# US 12,601,752 B2 · Smart sample container for complex sample evaluation workflows > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,752 B2 - Document ID: US12601752B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/193,593 - Filed: 2021-03-05 - Published: 2022-09-08 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-05 - Assignees: FEI Company - Applicants: FEI Company - Inventors: Remco Schoenmakers; Engelbertus van Willigen; Reinier Perquin; Pepijn Kramer; Egbert Algra; James Mccormack; Trond K Varslot; Faruk Caglar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601752B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/00732: {Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers} - B01L 3/5025: {for parallel transport of multiple samples} - B01L 3/545: {for laboratory containers} - G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals} - B01L 2200/147: Employing temperature sensors - B01L 2200/18: Transport of container or devices - B01L 2300/02: Identification, exchange or storage of information - B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes - B01L 2300/022: Transponder chips - B01L 2300/024: Storing results with means integrated into the container - B01L 2300/0663: Whole sensors - G01N 2035/00821: {nature of coded information} - G01N 2035/00851: {process control parameters} - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract Systems and methods for using smart sample containers to manage complex sample evaluation workflows, are disclosed. An example method for using a smart sample container configured to manage a sample evaluation workflow according to the present invention comprises, obtaining a sample evaluation workflow for the one or more samples, receiving interactions with external devices, and based on the sample evaluation workflow, and causing the external devices to perform actions to advance the sample evaluation workflow. The smart sample container may further modify the sample evaluation workflow based on results of actions performed by the sample evaluation workflow and/or store information relating to the results of such actions. In this way, the smart sample containers are able to dynamically drive the evaluation of a sample through its sample evaluation workflow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a smart sample container configured to transport a plurality of sample grids and configured to manage an electron microscopy evaluation workflow across multiple external devices including an electron microscope, the method comprising: obtaining or determining an electron microscopy evaluation workflow for a sample on a sample grid of the plurality of sample grids by a workflow management module of the smart sample container; receiving an interaction from a first external device by an interaction module of the smart sample container, the interaction including results of a step or action performed by the first external device; altering, using the workflow management module, a future step or action in the electron microscopy evaluation workflow based upon the results; and based on the electron microscopy evaluation workflow, providing a location of the sample grid on the smart sample container to a second external device, and transmitting an executable script from the workflow management module to the second external device to cause the second external device to perform an action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow, wherein the action includes automatically executing a step of the electron microscopy evaluation workflow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electron microscopy evaluation workflow corresponds to a collection of one or more steps that need to be taken to evaluate the sample. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple external devices comprises at least one of: a dual beam microscopy system; a sample container transportation system; a vitrification system; or a sample preparation system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electron microscopy evaluation workflow further comprises at least one of external device settings, external device requirements, sample evaluation requirements, and sample information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electron microscopy evaluation workflow further comprises: a sample type; a history of the sample; and an identification code for the sample. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the electron microscopy evaluation workflow comprises receiving an uploaded workflow from an external device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein obtaining the electron microscopy evaluation workflow further comprises updating one or more steps of the uploaded workflow to obtain the electron microscopy evaluation workflow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the electron microscopy evaluation workflow comprises: receiving one or more instances of sample information; and selecting, based on the sample information, the electron microscopy evaluation workflow from a set of preset electron microscopy evaluation workflows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the electron microscopy evaluation workflow comprises: receiving one or more instances of sample information; determining, based on the instances of sample information, one or more evaluation steps that are to be performed; determining, based on the instances of sample information, external devices that are to perform the evaluation steps; and determining, based on the instances of sample information, external device settings for performing the evaluation steps. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the electron microscopy evaluation workflow comprises determining parameters for individual steps of the workflow based on one or more of sample information, external device parameters, a status of one or more samples, and a history of the one or more samples. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein causing the external device to perform an action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow further comprises providing at least one of: a parameter of the sample; or an indication of the type of evaluation of the sample. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one of the multiple external devices is a sample container transport device, and further comprising an action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow corresponding to at least one of: a location where a next step is to be fulfilled; a new external device that is to fulfill the next step; a type of external device that is to fulfill the next step; evaluation parameters for the next step; or device features for fulfilling the next step. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the interaction with the first external device comprises receiving a communication from the external device via a communication interface that identifies at least one of a status, a schedule, device settings, device parameters, or device capabilities. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein causing the second external device to perform the action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow transmitting the communication further comprises the smart sample container transmitting to the external device one or more of: instructions for a step in the electron microscopy evaluation workflow; sample parameters; recommended external device settings; a sample type; a history of the sample; and an identification code for the sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an additional communication with the first external device that comprises one or more of: an indication that a step in the electron microscopy evaluation workflow was completed; a result of the action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow; new parameters of the sample; and instructions for a next step in the electron microscopy evaluation workflow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring, by the smart sample container, a status of the sample; and modifying, by the smart sample container, the electron microscopy evaluation workflow based on the detection of an event. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein modifying the electron microscopy evaluation workflow comprises one or more of adding a new step, adjusting parameters for one or more steps, causing a step to be performed again, and selecting a new electron microscopy evaluation workflow to be performed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple external devices comprise a vitrification system and the smart sample container further comprises a temperature sensor, the method further comprising: determining, using the temperature sensor, that the smart sample container has dropped below a threshold temperature for a preset amount of time, and adding, using the workflow management module, a step to the electron microscopy evaluation workflow to use the electron microscope to determine the state of the sample in the smart sample container. ### Claim 19 A smart sample container configured to transport a plurality of sample grids and configured to manage an electron microscopy evaluation workflow across multiple devices including an electron microscope, the smart sample container comprising: a region of the smart sample container for holding the plurality of sample grids, each sample grid containing one or more samples; an outer support structure that defines the region of the smart sample container for holding the sample grids; a communication interface; one or more processors; and a memory storing a workflow management module, an interaction module, and computer readable instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: obtain or determine an electron microscopy evaluation workflow for a sample on a sample grid of the plurality of sample grids using the workflow management module; receive an interaction from a first external device with the interaction module, the interaction including results of a step or action performed by the first external device; altering, using the workflow management module, a future step or action in the electron microscopy evaluation workflow based upon the results; and based on the electron microscopy evaluation workflow, provide a location of the sample grid on the smart sample container to a second external device, and transmit an executable script from the workflow management module to the second external device to cause the second external device to perform an action to advance the electron microscopy evaluation workflow, wherein the action includes automatically executing a step of the electron microscopy evaluation workflow.