IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,395,974
Granted Patent B2
US 7,395,974 · App. 11/423,660 · Granted Jul 8, 2008

Locally storing biological specimen data to a slide

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,395,974
App. No.
11/423,660
Granted
Jul 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for analyzing biological specimens, including storing data relating to the analysis in a read/write data storage device attached to specimen carrier. The data storage device can be a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, a magnetic device, or a an optical device.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus for analysis of a cytological specimen, comprising:

a cytological specimen carrier; and

a read/write data storage device attached to the carrier, the read/write data storage device comprising a radio frequency identification device,

wherein data comprises coordinate data comprising one or more of objects of interest, fields of interest, and marked target zones related to cellular analysis of the cytological specimen carried in or on the carrier which may be stored in, and retrieved from, the data storage device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cytological specimen carrier is a slide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is embedded within a label affixed to the cytological specimen carrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is secured to the cytological specimen carrier with a protective coating over at least a portion of the RFID device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is secured to the cytological specimen carrier with an adhesive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the read/write data storage device also stores data corresponding to one or more of: slide identifier data, patient identifier data, specimen identifier data, imaging system identifier data, timestamp data, imaging system software data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a data reader device configured to wirelessly read and write data to the radio frequency identification device.

8. A system for analyzing a cytological specimen comprising:

a cytological specimen carrier;

a read/write data storage device attached to the carrier, the read/write data storage device comprising a radio frequency identification device, wherein coordinate data comprising one or more of objects of interest, fields of interest, and marked target zones related to cellular analysis of the cytological specimen carried in or on the carrier may be stored in, and retrieved from, the data storage device;

a reader configured to wirelessly read and write data to the radio frequency identification device;

an imaging device configured to obtain an image of the cytological specimen; and

an image reviewer configured to review the image of the cytological specimen.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a processor configured to filter extraneous data from the image prior to review of the image on the image reviewer.

10. A method for analyzing a cytological specimen comprising:

providing a cytological specimen carrier having a read/write data storage device attached to the carrier, the read/write data storage element comprising a radio frequency identification device, the specimen carrier carrying the cytological specimen;

imaging the specimen;

storing coordinate data comprising one or more of objects of interest, fields of interest, and marked target zones related to cellular analysis of the cytological specimen in the read/write data storage device, the data obtained at least in part based on the imaging of the cytological specimen; and

retrieving the data from the read/write data storage device using a reader configured to wirelessly read and write data to the radio frequency identification device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the stored data further comprises one or more of: slide identifier data, patient identifier data, specimen identifier data, imaging system identifier data, timestamp data, imaging system software data.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of updating the stored data with the wireless reader.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC., ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-BY-CONVERSION TO CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075566/0039 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; R2 TECHNOLOGY, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS III, INC.; CYTYC PRENATAL PRODUCTS CORP.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024892/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: CYTYC CORPORATION
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 021301/0879 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2007
From: CYTYC CORPORATION
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
Reel/Frame 020018/0529 →