Use of gamma hardened RFID tags in pharmaceutical devices

• US 20080042837A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Burke, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,405,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/16 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/16 using elements in which the storage effect is based on magnetic spin effect
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/22 using ferroelectric elements

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing RFID tags in environments where radiation is used is disclosed. RFID tags are secured to various components of a pharmaceutical system, thereby enabling the customer to download pertinent information about the component, such as lot number, date of manufacturer, test parameters, etc. The tags can be applied to the component during or immediately after manufacture and can be subjected to the sterilization process without risk of data loss or corruption. The memory device within the tag utilizes a technology that does not rely upon charge storage as its mechanism to store information.

Claims

1. A method of subjecting a device to radiation, wherein said device comprises a remotely readable memory device, whereby the contents of said memory device are not corrupted by said radiation, comprising:

affixing a memory device employing a non-charge based storage mechanism to said device; and

subjecting said device to radiation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory device comprises a ferro-electric memory device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory device comprises a magnetoresistive memory device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said device comprises an RFID tag, said tag comprising said remotely readable memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation comprises gamma radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a pharmaceutical component.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said component is selected from the group consisting of filters, bags, tubes and process instruments.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises wireless communication means.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said means comprises RFID.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said means comprises the communication protocol described in IEEE 802.15.4.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said means comprises the communication protocol described in IEEE 802.15.1.

12. A device, comprising a rewritable memory element, which when subjected to radiation, retains the contents of said memory element, comprising a memory element utilizing a non-charge based storage mechanism.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said memory device comprises a ferroelectric memory.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said memory device comprises a magnetoresistive memory.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said radiation comprises gamma radiation.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein said device comprises a pharmaceutical component.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said component is selected from the group consisting of filters, bags, tubes and process instruments.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising wireless communication means.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said means comprises RFID.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said means comprises the communication protocol described in IEEE 802.15.4.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein said means comprises the communication protocol described in IEEE 802.15.1.