# US 12,005,432 B2 · Configurable workstations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,432 B2 - Document ID: US12005432B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/065,755 - Filed: 2020-10-08 - Published: 2021-04-15 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-10 - Assignees: CooperSurgical, Inc. - Applicants: CooperSurgical, Inc. - Inventors: Shuo Robert Chen; Rodrigo DaSilva; Wilfrido Enrique Thalliens Angulo; Adam H Morales; Robert Williams; Robert Thompson; Luke Thomas Lane; Vagn Rasmussen; Timothy Stanhope - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005432B2 ## CPC - B01L 1/00: Enclosures; Chambers (provided with manipulation devices or glove boxes B25J21/00) - B01L 1/04: Dust-free rooms or enclosures - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G06K 7/10297: {arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00)} - G16H 10/40: for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades - G16H 40/63: for local operation - B01L 2200/028: Modular arrangements - B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2300/0681: Filter - B01L 2300/1805: Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks - B01L 2300/1844: using fans - B01L 2300/1894: Cooling means; Cryo cooling - G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A configurable workstation includes a support frame defining a workspace for performing a scientific procedure, multiple modules that are configured to be selectively installed to the support frame for customizing a functional profile of the configurable workstation, and a server computing device hosting an application that provides a user interface for controlling operations of the configurable workstation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A configurable workstation comprising: a support frame comprising a workspace for performing a scientific procedure; a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules is configured to be installed to the support frame for customizing a functional profile of the configurable workstation; and a server computer hosting an application, wherein the server computer is configured to communicate with one or more remote devices on a cloud network via an external network, and wherein the application is configured to provide a user interface for controlling operations of the configurable workstation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules comprises a plurality of table-top modules that are configured to be oriented horizontally at the support frame and a plurality of wall modules that are configured to be oriented vertically at the support frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The configurable workstation of claim 2, wherein the support frame comprises a table at which each of one or more table-top modules of the plurality of table-top modules is configured to be installed to provide a substantially flat work surface at the workspace and a wall at which each of one or more wall modules of the plurality of wall modules is configured to be installed, thereby forming a vertical boundary of the workspace. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The configurable workstation of claim 3, wherein the table comprises a platform comprising an opening sized to receive the one or more table-top modules and rails to which the one or more table-top modules are attachable for installation to the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The configurable workstation of claim 4, wherein each table-top module of the plurality of table-top modules comprises a housing that is attachable to the rails, and wherein the table-top module is equipped with one or more fasteners configured for pushing the table-top module up away from the rails to level the table-top module with respect to the platform and any adjacent table-top modules installed at the table to provide the flat work surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The configurable workstation of claim 5, wherein the one or more fasteners are one or more first fasteners, and wherein the table-top module is further equipped with one or more second fasteners configured for pulling the table-top module downward towards the rails to lock the table-top module in a lateral position at the table. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The configurable workstation of claim 4, further comprising a gasket that is configured to seal a gap between the table-top module and an adjacent table-top module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The configurable workstation of claim 3, wherein the wall comprises an opening sized to receive the one or more wall modules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The configurable workstation of claim 8, further comprising a gasket that is configured to seal a gap between adjacent wall modules of the one or more wall modules installed at the vertical opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The configurable workstation of claim 2, wherein the plurality of table-top modules comprises one or more of an anti-vibration platform, an incubator, a cooling unit, one or more heating plates, a microscope module, and a blank table platform. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The configurable workstation of claim 10, wherein the plurality of wall modules comprises one or more of a humidifier, an ICSI arch, a wall tunnel, one or more monitors, a power outlet panel, and a blank wall panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The configurable workstation of claim 11, wherein one or more of the plurality of modules comprise an RFID capability for tracking a specimen handled at the configurable workstation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the support frame and the plurality of modules comprise multiple medical devices that are subject to regulatory review. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The configurable workstation of claim 13, wherein the user interface is a first user interface, and wherein each medical device of the multiple medical devices comprises equipment for carrying out a dedicated medical function, a power port, hardware, firmware, a second user interface, and a network communication board for communicating with the server computer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The configurable workstation of claim 14, wherein the multiple medical devices are configured to communicate with each other and with the server computer via a local network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The configurable workstation of claim 15, wherein the local network comprises a mesh network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The configurable workstation of claim 14, wherein each medical device of the multiple medical devices is configured to be powered and operated independently of other medical devices of the multiple medical devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a table providing a work surface at the workspace and a wall that forms a vertical boundary of the workspace. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The configurable workstation of claim 18, wherein the table comprises a platform comprising a plurality of horizontal openings along a front edge of the platform and an air chamber positioned underneath the platform. