RFID tags for sample racks

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for automatically storing information from multiple sample holders held in a sample rack, each having an individual barcode, on an RFID tag attached to the sample rack using an image capture device. The image capture device captures an image of the 2D barcodes, obtains data associated with each barcode based on the image, and communicates with and stores the data on the RFID tag. The present disclosure includes a mechanical clip that secures the RFID tag to the sample rack in a robust manner when cryogenically cooled. A portable scanning device that may be used to access the information stored on the RFID tag is also disclosed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a sample repository that includes a sample rack having an RFID tag secured thereto, and a mechanical device for securing the RFID tag. [Background technology]

[0002] Background of the Invention Automated robotic systems are widely used in research and analytical laboratories in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and veterinary industries that handle large numbers of biological samples, such as blood and other human / animal body fluids, biological drug candidates, or small molecule libraries in powder or liquid form. Some of these samples require storage at low temperatures, e.g., cryogenic temperatures. For example, biobanking may require temperatures of approximately -150°C.

[0003] Increasingly, samples are contained in sample holders (such as test tubes or vials) that are labeled with a unique 2D barcode, typically placed at the base of the tube, to identify the individual sample. The barcode acts as an identifier that allows researchers to easily access information about the sample from a file or data base.

[0004] Such sample holders are typically held in racks that facilitate sample transport and allow for the reading of barcodes on the base of the sample holders. In automated systems, machine vision is used to acquire images of the base of the racks and analyze these images to determine the barcode on each sample holder. In any machine vision application, the quality of the acquired images is essential to the success of the analysis.

[0005] FIG. 1A shows the underside of an exemplary sample rack 100 containing sample holders 102. In this case, the sample rack contains 96 sample holders. FIG. 1B shows a 2D barcode 104 on the base of one of the sample holders 102. The barcode 104 uniquely identifies the sample contained in the sample holder 102. It will be appreciated that the number of sample holders may be other than 96, and that the barcode 104 may be aligned elsewhere, such as at the top of the tubes 102. Note that the sample rack 100 itself may have a barcode, such as a 1D barcode, associated with it to uniquely identify the sample rack.

[0006] Capturing an image requires an image capture device. Known image capture devices include one or more image sensors, which may be, for example, charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices.

[0007] Camera-based devices have one or more CCD or CMOS image sensors fixed within the device.

[0008] Figure 2 shows a known image capture device 200 that uses a single camera 202 to capture images of a sample rack 100 holding barcode-labeled sample holders 102. Figure 3 shows a further known image capture device 300 in which the light path from the sample rack 100 to the camera 202 includes a mirror 302 that bends the light path, thereby reducing the overall height of the device. The sample rack 100 and sample holders 102 may be the same as those shown in Figures 1A and 1B, for example.

[0009] Cryogenic and other low-temperature sample storage can pose problems for such image-based recognition because ice can accumulate on the sample holder, obscuring the barcode and making the contained sample difficult to easily identify, and removing the ice without warming or otherwise damaging the sample can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Summary of the Invention The inventors have explored non-image-based methods for sample recognition. In particular, they have placed individual RFID tags on each sample holder to identify its contents. This should allow identification of the sample inside even if the barcode is covered by ice.

[0011] The inventors have recognized several challenges with applying RFID tags to cryogenic sample storage. The cost of providing an RFID tag for each container, of which there may be, for example, 96, in a single sample rack, is prohibitive. Additionally, RFID tags typically cannot withstand direct exposure to coolants such as liquid nitrogen (e.g., through accidental spillage) because differential thermal contraction between the RFID tag's chip and antenna can create mechanical stresses that could cause the chip and antenna to become dislodged. Such differential contraction can also occur in any adhesive used to attach the RFID tag to the sample holder, causing further damage. Furthermore, due to the small size of typical sample holders (e.g., test tubes), each RFID tag must be extremely small, limiting the amount of information that can be stored on each tag. Another issue is that reading the tags placed on each sample holder likely requires removing the sample rack from the storage so that a reader can be moved into close proximity to each sample holder, which is inconvenient and risks damaging the samples.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention provides a means for identifying sample holders using RFID to overcome the above-mentioned problems.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for storing information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each sample holder having an individual barcode, wherein the sample rack has an RFID tag affixed to it, the method being executed by a processor of an image capture device and including: receiving images of the barcodes from at least one camera of the image capture device; obtaining data associated with each barcode based on the images; establishing communication with the RFID tag via an RFID reader / writer of the image capture device; and transmitting, via the RFID reader / writer, the data associated with each barcode to the RFID tag for storage on the RFID tag.

[0014] One advantage of this method is that it reduces the number of elements in the system, since only a single RFID tag needs to be attached to the sample rack rather than to each individual sample holder.

[0015] Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure allow for the use of slightly larger RFID tags with correspondingly increased memory.

[0016] Furthermore, by attaching the RFID tags to, for example, the side of the rack, the tags are more easily accessible to a (e.g., portable) reader, and there is no possibility of conflicting signals being detected from multiple RFID tags attached to each individual sample holder.

[0017] Obtaining the data associated with each barcode may include analyzing the image to extract the data.

[0018] Obtaining the data associated with each barcode may include transmitting the image to a host computer and receiving the data from the host computer.

[0019] The RFID reader / writer may communicate with the RFID tag via near field communication (NFC).

[0020] NFC has the advantage over conventional RFID in that it allows for more advanced two-way communication between the tag and the reader, allowing the reader to retrieve information about a particular sample holder, for example.

[0021] The method may further include compressing the data associated with each barcode prior to said transmission, which is advantageous in that it allows information associated with more sample holders to be written to a given RFID tag.

[0022] The data associated with each barcode may include a unique identifier for each sample holder.

[0023] The data associated with each barcode may include the location of each sample holder within the sample rack.

[0024] The method may further include adding metadata to the data associated with each barcode prior to said transmitting, such that the metadata and data are stored on the RFID tag.

[0025] The metadata may include a timestamp indicating when the image was captured.

