The Laboratory Robotics Interest Group
Mid Atlantic Chapter
March 2007 Meeting
Emerging Technologies: Advances in Bar Coding and
Miniaturized RFID
Date: March 6, 2007
Place: Somerset Marriott Hotel, 110 Davidson Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: 732-560-0500, Fax: 732-560-3669
Itinerary: Social Period - 4:30pm
to 6:00pm
Meeting & Presentations - 6:00pm
to 9:00pm
Registration:
http://lab-robotics.org/member/meetings.asp?rid=1
Agenda: Have
you ever wasted time searching for a precious sample in your inventory only to
discover it is not in the expected location? Have you struggled to read a
hand-written sample description that is not legible? Are you tired of scanning
bar coded containers and manually entering the container’s position through a
user interface? Are you curious about current state-of-the-art technologies
that will reduce the burden of inventory management in your laboratory? If you
answered yes to any one of these questions, our next meeting is for you! Come
to our exciting and informative meeting on March 6th to help you
manage your lab inventory with ease.
Food and refreshments will be available FREE OF CHARGE
during the Exhibition and Social Period.
There is always a Job posting board at the social. Please encourage your recruiters to
give you material to post and distribute. Openings may also be posted at:
http://lab-robotics.org/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=2.
There is no fee to attend the meeting.
Presentation:
Automation and Informatics Solutions to the Challenges of a Cell Culture
Laboratory
David F. Connors 1, Lauren E. Barber 1,
Sukhanya Jayachandra 1, Mark Russo 2 , William Neil 2,
James Myslik 2, Martyn Banks 1
1 Lead
Discovery , Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, CT, 2 Discovery
Informatics and Automation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
The culture of mammalian
cells and tissues is a vital component of the early drug discovery process. This
has created an increased demand for cellular reagents and new benchmarks for
quality and quantity that can be addressed using improved procurement processes
and/or leveraging automation technology. The modern cell culture laboratory
faces a number of challenges which include such issues concerning quality,
quantity, consistency and the risk of repetitive motion injuries to the cell
culture biologist . In the last 10 years there have been significant
technological and informatics breakthroughs that have addressed these
bottlenecks. We will discuss a number of these technological solutions ranging
from technological aids in cell line development through large scale cell
culture.
Biological sample storage
and retrieval is also important to the operation of a modern cell culture lab.
There has been a significant growth in the number of cell lines, proteins, DNA
samples, bacterial stocks, and other biological samples that require an
organized accurate storage and retrieval system. We will discuss many of the
options available, to track biological reagent samples such as 1D versus 2D bar
coding, as well as the use of RFID technologies.
Presentation:
Time Tested & Field Proven RFID
Solutions for Healthcare = Increased Patient Safety
Anne Salado-Chauffaille, Director, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Sales
TAGSYS, Doylestown, NJ
TAGSYS
is the global leader in item-level RFID infrastructure. The company’s unique
solutions are designed to meet a growing market demand for Reliable, Accurate
and Secure (R.A.S.) RFID system solutions to automate labor-intensive
processes, authenticate and safeguard assets, and enable real-time inventory and
asset visibility.
TAGSYS
will present real applications where RFID has brought significant benefits. For
example, Tagsys has deployed a successful application for bio-bank and tissue
tracking in major French Hospital. With a diameter of 8.9mm, the diminutive ARIO™ SDM has been
embedded underneath the tube’s cap.
Embedded
in the ARIO™ SDM is an electronic chip that contains a unique serial number as
well as ample memory space that can be read, modified and protected. In the
case of the pilot, the serial number is linked to a database housing critical
information on a tissue sample, including patient data and tissue treatments.
This information is read from a distance of only a few inches using a fixed
desktop or lightweight hand-held reader.
The chip also
has an anti-collision function enabling the simultaneous reading of several
tags. This is extremely useful when searching for a specific sample on a tray of
100 tubes. When placed on a reading station, all tags can be read in under 3
seconds, while locating the individual targeted tube. This is a time saver both
for lab technicians and researchers alike.
This tag has
also be subjected to extremes in temperature. For nearly one year, in an effort
to determine their resistance to precipitous temperature swings, the test tubes
have been immersed in liquid nitrogen (and frequently removed) to test the tag.
TAGSYS put the new tag to the test at the Cell and Genetic Therapy Center of the
Paoli Calmette Institute in Marseille, France. This is the one of the first
medical facilities in the world to have adopted RFID technology for the tracing
and tracking of biological pathology samples. This has proven to be also making
a significant contribution to compliance of quality standards GBEA, BPL and ISO.
