The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2004
Varouj Amirkhanian, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Ming-sun Liu, Brea, CA (US);
Paul Mooney, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US);
Varouj Amirkhanian, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Ming-Sun Liu, Brea, CA (US);
Paul Mooney, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US);
Qiagen Sciences, LLC, Germantown, MD (US);
Abstract
A reusable bio-analysis cartridge that includes a built-in mechanism to track various parameters and usage data. The tracking mechanism includes a non-volatile rewritable memory 'smart-key' that is associated with the cartridge to provide automatic tracking dedicated to the cartridge. The key may be physically coupled to the cartridge with good high voltage insulating properties. When the cartridge is used in an instrument, the associated key is inserted into an I/O interface to communicate with the instrument. The instrument may be configured to 'authenticate' the cartridge and conduct an integrity check to determine if the particular cartridge has the correct properties (e.g., gel-chemistry, serial no., Patient I.D.) for the particular sample analysis to be conducted. Further, the instrument may communicate/record information concerning usage of the cartridge (e.g., usage history, test parameters, and perhaps test results). Such information provides an update to the stored information from the previous use of the cartridge.