Abstract: A technique for tracking, for example, the temperature of one or more sample vials containing biological material stored in a low-temperature shipping vessel. Each sample vial has vial electronics that senses temperature and transmits temperature data to the reader head of a reader device, which has a controller that is not at the low temperature. In some implementations, the shipping vessel has a cap with a recess that houses the controller and a hollow plug that houses a cable that connects the controller to the reader head that is located in the vessel's cold interior sufficiently close to the sample vial to enable interaction with the vial electronics. In some implementations, the reader head transmits electrical power to the vial electronics. By tracking the temperature of individual sample vials rather than the temperature of the vessel interior, more-relevant temperature data is available.

Abstract: A storage system having racks and an outer container that receives the racks, each rack receiving a plurality of sample boxes, each box having a wireless ID tag. In certain embodiments, the storage system has reader electronics external to and distinct from the racks and that directly read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack without relying on any reader electronics of any rack. In other embodiments, each rack has a set of rack reader electronics that read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack, and the storage system has at least one removable reader access device removably connectable to the set of rack reader electronics of a rack in order to transmit the ID number of the wireless ID tag of each box in the rack outside of the outer container.

Abstract: A die and counter die system for impressing a relief pattern onto a substrate, including a male die film and at least one female die. The female die includes a female-die contact surface including at least one cavity defining the relief pattern. The male die film includes a flexible male-die contact surface which is featureless in a region thereof opposing the relief pattern on the at least one female die. The system further includes a compression mechanism adapted, when the substrate is disposed between the male die contact surface and the female die contact surface, to move the male die film and the at least one female die towards one another so as to impress the relief pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A storage system having racks and an outer container that receives the racks, each rack receiving a plurality of sample boxes, each box having a wireless ID tag. In certain embodiments, the storage system has reader electronics external to and distinct from the racks and that directly read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack without relying on any reader electronics of any rack. In other embodiments, each rack has a set of rack reader electronics that read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack, and the storage system has at least one removable reader access device removably connectable to the set of rack reader electronics of a rack in order to transmit the ID number of the wireless ID tag of each box in the rack outside of the outer container.

Abstract: A storage system having racks and an outer container that receives the racks, each rack receiving a plurality of sample boxes, each box having a wireless ID tag. In certain embodiments, the storage system has reader electronics external to and distinct from the racks and that directly read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack without relying on any reader electronics of any rack. In other embodiments, each rack has a set of rack reader electronics that read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack, and the storage system has at least one removable reader access device removably connectable to the set of rack reader electronics of a rack in order to transmit the ID number of the wireless ID tag of each box in the rack outside of the outer container.

Abstract: A die and counter die system for impressing a relief pattern onto a substrate, including at least one male die including a contact surface and defining a relief pattern, a compressible counter film including a base layer, a contact layer disposed opposite the contact surface of the at least one male die and spaced therefrom, and a compressible layer disposed between the base layer and the contact layer and attached thereto. The contact layer is featureless in a region thereof opposing the relief pattern on the at least one male die. The compressible counter film has a compressibility, in a direction perpendicular to a broad face of the compressible counter film, in the range of 5-30% at 1.35 MPa. The system further includes a compression mechanism adapted to move the at least one male die and the compressible counter film towards one another in an operative mode.

Abstract: A technique for tracking, for example, the temperature of one or more sample vials containing biological material stored in a low-temperature shipping vessel. Each sample vial has vial electronics that senses temperature and transmits temperature data to the reader head of a reader device, which has a controller that is not at the low temperature. In some implementations, the shipping vessel has a cap with a recess that houses the controller and a hollow plug that houses a cable that connects the controller to the reader head that is located in the vessel's cold interior sufficiently close to the sample vial to enable interaction with the vial electronics. In some implementations, the reader head transmits electrical power to the vial electronics. By tracking the temperature of individual sample vials rather than the temperature of the vessel interior, more-relevant temperature data is available.

Abstract: A multi-orifice nozzle suitable for drawing a plurality of line rules in parallel, line rules disposed in parallel drawn using the multi-orifice nozzle, and systems and methods for using such line rules for impressing a substrate with a plurality of line indentations disposed in parallel.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating a fold line in a substrate, by impressing at least one crease line onto the substrate. The impressing is carried out by compressing the substrate between a die and a corresponding counter die of a creasing module. Following impression of the crease line, at least one cut is made in the substrate along the crease line thereby to form the fold line. The at least one cut has a depth less than the thickness of the substrate at the crease line.

Abstract: A die and counter die system for impressing a relief pattern onto a substrate, including at least one male die including a contact surface and defining a relief pattern, a compressible counter film including a base layer, a contact layer disposed opposite the contact surface of the at least one male die and spaced therefrom, and a compressible layer disposed between the base layer and the contact layer and attached thereto. The contact layer is featureless in a region thereof opposing the relief pattern on the at least one male die. The compressible counter film has a compressibility, in a direction perpendicular to a broad face of the compressible counter film, in the range of 5-30% at 1.35 MPa. The system further includes a compression mechanism adapted to move the at least one male die and the compressible counter film towards one another in an operative mode.

Abstract: A die and counter die system for impressing a relief pattern onto a substrate, including a male die film and at least one female die. The female die includes a female-die contact surface including at least one cavity defining the relief pattern. The male die film includes a flexible male-die contact surface which is featureless in a region thereof opposing the relief pattern on the at least one female die. The system further includes a compression mechanism adapted, when the substrate is disposed between the male die contact surface and the female die contact surface, to move the male die film and the at least one female die towards one another so as to impress the relief pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A storage system having racks and an outer container that receives the racks, each rack receiving a plurality of sample boxes, each box having a wireless ID tag. In certain embodiments, the storage system has reader electronics external to and distinct from the racks and that directly read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack without relying on any reader electronics of any rack. In other embodiments, each rack has a set of rack reader electronics that read the wireless ID tag of each box in at least one rack, and the storage system has at least one removable reader access device removably connectable to the set of rack reader electronics of a rack in order to transmit the ID number of the wireless ID tag of each box in the rack outside of the outer container.