Abstract:
An organizational system marked grid including specific locations and a spreadsheet including designations relating to the locations on the marked grid, such that each of the designations includes details regarding items located in each of the locations. A method of organizing items by placing items in a marked grid and cataloging the location of the items in a corresponding spreadsheet is also provided. A method to organize goods in a container having a grid marked on a bottom portion of the container is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/419,165, filed Oct. 16, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and system for the organization of samples. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for organizing samples without directly labeling the samples.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    It is well known that containers including separate compartments can be used to store items. However, currently there is no system that organizes items such that an individual can locate a specific item in a specific compartment without having to open the container in which the item is located.  
           [0006]    For example, there are polycarbonate containers that are currently available from VWR International Life Science. The containers include a numbered lid. The lid identifies numbered compartments within the container. Additionally, polycarbonate containers are also available wherein the container includes a colored bottom portion and a clear numbered lid. Similar containers are also available from Nalgene. None of the containers of the prior art enable an individual to locate an item within the storage container without having to open the container itself.  
           [0007]    A fundamental problem with having to open the container to determine the contents of the container is that it wastes manpower. For example, if a company has twenty containers, an individual would have to open all twenty containers in order to locate a specific sample contained in one of the containers. It would therefore be beneficial to have an organizational system that would provide individuals with a clear, identifiable method or location wherein they can easily locate a specific item within the containers without having to manually search through each of a plurality of containers. It would also be useful to develop a storage box that includes writings on a bottom portion of the box that create a grid within the box for the identification of items within the box.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    According to the present invention, there is provided an organizational system marked grid including specific locations and a spreadsheet including designations relating to the locations on the marked grid, such that each of the designations includes details regarding items located in each of the locations. A method of organizing items by placing items in a marked grid and cataloging the location of the items in a corresponding spreadsheet is also provided. A method to organize goods in a container having a grid marked on a bottom portion of the container is also provided. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Other advantages of the present invention are readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 shows an example of a container of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 shows an example of spreadsheets color-coordinated to each container;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 shows an example of spreadsheets, which appears on a computer monitor after scanning of a barcode pasted on the outer surface of bottom part of the container; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 shows an example of a systemic organization of a sample located in the scientific container in a numbered rack space, which is located in an alphanumerically assigned freezer space. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    The present invention provides a method and system, generally shown at  10  in the figures, for the organization of samples. The benefit of the present invention is that it does not require the direct labeling of the samples. This is beneficial because small samples can be difficult to label properly. Further, if the exterior label of a sample comes into contact with liquids, the label can become difficult to read or can peel off of the sample. The method and system of the present invention overcome these problems by removing the necessity for labels on the sample surface.  
         [0015]    The “grid” of the present invention is any dividing device that creates separate compartments. The grid  16  creates compartments in a larger container. For example, the grid  16  can be located in a container  12  or alternatively, can be located in a freezer  30 .  
         [0016]    The container  12  of the present invention can be made of any material known to those of skill in the art. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, cardboard, fiberboard and plastic. The container  12  is formed using techniques known to those of skill in the art. Preferably, the container  12  includes four sides  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″,  14 ′″ and a base  15 . The container  12  can include a lid  20  for preventing material from entering the container  12 . The lid  20  can include blank surfaces  22  thereon for advertisements or for the end user to write information. Preferably, the container  12  is colored or otherwise distinguishable from other similar shaped objects. For example, the container  12  can be any color or can include distinguishing indicia such as stripes, dots, etc. The containers can be used to store vials at room temperature and in a refrigerator, a freezer and a cryogenic (i.e., liquid nitrogen) storage tank.  
         [0017]    The stability of the cardboard containers at ultra-low temperature was tested by storing the container at −80° C. in a liquid nitrogen tank for three weeks and comparing the stability of the containers stored in the tank with a new container. The containers stored at ultra-low temperature did not show any apparent damage in color, glue and strength of the cardboard.  
         [0018]    The container can also be formed with only three sides, thus being triangularly shaped. The container can also be formed without a base, however the inclusion of a base is preferred. The container does not have to include a lid in order to function in the manner disclosed above.  
