Tagging of Histopathology Specimens with Light-Activated RFID p-Chips

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的目的是开发和验证超小型射频识别芯片的使用，以标记和跟踪组织病理学实验室中使用的组织磁带和玻片。该系统基于PharmaSeq激光激活微应答器，也被称为“p-Chip”。该芯片的主要优点是体积小（500米× 500米× 100米）、设计单一、惰性、易用性和非常低的成本。该系统由p- chip标记的玻璃载玻片和纸巾盒、固定读取器、载玻片托盘便携式读取器以及允许与通用数据库软件集成的相关软件组成。该项目的主要目标是：1)开发将p-Chip附加到载玻片和磁带上的半自动方法，2)构建ID读取器（wand）的先进原型并改进关键功能，例如用于读取每种类型容器的形状因素，3)改进p-Chip的设计以增加读取范围并改进其后期加工方法，以及4)与外部合作者进行广泛的试点测试研究以验证系统。身份识别器将有一个改进的光学系统，并将在识别器和工作站或中央计算机之间进行无线通信。该系统的采用将提高标记和跟踪组织样本的可靠性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of the present project is to develop and validate the use of ultra-small RFID chips to tag and track tissue cassettes and glass slides that are used in histopathology laboratories. The system is based on the PharmaSeq laser light-activated microtransponder, also known as "p-Chip". The chip's major advantages are its small size (500 ¿m x 500 ¿m x 100 ¿m), unitary design, inertness, ease of use and very low cost. The system consists of the p-Chip-tagged glass slides and tissue cassettes, a stationary reader, a portable reader for trays with slides, and associated software that allows integration with common database software. The main goals of the project are to: 1) develop semi-automated methods of attaching p-Chips to slides and cassettes, 2) build advanced prototypes of the ID reader (wand) and improve key features, such as the form factors for reading each type of container, 3) improve the design of the p-Chip to increase the read range and refine methods of their post-fabrication processing, and 4) conduct extensive pilot test studies with outside collaborators to validate the system. The ID readers will have a modified optical system and will feature wireless communication between the reader and a workstation or central computer. The adoption of the system will improve reliability for tagging and tracking tissue samples. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Pathology specimens play an important role in research and medical practice, and are analyzed and stored in increasingly large quantities. The new PharmaSeq RFID tracking system has the potential to greatly improving the reliability of maintaining the providence for large numbers of samples using a new type of electronic identification system. Medical studies, including cancer research, clinical investigations, in vitr diagnostics and drug discovery fields will all benefit.