Pipette check station
AssigneeMettler-Toledo Rainin, LLC
InventorsGerhard Keller, Richard Hill, Deryl Stanley, James Petrek, Murray Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipette check station for checking the calibration or service status of a pipette includes an RFID reader, a user interface with a display and buttons, and a digital interface to connect the check station to additional equipment; the check station optionally further includes provisions to hold pipettes for storage and to charge electronic pipettes held thereupon.
Claims22
A pipette check station for reading service and calibration status of at least one item of hand-holdable laboratory equipment having a data storage facility, the pipette check station comprising:
- at least one antenna configured to read at least two dates representative of a next service date and a next calibration date from the data storage facility when the item is placed on the check station;
- a data processing unit programmed to calculate a first difference between the next service date and a current date and a second difference between the next calibration date and the current date;
- and
- a visual indicator configured to present one of a plurality of status indications based on the smaller of the first difference and the second difference;
- wherein the visual indicator presents the status indication when the item is placed on the check station.
A method for checking service and calibration status of at least one item of hand-holdable laboratory equipment using a check station, the method comprising the steps of:
- scanning a position associated with the check station to read a data storage facility of the item of laboratory equipment;
- querying at least two dates representative of a next service date and a next calibration date from the data storage facility;
- calculating a first difference between the next service date and a current date and a second difference between the next calibration date and the current date;
- and
- presenting a visual service or calibration status indicator on the check station to a user, wherein the visual service or calibration status indicator is representative of the smaller of the first difference and the second difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.