Protection, authentication, identification device for a physical object specimen

Abstract

A protection, authentication, identification device for a physical object specimen is described. The device comprises a holder formed for assembly with at least one physical object specimen to provide protection and preservation of the physical object specimen. The holder is further formed with a holding area for the physical object specimen and to resist disassembly and separation with the physical object specimen, once it is assembled. The protection, authentication, identification device for a physical object specimen is further comprised of a nonvolatile electronic data storage device configured to store at least one digital image of the physical object specimen including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of the physical object specimen. The data storage device is nondetachably secured to the protection, authentication, identification device. In preferred embodiments the digital image records may have, at least in part, an immutable condition to deter or prevent alteration. One or more digital images are readable and displayable by a computer system connectable by wired or wireless means to the nonvolatile electronic storage device.

1 . A protection, authentication, identification device for a physical object specimen, said device comprising:
 a holder formed for assembly with at least one physical object specimen to provide protection and preservation of said at least one physical object specimen, said holder having a holding area for receiving said at least one physical object specimen, and further being formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with said at least one physical object specimen; and,   a nonvolatile electronic data storage device configured to store at least one digital image of said at least one physical object specimen, said nonvolatile data storage device being nondetachably secured to said protection, authentication, identification device, and, said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen;   wherein said at least one digital image is readable and displayable by a standard computer system connectable to said nonvolatile electronic storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said at least one digital image is immutable and includes a date record of the creation time of said at least one digital image. 
     
     
         3 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said holder is a microscope slide. 
     
     
         4 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device further stores at least one electronic link that provides information related to said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         5 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said at least one digital image is readable and displayable via an encrypted security protocol by a computer system connectable to said nonvolatile electronic data storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1 , further comprising a barcode identifier that may also provide predetermined characteristics of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         7 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device is an integrated circuit type data storage device capable of storing said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record said at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         8 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 1  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device is a laser reactive optical type data storage device capable of storing said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         9 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 7  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a flash memory type data storage device. 
     
     
         10 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 7  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a radio frequency (RF) type data storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 7  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a smart card chip. 
     
     
         12 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 10  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is an RFID tag. 
     
     
         13 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 7  wherein, said flash memory type data storage device includes an illuminating selection indicator. 
     
     
         14 . A protection, authentication, identification device for a physical object specimen, said device comprising:
 a holder formed for assembly with at least one physical object specimen to provide protection and preservation of said at least one physical object specimen, said holder having a holding area for receiving said at least one physical object specimen, and said holder further being formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with said at least one physical object specimen; and,   a nonvolatile electronic data storage device configured to store at least one digital image of said at least one physical object specimen, and, said nonvolatile data storage device being nondetachably secured to said protection, authentication, identification device, and, said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen, and, said data storage device further configured to store at least one spectroscopic chemical image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique molecular characteristic of the chemical composition of said at least one physical object specimen;   wherein said at least one digital image is readable and displayable by a computer system connectable to said nonvolatile electronic storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said at least one digital image is immutable and includes a date record of the creation time of said at least one digital image. 
     
     
         16 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said holder is a microscope slide. 
     
     
         17 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device further stores at least one electronic link that provides information related to said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         18 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said at least one digital image is readable and displayable via an encrypted security protocol by a computer system connectable to said nonvolatile electronic data storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14 , further comprising a barcode identifier that may also provide predetermined characteristics of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         20 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device is an integrated circuit type data storage device capable of storing said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen, and, said data storage device further configured to store at least one spectroscopic chemical image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique molecular characteristic of the chemical composition of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         21 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said nonvolatile electronic data storage device is a laser reactive optical type data storage device capable of storing said at least one digital image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique appearance characteristic of said at least one physical object specimen, and, said data storage device further configured to store at least one spectroscopic chemical image including sufficient detail to record at least one unique molecular characteristic of the chemical composition of said at least one physical object specimen. 
     
     
         22 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 14  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a flash memory type data storage device. 
     
     
         23 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 20  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a radio frequency (RF) type data storage device. 
     
     
         24 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 20  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is a smart card chip. 
     
     
         25 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 20  wherein, said integrated circuit type data storage device is an RFID tag. 
     
     
         26 . The protection, authentication, identification device of  claim 22  wherein, said flash memory type data storage device includes an illuminating indicator activated by a computerized selection process.