SAMPLE CARRIER SYSTEM
A sample carrier generally comprises a sample node and an identifier co-located with the sample node. A sample node may be operative to carry a discrete sample, while an identifier may be operative to provide information associated with the sample carried by the sample node. Embodiments of a sample carrier may comprise a plurality of sample nodes supported in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to a respective sample container such as a respective well of a multi-well plate. A system and method of transferring specimens to a sample carrier include contacting a sample node to the specimen and encoding information associated with the specimen on the identifier. Various alternatives are disclosed wherein the specimen is solid, gaseous, and liquid in form.
1 . A sample carrier comprising:
a sample node operative to carry a discrete sample; and
an identifier co-located with said sample node and operative to provide information associated with said discrete sample.
2 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said sample node is operative to carry a biological sample.
3 . The sample carrier of claim 2 wherein said biological sample comprises a protein.
4 . The sample carrier of claim 2 wherein said biological sample comprises a polynucleotide.
5 . The sample carrier of claim 4 wherein said polynucleotide is RNA.
6 . The sample carrier of claim 4 wherein said polynucleotide is DNA.
7 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said sample node is operative to carry a non-biological sample.
8 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said identifier comprises identifying indicia.
9 . The sample carrier of claim 8 wherein said indicia are decipherable by an optical sensor.
10 . The sample carrier of claim 9 wherein said indicia include a bar code.
11 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said identifier comprises a transceiver operative to transmit a signal identifying said discrete sample.
12 . The sample carrier of claim 11 wherein said transceiver is further operative to receive a signal from a remote device.
13 . The sample carrier of claim 12 wherein said transceiver receives operational power from energy in said signal.
14 . The sample carrier of claim 12 wherein said signal comprises light.
15 . The sample carrier of claim 14 wherein said signal comprises fluorescent light.
16 . The sample carrier of claim 14 wherein said signal comprises coherent light.
17 . The sample carrier of claim 12 wherein said signal comprises electromagnetic energy.
18 . The sample carrier of claim 17 wherein said signal comprises radio frequency electromagnetic energy.
19 . The sample carrier of claim 17 wherein said transceiver is internal to said sample node.
20 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said sample node is solid.
21 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said sample node is porous.
22 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said sample node comprises a sample support medium.
23 . The sample carrier of claim 22 wherein said sample support medium comprises cellulose.
24 . The sample carrier of claim 22 wherein said sample support medium comprises a polymer.
25 . The sample carrier of claim 24 wherein said polymer is polystyrene.
26 . The sample carrier of claim 24 wherein said polymer is chitosan.
27 . The sample carrier of claim 22 wherein said sample support medium is derivatized.
28 . The sample carrier of claim 27 wherein said sample support medium is positively charged.
29 . The sample carrier of claim 27 wherein said sample support medium is negatively charged.
30 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said identifier is internal to said sample node.
31 . The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said identifier is permanently co-located with said sample node.
32 . A sample carrier comprising:
a plurality of sample nodes supported in a predetermined spatial relationship; each of said plurality of sample nodes operative to carry a discrete sample; and
a plurality of identifiers; each respective one of said plurality of identifiers co-located with a respective one of said plurality of sample nodes and operative to provide information associated with said discrete sample.
33 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is supported in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to a respective specimen container.
34 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is supported in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to a respective well of a multi-well plate.
35 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is operative to carry a biological sample.
36 . The sample carrier of claim 35 wherein said biological sample comprises a protein.
37 . The sample carrier of claim 35 wherein said biological sample comprises a polynucleotide.
38 . The sample carrier of claim 37 wherein said polynucleotide is RNA.
39 . The sample carrier of claim 37 wherein said polynucleotide is DNA.
40 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is operative to carry a non-biological sample.
41 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of identifiers comprises identifying indicia.
42 . The sample carrier of claim 41 wherein said indicia are decipherable by an optical sensor.
43 . The sample carrier of claim 42 wherein said indicia include a bar code.
44 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each respective one of said plurality of identifiers comprises a respective transceiver operative to transmit a signal identifying said discrete sample.
45 . The sample carrier of claim 44 wherein said respective transceiver is further operative to receive a signal from a remote device.
46 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said respective transceiver receives operational power from energy in said signal.
47 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said signal comprises light.
48 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said signal comprises fluorescent light.
49 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said signal comprises coherent light.
50 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said signal comprises electromagnetic energy.
51 . The sample carrier of claim 45 wherein said signal comprises radio frequency electromagnetic energy.
52 . The sample carrier of claim 51 wherein said respective transceiver is internal to said respective one of said plurality of sample nodes.
53 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is solid.
54 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes is porous.
55 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes comprises a sample support medium.
56 . The sample carrier of claim 55 wherein said sample support medium comprises cellulose.
57 . The sample carrier of claim 55 wherein said sample support medium comprises a polymer.
58 . The sample carrier of claim 57 wherein said polymer is polystyrene.
59 . The sample carrier of claim 57 wherein said polymer is chitosan.
