Tracking system and method for medical devices

• US 10,307,548 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan J. Vitello, Timothy Brandon Hunt
• Original Assignee: Jonathan J. Vitello, Timothy Brandon Hunt
• Inventors: Hunt, Timothy Brandon, Vitello, Jonathan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US15/842,446
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A tracking system for medical devices which may include a closure and a container and a method for implementation the tracking system. Packaging removably retains the closure therein and a label is connected to the closure in an at least initially reduced orientation within the packaging. The packaging is structured for receipt of at least a portion of the container to establish an attached relation to the closure, whereupon the attached closure and container are concurrently removed from the packaging. The label is disposed in an expanded orientation and connected to both the closure and the container and includes a coded identifier having at least first and second coded segments. The coded identifier, including the first and second coded segments, include coded indicia may be machine readable and structured to define an identifying, matching relation of the closure and the container.

Claims

1. A tracking system for medical devices comprising:

a closure and packaging for said closure,

said closure initially and removably disposed within said packaging in a contained position,

a label connected to said closure and disposed within said packaging in a reduced orientation with said closure,

a coded identifier formed on an exposed surface of said label in a substantially reduced orientation;

said coded identifier comprising at least a first and second coded segments,

a container attached to said closure upon an opening of said packaging,

said label disposed into an expanded orientation upon removal of said closure and said label from said packaging,

said label disposed into interconnecting attached engagement with both said closure and said container when in said expanded orientation,

each of said first and second coded segments disposed on said label in aligned relation with a different one of said closure and said container.

2. The tracking system as recited in claim 1 wherein said coded identifier is machine-readable.

3. The tracking system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second coded segments comprise a substantially common coded indicia, said common coded indicia cooperatively structured to define an original attached combination of said closure and said container.

4. The tracking system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second coded segments comprise different coded indicia;

said different coded indicia cooperatively structured to define an original attached combination of said closure and said container.

5. The tracking system as recited in claim 1 wherein said label includes an adhering undersurface concurrently secured to said closure and said container, when said label is in said expanded orientation and said closure and said container are removed from said packaging.

6. The tracking system as recited in claim 1 wherein said closure comprises a tamper evident cap structured for at least partially removable attachment to said container;

said removable attachment visually indicative of attempted access to contents of said container.

7. The tracking system as recited in claim 6 wherein said container comprises a syringe.

8. The tracking system as recited in claim 1 wherein said packaging comprises a base including a hollow interior dimensioned and configured to removably retain said closure therein;

said base including an access opening disposed in communicating relation with said at least one closure;

said access opening dimensioned and configured to receive a portion of said container there through in attached relation to said closure.

9. The tracking system as recited in claim 8 wherein said packaging further comprises a cover disposed in removable covering and initially sealing relation to said access opening.

10. The tracking system as recited in claim 9 wherein said base and said access opening are configured for concurrent removal of said closure and said container from said packaging, when said closure and said container are in said attached relation.

11. The tracking system as recited in claim 10 wherein said label is initially disposed in said reduced orientation upon said removal of said closure and said container from said packaging, when said closure and said container are in said attached relation.

12. The tracking system as recited in claim 11 wherein said label is disposed in said expanded orientation and in attached interconnecting engagement with both said closure and said container, subsequent to removal of said closure and said container from said packaging.

13. The tracking system as recited in claim 8 wherein said packaging further comprises a platform;

said platform extending outwardly from said access opening and including an aperture disposed in aligned relation with said access opening;

said cover removably attached to said platform in covering relation to said aperture and said access opening.

14. A method of implementing a tracking system for medical devices, said method comprising:

structuring a label to include a coded identifier on an exposed surface thereof and attaching the label to a closure,

disposing the closure and the label in a packaging, while the label is in a reduced orientation,

positioning a container at least partially within said packaging in attached relation to said closure,

removing the attached closure and container from the packaging concurrent to said label being in said reduced orientation,

configuring the coded identifier to include at least first and second coded segments,

disposing the label into an expanded orientation upon removal of the attached closure and container from the packaging,

attaching the label, while in the expanded orientation, to the container and in interconnecting relation between the closure and the container, and

aligning each of said first and second coded segments with a different one of the cover and the container.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 comprising cooperatively configuring the first and second coded segments to include a substantially common coded indicia, configuring the substantially common coded indicia to define an original attached combination of the closure and the container.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 comprising cooperatively configuring the first and second segments to include at least partially different coded indicia;

configuring the at least partially different coded indicia to define an original attached combination of the closure and the container.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 comprising structuring the closure to define a tamper evident cap structured for removable attachment to the container;

further structuring the tamper evident cap to provide a visual indication of attempted access to the container, upon an at least partial removal of the tamper evident cap from the container.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 comprising structuring of the container to define a syringe.

19. The method as recited in claim 14 comprising structuring the coded identifier and the first and second coded segments to be machine-readable.