System and methods for archiving and retrieving specimens

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and methods for archiving and/or retrieving specimens. Embodiments of the system of the present invention include a movement mechanism, an archival structure, and a software program. Embodiments of the device are configured to acquire a specimen, transport the specimen to a unique location in the archival structure, and store information regarding specimen identification and storage location.

1 . A system for archiving and retrieving specimens, comprising:
 an archival structure;   at least one specimen movement mechanism, wherein the specimen movement mechanism is configured to move a specimen from an input location to a storage location in the archival structure; and   a software program, wherein the software program is configured to receive information regarding the storage location of the specimen and store the information on a computer readable storage medium of a computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software program comprises a user interface, the user interface being configured to allow entry of specimen storage and/or retrieval instructions to be forwarded to the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the software program is further configured to receive information and/or feedback from the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure and display the information on the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the computer system comprises a communications interface configured to forward information and/or instructions from the software program to the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure and to forward information and/or feedback from the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure to the software program. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the specimen movement mechanism comprises a specimen reader, the specimen reader configured to read a specimen information display located on the specimen and to send specimen information to the software program. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the archival structure comprises at least one input component and/or output component configured to receive specimens for storage as an input location and/or receive specimens from storage. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one input component and/or output component comprises a sensor, the sensor configured to detect the presence of a specimen and to send detection information to the software program upon detection of a specimen 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the specimen movement mechanism, archival structure, and software program are configured to store specimens according to expected storage term, such that shorter storage term specimens are located at an area of the archival structure relatively closer to the input component or the output component and longer storage term specimens are located at an area of the archival structure relatively farther from the input component or the output component. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the archival structure comprises at least one storage module, the at least one storage module comprising a plurality of receptacles configured for receiving and storing specimens. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the receptacles are configured to be moveable within the archival structure, the archival structure comprising at least one vertical receptacle positioning component and/or at least one horizontal receptacle positioning component configured to move the moveable receptacles within the archival structure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receptacles are configured to be non-movable within the archival structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receptacles are configured to have a volume of approximately 0.0005 to 0.000625 cubic feet each. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receptacles are formed from a series of support elements and plate elements, the support elements configured to support at least one plate element and the at least one plate element configured such that a specimen may be positioned thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the support elements are attached to a vertical receptacle positioning component and/or a horizontal receptacle positioning component configured to move a storage module or a moveable portion of the receptacles within the archival structure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the support elements are attached to a support element scaffold or a housing of the archival structure. 
     
     
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         34 . In a computer automated environment, a method of archiving and retrieving specimens, comprising:
 initiating an archival process;   obtaining identification information associated with a specimen;   sending specimen archive instructions to a specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure;   moving the specimen to a storage location within the archival structure using the specimen movement mechanism;   correlating the identification information associated with the specimen with the storage location of the specimen; and   storing the correlated identification information and storage location information of the specimen on a computer readable storage medium of a computer system.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 accessing the correlated identification information and storage location information of the specimen;   sending specimen retrieval instructions to the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure; and   retrieving the specimen from the archival structure using the specimen movement mechanism.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein retrieving the specimen from the storage location comprises using a robotic arm. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising verifying the identity of the specimen by reading a specimen information display located on the specimen using a reader. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the reader is located on the specimen movement mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising sending match or mismatch information to the computer system and informing user of match or mismatch information. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein moving the specimen to a storage location within an archival structure comprises using a robotic arm. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein obtaining identification information associated with a specimen comprises manual entry of the identification information by a user into the computer system. 
     
     
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         48 . A physical computer readable storage media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a computer system cause the computer system to perform the following, comprising:
 obtain identification information associated with a specimen;   send specimen archive instructions to a specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure;   move the specimen to a storage location within the archival structure using the specimen movement mechanism;   correlate the identification information associated with the specimen with the storage location of the specimen; and   store the correlated identification information and storage location information.   
     
     
         49 . The physical computer readable storage media of  claim 48 , further causing the computer system to perform the following, comprising:
 access the correlated identification information and storage location information of the specimen;   send specimen retrieval instructions to the specimen movement mechanism and/or archival structure; and   retrieve the specimen from the archival structure using the specimen movement mechanism.   
     
     
         50 . The physical computer readable storage media of  claim 48 , further causing one or the computer system to verify the identity of the specimen by reading a specimen information display located on the specimen using a reader.