[0026] The method may further include reading the data from the RFID tag with a portable scanning device.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an image capture device for storing information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each sample holder having an individual barcode, wherein the sample rack has an RFID tag affixed thereto, the image capture device including at least one camera configured to capture images of the sample rack, an RFID reader / writer configured to establish communication with the RFID tag, and a processor configured to capture data associated with each barcode based on the image and transmit the data via the RFID reader / writer for storage on the RFID tag.

[0028] The processor of the image capture device may be configured to acquire the data and extract the data by analyzing the image.

[0029] The processor of the image capture device may be configured to capture data by transmitting images to a host computer and receiving data from the host computer.

[0030] The use of such a device has the advantage that a single photograph can be taken and then automatically transferred to the RFID tag. If desired, this can be achieved without human intervention (other than placing the rack in the device). The barcode then does not need to be imaged again until changes are made to the sample holders stored in the rack (such as rearranging, or removing or adding some sample holders).

[0031] The image capture device may further include a housing that includes a transparent window that, in use, is adjacent to the sample holder rack.

[0032] At least one camera may be located within the housing.

[0033] The image capture device may further include an illumination device mounted within the housing, the illumination device including at least one light source that illuminates the sample rack through a transparent window.

[0034] The image capture device may further include a mirror in the optical path between the at least one camera and the transparent window, the mirror positioned to relay light reflected from the sample rack to the at least one camera.

[0035] The use of mirrors has the advantage that the optical path to at least one camera can be bent so that the overall size of the image capture device can be reduced.

[0036] The camera, lighting arrangement and mirror may be immovable.

[0037] The image capture device may further include a 1D barcode scanner operable to read a 1D barcode on the sample rack, the 1D barcode identifying the sample rack.

[0038] The advantage of this feature is that the sample rack itself can be identified using a 1D barcode.

[0039] The RFID reader / writer may further include an antenna that is aligned adjacent to the RFID tag during use.

[0040] The RFID reader / writer may include a power regulator that adapts the power output of the antenna via a dynamic power output module. This feature has the advantage of avoiding unnecessary power consumption. In particular, the dynamic power output module allows the field strength emitted by the antenna to be adjusted depending on the signal strength of the response received from the RFID tag. This ensures optimal communication with the tag even under changing environmental conditions (e.g., by cooling to cryogenic temperatures).

[0041] The RFID reader / writer may further be configured to perform automatic antenna tuning by controlling the antenna's transmit frequency using one or more variable capacitors. This feature has the advantage of being able to adjust the antenna's transmit frequency to account for variations in the RFID tag's frequency caused by temperature changes (e.g., by cooling to cryogenic temperatures). This allows the RFID tag to operate at cryogenic temperatures while still functioning at room temperature of approximately 25°C.

[0042] An RFID reader / writer may include a noise suppression receiver that performs continuous signal level scaling, a feature that has the advantage of reducing the risk of errors when communicating with an RFID tag.

[0043] The RFID reader / writer may include an active wave-shaping switch, a feature that has the advantage of reducing the risk of errors when communicating with an RFID tag, particularly by reducing overshoot and undershoot of the digital carrier signal transmitted to the RFID tag.

[0044] The RFID reader / writer may include one or more additional antennas. This feature has the advantage of allowing RFID coverage over a wider area so that multiple possible positions of the RFID tag can be covered. For example, if there are multiple positions where an RFID tag may be attached to a sample rack, or if the sample rack has multiple possible orientations, one antenna may be provided for each possibility.

[0045] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program product for storing information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each sample holder having an individual barcode, wherein the sample rack has an RFID tag affixed thereto, the computer program product including code embodied in a computer-readable medium and configured to perform any of the methods described herein when executed by a processor of an image acquisition device.

[0046] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system that includes a sample rack that holds a plurality of sample holders, each having an individual barcode, and an RFID tag secured to the sample rack.

[0047] The advantages of attaching a single RFID tag to the sample rack, as opposed to attaching an individual RFID tag to each sample holder, are discussed above.

[0048] The RFID tag may include a chip and an antenna, which may be attached by direct bonding.

[0049] The advantage of this feature is that there is no adhesive material between the chip and the antenna to cause differential thermal expansion, and the RFID tag is therefore more capable of withstanding sudden changes in temperature without damage.

[0050] The RFID tag may include memory, which may include ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) storage. FRAM has the advantage of increasing data storage capacity, allowing a single RFID tag to hold data associated with the contents of an entire sample rack, while keeping the RFID tag small enough to fit within the sample rack. FRAM also has the advantage of being radiation-resistant, allowing the RFID tag to retain its stored information even after gamma sterilization. This allows RFID tags to be used in medical and healthcare applications. FRAM also features anti-collision capabilities, reducing the risk of accessing the wrong tag even when multiple sample racks with tags attached are stored in close proximity.

[0051] The RFID tag may be configured to communicate via near field communication (NFC).

[0052] RFID tags may be passively powered via energy harvesting. The advantage of this feature is that the RFID tag does not require a power source such as a battery, which can be damaged when exposed to extremely low temperatures.

[0053] The RFID tag installation area is 160mm 2 The advantage of this feature is that it makes it easy to attach RFID tags to conventional sample racks without making the racks difficult to store.

[0054] The assembly may further include a mechanical device for securing the RFID tag to the sample rack. An advantage of this feature is that the mechanical device may be more resistant to sudden changes in temperature than, for example, adhesives.

[0055] The mechanical device allows the RFID tag to be secured to the sample rack without the use of any adhesive. The advantage of this feature is the prevention of differential thermal contraction between the tag and adhesive upon cryogenic cooling, which could damage the adhesive and / or tag.

[0056] The sample rack may include a recess configured to be engaged by a mechanical device that supports an RFID tag.

[0057] The mechanical device may include an RFID tag clip.

[0058] The RFID tag clip includes an RFID tag support and a deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an extended state, the deformable member being deformed into the extended state.

[0059] The deformable member may be configured to bend midway along the length of the deformable member.

[0060] The deformable member may be defined by a V-shaped member.

[0061] The RFID tag support may define a slot for receiving the RFID tag.

[0062] The slot may be defined by a U-shaped member of the RFID tag clip.

[0063] The RFID tag clip may comprise a curved extrusion of metal. The advantage of this feature is that the single piece of metal is highly resilient to temperature changes and will not be damaged even if cooled to cryogenic temperatures.

