Integrated consumable data management system & platform

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such data in the conduct of an assay by an assay system. The present invention also relates to consumables (e.g., kits and reagent containers), software, data deployable bundles, computer-readable media, loading carts, instruments, systems, and methods, for performing automated biological assays.

1 .- 217 . (canceled) 
     
     
         218 . An assay system configured to use an assay consumable in the conduct of an assay, said assay consumable comprising an assay consumable identifier including an assay consumable identifier comprising a data deployable bundle (DDB) for said assay consumable, and said assay system comprises:
 (a) a storage medium including a consumable data repository comprising local consumable data and a data registry;   (b) a consumable identifier controller adapted to read and install said DDB to said storage medium; and   (c) a consumable data service processor adapted to query said data registry and one or more remote consumable data databases to identify and download consumable data required for the conduct of an assay by the assay system using said assay consumable.   
     
     
         219 . The assay system of  claim 218  wherein said consumable identifier controller is further configured to persist one or more data files of said DDB to said storage medium. 
     
     
         220 . The assay system of  claim 219  wherein said one or more data files comprise a DDB unique identifier, DDB version, consumable static information, consumable processing information, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         221 . The assay system of  claim 219  wherein said one or more data files comprise a DDB unique identifier, DDB version, and consumable static information. 
     
     
         222 . The assay system of  claim 220  or  221  wherein said consumable static information comprises consumable type information. 
     
     
         223 . The assay system of  claim 222  wherein said consumable is a multi-well assay plate and said consumable type information includes a number of columns of wells; a number of rows of wells; a number of binding domains per well; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         224 . The assay system of  claim 220  wherein said consumable is a multi-well assay plate and said consumable processing information comprises data used by said assay system in the conduct of an assay using said plate and/or the processing of assay data resulting from the conduct of an assay using said plate. 
     
     
         225 . The assay system of  claim 224  wherein said consumable processing information comprises a number of sectors per plate, a number of circuits per plate, detection parameters used by said assay system to read said plate; image processing properties use to produce ECL results; plate type gain; binding domain gain; optical cross talk matrix; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         226 . The assay system of  claim 220  wherein said assay consumable is a kit comprising a multi-well assay plate and one or more reagents used in the conduct of an assay using said plate and said DDB further comprises assay binding domain information, assay protocol, data analysis parameters, a product insert, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         227 . The assay system of  claim 218  wherein said assay system further comprises a DDB version compatibility processor configured to downgrade and/or upgrade incompatible DDB software. 
     
     
         228 . The assay system of  claim 218  wherein said assay system further comprises a DDB factory adapted to transform raw classified data into assay system configured data suitable for use by the assay system in the conduct of an assay. 
     
     
         229 . The assay system of  claim 218  wherein said DDB comprises a DDB xml file including data description information and data processing information. 
     
     
         230 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a data deployable bundle (DDB) for operating an assay system in the conduct of an assay, the DDB including one or more data files comprising consumable data related to an assay consumable and use thereof in the assay system, said one or more data files include a DDB unique identifier, DDB version, a DDB xml file, consumable static information, consumable processing information, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         231 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said one or more data files include a DDB unique identifier, DDB version, a DDB xml file, and consumable static information. 
     
     
         232 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said consumable static information comprises consumable type information. 
     
     
         233 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 232  wherein said consumable is a multi-well assay plate and said consumable type information includes a number of columns of wells; a number of rows of wells; a number of binding domains per well; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         234 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said consumable is a multi-well assay plate and said consumable processing information comprises data used by said assay system in the conduct of the assay using said plate and/or the processing of assay data resulting from the conduct of an assay using said plate. 
     
     
         235 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said consumable processing information comprises a number of sectors per plate, a number of circuits per plate, detection parameters used by said assay system to read said plate; image processing properties use to produce ECL results; plate type gain; binding domain gain; optical cross talk matrix; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         236 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said assay consumable is a kit comprising a multi-well assay plate and one or more reagents used in the conduct of the assay using said plate and said DDB further comprises assay binding domain information, assay protocol, data analysis parameters, a product insert, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         237 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 230  wherein said DDB xml file includes data description information and data processing information. 
     
     
         238 .- 239 . (canceled) 
     
     
         240 . The assay system of  claim 224 , wherein the consumable processing information comprises data used by said assay system in the conduct of an assay using said plate, the data including instructions for:
 adjusting one or more operations performed by said system before, during and/or after the conduct of said assay based on said consumable data; and   conducting said assay in said assay system using said assay consumable.   
     
     
         241 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 234 , wherein the consumable processing information comprises data used by said assay system in the conduct of an assay using said plate, the data including instructions for:
 adjusting one or more operations performed by said system before, during and/or after the conduct of said assay based on said consumable data; and   conducting said assay in said assay system using said assay consumable.