Two-dimensional bar codes in assisted reproductive technologies
AssigneeInguran, LLC
InventorsThomas B. Gilligan, Sam Hogue, Juan Moreno, Johnathan Charles Sharpe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container suitable for storing biological material which is laser etched with a two-dimensional bar code and methods for producing the same. The container can be in the form of a straw having a thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 0.3 mm or can be in the form of another container that holds multiple straws. The laser etched mark can be in the form of a two-dimensional bar code may be located on an exterior surface of the container, and when the container is a straw, it remains unwarped and impermeable to fluids.
Claims33
A method comprising:
- processing reproductive cells derived from an identified source;
- matching a laser wavelength to a maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength or a local maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength of a photochromic dye dispersed in a straw, wherein the straw is no larger than about 2 mm in diameter and no longer than about 133 mm in length;
- laser etching a two-dimensional bar code into the straw with the impedance matched laser, wherein the laser etched two-dimensional bar code encodes between 30 and 229 characters, and wherein marked portions of the laser etched two-dimensional barcode modify the surface depth and color of the exterior surface of the straw;
- and
- storing processed reproductive cells from the identified source in the marked straw, wherein the laser etched two-dimensional bar code identifies the source of the reproductive cells.
A straw for containing a biological material comprising:
- an axial body defining an axial passage between a pair of body ends, the axial body having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a thickness between the exterior surface and the interior surface, wherein the thickness between the exterior surface and the interior surface is between about 0.1 mm and about 0.3 mm, and wherein the straw which is no larger than about 2 mm in diameter and no longer than about 133 mm in length;
- a dispersed photochromic dye having a maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength or a local maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength;
- and
- a laser etched two-dimensional bar code on the exterior surface of the axial body formed by a laser having a wavelength matched to the maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength or a local maximum electromagnetic radiation absorbance wavelength of the dispersed photochromic dye, wherein the laser etched two-dimensional bar code encodes between 30 and 229 characters, and wherein marked portions of the laser etched two-dimensional barcode modify the surface depth and color of the exterior surface of the straw while the straw remains unwarped and impermeable to fluids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.