[0064] A first portion of the emission portion may be bent into a V-shape to define the deformable member, and a second portion of the emission portion may be bent into a U-shape to define the RFID tag support portion.

[0065] The RFID tag may be supported by an RFID tag support.

[0066] The RFID tag may be encapsulated in a protective housing, and the RFID tag may also be supported by an RFID tag support. This feature has the advantage of insulating the RFID tag so that the temperature of the RFID tag changes more slowly when the ambient temperature changes suddenly. This reduces the risk of the RFID tag being damaged during cooling.

[0067] The protective housing includes a case having a fold line that closes to receive the RFID tag.

[0068] The recess can hold the deformable member in compression such that when the RFID tag clip is inserted into the recess, the deformable member presses against the walls of the recess, thereby holding the RFID tag clip in place. This feature has the advantage that the exact size of the recess is not critical. Provided that the width of the recess when the deformable member is fully expanded is narrower than the width of the RFID tag clip, the deformable member applies a force that holds the RFID tag clip in place. The RFID tag clip can therefore be made to be compatible with a variety of existing commercially available sample racks.

[0069] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system including an assembly as described above and a portable scanning device including a processor configured to transmit a probe signal to an RFID tag, receive a return signal from the RFID tag that includes data stored on the RFID tag, and output the data.

[0070] Portable scanners offer the advantage of allowing easy and convenient inspection of the contents of a sample rack, for example, without the need to remove the rack from storage.

[0071] Outputting the data may include displaying the data on a display of the portable scanning device.

[0072] Outputting the data may include transmitting the data to another device.

[0073] The processor is further configured to control the barcode reader of the portable scanner to capture images of the barcodes and analyze the images to extract data associated with each barcode. This feature has the advantage that if the contents of the rack are suspected to have been altered, the portable scanner can be used to scan the barcode of each sample holder to identify the sample holders present.

[0074] The processor may further be configured to control the power output of the portable scanning device using the dynamic power output module.

[0075] The processor may further be configured to control the transmission frequency of the portable scanning device using an automatic antenna tuning module.

[0076] The processor may further be configured to control the output of the portable scanning device using the noise cancellation module.

[0077] The processor may further be configured to control a portable scanning device using the active waveshaping module.

[0078] The portable scanning device may be a mobile phone.

[0079] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, an RFID tag clip is provided that includes an RFID tag support and a deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an extended state, the deformable member being deformed to be in the extended state.

[0080] As mentioned above, RFID tag clips have the advantage of being able to support RFID tags without damage caused by extreme temperature changes.

[0081] The RFID tag support may define a slot for receiving the RFID tag.

[0082] The slot may be defined by a U-shaped member of the RFID tag clip.

[0083] The RFID tag clip may further include an RFID tag supported by the RFID tag support.

[0084] The RFID tag may be enclosed in a protective housing, which is also supported by an RFID tag support.

[0085] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for securing an RFID tag to a sample rack, the method including inserting the RFID tag into an RFID tag clip and securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack.

[0086] The sample rack may include a recess, and securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack may include inserting the RFID tag clip into the recess.

[0087] Securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack may include inserting the RFID tag clip into an applicator, aligning the applicator with the entrance to the recess, and operating the applicator to insert the RFID tag clip into the recess.

[0088] Aligning the applicator may include resting one or more teeth of the applicator on the edge of the recess.

[0089] Activating the applicator may include depressing a propulsion device of the applicator to insert the RFID tag clip into the recess.

[0090] The RFID tag clip may include an RFID tag support and a deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an extended state, the deformable member being deformed into the extended state.

[0091] The recess can hold the deformable member in compression so that when the RFID tag clip is inserted into the recess, the deformable member presses against the walls of the recess, thereby holding the RFID tag clip in place. As mentioned above, this feature has the advantage of allowing the RFID tag clip to be secured to sample racks with recesses of various sizes.

[0092] A portable applicator for inserting a clip into a recess includes a shaft having an open end operable to receive a clip, a blade housed within the shaft and movable linearly along the shaft to push the clip received in the open end, thereby inserting the clip from the open end, a knob attached to the blade on the outside of the shaft and capable of being pressed by a user to move the blade, and one or more teeth adjacent to the open end operable to rest on the edge of the recess when the teeth rest on the edge of the recess so that the open end is in a suitable position for inserting the clip into the recess.

[0093] The shaft may further include a closed end opposite the open end.

[0094] The knob may be attached to the blade through a slot in the surface of the shaft such that the knob is linearly movable from one end of the slot to the opposite end of the slot, thereby allowing the blade to be moved between the two end positions.

[0095] The slot is configured so that the clip can be inserted into the open end by moving the blade to one of its terminal positions, and the clip can be withdrawn from the open end by moving the blade to its other terminal position.

[0096] The slot may be disposed on a first side of the shaft opposite a second side of the shaft, and the teeth are disposed on the second side of the shaft.

[0097] It will be understood that the functionality of the described devices may be divided into multiple modules. Alternatively, these functions may be provided by a single module or processor. The or each processor may be implemented in any known suitable hardware, such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The or each processor may include one or more processing cores, each configured to execute independently. The or each processor may have a connection to a bus for executing instructions and processing information stored in, for example, a memory.

[0098] The present invention further provides processor control code for executing the above-described systems and methods, for example, on a general-purpose computer system or a digital signal processor (DSP). The present invention also provides a medium, particularly a disk, a microprocessor, a non-transitory data medium such as a CD- or DVD-ROM, a program memory such as read-only memory (firmware), or a data medium such as an optical or electrical signal medium, having stored thereon processor control code that, in operation, executes any of the above-described methods. The code may be provided on a medium such as a disk, a microprocessor, a CD- or DVD-ROM, a program memory such as non-volatile memory (e.g., flash) or read-only memory (firmware). Code (and / or data) implementing embodiments of the present invention may include source, object, or executable code in a conventional (interpreted or compiled) programming language such as C or Python, or assembly code, code for configuring or controlling an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field-programmable gate array), or code in a hardware description language such as Verilog™ or VHDL (very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such code and / or data may be distributed among multiple coupled elements in communication with each other. The present invention may include a controller including a microprocessor, working memory, and program memory coupled to one or more elements of the system.