60 . The sample carrier of claim 57 wherein said sample support medium is derivatized.
61 . The sample carrier of claim 60 wherein said sample support medium is positively charged.
62 . The sample carrier of claim 60 wherein said sample support medium is negatively charged.
63 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each respective one of said plurality of identifiers is internal to said respective one of said plurality of sample nodes.
64 . The sample carrier of claim 32 wherein each respective one of said plurality of identifiers is permanently co-located with said respective one of said plurality of sample nodes.
65 . A method of transferring a specimen to a sample carrier; said method comprising:
providing a sample carrier comprising a sample node operative to carry a discrete sample and an identifier co-located with said sample node and operative to provide information associated with said discrete sample; and
contacting said sample node and said specimen.
66 . The method of claim 65 wherein said specimen is a solid.
67 . The method of claim 65 wherein said specimen is gaseous.
68 . The method of claim 65 wherein said specimen is a liquid.
69 . The method of claim 65 wherein said sample node comprises a preservative.
70 . The method of claim 65 further comprising washing said sample node subsequent to said contacting.
71 . The method of claim 65 further comprising allowing said sample node to desiccate subsequent to said contacting.
72 . The method of claim 65 wherein said identifier comprises a bar code identifying said specimen.
73 . The method of claim 65 wherein said identifier comprises a transceiver operative to transmit a signal identifying said specimen.
74 . The method of claim 65 wherein said identifier is permanently co-located with said sample node.
75 . A method of transferring specimens to a sample carrier; said method comprising:
providing a sample carrier comprising a plurality of sample nodes supported in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to a respective specimen container and a plurality of identifiers, each respective one of said plurality of identifiers co-located with a respective one of said plurality of sample nodes and operative to provide information associated with said discrete sample; and
contacting selected ones of said plurality of sample nodes and a respective specimen.
76 . The method of claim 75 wherein said contacting comprises bringing said plurality of sample nodes into contact with a specimen in said respective specimen container.
77 . The method of claim 75 wherein said respective specimen is a solid.
78 . The method of claim 75 wherein said respective specimen is gaseous.
79 . The method of claim 75 wherein said respective specimen is a liquid.
80 . The method of claim 75 wherein each of said plurality of sample nodes comprises a preservative.
81 . The method of claim 75 further comprising washing selected ones of said plurality of sample nodes subsequent to said contacting.
82 . The method of claim 75 further comprising allowing said plurality of sample nodes to desiccate subsequent to said contacting.
83 . The method of claim 75 wherein each of said plurality of identifiers comprises a bar code identifying said respective specimen.
84 . The method of claim 75 wherein each of said plurality of identifiers comprises a transceiver configured to transmit a signal identifying said respective specimen.
85 . The method of claim 75 wherein each of said plurality of identifiers is permanently co-located with said respective one of said plurality of sample nodes.
86 . A sample carrier comprising:
a sample node;
an identifier co-located with said sample node; and
a specimen carried by said sample node;
wherein said identifier is operative to provide information associated with said specimen.
87 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said specimen is biological.
88 . The sample carrier of claim 87 wherein said specimen comprises a protein.
89 . The sample carrier of claim 87 wherein said specimen comprises a polynucleotide.
90 . The sample carrier of claim 89 wherein said polynucleotide is RNA.
91 . The sample carrier of claim 89 wherein said polynucleotide is DNA.
92 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said specimen is non-biological.
93 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said sample node is solid.
94 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein sample node is porous.
95 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said sample node comprises cellulose.
96 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said sample node comprises a polymer.
97 . The sample carrier of claim 96 wherein said polymer is polystyrene.
98 . The sample carrier of claim 96 wherein said polymer is chitosan.
99 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said sample node is derivatized.
100 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said sample node is treated with a chemical compound.
101 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said identifier comprises identifying indicia.
102 . The sample carrier of claim 101 wherein said indicia include a bar code.
103 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said identifier comprises a transceiver operative to transmit a signal identifying said specimen.
104 . The sample carrier of claim 103 wherein said transceiver is internal to said sample node.
105 . The sample carrier of claim 86 wherein said identifier is permanently co-located with said sample node.
106 . A sample carrier comprising:
a sample node operative to carry a discrete sample; and
an identifier permanently co-located with said sample node and operative to provide information associated with said discrete sample.
107 . The sample carrier of claim 106 wherein said sample comprises a protein.
108 . The sample carrier of claim 106 wherein said sample comprises a polynucleotide.
109 . The sample carrier of claim 106 wherein said identifier comprises identifying indicia.
110 . The sample carrier of claim 106 wherein said identifier comprises a transceiver operative to transmit a signal identifying said discrete sample.
111 . The sample carrier of claim 110 wherein said transceiver is internal to said sample node.
112 . The sample carrier of claim 106 wherein said sample node comprises a sample support medium.
113 . The sample carrier of claim 112 wherein said sample support medium comprises cellulose.
114 . The sample carrier of claim 112 wherein said sample support medium comprises a polymer.