         [0019]    Additionally, the container  12  can include advertisements on any exterior surface of the container  12 . In this regard, the container serves as an advertisement tool. For example, the exterior surface of container  12  can include advertisements that relate to the use of the container. If the container  12  is used in a laboratory setting, the advertisements can pertain to laboratory equipment. If the container  12  is used in a closet, then the advertisements can pertain to clothing stores or accessories for the closet.  
         [0020]    More specifically, the present invention provides a method and system  10  for organizing samples by providing a colored container containing therein a grid  18  or other similar device that creates divided space within the container  12 . The grid  18  includes labels  16  on interior surfaces of the container  12  such that each space within the grid  18  can be located based upon the surface labels  16 . For example, if two non-adjacent surfaces  14 ,  14 ″ of the container are labeled with the letter B and the other two non-adjacent surfaces  14 ′,  14 ′″ are labeled with a number 6, a space within the grid would be designed B6.  
         [0021]    Designation of each cell  28  in the container  12  by this alphanumerical system can be used with additional organizational systems of a rack (R1, R2, etc.) and a freezer space (fAf1, fAf2, etc.) to assign each cell in a freezer. An example of the system  10  incorporated in a freezer  30  is shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0022]    A spreadsheet  24  and container  12  of the present invention can also include a barcode  32 . The barcode includes information regarding the container  12  and the contents of the container  12 . The barcode  32  enables information to be obtained with regard to the container  12  based solely on the barcode  32 . For example, each freezer can be barcoded to assign a freezer number, a rack number, locations in the rack and cell assignment of samples. Contents of the freezers were entered in a data bank equipped with a search engine. Any products stored in the several freezers can be searched to identify their locations. The barcode  32  can be pasted on the freezer  30 , on an exterior surface of the container  12 , on a rack  34  placed in the freezer  30 , or even on individual items located in the container. Special software has been developed that combines a barcode system with a spreadsheet program (Microsoft Excel program). A typical spreadsheet  24  that includes the barcode is shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0023]    A spreadsheet  24  corresponds to each container  12 , either on a sheet of paper or on a screen on a computer. The spreadsheet  24  is color coordinated with the color of the container  12 . The sheet  24  includes blank spaces  26  corresponding to the spaces  28  within the container  12 . Information regarding the contents of the sample can be placed in the empty spaces  26 , such placement effectively labels the samples without the problems of the prior art detailed above. Each cell  28  produced by the grid  18  in the container  12  is assigned an identifier by its cell  28  within the grid  18  of the container  12  (FIG. 1).  
         [0024]    A spreadsheet  24  color coordinated with containers is shown in FIG. 2. After entering contents of each vial stored in a container in the proper space  26 , the spreadsheet  24  is kept as a file. When looking for a previously stored vial, entry of the vial in the spreadsheet  24  is searched and color of the container and location of the cell in the container is identified. Knowing in advance the location of the vial in a refrigerator or a freezer saves effort of the user and minimizes loss of energy used to keep the a refrigerator and a freezer at cold temperature. Moreover, alphanumerically designated freezer space makes location of a sample in the alphanumerical container easier.  
         [0025]    The spreadsheet  24  can be a computer-generated file with entries of content in a container  12 . The color-coordinated spreadsheets  24  shown in FIG. 2 were prepared using the Microsoft Excel program (Microsoft, Inc.). An additional color-coordinated spreadsheet was prepared using the Microsoft Access program (Microsoft, Inc.) and a product description spreadsheet was produced and used for further description of the content in the vial.  
         [0026]    The spreadsheets  24  of the present invention can be used to create a database of information such that the database can be searched in order to locate a specific item. The searching can be accomplished manually or via a computer program. For example, the spreadsheets can be searched using a search engine, using key words or via other similar methods of searching for information within a database.  
         [0027]    A system for organizing samples without directly labeling the samples is disclosed. According to the present invention, goods in a storage container  12  are systematically organized using spreadsheets  24 , which were produced manually or by a computer program with or without a barcode  32  system. With numbering and alphanumerical systems of racks  34  and freezers  30 , this storage container  12  identifies a vial placed in the container  12 . This can be achieved even without opening freezers. The storage containers  12  with various colors contain a grid  18  and each cell location  28  is assigned by alphanumerical writings  16  written inside the container  12 . Contents in the container  12  are identified using a spreadsheet  24  accompanying the container  12 . The method enables individuals to identify contents in the container  12  using computer files obtained by spreadsheet programs. The contents in the container  12  are also identified by a barcode  32  on the surface of the container  12  using a computer program that brings on the computer monitor exactly the same 2-dimensional space as in the alphanumerical container  12 .  