[0099] The above and other aspects will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the summary, nor to any implementation scheme that necessarily solves some or all of the noted disadvantages.

[0100] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show how several embodiments may be practiced, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0101] [Figure 1A] 1 shows the underside of an exemplary sample rack. [Figure 1B] 1 shows the underside of an exemplary sample holder featuring a barcode. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an existing image acquisition device for a sample rack that houses sample holders. [Figure 3] 1 shows a further existing image acquisition device; [Figure 4] A block diagram of the image acquisition device and sample rack is shown with an RFID tag attached to the sample rack. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process for storing information from a sample holder barcode on an RFID tag. [Figure 6] 1 shows the underside of an exemplary sample rack featuring an RFID tag inserted into a recess. [Figure 7] 1 is a drawing of an RFID tag clip. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram of a protective housing for use with an RFID tag clip. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a handheld scanner used to read the contents of an RFID tag inserted into a sample rack. [Figure 10a] 1 shows the applicator inserting the clip into the recess. [Figure 10b] 10b shows an enlarged view of the applicator of FIG. 10a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0102] Detailed Description The following description of the embodiments is given purely by way of example.

[0103] 4 illustrates an image capture device 400 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The image capture device 400 includes a camera 202, an RFID reader / writer, and a processor 408. The RFID reader / writer includes an RFID module 404. The camera 202, the RFID module 404, and the processor 408 may be housed within a housing 401.

[0104] The camera 202 is operable to take images of a sample rack 100 containing sample holders 102, each having an individual barcode 104 thereon, as shown in FIG. 1B. An RFID tag 402 is attached to (or within) the sample rack 100. The RFID reader / writer is operable to communicate with the RFID tag 402 via near field communication (NFC), operating at, for example, 13.56 MHz. It will be appreciated that the RFID reader / writer may communicate with the RFID tag 402 using radio frequency protocols other than NFC.

[0105] It is important to note that only a single RFID tag 402 is used per sample rack 100; the RFID tag 402 is attached to the rack itself, not to any of the sample holders 102. This is preferable to, for example, attaching individual RFID tags to each sample holder 102 for several reasons. For example, it would not be economical to attach 96 RFID tags to a rack containing 96 sample holders; attaching only a single RFID tag 402 is much cheaper and reduces system complexity. Also, a single RFID tag 402 can be larger than the maximum possible size of an RFID tag on a single sample holder, thereby increasing storage capacity. Furthermore, it is easier to access and communicate with an RFID tag 402 attached to a rack 100, for example, on one side of the rack 100, as shown in FIG. 4 , than to access a tag attached to a sample holder in the center of the rack 100. Furthermore, using 96 tags would require isolating one of the 96 signals to learn the contents of a particular sample holder 102, potentially resulting in significant issues with tag collisions, interference, and crosstalk. This problem is eliminated by using a single tag 402 for the entire rack 100 .

[0106] NFC generally has the advantage of enabling two-way communication between an RFID reader / writer and an RFID tag 402 in a more sophisticated manner than can be achieved with conventional RFID tags. For example, conventional RFID tags can only broadcast a single identification number. As described below, the RFID tag 402 is intended to enable the storage and retrieval of information (a payload of data) that identifies the contents of the sample holders 102 in the sample rack 100. Therefore, it would be useful to be able to query individual entries in the memory of the RFID tag 402 for individual sample holders 102, for example. This can be achieved using NFC.

[0107] NFC may also be configured to allow communication over slightly longer distances than traditional RFID technology. For example, the communication protocol ISO 15693 allows for "nearby" communication rather than "proximity" communication. Use of a protocol such as ISO 15693 may be useful, for example, when frost buildup prevents access to the RFID tag 402.

[0108] In some embodiments, the RFID reader / writer may further include an antenna 406 for communicating with the RFID tag 402. The antenna 406 may be located outside the housing 401 and positioned such that the antenna 406 is adjacent to the RFID tag 402 when the sample rack 100 is placed in the image capture device 400 in a particular expected configuration. This may facilitate communication via, for example, NFC, which requires a particular proximity between the transmitter and receiver. The RFID module 404 may be located within the housing 401 and connected to the antenna 406, together forming an RFID reader / writer. Alternatively, the antenna 406 may be an integral part of the RFID module 404. In this case, the RFID module 404 may be located outside the housing such that the antenna 406 is adjacent to the RFID tag 402.

[0109] The RFID reader / writer may have various features or modules that improve the performance of the antenna 406 and, more generally, communication with the RFID tag 402 .

[0110] For example, the RFID reader / writer may include an automatic gain control power regulator that adapts the power output of the antenna 406, a process known as dynamic power output. For example, the RFID reader / writer may adjust the power output of the antenna 406 until the return signal received from the RFID tag 402 is within an acceptable range. This ensures that enough power is used to allow efficient communication, but avoids unnecessary excessive power waste.

[0111] As a further example, RFID reader / writer 404 may include one or more variable capacitors that are used to control the transmit frequency of antenna 406, a process known as automatic antenna tuning. This is useful if the frequency of RFID tag 402 changes as the ambient temperature changes, such as during cryogenic cooling, because RFID reader / writer 404 can adjust the frequency of antenna 406 accordingly to ensure optimal tuning in the changing environment and enable high-quality signal reception. In particular, automatic antenna tuning allows RFID tags to operate equally well at room temperature, around 25° C., and at cryogenic temperatures.

[0112] As a further example, RFID reader / writer 404 may include a noise suppression receiver capable of continuous signal level scaling, which filters the return signal from RFID tag 402 to remove background noise and maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for reception in noisy environments.

[0113] As a further example, the RFID reader / writer may include an active wave-shaping switch that improves the fidelity of the signal transmitted to the RFID tag 402, particularly by reducing overshoot and undershoot in the digital media signal.

[0114] In some embodiments, the RFID reader / writer may include more than one antenna 406. In such embodiments, the RFID module 404 may include a multiplexer for communicating with the antennas 406.

