SMARTBOX AND USES THEREOF
Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for collecting laboratory specimens from laboratory specimen boxes once a specimen has been placed inside a box.
1 . A laboratory specimen box comprising
a detection system to detect a laboratory specimen placed inside the box,
an interface connection system connected to the detection system and to an internet, and
a battery or power source to power the interface connection system and optionally the detection system, wherein the detection system is configured to alert a specimen collection service via the interface connection system when a laboratory specimen is placed inside the box.
2 . The box of claim 1 , wherein the box is constructed of plastic or metal.
3 . The box of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises one or more of a scale system, an optical detection system, a light beam, a bar code reader for reading a bar code on the laboratory specimen, and a push button.
4 . A system for collecting laboratory specimens from laboratory specimen boxes, the system comprising a plurality of the laboratory specimen boxes of claim 1 connected via an internet to a specimen collection service, wherein each individual specimen box is identified within the system and wherein the system is configured to notify the collection service when a laboratory specimen is placed inside a specified box.
5 . A method for collecting laboratory specimens from laboratory specimen boxes, the method comprising receiving a notification from the system of claim 5 that a laboratory specimen has been placed within a specified specimen box and dispatching a courier to collect the laboratory specimen from the specimen box.