The project is now in a phase 2 stage to track the samples from a hospital to
another one.
In addition
TAGSYS will also present applications where RFID have improved patient safety.
With the FDA strong recommendation to fight against counterfeiting through
serialization, RFID has indeed embedded in drug bottles to ensure a reliable,
accurate and secure track and trace.
Presentation:
A Novel, Programmable, and
Untethered Syringe Device Utilizing RFID Technology Creates an Innovative Sample
Processing Paradigm for Laboratory Automation
Donald McNeil1
,Thomas Londo2; Paul Grippo1; Daniel Bantz1;
Paul Horvat1; Frank Sylva1; Angela Tseng1;
Maxwell MacLean1; Kenneth Wynn1; Michael Portela1,
1Parker
Life Sciences, 26 Clinton Drive, Unit 103, Hollis, NH 03049
2TRL Enterprises
Ashland, MA
Parker Smart Syringe
Technology, a platform of miniature
fluidic dispensing syringes with integrated control, memory and motion system
that enable high precision liquid dispensing in the sub micro liter volume
range. Measuring only 8mm in diameter and weighing only 26 grams, Parker Smart
Syringes require no electrical or fluidic tethers allowing them to be picked up
and dropped off by a robotic system. These features enable a new sample
workflow model with substantially greater throughput via parallel asynchronous
operation of multiple syringes; real-time workflow, chain-of-custody, and audit
trail monitoring; reduced processing errors; and built-in fault tolerance and
recovery.
The on-board microprocessor and memory in each
syringe provides the ability to execute, store, and record sample workflows,
making workflow management automated and sample-centric. The RFID chip
integrated into the syringe barrel uniquely identifies the characteristics of
the syringe including: volume, calibration data, and usage. RFID capabilities
built into instruments read and write to these chips. The first product
utilizing Parker Smart Syringe Technology is a high throughput, low carryover
autosampler developed for the LCMS market. This autosampler is being marketed
by Applied Biosystems.
The Parker Smart Syringe can be configured as a
single or multiple syringes capable of independently aspirating and dispensing
liquid in a variety of applications. This product uses a proprietary position
control algorithm for precise fluid metering and is available for use by OEMs of
analytical and life sciences instrumentation. Typical applications include:
general liquid handling, medical diagnostic instrumentation, high pressure
liquid dispensing (autosamplers) and microfluidics (lab-on-a-chip.)
Presentation:
Light-powered Microtransponders for
Miniaturized RFID Applications
Wlodek Mandecki
PharmaSeq, Inc., 11 Deer Park Drive, Suite 104, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
The heart of PharmaSeq's
microtransponder-based system is an ultra-small light-powered electronic tag
with an imbedded antenna. The tag is a monolithic integrated circuit
manufactured using standard CMOS technology. An essential part of the tag is
the photocell, which, when illuminated by light, provides power for electronic
circuits on the tag. The remaining areas of the silicon chip are occupied by
read-only memory for the unique 50-bit ID, decoders, counters, and a simple
radio transmitter. Two versions of microtransponders, 500 x 500 x 100 and 250 x
250 x 100 microns, have been built. In addition, a portable microtransponder ID
reader is also available. It communicates with a PC via a USB port.
Microtransponders can be readily built into a variety of biomedical tracking and
authentication applications and serve as advanced labels. More information is
available at the company's web site,
http://www.pharmaseq.com/products.html.
Menu
Garden State Deli Buffet
Chef’s Fresh Soup Selection
Mixed Field Greens with assorted toppings and dressing selections
Red Bliss Potato Salad, Pasta Salad, Tuna Salad
Deli Sliced Roast Beef, Baked Ham, Spicy Capicola, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast,
Genoa Salami and Assorted Cheeses
Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions and Kosher Dill Pickles
Assorted Breads and Kaiser Rolls
Crisp Potato Chips and Pretzel Twists
Our Chef’s Array of Tempting Desserts
Assorted Diet and Regular Soft Drinks
Freshly Brewed Columbian Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Herbal Tea
The Jersey Pizza Kitchen
Garlic Bread, Breadsticks, Flatbreads and Assorted Rolls
Chicken Caesar Salad
Italian Sub Sandwiches
Assorted Pizza Selections
Chef’s Hot Pasta Creation
Our Chef’s Array of Tempting Desserts
Freshly Brewed Columbian Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Herbal Tea
Food and refreshments are free of charge to attendees
DON'T FORGET TO PRE-REGISTER TO INSURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD AND SEATS.
http://lab-robotics.org/member/meetings.asp?rid=1
Visit The Laboratory Robotics
Interest Group homepage at http://lab-robotics.org