[0115] Multiple antennas 406 may be desirable, for example, when there are multiple different locations on the sample rack 100 where the RFID tag 402 may be attached. Providing an antenna 406 adjacent to each of these possible locations allows for efficient communication regardless of the location of the RFID tag 402 (or with multiple different sample racks 100 each attached in a different location).

[0116] Additionally, the multiple antennas 406 advantageously allow the sample rack 100 to be positioned in any of multiple orientations relative to the image capture device 400 while still allowing communication between the RFID tag 402 and the RFID reader / writer.

[0117] In the embodiment of Figure 4, the sample rack 100 is positioned on top of the image acquisition device during use. This generally corresponds to the presence of a barcode 104 on the underside of each sample holder 102, as shown in Figure 1. However, other possibilities exist. For example, each barcode 104 may be on top of a respective sample holder 102, in which case the sample rack 100 may be positioned below the image acquisition device 400 during use.

[0118] The image capture device 400 may include a transparent window in a housing 401 next to which the sample rack 100 is placed. The transparent window allows the camera 102 to view the barcode 104. As shown in Figure 4, the sample rack 100 may be placed on top of the transparent window such that the bottom surface of the sample rack 100 contacts the top surface of the transparent window.

[0119] Although not shown in FIG. 4, the housing 401 may further include lighting equipment that illuminates the sample rack 100 through a transparent window so that the camera 202 can capture a clear image of the barcode 104 .

[0120] The height of the image capture device can be lowered using a mirror 302 in the beam path between the sample rack 100 and the camera 202, as shown in FIG.

[0121] The image capture device 400 may output any captured images to a separate host computer for processing. Alternatively, the processing steps described below may be performed by the image capture device's processor 408.

[0122] It is generally believed that the camera 202 can acquire a single image showing all of the sample holders 102 in the sample rack 100 without requiring any kind of scanning motion. In this case, the camera 202, lighting equipment, and / or mirror 302, as described above, may be in fixed positions and, as a result, not movable during operation of the image acquisition device 400.

[0123] It should be noted that the image capture device 400 may further include a 1D barcode scanner 410 that scans the 1D barcode that uniquely identifies the sample rack 100 in addition to the barcode 104 that identifies each of the sample holders 102 .

[0124] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a method 500 that may be performed by the processor 408 of the image capture device 400 .

[0125] In step 502 , the processor 408 receives an image of the sample rack 100 from the camera 202 .

[0126] In step 504, the processor 408 obtains data associated with each barcode 104 from the received image.

[0127] Acquiring the data may include processor 408 of image acquisition device 400 analyzing the image to extract relevant data. Alternatively, processor 400 may transmit the image to a separate host computer as described above. In this case, the host computer may analyze the image to extract the data, which may then be transmitted back to processor 408.

[0128] For example, the processor 408 may extract data identifying the contents of each sample holder 102 and / or data recording the position of each sample holder 102 within the sample rack 100 from the individual barcode 104 on top of that holder.

[0129] In step 506, the processor 408 establishes communication with the RFID tag 402 via an RFID reader / writer. The RFID reader / writer may communicate with the RFID tag 402 using, for example, NFC.

[0130] Between steps 506 and 508, the processor 408 may compress the data extracted from the image, thereby making the most efficient use of the memory in the RFID tag 402 and increasing the speed of memory read and write operations.

[0131] The processor 408 may also add metadata associated with the data extracted from the image, for example, the processor 408 may add a record of when the image was captured.

[0132] In step 508, the processor 408 uses an RFID reader / writer to transmit the information extracted from the barcode 104 to the RFID tag 402. The information, along with any metadata added by the processor 408, is stored on the RFID tag 402.

[0133] Once this process has been performed, the RFID tag 402 may, for example, store a complete record of the samples contained in each sample holder 102, along with the location of each sample holder 102 within the sample rack 100. A person wanting to ascertain where, for example, a particular sample can be found can then retrieve that information from the RFID tag 402, for example, using a handheld scanning device as described below, without having to capture an additional image of the barcode 104. This would be particularly useful, for example, if the samples need to be stored at cryogenic temperatures and the cold would cause frost to form on the sample holder 102, obscuring the barcode 104.

[0134] It should be noted that the above process can be fully automated if desired, so that it can be performed quickly with minimal effort by simply placing the sample rack 100 on the image acquisition device 400 for a short period of time.

[0135] FIG. 6 shows a pictorial representation of an exemplary sample rack 100 containing sample holders 102 with RFID tags 402 attached to the sample rack 100 by means described below.

[0136] RFID tag 402 may have various characteristics that aid its performance in the above-described manner, particularly in the cryogenic or other low temperature range.

[0137] An RFID tag typically includes a chip and an antenna. In conventional RFID tags, these two elements may be bonded together with a material such as solder. When cooled in liquid nitrogen, the differential thermal contraction of the bonding material compared to the chip and antenna typically causes the bonding material to fracture, destroying the RFID tag and rendering it unusable. This can be prevented by using RFID tag 402, where the chip and antenna are not bonded together with a bonding material but instead are bonded together with a direct bond, eliminating the risk of differential thermal contraction. The direct bond additionally minimizes the size of RFID tag 402. For example, the antenna of RFID tag 402 may be welded to the chip rather than soldered. The chip may additionally have a large input capacitance, allowing for the use of a small antenna.

[0138] The antenna of the RFID tag may be made of copper or aluminum. The RFID tag may include a substrate that includes an epoxy and may use an anti-freeze pad or housing.

[0139] To enable the RFID tag 402 to store enough information to identify a full rack 100 of sample holders 102, it is advantageous for the RFID tag 402 to use ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) storage. In particular, the use of FRAM generally allows the RFID tag 402 to be smaller for a given amount of memory storage. FRAM is also characterized by its radiation resistance, allowing the RFID tag 402 to be used for long-term data retention of 10 years or more, as well as in medical and healthcare applications requiring gamma sterilization.

[0140] To be compatible with the industry standard sample rack 100, for example, the tag dimensions must be smaller than 12.5 mm x 12.5 mm x 2.5 mm (approximately 160 mm). 2 It may be advantageous to have a smaller footprint (corresponding to a footprint of

[0141] As mentioned above, it is generally advantageous if the RFID tag 402 is capable of communicating via NFC.

