Storage system for biological samples and the like
Inventors
Davidowitz, Hananel • Altman, Theodore N. • Wang, Ke • Or, Ron • Zhai, Zhengyan • Basch, Jeremy
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11148143-B2
Publication Date
2021-10-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A storage system having racks and an outer container that receives the racks, each rack receiving a plurality of sample boxes, each box having a wireless ID tag. In certain embodiments, the storage system has reader electronics external to and distinct from the racks and that directly read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack without relying on any reader electronics of any rack. In other embodiments, each rack has a set of rack reader electronics that read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack, and the storage system has at least one removable reader access device removably connectable to the set of rack reader electronics of a rack in order to transmit the ID number of the wireless ID tag of each box in the rack outside of the outer container.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a cold-storage system for biological samples in which a freezer has an interior with one or more shelves, and each shelf defines one or more compartments. Removable racks are inserted into the compartments and receive one or more removable boxes, each removable box receiving one or more removable samples and carrying a wireless box identification (ID) tag having a box ID number.
Each compartment has one or more read antennae configured to directly read the box ID number of each wireless box ID tag of each removable box stored within the removable rack located in the compartment. The shelf electronics are electrically connected to provide electrical power to the one or more read antennae and to receive the box ID number of each wireless box ID tag, and electrical cabling equipment connects outside the freezer to provide electrical power and receive the box ID numbers for external electrical equipment located outside the freezer.
The architecture separates reader electronics from the racks so that box tag IDs are read without relying on reader electronics of the removable racks. Alternative embodiments include systems where compartments read wireless rack identification (ID) tags, or rack identification is obtained from a rack code sensing arrangement that detects a unique sequence of one or more holes representing a rack ID number, and the system supports inventory database updating based on the box IDs.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes multiple independent features, with main coverage centered on direct reading of wireless box IDs by compartment read antennae with shelf electronics and external power/data cabling. Additional independent features cover rack-level identification and a rack code sensing arrangement, for a total of five inventive features.
Direct reading of wireless box ID tags by compartment read antennae with shelf electronics and external cabling
A cold-storage system comprising a freezer with one or more shelves, each shelf defining one or more compartments; removable racks insertable into the compartments and configured to receive removable boxes; each removable box configured to receive removable samples and having a wireless box identification (ID) tag with a box ID number; each compartment having one or more read antennae configured to directly read the box ID number of each wireless box ID tag of each removable box stored in each removable rack located within the compartment; each shelf having shelf electronics electrically connected to provide electrical power to the one or more read antennae and to receive the box ID number from the wireless box ID tags; and electrical cabling equipment electrically connected to provide, from external electrical equipment outside the freezer, electrical power to each shelf electronics and to receive, from each shelf electronics, and provide to the external electrical equipment, the box ID number of each wireless box ID tag of each removable box stored in each removable rack.
Wireless rack ID tag read by corresponding compartment read antenna
A cold-storage system including at least one removable rack having a wireless rack ID tag, and at least one read antenna of a corresponding compartment configured to read the wireless rack ID tag.
Rack identification via hole-sequence rack code sensors
A cold-storage system including a removable rack with a sequence of one or more holes representing a rack ID number, and at least one compartment having one or more rack code sensors configured to detect the sequence of one or more holes.
Internal relay circuit cabling topology with a single external cable
A cold-storage system where electrical cabling equipment includes a relay circuit located inside the freezer; for each shelf electronics, a cable inside the freezer connecting the shelf electronics to the relay circuit; and a single cable connecting the relay circuit to external electrical equipment located outside the freezer.
Removable racks without box-tag read antennae
A cold-storage system in which removable racks have no read antennae capable of reading a wireless box ID tag.
The inventive coverage centers on directly reading wireless box ID tags using compartment read antennae powered and collected by shelf electronics, with power and data transferred via electrical cabling equipment outside the freezer. Additional coverage includes rack-level identification via wireless rack ID tags or rack code sensors detecting a hole sequence, excluding box-tag read antennae from the removable racks, and specifying an internal relay circuit cabling topology with a single external cable.
Stated Advantages
The architecture separates reader electronics from the racks so that box tag IDs are read without relying on reader electronics of the removable racks.
The system supports inventory database updating based on the box IDs.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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