Intrinsic Chemical Marker for Sample Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking biological or chemical samples are unreliable due to the risk of label detachment, illegibility from solvents or radiation, and mechanical interactions, which can lead to loss of sample identification.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the intrinsic marking of samples with a chemical marker, where the marker's composition encodes specific information that can be detected using analysis methods like NMR spectroscopy, allowing for unique and reliable sample identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If labels or tags are used to mark sample tubes, then sample identification is enabled, but the information can be detached by accident leading to loss of identification
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the sample identification information with the sample itself by incorporating chemical markers directly into the sample matrix. This integration ensures that the identification information travels with the sample throughout processing and cannot be detached or lost separately from the sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical attachment methods (labels, tags, barcodes) with chemical integration methods. Instead of physically attaching identification markers to the outside of sample tubes, the identification is chemically embedded within the sample, eliminating the risk of mechanical detachment.
2Reliability
If information is written onto sample tubes, then sample identification is provided, but the information can be blurred due to interaction with solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The identification information is merged with the sample at a molecular level through chemical markers. This chemical integration makes the information resistant to solvent interactions that would otherwise blur or destroy externally written information on tube surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes surface-level writing methods with chemical encoding methods. Instead of writing information on the external surface of sample tubes where it is vulnerable to solvents, the information is chemically encoded within the sample matrix where it is protected from solvent damage.
3Reliability
If information is written onto sample tubes, then sample identification is provided, but the information can be made illegible due to mechanical interactions or exposure to aggressive substances or radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces vulnerable surface writing with robust chemical encoding. Chemical markers integrated into the sample matrix are protected from mechanical interactions, aggressive substances, and radiation that would otherwise damage externally written information on sample tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical markers are integrated into the sample matrix creating a protected chemical environment. This internal chemical environment shields the identification information from external harmful factors such as aggressive substances and radiation that would affect externally written information.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for supplementing a sample with specific information. This method includes the following steps: intrinsically marking a sample by adding a chemical marker having a defined composition to the sample; storing data reflecting the composition of the chemical marker and information assigned to the chemical marker, wherein this marker-assigned information is not related to the composition of the chemical marker itself; analyzing the sample with an analysis method, wherein the analysis method is suited to detect the composition of the chemical marker, to obtain a marker-related result; comparing the marker-related result with the stored data; and assigning the marker-assigned stored information to the sample based on the preceding comparison.