and a main database server will contain a duplicate copy of that data for redundancy;

alternately, when a wireless interface card is used, a specimen storage rack will update the main database server real-time when a specimen is removed or added, if a specimen(s) is retrieved from a specimen storage rack, and needs to be returned, the user must scan the specimen again to return it to a specimen storage rack.