Method and apparatus for labeling using optical identification elements characterized by X-ray diffraction

1. A method of labeling an item, the method comprising:

selecting at least one material from a plurality of materials having differing X-ray diffraction patterns;

embedding the at least one material in a binder material to form at least one optical identification element, the at least one material providing an encoded composite X-ray diffraction pattern when illuminated by an X-ray beam, the encoded composite X-ray diffraction pattern being indicative of a code, the code relating to information about the item; and

physically associating the at least one optical identification element with the item.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

shaping the binder material as a microbead.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

shaping the binder material as a macrobead.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

shaping the binder material in the form of a thread or fiber.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical identification element includes:

the binder material; and

the at least one material embedded in the binder material, the at least one material being selected from powdered crystal materials.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the code includes a binary or higher order code.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a nucleic acid probe.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the nucleic acid probe is hybridized to a target nucleic acid.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the composite diffraction pattern includes Debye-Scherrer diffraction patterns being indicative of the code.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the code includes an error check portion configured to ensure that the code is accurate.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical identification element is configured for labeling the item for at least one of sorting, tracking, identifying, verifying, and authenticating the item.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the item comprises a chemical.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one material includes a plurality of crystal materials having predetermined Debye-Scherrer X-ray diffraction patterns.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the item includes the binder material, said embedding the at least one material in the binder material includes embedding the at least one material directly into the item.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the item includes material that is transparent or substantially transparent to the X-ray beam.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the binder material does not diffract the X-ray beam or diffracts the X-ray beam in a known manner.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the item is a chemical, said physically associating includes synthesizing the chemical on the optical identification element.

18. A method of determining information relating to an item, the method comprising:

providing an item and an optical identification element that is physically associated with the item;

illuminating the optical identification element using an X-ray beam;

detecting a composite X-ray diffraction pattern from the illuminated optical identification element; and

decoding the composite X-ray diffraction pattern to determine a code relating to information about the item.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the decoding includes:

identifying at least portions of Debye-Scherrer diffraction patterns in the composite X-ray diffraction pattern.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the optical identification element is shaped as a bead.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the code includes a binary or higher order code.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the item comprises a nucleic acid probe.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the nucleic acid probe is hybridized to a target nucleic acid.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the optical identification element comprises a binder material and one or more materials embedded in the binder material, the one or more materials providing the composite X-ray diffraction pattern.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the item comprises a probe configured to selectively bind with a target analyte, the method further comprising:

mixing the optical identification element in a solution having the target analyte; and

determining a presence or amount of the target analyte bound to the optical identification element.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the determining the presence or amount of the target analyte includes detecting fluorescence emanating from the target analyte.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the probe is directly attached to the optical identification element.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the probe includes one of an oligonucleotide, antibody, peptide, amino acid string, cDNA, RNA, chemical, nucleic acid oligomer, polymer, biological cell, or protein.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein the optical identification element is configured for labeling the item for at least one of sorting, tracking, identifying, verifying, and authenticating the item.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein the composite diffraction pattern includes a plurality of rings projected onto a plane, said detecting includes detecting at least a portion of the rings.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said detecting includes detecting arcs from the plurality of rings.

32. The method of claim 18 wherein the composite diffraction pattern includes diffracted beams that project forwardly in a direction of the X-ray beam and includes diffracted beams that project backwardly in a direction opposite that of the X-ray beam.

33. The method of claim 18 wherein the decoding includes identifying start and stop bits.