IP Library Granted Patent US 9,658,140
Granted Patent B2
US 9,658,140 · App. 15/249,044 · Granted May 23, 2017

Air sample tracking system and method

Inventors: Rosario S. Calio (Exton, PA); Mark A. Phillips (King of Prussia, PA); John Joyce (Frazer, PA)
Assignee: VELTEK ASSOCIATES, INC.
G01N1/2273G01N1/2208G01N1/24G01N1/26G06F17/30353G06F17/30368G06K7/1413G06K19/06028G06K19/07758G01N2001/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,658,140
App. No.
15/249,044
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for tracking one or more subjects for collecting airborne contaminants. The system includes one or more subjects configured to collect air contaminants. Each of the one or more subjects includes an identification tag encoded with identification information identifying the each subject. The system further includes an identification reader configured to decode the identification information encoded within the identification tag of a scanned one of the one or more identification tags. A computer receives and stores the decoded identification information in a record in a database. The computer may also receive and stored an identification code for a user who scanned the scanned identification tag in the record in the database. Additional records in the database are created each time the identification tag of one of the one or more subjects is scanned. The one or more subjects are thereby tracked as they collect airborne contaminants and are incubated.

Claims (19)

1. A system for tracking one or more subjects, the system comprising:

one or more subjects configured to collect air contaminants, each of the one or more subjects comprising an identification tag encoded with identification information identifying the each subject;

an identification reader configured to decode the identification information encoded within the identification tag of a scanned one of the one or more identification tags;

a computer configured to receive and store the decoded identification information from the identification reader;

an inline flow control module; and

a controller in communication with the computer and connected to the inline flow control module via a vacuum line to provide vacuum pressure to the inline flow control module and via an electrical connection.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the identification tag of each of the one or more subject comprises an identification code uniquely identifying the each subject,

the identification reader is further configured to decode the identification code encoded within the scanned identification tag, and

the computer is further configured to receive and store the decoded identification code from the identification reader.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more subjects are respectively disposed in one or more locations, each location comprising an identification tag encoded with location information,

the identification reader is further configured to decode the location information encoded within the identification tag of a scanned one of the one or more location tags; and

the computer is further configured to receive and store the decoded location information from the identification reader.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer is further configured to:

compare the received decoded location information to the received decoded identification information to determine whether the subject corresponding to the scanned identification tag is properly located according to the decoded location information; and

transmit an indication of a result of the whether the subject corresponding to the scanned identification tag is properly located according to the decoded location information.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a database for storing scanned information received from the identification reader, wherein the computer is further configured store the received identification information and the location information in a record in the database.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer stores a time stamp in the record in the database.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2017
From: CALIO, ROSARIO; PHILLIPS, MARK A.; JOYCE, JOHN
To: VELTEK ASSOCIATES, INC.
Reel/Frame 041123/0146 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14728793 · Jun 2, 2015
Continuation 14196392 · Mar 4, 2014
Continuation 13446572 · Apr 13, 2012
Provisional Application 61552264 · Oct 27, 2011
Related Publication 20160363514A1 · Dec 15, 2016