Methods and systems for using RFID in biological field

• US 8,669,848 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• 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:
  US13/615,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/527.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 435/7.1, 436/47, 436/149, 436/155
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 biological reagent authentication system comprising:

a biological reagent carrier capable of being received by an opening, the biological reagent carrier comprising a biological reagent and having a RFID tag affixed thereto or embedded therein and having identification information;

a device capable of performing a biological analysis, the device comprising;

a housing;

an opening in the housing capable of receiving the biological reagent carrier;

an RFID reader, wherein the RFID reader is capable of interrogating the RFID tag; and

a processor capable of processing the identification information on the RFID tag received from the RFID reader to determine whether the biological reagent is authorized for use,

wherein the processor performs authorization.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization includes determining whether the biological reagent is authorized for use in a biological analysis performed by the device based on the identification information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to use the identification information to determine whether a licensee has a valid license to use the biological reagent.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of using the identification information to determine whether a licensee has a valid license to use the biological reagent.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to use the identification information to determine whether the biological reagents have been used.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is capable of preventing unauthorized use.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the device based on the identification information from the RFID reader.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is capable of performing polymerase chain reaction, a ligase chain reaction, an antibody binding reaction, an oligonucleotide ligation assay, a hybridization assay, or a genetic sequence determination.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device is capable of performing the polymerase chain reaction.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the device is capable of determining the genetic sequence of a sample.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises reagent manipulators capable of manipulating the biological reagents.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an internet connection.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the internet connection is connected to a remote database, and wherein the system is capable of performing a database lookup.

14. A biological reagent authentication system comprising:

a carrier capable of supporting a biological reagent and an RFID tag having identification information; and

a device capable of performing biological analysis, the device comprising;

a housing;

an opening in the housing capable of receiving the carrier;

an RFID reader wherein the RFID reader is capable of interrogating the RFID tag of the carrier and reading the identification information of the RFID tag; and

a processor capable of processing the identification information of the RFID tag to determine whether the carrier authorized for use,

wherein the system is capable of performing a biological analysis.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises firmware wherein the firmware is capable of acquiring visual information regarding the biological analysis.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor comprises data acquisition software and control software, wherein the data acquisition and control software interfaces with the firmware.