Method and apparatus for identifying and tracking biological fluid
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8905297-B2
Publication Date
2014-12-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method of tracking biological fluid during a donation process. The system and method identify and release blood products from quarantined storage and print an appropriate blood bag label on demand.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a biological fluid identification and tracking system that automates quarantined blood release and on-demand printing of ISTB-128 compatible labels. A networked server and software receive laboratory test data and parse and verify donor ID and memory chip ID, and update stored lab/test-related data on a memory chip associated with each blood bag when applicable.
A tray assembly is positioned within a refrigerated compartment for quarantined storage and includes a controller and a plurality of bins. Each bin has an associated display configured to indicate whether testing of the container within the associated bin is complete, and the tray assembly includes per-bin controller communication and per-bin displays, including status color indications.
When a bag is ready, a printer interface module reads the stored information from the memory chip through direct contact, and prints the correct ISTB-128 compatible label based on the stored data. The description further provides memory chip data contents including unique memory chip identification and donor identification, and includes server database updates for lab and tracking information.
It also describes error handling when donor ID, memory chip ID, or a laboratory results ID does not match, and tracks label print count for inventory purposes.
Claims Coverage
The partial document includes three independent claims covering a system and a method, with inventive features centered on a refrigerated tray assembly with controller-linked displays and memory-chip reading, a quarantined tracking workflow with memory-chip donor identification and a completion signal display, and server-driven transmission of laboratory-test-related data via ports to memory chips and associated displays.
Refrigerated tray assembly with per-bin completion indication and memory-chip reading module
A biological fluid identification and tracking system comprising a computer processor in communication with a network, a tray assembly in communication with the network and positioned within a refrigerated compartment including a controller and a plurality of bins each with a display configured to indicate whether testing of the container within the associated bin is complete, and a module having an interface configured for direct contact with a memory chip on the container, the module configured to read information stored on the memory chip.
Quarantine location tracking method using memory-chip donor identification and completion signaling
A method of tracking biological fluid comprising writing a donor identification to a memory chip secured to the container and associating the donor identification to a unique memory chip identification, positioning the container in a tray assembly located in a quarantine location, connecting the memory chip to a controller associated with the tray assembly, transmitting a signal to the controller when a testing process of the biological fluid is complete, displaying an indication related to the signal, and connecting the memory chip to an interface to read data on the memory chip.
Server-driven signaling via ports to memory chips and displays with laboratory test data
A biological fluid identification and tracking system comprising a tray assembly including a controller in communication with a network, a plurality of bins each configured to receive a container of biological fluid, a plurality of ports in communication with the controller each port associated with a bin, a plurality of displays each in communication with an associated port, and a cradle configured to connect to the port and to a memory chip on the container, and a server in communication with the controller and a network configured to receive via the network laboratory test data associated with the container and transmit a signal via the port to the memory chip and the display associated with the container, the signal including data related to the laboratory test data.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage links containers to a unique memory chip identification, uses a controller-networked tray assembly with bin-associated displays to indicate testing completion, and uses a module or server-driven ports for reading and signaling of information related to laboratory test data to the memory chip and associated displays in a quarantined refrigerated context.
Stated Advantages
Automates quarantined blood release.
Provides on-demand printing of ISTB-128 compatible labels.
Updates tray or bin displays to indicate testing completion and approval or rejection status.
Supports accurate label placement by reading stored information from the memory chip through direct contact.
Provides label print count tracking for inventory purposes.
Documented Applications
Automated quarantined blood release workflow with on-demand printing of ISTB-128 compatible labels for biological fluid containers stored in a refrigerated compartment.
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