[0142] Given the difficulty of cryogenically cooling a battery or other power source, it may be advantageous for RFID tag 402 to be passively powered via energy harvesting. For example, RFID tag 402 may only switch on and begin broadcasting if it receives a signal from an RFID reader / writer or the like.

[0143] Additionally, the use of a passively powered RFID tag 402 minimizes the risk of failure due to voltage spikes that may occur during cryogenic cooling, since the passively powered RFID tag 402 has minimal ability to generate large voltages without receiving an external signal.

[0144] When implementing the above-described method, technical challenges exist when securing the RFID tag 402 to the sample rack 100. A simple solution would be to use adhesive. However, adhesives do not function properly when the sample rack 100 is cooled to cryogenic temperatures, for example, using liquid nitrogen. This is because the thermal contraction of the adhesive upon cooling differs from the contraction of the sample rack 100 and the RFID tag 402. This typically results in degradation or fracture of the adhesive and / or damage to the RFID tag 402. Furthermore, using adhesive to attach the RFID tag 402 to an existing sample rack 100 that is already in use and already at a cryogenic temperature requires thawing the sample rack 100, risking damage to the samples contained therein. Therefore, a means of securing the RFID tag 402 to the sample rack 100 that does not involve adhesive and is resistant to extreme temperature changes is necessary. This problem can be solved by securing the RFID tag 402 to the sample rack 100 using a mechanical device, specifically, an RFID tag clip 700.

[0145] 7 shows an exemplary RFID tag clip 700. RFID tag clip 700 includes a deformable member 702 and an RFID tag support portion 704.

[0146] 7, RFID tag clip 700 includes a single bent piece of material (metal, such as stainless steel, etc.) In this example, deformable member 702 may include a metal piece bent into a V-shape, for example at a 45 degree angle, while RFID tag support portion 704 may include a metal piece bent into a U-shape that defines a slot for receiving RFID tag 402.

[0147] The maximum dimension of the RFID tag clip 700 may be, for example, less than 20 mm. In particular, the height H of the slot may be 12 mm and the length L of the deformable member 702 may be 8 mm. The width W of the slot may be 2.5 mm. The depth D of the RFID tag clip 700 may be 9.5 mm.

[0148] Once the RFID tag 402 is inserted into the slot, the RFID tag clip 700 may be inserted into, for example, the recess 602 of the sample rack 100. Such recesses are commonly a feature of industry-standard sample racks such as ANSI / SLA and ANSI / SBS compliant footprint racks, as well as cryogenic boxes.

[0149] When RFID tag clip 700 is inserted into recess 602, deformable member 702 compresses to fit snugly within recess 602. This elastic compression results in an outward force as deformable member 702 attempts to return to its original position. This force presses RFID tag 402 against the walls of recess 602, mechanically holding it in place. In embodiments where RFID tag clip 700 is made from a single piece of metal, RFID tag clip 700 is resilient to temperature changes and can remain operational during cooling to cryogenic temperatures or during insertion into an existing sample rack that is already cryogenic.

[0150] FIG. 8 illustrates a protective housing 800 for an RFID tag 402. The protective housing 800 can encapsulate the RFID tag 402 within the RFID tag support portion 704 of the RFID tag clip 700 and can further encapsulate a protective material surrounding the RFID tag. For example, the additional material can provide improved thermal insulation or mechanical protection. The protective housing 800 can be made from a piece of material such as a polymer, e.g., polypropylene, as shown in FIG. 8. For example, if the sample rack 100 is made from a particular plastic, the protective housing 800 can be made from the same plastic. The protective housing 800 can include a central region 802 that is foldable, with two recesses 804 that close in a book-like motion to receive the RFID tag 402.

[0151] The protective enclosure 800 protects the RFID tag 402 from mechanical damage during handling procedures, such as during fixation to the sample rack 100. The protective enclosure 800 also provides some thermal insulation so that when the RFID tag 402 is cooled to cryogenic temperatures, the RFID tag 402 cools more slowly than the surrounding environment, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the RFID tag 402 due to sudden changes in temperature, for example, due to hot medium induced degradation of MOSFET elements within the RFID tag 402.

[0152] The protective enclosure 800 also protects the RFID tag 402, which could otherwise be directly affected by chemical spills or splashes.

[0153] 9 illustrates the use of a portable scanning device 902 to retrieve information stored on an RFID tag 402. The portable scanning device 902 may be a dedicated device or may be, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a cell phone or tablet) running a scanning application.

[0154] The portable scanning device 902 can communicate with the RFID tag 402, for example, by sending a probe signal to the RFID tag 402 and waiting to receive a return signal. Upon receiving the return signal containing data stored in the RFID tag 402, the portable scanning device 902 can output the data, for example, by displaying the data on a screen for a user or by transmitting the data to another device. In accordance with the methods described above, the data stored on the RFID tag 402 identifies the sample stored in the sample holder 102 in the sample rack 100. The portable scanning device 902 therefore allows a user to identify the item stored in the sample rack 100 without having to access the barcode 104.

[0155] The portable scanning device 902 may also include a 2D barcode scanner in case a user wants to verify information from the RFID tag 104 by scanning one or more barcodes 402. For example, the portable scanning device 902 may be capable of capturing images of one or more or all of the barcodes 104 and extracting information associated with each barcode 104.

[0156] The features described above with respect to the RFID reader / writer may also be present in the portable scanning device 902. For example, the portable scanning device 902 may use a dynamic power output module, automatic antenna tuning, continuous signal level scaling, and / or active waveform shaping when communicating with the RFID tag 402.

[0157] 10a shows an applicator 1000 that may be used to insert an RFID tag clip 700, optionally including an RFID tag 402 within a protective housing 800, into a recess 602 of a sample rack 100. The applicator includes a shaft 1002 that a user holds with at least one end 1006 of the applicator 1000 open. The RFID tag clip 700 may be inserted into the open end 1006 to be inserted into the recess 602. The RFID tag clip 700 is inserted into the hollow interior of the shaft 1002 by a blade 1008. The blade 1008 is attached to a knob 1010 on the exterior of the shaft 1002 so that a user can move the blade 1008 by pressing the knob 1010.

