Guided Retrieval For RFID-Tracked Biological And Other Samples

摘要

A storage system for storing samples, such as frozen biological samples in RFID-tagged vials. The storage system has a plurality of lowest-level containers, such as sample boxes; a plurality of mid-level containers, such as shelves and racks; and a highest-level container, such as a mechanical freezer. Each lowest-level container receives a plurality of samples in a corresponding plurality of storage locations, each mid-level container receives two or more lowest-level containers, and the highest-level container receives the two or more mid-level containers. Each mid-level container and each lowest-level container has a corresponding indicator device. A controller sub-system tracks the locations of samples stored in the storage system. When a desired sample is to be retrieved from the storage system, the controller sub-system activates (a) the indicator device corresponding to the mid-level container containing the desired sample and (b) the indicator device corresponding to the lowest-level container containing the desired sample.

主权项

1. A storage system for storing samples, the system comprising:
a plurality of lowest-level containers, each lowest-level container configured to receive a plurality of samples in a corresponding plurality of storage locations; two or more mid-level containers, each mid-level container configured to receive two or more lowest-level containers; a highest-level container configured to receive the two or more mid-level containers, wherein:
each mid-level container has a corresponding mid-level indicator device;each lowest-level container has a corresponding lowest-level indicator device;the storage system is configured to operate with a controller sub-system that tracks the storage locations of samples stored in the storage system; andwhen a desired sample is to be retrieved from the storage system, the controller sub-system activates:
(a) the mid-level indicator device corresponding to the mid-level container containing the desired sample; and(b) the lowest-level indicator device corresponding to the lowest-level container containing the desired sample.