Methods and systems for using RFID in biological field

• US 8,400,304 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/253,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20120145798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.7, 435/7.1, 436/47, 436/149, 436/155
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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. A device comprising:

a consumable comprising at least one reagent or a carrier supporting the at least one reagent for use in an instrument for carrying out a biological assay; and

an RFID tag coupled to the consumable, wherein the RFID tag comprises a memory and information about the consumable stored in the memory wherein the information comprises at least one of a) a number of times a licensee is permitted to use the carrier or reagent;

b) recall information for the carrier or the reagent; and

c) information regarding whether the carrier or reagent has become unsuitable for use.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises material safety data sheet information about the consumable, stored in the memory.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the consumable is at least one reagent.

4. The device of claims 3, further comprising identification information about the at least one reagent, stored in the memory.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the RFID tag is programmed to provide a one time use such that reagents cannot be refilled in the consumable.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a digital signature associated with the consumable, stored in the memory.

7. The device of claim 1, also comprising parameters stored in the memory for controlling operation of the instrument.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the reagent is a biological reagent.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a reaction plate, tube, surface plasmon resonance array, slide, conical low-volume tube, microfluidic card, microarray cartridge, microarray or container.

10. An apparatus for associating information with a consumable selected from a carrier or a reagent for use in an instrument for carrying out a biological assay, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier for supporting the reagent; and

at least one RFID tag coupled to the carrier, wherein the RFID tag;

a) is operable to be read by a RFID reader; and

b) comprises a memory and information about the carrier or the reagent stored in the memory, wherein the information comprises at least one of i) a number of times a licensee is permitted to use the carrier or the reagent;

ii) recall information for the carrier or the reagent; and

iii) information regarding whether the carrier or the reagent has become unsuitable for use.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the information stored in the memory is information about the reagent.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is programmed to provide a one time use such that reagents cannot be refilled in the consumable.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the device further comprises a digital signature associated with the consumable, stored in the memory.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, also comprising parameters stored in the memory for controlling operation of the instrument.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reagent is a biological reagent.

16. A system comprising a biological instrument and an apparatus for associating information with a consumable selected from a carrier or a reagent, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier for supporting the reagent; and

at least one RFID tag configured to be read by an RFID reader, wherein the RFID tag comprises;

a) an RFID antenna coupled to the carrier;

b) a memory; and

c) information about the consumable stored in the memory, wherein the information comprises at least one of a) a number of times a licensee is permitted to use the carrier or reagent;

b) recall information for the carrier or the reagent; and

c) information regarding whether the carrier or reagent has become unsuitable for use.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information is information about the reagent.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the RFID tag is programmed to provide a one time use such that reagents cannot be refilled in the consumable.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises a digital signature associated with the consumable, stored in the memory.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the reagent is a biological reagent.