# US 11,308,121 B2 · Method and system for cell operations using a blockchain data network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,121 B2 - Document ID: US11308121B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/671,375 - Filed: 2019-11-01 - Published: 2020-04-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-04 - Assignees: Thrive Bioscience, Inc. - Applicants: Thrive Bioscience, Inc. - Inventors: Howard Cannon; Thomas Forest Farb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308121B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor - G06F 21/6254: {by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification} - G06F 16/907: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F 21/6227: {where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries} - H04L 9/3239: {involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD} - H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees} - H04L 63/123: {received data contents, e.g. message integrity} - G06F 21/64: Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method and system for performing operations on cells on an instrument comprises providing a peer to peer network of instruments for performing operations on cells, maintaining a distributed database in at least a plurality of the instruments in the peer to peer network, storing at least one protocol in the database for use by at least one instrument in the peer to peer network for performing operations on cells and storing results from the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument in the distributed database. The results stored in the distributed database is then usable to later authenticate the results from the at least one instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for authenticating the performance of operations on cells on an instrument comprising the steps of: providing a network of data storage locations including at least one instrument for performing operations on cells; performing operations on cells by the at least one instrument and producing a first set of data relating thereto; maintaining a distributed database in at least a plurality of the locations; storing the first set of data in the distributed database related to the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument; performing operations on cells by the at least one instrument and producing a second set of data relating thereto after the first set of data was produced; and authenticating the second set of data received from the at least one instrument with the first set of data stored in the distributed database. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the database includes at least one protocol for use by at least one instrument for performing operations on cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the data stored in the database includes data resulting from operations and wherein the data resulting from operations is associated in the database at least one protocol used to produce the data resulting from operations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the data stored in the database includes metadata relating to a protocol and wherein the metadata is associated in the database with the corresponding protocol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a peer to peer network and a plurality of the locations are instruments for performing operations on cells. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a blockchain network and the distributed database is a blockchain data structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising encrypting the data prior to storing in the database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the database includes metadata relating to at least one protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the metadata includes identification of the cell sample. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the metadata includes a time stamp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the data include image data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the network includes at least one other instrument for performing operation on cells and wherein the at least one other instrument is receptive of data stored in the distributed database to reproduce the results from the at least one instrument and further comprising providing at least one token to the at least one other instrument. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing at least one token is in accordance with a smart contract. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the token is provided if the results are reproduced. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the token is provided if the results are not reproduced. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one token is provided based upon proof of effort by the at least one other instrument. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one instrument is a cell culture instrument. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one instrument is a cell incubator instrument. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the instrument is a cell counter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one instrument is a cell analysis instrument and wherein analysis is performed on at least one server connected to the instrument. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a permissioned blockchain network. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a permissionless blockchain network. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a private blockchain network. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a public blockchain network. ### Claim 25 An apparatus for authenticating the performance of operations on cells comprising: a network of a plurality of interconnected locations including at least one instrument for performing operations on cells; a distributed database maintained in at least a plurality of the locations; and data stored in the distributed database related to the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument; wherein the apparatus is configured to store a first set of data in the distributed database relating to the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument and authenticate a second set of data relating to the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument after the first set of data was produced with the first set of data stored in the distributed database. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the data stored in the database includes at least one protocol for use by at least one instrument for performing operations on cells. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the data stored in the database includes data resulting from operations and wherein the data resulting from operations is associated in the database at least one protocol used to produce the data resulting from operations. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the data stored in the database includes metadata relating to a protocol and wherein the metadata is associated in the database with the corresponding protocol. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is a peer to peer network and a plurality of the locations are instruments for performing operations on cells. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is a blockchain network and the distributed database is a blockchain data structure. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the at least one instrument encrypts the data prior to being stored in the database. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising the database being configured to store metadata relating to at least one protocol in the distributed database. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the metadata includes an identification of the cell sample. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the metadata includes a time stamp. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the data include image data. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network includes at least one other instrument using data stored in the database to reproduce the results from the at least one instrument and wherein the database is configured to provide at least one token to the at least one other instrument. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the database operates in accordance with a smart contract to provide the at least one token. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the token is provided if the results are reproduced. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the token is provided if the results are not reproduced. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the at least one token is provided based upon proof of effort by the at least one other instrument. ### Claim 41 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one instrument is a cell culture instrument. ### Claim 42 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one instrument is a cell incubator instrument. ### Claim 43 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one instrument is a cell analysis instrument and wherein the at least one instrument comprises at least one server connected thereto for data analysis. ### Claim 44 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one instrument is a cell counter. ### Claim 45 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is a public blockchain network. ### Claim 46 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is a private blockchain network.