[0158] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10a, the knob 1010 may be attached to the blade 1008 via a slot 1011 in a surface (e.g., the top surface) of the shaft 1002. The slot 1011 may define two end positions for the blade 1008, corresponding to the knob 1010 located at one end or the other end of the slot 1011. A user can push the knob 1010 to the end of the slot 1011 farthest from the open end 1006 of the applicator 1000, creating space for the RFID tag clip 700 to be inserted into the open end 1006. The user can then push the knob 1010 to the end of the slot 1011 closest to the open end 1006, causing the blade 1008 to push the RFID tag clip 700 out of the open end 1006 of the applicator 1000, thereby allowing the RFID tag clip 700 to be withdrawn from the open end 1006.

[0159] In embodiments where the RFID tag clip 700 is inserted into and withdrawn from the open end 1006 of the applicator 1000, the end 1004 of the applicator opposite the open end 1006 may be closed.

[0160] The applicator allows for quicker and easier insertion of the RFID tag clip 700 into the recess 602, reducing the risk of dropping or otherwise mishandling the RFID tag clip 700 during insertion.

[0161] The applicator 1000 further includes one or more teeth 1012 that can be located on the edge of the recess 602 to ensure that the open end 1006 is properly aligned for insertion of the RFID tag 700. For example, as shown in Figures 10a and 10b, the applicator 1000 can include two teeth 1012. The teeth 1012 allow the user to securely and steadily place the applicator 1000 in place during insertion. This avoids errors that may occur, for example, due to a user's shaky hands when manipulating the applicator 1000.

[0162] In an embodiment in which the slot 1011 is located on the upper surface of the shaft 1002, the tooth 1012 may be located on the opposite lower surface so that the knob 1010 is more easily accessible when the tooth 1012 is resting on the edge of the recess 602.

[0163] FIG. 10 b shows an exploded view of the applicator 1000 that more clearly shows the blade 1008 housed within the shaft 1002 .

[0164] It should be noted that various elements of the applicator 1000 may be attached using screws. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 10b, there is a screw 1016 that attaches the knob 1010 to the blade 1008, and a further guide block 1009 that guides the blade 1008 along the slot 1011. There is also a further screw 1014 that forms the shaft 1002 from the two elements. It will be appreciated that alternative attachment means, such as glue or another adhesive, may alternatively be used.

[0165] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0166] This application was supported by UK Research and Innovation-Innovate UK under Grant KTP 104347.

Claims

1. 1. A method for storing information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each sample holder having an individual barcode, the sample holders having an RFID tag affixed to the sample rack, the method being performed by a processor of an image acquisition device; receiving an image of the barcode from at least one camera of the image capture device; obtaining data associated with each barcode based on the image; establishing communication with the RFID tag via an RFID reader / writer of the image capture device; and transmitting, via the RFID reader / writer, the data associated with each barcode to the RFID tag for storage in the RFID tag.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining data associated with each barcode comprises analyzing the image to extract the data.

3. Obtaining the data associated with each barcode transmitting the image to a host computer; and receiving the data from the host computer.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the RFID reader / writer communicates with the RFID tag via Near Field Communication (NFC).

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising compressing the data associated with each barcode prior to said transmitting.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data associated with each barcode comprises a unique identifier for each sample holder.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the data associated with each barcode includes the position of each sample holder within the sample rack.

8. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding metadata to the data associated with each barcode prior to said transmitting, such that said metadata and said data are stored in said RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metadata includes a timestamp indicating when the image was captured.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising reading the data from the RFID tag using a handheld scanning device.

11. 1. An image capture device that stores information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each having an individual barcode, the sample holders having an RFID tag affixed to the sample rack, the image capture device comprising: at least one camera configured to capture an image of the sample rack; an RFID reader / writer configured to establish communication with the RFID tag; and a processor configured to acquire data associated with each barcode based on the image and transmit the data via the RFID reader / writer for storage on the RFID tag.

12. The image acquisition device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to acquire the data by analyzing the image to extract the data.

13. The image acquisition device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to acquire the data by transmitting the image to a host computer and receiving the data from the host computer.

14. An image acquisition device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a housing including a transparent window adjacent to said sample holder rack in use.

15. The image capture device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one camera is mounted within the housing.

16. 16. The image acquisition device of claim 14 or 15, further comprising an illumination device mounted within the housing, the illumination device including at least one light source that illuminates the sample rack through the transparent window.

17. 17. An image acquisition device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising a mirror in an optical path between the at least one camera and the transparent window, the mirror being positioned to relay light reflected from the sample rack to the at least one camera.

18. 18. The image capture device of claim 17, wherein the camera, the lighting arrangement, and the mirror are non-movable.

19. 19. The image acquisition device of any one of claims 11 to 18, further comprising a 1D barcode scanner operable to read a 1D barcode on the sample rack, the 1D barcode identifying the sample rack.

20. An image capture device according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the RFID reader / writer includes an antenna positioned adjacent to the RFID tag in use.

21. 21. The image capture device of claim 20, wherein the RFID reader / writer includes a power regulator that automatically adapts the power output of the antenna via dynamic power output.

22. 22. The image capture device of claim 20 or 21, wherein the RFID reader / writer is further configured to control the transmission frequency of the antenna by using one or more variable capacitors to perform automatic antenna tuning.

23. An image acquisition device according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the RFID reader / writer includes a noise suppressing receiver that performs continuous signal level scaling.

24. The image acquisition device of any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the RFID reader / writer includes an active wave-shaping switch.

25. An image acquisition device according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the RFID reader / writer includes one or more further antennas.

26. 11. A computer program product for storing information from a plurality of sample holders held in a sample rack, each sample holder having an individual barcode, wherein the sample rack has an RFID tag affixed to it, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and including code configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 when executed by the processor of the image acquisition device.

27. a sample rack holding a plurality of sample holders, each having an individual barcode; and an RFID tag secured to the sample rack.

28. 28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the RFID tag includes a chip and an antenna, the chip and the antenna being attached by direct bonding.

29. 29. The assembly of claim 27 or 28, wherein the RFID tag includes a memory, the memory including ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) storage.

30. 30. The assembly of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the RFID tag is configured to communicate via near field communication (NFC).

