Consumable data management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11630871-B2
Application number	US-202117185293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2021
Priority date	Jul 27, 2010
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such information in the conduct of an assay by an assay system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of enabling use of an assay system, said assay system being configured to use an assay consumable in the conduct of an assay comprising an assay consumable identifier,
said assay system comprising:
(a) local consumable data; and
(b) a mechanism adapted to read first consumable data from said consumable identifier;

said method comprising:
(i) providing, by at least one processor, a command for causing first consumable data to affect use in said system, wherein said first consumable data is authorization information for said consumable, and said authorization information comprises information including: whether the assay consumable is permitted to be used, the number of times the assay consumable can be used, or limitations on use of the assay consumable, if any,
wherein the assay system includes a first electrical contact and the assay consumable includes a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact adapted to be coupled to the second electrical contact to facilitate exchange of the first consumable data between the assay system and the assay consumable.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a reader, peripheral hardware associated with the reader, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first consumable data is provided from a remote storage medium, and wherein the remote storage medium is a master first consumable data repository.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a first party maintains said remote storage medium.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising step (i.1), before step (i), of transmitting the read first consumable data to the remote storage medium.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising step (i.2), before step (i) and after step (i.1), of comparing, in the remote storage medium, the transmitted read first consumable data to the first consumable data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assay system further comprises an interface comprising a direct interface, an indirect interface, or combinations thereof, and said method further comprises the step of sending updates to said interface from a remote storage medium.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said updates are automatically sent to said interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assay system further comprises a storage medium, wherein the storage medium comprises a local storage medium.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the local consumable data is stored on the local storage medium.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform a method of enabling use of an assay system, said assay system being configured to use an assay consumable in the conduct of an assay comprising an assay consumable identifier, said assay system comprising: (a) local consumable data; and (b) a mechanism adapted to read first consumable data from said consumable identifier, said method comprising:
(i) providing, by at least one processor, a command for causing first consumable data to affect use in said system, wherein said first consumable data is authorization information for said consumable, and said authorization information comprises information including: whether the assay consumable is permitted to be used the number of times the assay consumable can be used, or limitations on use of the assay consumable, if any,
wherein the assay system includes a sensor configured to identify coupling of the assay consumable to the assay system, the assay system configured to initiate a timer responsive to said identification and to log timestamps using the timer responsive to predetermined events.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the mechanism is a reader, peripheral hardware associated with the reader, or a combination thereof.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein said first consumable data is provided from a remote storage medium, and wherein the remote storage medium is a master first consumable data repository.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein a first party maintains said remote storage medium.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises the step (i.1), before step (i), of transmitting the read first consumable data to the remote storage medium.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises step (i.2), before step (i) and after step (i.1), of comparing, in the remote storage medium, the transmitted read first consumable data to the first consumable data.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein said assay system further comprises an interface comprising a direct interface, an indirect interface, or combinations thereof, and said method further comprises the step of sending updates to said interface from a remote storage medium.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said updates are automatically sent to said interface.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein said assay system further comprises a storage medium, wherein the storage medium comprises a local storage medium.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the local consumable data is stored on the local storage medium.

21. An assay system configured for use, said assay system being configured to use an assay consumable in the conduct of an assay comprising an assay consumable identifier, said assay system comprising:
(a) local consumable data; and
(b) a mechanism comprising a first electrical contact adapted to be connected to a second electrical contact of the assay consumable, the mechanism adapted to read first consumable data from said consumable identifier by way of the connection, wherein said assay system is configured to provide a command for causing the first consumable data to affect use in said assay system, wherein said first consumable data is authorization information for said consumable, and said authorization information comprises information including: whether the assay consumable is permitted to be used, the number of times the assay consumable can be used, or limitations on use of the assay consumable, if any.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the mechanism is a reader, peripheral hardware associated with the reader, or a combination thereof.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein said first consumable data is provided from a remote storage medium, and wherein the remote storage medium is a master first consumable data repository.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein a first party maintains said remote storage medium.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein said system is further configured to transmit the read first consumable data to the remote storage medium.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein said system is further configured to compare, in the remote storage medium, the transmitted read first consumable data to the first consumable data.

27. The system of claim 21 , wherein said assay system further comprises an interface comprising a direct interface, an indirect interface, or combinations thereof, and said assay system is further configured to send updates to said interface from a remote storage mediu

Assignees

• Meso Scale Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Cong Xinri
• Jackson Jerome
• Stevens Carl
• Vock Michael
• Wohlstadter Jacob N

Classifications

• G16B50/00

  ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics · CPC title

• G06Q30/0625

  by formulating product or service queries, e.g. using keywords or predefined options · CPC title

• G01N2035/0425

  Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates · CPC title

• G16H10/40

  for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis · CPC title

• G01N35/0099

  comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J) · CPC title