RADIO FREQUENCY VERIFICATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE

• US 20080106388A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codan US Corporation (Codan Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Codan US Corporation (Codan Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Knight, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a tracking device for communicating information regarding an object, the tracking device comprising a housing including a disk having a central axis and an outer circumference, and a plurality of arms attached to the outer circumference of the disk forming a cavity. The tracking device further comprises a transponder disposed within the cavity and configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in response to an electromagnetic wave, the transponder including an integrated circuit having a memory and an antenna electrically coupled to the integrated circuit.

Claims

1. A tracking device for communicating information regarding an object, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a disk having a central axis and an outer circumference; and

a plurality of arms attached to the outer circumference of the disk forming a cavity; and

a transponder disposed within the cavity and configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in response to an electromagnetic wave, the transponder comprising;

an integrated circuit having a memory; and

an antenna electrically coupled to the integrated circuit.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the arms are flexible and extend from the disk at an acute angle with respect to the central axis to form the cavity.

3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the disk has a tapered edge to provide leverage in removal of the device from the object.

4. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a ridge disposed within the cavity for preventing damage to the transponder.

5. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a series of raised portions on the disk for increased traction.

6. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the arms further comprise a flared end, oriented in a direction radial to the central axis of the disk.

7. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a groove disposed within the cavity, configured to receive a mating surface.

8. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a disk shaped mating surface in the cavity, wherein the transponder is secured between the disk and the mating surface.

9. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the disk further comprises a well within the cavity dimensioned to receive a portion of the transponder.

10. The tracking device of claim 9, further comprising a second well within the well dimensioned to receive another portion of the transponder.

11. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the signal contains information for tracking the object.

12. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the signal contains medical information.

13. The tracking device of claim 12, wherein medical information comprises patient and drug identification.

14. A radio frequency safety system for a drug container, the system comprising:

a housing including a cavity; and

a radio frequency identification tag disposed within the cavity, that transmits a radio frequency signal in response to an incoming radio frequency signal, the transmitted radio frequency signal containing tracking information and drug identification information;

wherein the housing is attached to the drug container.

15. The radio frequency safety system of claim 14, further comprising a disk having an outer circumference and a plurality of arms attached to the outer circumference of the disk forming the cavity.

16. The radio frequency safety system of claim 14, wherein the drug container is a syringe including a plunger having a distal end, and wherein the housing is snap-fit onto the distal end of the plunger.

17. A housing for a tracking device, the housing comprising:

a disk having a central axis and outer circumference; and

a plurality of arms flexibly attached to the outer circumference of the disk and descending from the disk forming a cavity;

wherein the tracking device is disposed between the disk and a mating surface of a medical container.

18. The housing of claim 17, wherein the medical container comprises a syringe.

19. The housing of claim 18, wherein the syringe includes a plunger having a distal end, and wherein the housing is snap-fit onto the distal end of the plunger.

20. The housing of claim 17, wherein the tracking device comprises a transponder disposed within the cavity and configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in response to an electromagnetic wave, the transponder comprising an integrated circuit having a memory and an antenna electrically coupled to the integrated circuit.