31. The assembly of any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the RFID tag is passively powered via energy harvesting.

32. The installation area of ​​the RFID tag is 160 mm ２ Assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the tensile strength is less than 1 / 2 .

33. 33. The assembly of any one of claims 27 to 32, further comprising a mechanical device for securing the RFID tag to the sample rack.

34. 34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the mechanical device secures the RFID tag to the sample rack without adhesive.

35. 35. The assembly of claim 33 or 34, wherein the sample rack includes a recess configured to be engaged by the mechanical device supporting the RFID tag.

36. The assembly of any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the mechanical device comprises an RFID tag clip.

37. The RFID tag clip is an RFID tag support; 37. The assembly of claim 36, comprising a deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an extended state, said deformable member being deformed to said extended state.

38. 38. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the deformable member is configured to bend midway along the length of the deformable member.

39. 39. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the deformable member is defined by a V-shaped member.

40. The assembly of any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein the RFID tag support defines a slot for receiving the RFID tag.

41. 41. The assembly of claim 40, wherein the slot is defined by a U-shaped member of the RFID tag clip.

42. The assembly of any one of claims 36 to 41, wherein the RFID tag clip comprises a curved, injected portion of metal.

43. 43. The assembly of claim 42, wherein a first portion of the emission portion is bent into a V-shape to define the deformable member and a second portion of the emission portion is bent into a U-shape to define the RFID tag support portion.

44. The assembly of any one of claims 37 to 43, wherein the RFID tag is supported by the RFID tag support.

45. 45. The assembly of any one of claims 37 to 44, wherein the RFID tag is enclosed in a protective housing, the protective housing also being supported by the RFID tag support.

46. 46. ​​The assembly of claim 45, wherein the protective housing includes a case having a fold line, the case being capable of closing to receive the RFID tag.

47. 47. An assembly according to any one of claims 37 to 46 when dependent on claim 35, wherein the recess holds the deformable member in the compressed state such that when the RFID tag clip is inserted into the recess, the deformable member presses against the walls of the recess, thereby holding the RFID tag clip in place.

48. An assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 47; Transmitting a probe signal to the RFID tag; receiving a return signal from the RFID tag, the return signal including data stored on the RFID tag; a portable scanning device including a processor configured to output said data; Including system.

49. 49. The system of claim 48, wherein outputting the data includes causing a display of the portable scanning device to display the data.

50. 50. The system of claim 48 or 49, wherein outputting the data comprises transmitting the data to another device.

51. The processor further controls the barcode reader of the portable scanner to: acquiring an image of the barcode; A system according to any one of claims 48 to 50, configured to analyse the image to extract data associated with each barcode.

52. The portable scanning device of any one of claims 48 to 51, wherein the processor is further configured to control the power output of the portable scanning device using a dynamic power output module.

53. The portable scanning device of any one of claims 48 to 52, wherein the processor is further configured to control the transmit frequency of the portable scanning device using an automatic antenna tuning module.

54. 54. The portable scanning device of any one of claims 48 to 53, wherein the processor is further configured to control the output of the portable scanning device using a noise cancellation module.

55. The portable scanning device of any one of claims 48 to 54, wherein the processor is further configured to control the portable scanning device using an active waveshaping module.

56. A portable scanning device according to any one of claims 48 to 55, wherein the portable scanning device is a mobile phone.

57. an RFID tag support; A deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an elongated state, and a deformable member that is deformed to the extended state.

58. 58. The RFID tag clip of claim 57, wherein the RFID tag support defines a slot for receiving the RFID tag.

59. 59. The RFID tag clip of claim 58, wherein the slot is defined by a U-shaped member of the RFID tag clip.

60. The RFID tag clip according to any one of claims 57 to 59, further comprising an RFID tag supported by the RFID tag support portion.

61. 61. The RFID tag clip of claim 60, wherein the RFID tag is enclosed in a protective housing, the protective housing also being supported by the RFID tag support.

62. A method for fixing an RFID tag to a sample rack, comprising: Inserting the RFID tag into an RFID tag clip; and securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack.

63. 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the sample rack includes a recess, and securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack includes inserting the RFID tag clip into the recess.

64. Securing the RFID tag clip to the sample rack Inserting the RFID tag clip into an applicator; placing the applicator at an entrance to the recess; and operating the applicator to insert the RFID tag clip into the recess.

65. 65. The method of claim 64, wherein positioning the applicator includes resting one or more tines of the applicator on an edge of the recess.

66. 66. The method of claim 64 or 65, wherein operating the applicator includes depressing a propulsion device of the applicator to insert the RFID tag clip into the recess.

67. The RFID tag clip is an RFID tag support; 67. A method according to any one of claims 63 to 66, comprising a deformable member configured to move between a compressed state and an extended state, the deformable member being deformed to be in said extended state.

68. 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the recess holds the deformable member in the compressed state such that when the RFID tag clip is inserted into the recess, the deformable member is forced against the walls of the recess, thereby holding the RFID tag clip in place.

69. A portable applicator in which a clip is inserted into a recess, a shaft including an open end for receiving a clip; a blade housed within the shaft, the blade being linearly movable along the shaft to push against the clip received in the open end, thereby extracting the clip from the open end; a knob attached to the blade externally of the shaft, the knob enabling a user to move the blade by pressing the knob; and one or more teeth adjacent to the open end, the one or more teeth being configured to rest on the edge of the recess such that, when the teeth rest on the edge of the recess, the open end assumes a suitable position for the clip to be inserted into the recess.

70. 70. The applicator of claim 69, wherein the shaft further includes a closed end opposite the open end.

71. 71. An applicator as described in claim 69 or 70, wherein the knob is attached to the blade through a slot in the surface of the shaft so that the knob is movable linearly from one end of the slot to the opposite end of the slot, thereby moving the blade between two end positions.

72. 72. The applicator of claim 71, wherein the slot is configured to allow the clip to be inserted into the open end by moving the blade to one of the terminal positions and to allow the clip to be withdrawn from the open end by moving the blade to the other terminal position.

73. 73. An applicator according to claim 71 or 72, wherein the slot is located on a first side of the shaft opposite a second side of the shaft, and the teeth are located on the second side of the shaft.

Images