# US 10,369,573 B2 · Methods and systems for using RFID in biological field

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- Number: US 10,369,573 B2
- Document ID: US10369573B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/375,953
- Filed: 2016-12-12
- Published: 2017-03-30
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-19
- Assignees: Applied Biosystems, LLC
- Applicants: Applied Biosystems, LLC
- Inventors: Richard D. Morris; Jerome A. Mack
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369573B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/5453: {for test tubes}
- 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}
- B01L 3/5082: {Test tubes per se}
- B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates}
- B01L 3/527: {for a plurality of reagents}
- B01L 3/545: {for laboratory containers}
- G01N 35/00732: {Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers}
- G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer}
- G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications}
- 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}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- B01L 9/06: Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
- B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes
- B01L 2300/022: Transponder chips
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2300/0819: Microarrays; Biochips
- B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped
- G01N 2001/021: {Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS}
- G01N 2035/00782: {reprogrammmable code}
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)

## Abstract

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

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system configured for tracking a consumable comprising:
an enclosure configured to internally contain a carrier, the carrier comprising an RFID tag and a structure for supporting the consumable, wherein the carrier is at least one of a microarray cartridge, a microfluidics cartridge, a reaction plate, and a carrier comprising polypropylene to be compatible with thermal cyclers; and
an RFID reader coupled to the enclosure, the reader configured to at least one of transmit an RFID signal to and receive an RFID signal from the RFID tag, the RFID signal comprising at least one of identification information, traveler information, and rights information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a human readable interface configured to display information regarding the consumable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising a processor configured to generate display information in response to the reader receiving RFID signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a refrigerator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a microarray cartridge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a microfluidics cartridge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a reaction plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the carrier comprises polypropylene to be compatible with thermal cyclers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a network connection that is configured to allow the system to communicate over public and private networks.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to cross-reference the identification information with a lookup table.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to cross-reference the identification information each time the reader receives the RFID signal.

### Claim 12

A computer-based method for tracking a consumable comprising:
receiving an RFID signal from an RFID tag using an RFID reader, the RFID tag being coupled to a carrier comprising a structure for supporting the consumable, wherein the carrier is at least one of a microarray cartridge, a microfluidics cartridge, a reaction plate, and a carrier comprising polypropylene to be compatible with thermal cyclers;
generating a display signal, using a processor coupled to the RFID reader, in response to the RFID signal;
sending the display signal to a human readable interface; and
displaying, using the interface, information regarding the consumable based on the display signal, the information regarding the consumable comprising at least one of identification information, traveler information, and rights information;
wherein the processor is coupled to the interface and an enclosure configured to internally contain the carrier.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising sending the information regarding the consumable through a network to a computer system operated by a producer of the consumable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising authenticating a license associated with the consumable using the information regarding the consumable.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the authenticating of the license is configured to restrict the consumable to a one-time use.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the authenticating of the license is configured to occur each time the reader receives the RFID signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the carrier is a reaction plate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the carrier comprises polypropylene to be compatible with thermal cyclers.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the carrier is a microarray cartridge.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the enclosure is a refrigerator.