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The configurable workstation of claim 19, wherein the support frame comprises an air duct positioned along a rear edge of the platform, and wherein a gap is formed between the rear edge of the platform and the air duct. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The configurable workstation of claim 20, wherein the air duct is in fluid communication with the plurality of horizontal openings and the gap. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The configurable workstation of claim 20, wherein the air duct is a first air duct, and wherein the support frame further comprises a second air duct that is positioned above and in fluid communication with the first air duct. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The configurable workstation of claim 19, further comprising: one or more fans disposed above the workspace and configured to circulate air downward into the workspace; and a filter disposed beneath the one or more fans for filtering the air that flows from the one or more fans. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The configurable workstation of claim 23, wherein the one or more fans comprise two fans arranged in serial in an airflow path. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The configurable workstation of claim 23, wherein the configurable workstation is configured to flow air along a recirculation airflow path downward from the one or more fans, into the workspace, underneath the platform of the table, upwardly behind the wall, and back to the one or more fans. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The configurable workstation of claim 23, further comprising one or both of an exhaust fan and a vent for exhausting air from an interior region of the support frame to an ambient environment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, further comprising an air duct system that is configured to be installed to the support frame for changing an airflow path at the configurable workstation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The configurable workstation of claim 27, wherein the air duct system is removable from the support frame to allow air to be circulated downward into the workspace by the one or more fans along a flow-through airflow path. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The configurable workstation of claim 27, wherein the configurable workstation is convertible between a Class II biosafety cabinet and a Class I laminar flow cabinet. ### Claim 30 (depends on 2) The configurable workstation of claim 2, wherein the support frame comprises: an upper panel structure that forms the workspace; a lower panel structure that supports the upper panel structure; and a table that extends intermediately between the upper and lower panel structures and that provides a work surface at the workspace. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The configurable workstation of claim 30, wherein the upper panel structure is configured to support one or more of the plurality of wall modules, and wherein the table is configured to support one or more of the plurality of table-top modules. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the server computer is housed at the support frame. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the server computer is configured to communicate with one or more client devices and with one or more local servers via a wired or wireless local area network (LAN). ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The configurable workstation of claim 1, wherein the scientific procedure is part of an IVF protocol. ### Claim 35 A configurable workstation comprising: a support frame comprising a workspace for performing a scientific procedure; a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules is configured to be installed to the support frame for customizing a functional profile of the configurable workstation; and a server computer hosting an application, wherein the application is configured to provide a first user interface for controlling operations of the configurable workstation, wherein the support frame and the plurality of modules comprise multiple medical devices that are subject to regulatory review, wherein each medical device of the multiple medical devices comprises equipment for carrying out a dedicated medical function, a power port, hardware, firmware, a second user interface, and a network communication board for communicating with the server computer, and wherein the multiple medical devices are configured to communicate with each other and with the server computer via a network. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The configurable workstation of claim 35, wherein the plurality of modules comprises a plurality of table-top modules that are configured to be oriented horizontally at the support frame and a plurality of wall modules that are configured to be oriented vertically at the support frame. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The configurable workstation of claim 35, further comprising an air duct system that is configured to be installed to the support frame for changing an airflow path at the configurable workstation. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The configurable workstation of claim 35, wherein the server computer is configured to communicate with one or more client devices and with one or more local servers via a local area network (LAN). ### Claim 39 A configurable workstation comprising: a support frame comprising: a workspace for performing a scientific procedure, a wall that forms a vertical boundary of the workspace, and a table that provides a work surface at the workspace, wherein the table comprises a platform comprising a plurality of horizontal openings along a front edge of the platform and an air chamber positioned underneath the platform; one or more fans disposed above the workspace and configured to circulate air downward into the workspace; a filter disposed beneath the one or more fans for filtering the air that flows from the one or more fans, wherein the configurable workstation is configured to flow air along a recirculation airflow path downward from the one or more fans, into the workspace, underneath the platform of the table, upwardly behind the wall, and back to the one or more fans; a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules is configured to be installed to the support frame for customizing a functional profile of the configurable workstation; and a server computer hosting an application, wherein the application is configured to provide a user interface for controlling operations of the configurable workstation. ### Claim 40 A configurable workstation comprising: a support frame comprising a workspace for performing a scientific procedure; a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules is configured to be installed to the support frame for customizing a functional profile of the configurable workstation; and a server computer hosting an application, wherein the application is configured to provide a first user interface for controlling operations of the configurable workstation, wherein the server computer is configured to communicate with one or more client devices and with one or more local servers via a wired or wireless local area network (LAN).