         [0028]    The methods used with and the utility of the present invention can be shown by the following non-limiting examples and accompanying figures. The above discussion provides a factual basis for the method and system of the present invention to save effort of a personnel and energy wasted by prolonged search in a refrigerator or freezer.  
       EXAMPLES  
     Example 1  
       [0029]    Yellow containers were assigned to a senior research assistant who works for an immunoassay-related NIH grant. Blue containers were assigned to a research assistant who works for a COX-2-related NIH grant. The container color assigned to each grant corresponds to the color of a bank check used for each grant account set up at our company. Each container was barcoded with a unique identification code using the FastFinder barcode software, which matched the container color with the spreadsheet color of the container, e.g., B11G 00024  shown in FIG. 2 is for Cat. #B11, green colored container, and container #24.  
         [0030]    This practice efficiently separated containers stored in a refrigerator or a freezer according to projects carried out at our company. After scanning containers, each person entered contents of their containers and location of the containers (e.g., freezer number, rack number, location in the rack and cell assignment) in a color-coordinated spread sheet files and the product description spreadsheet in her/his computer.  
       Example 2  
       [0031]    Hybridomas were produced against 14,15- or 11,12-DHET conjugated KLH and kept in liquid nitrogen tanks. Red containers were assigned for hybridomas produced against 14,15-DHET and yellow containers were for hybridomas against 11,12-DHET. A color-coordinated spreadsheet was produced for each container and location of the container in the tanks was entered in the spreadsheet. Each tank was barcoded to assign a tank number, a rack number, location in the rack and cell assignment of samples.  
       Example 3  
       [0032]    Various products can be kept in freezers located at different places. Red containers were assigned for antibodies against cytochromes P450, yellow containers for antibodies against phase 11 drug-metabolizing enzymes including glutathione S-transferases and microsomal epoxide hydrolase, green containers for rat liver microsomes, taupe containers for rat kidney microsomes, and blue containers is for products related to a hypertension ELISA kit.  
         [0033]    Each freezer was barcoded to assign a freezer number, a rack number, locations in the rack and cell assignment of samples. Contents of the freezers were entered in a data bank equipped with a search engine. Any products stored in the several freezers can be searched to identify their locations.  
         [0034]    The barcode software was prepared using Wasp Fontware Pro+w/Add-inns for Word, Excell, Access, Crystal (Wasp Bar Code Technologies, Plano, TX) which were installed into the Microsoft Excell program according to the manufacturer&#39;s instruction. Specific parameters of the listed programs were chosen to create the program used for the present invention. The parameters were as follows: barcode symbology, code 3 of 9 full ASCII; point size, 24; resolution, medium; caption, below barcode; and digit, checked. A 2 dimensional spreadsheet was opened. A cell in the spreadsheet was highlighted by clicking a cell located at the proper position and an alphanumerical code assigned for the spreadsheet was input. A barcode with the alphanumerical code appeared in the cell.  
         [0035]    Throughout this application, various publications, including United States patents, are referenced by author and year and patents by number. Full citations for the publications are listed below. The disclosures of these publications and patents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.  
         [0036]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.  
         [0037]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.  
       REFERENCES  
       [0038]    1. VWR International Life Science Catalog 2002-2003, p. 743.  
         [0039]    2. VWR Scientific products Catalog 2000-2001, R1333.  
         [0040]    3. Fisher Scientific Catalog 2002-2003, p. 1236.  
         [0041]    4. VWR International Life Science Catalog 2002-2003, p. 256.  
         [0042]    5. VWR International Life Science Catalog 2002-2003, p. 256.  
         [0043]    6. VWR International Life Science Catalog 2002-2003, p. 256.  
         [0044]    7. VWR International Life Science Catalog 2002-2003, p. 257.