OPTICAL MARKINGS

• US 20080217391A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intellidot Corporation (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Roof, William Harold, Williamsen, Robert N., Swenson, David Dale
• Application Number:
  US11/669,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A method and system for cumulatively associating manufacture data and patient data with disposable equipment, particularly sample collection containers, in a medical or laboratory environment by permanently affixing unique code labels to the disposable equipment.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a uniquely identifiable sample collection container comprising:

providing a sample collection container with a permanently affixed code label; and

associating manufacture data of the sample collection container with the code label using a scanner configured to read the code label.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code label comprises at least one of a barcode and a DOT.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein manufacture data comprises at least one of a lot number, a place of manufacture, a type of sample tube, a date of manufacture, an expiration date and at least one chemical additive.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample collection container is a sample tube.

5. A method of controlling processes in a medical work flow system comprising:

permanently affixing a unique code label to a sample collection container;

associating the sample collection container manufacture data with the code label; and

associating patient data with the code label.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing the sample collection container to a health care worker.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the code label comprises at least one of a barcode and a DOT.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein manufacture data comprises at least one of a lot number, a place of manufacture, a type of sample collection container, a date of manufacture, an expiration date and a chemical additive.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising scanning a patient identification.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein patient identification comprises a wristband.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising scanning a nurse identification badge.

12. The method of claim 5 further comprising scanning a hospital employee identification badge.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein patient data comprises at least one of a patient name, a patient age, a patient date of birth, a hospital name, a phlebotomist electronic signature, a time of use of the sample tube, a patient record number, a patient diagnosis, a type of patient sample and a set of ordered tests.

14. A uniquely identifiable sample collection container comprising:

sample collection container; and

a unique code permanently affixed to the sample collection container,

wherein the sample collection container manufacture data is associated with the code.

15. The sample collection container of claim 14, wherein the unique code comprises at least one of a barcode and a DOT.

16. The sample collection container of claim 14, wherein the manufacture information comprises at least one of a lot number, a place of manufacture, a type of sample tube, a date of manufacture, an expiration date and at least one chemical additive.

17. The sample collection container of claim 14, wherein the sample collection container is a sample tube.

18. A system for uniquely identifying sample collection container in a medical or research environment comprising:

sample collection container;

a unique code label permanently affixed to the sample collection container; and

a hand held scanner configured to cumulatively associate with the code label at least one of manufacturer data and patient data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the scanner is configured to alert a user to specific sample collection container manufacture data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein manufacture data comprises at least one of a lot number, a place of manufacture, a type of sample tube, a date of manufacture, an expiration date and at least one chemical additive.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the patient data comprises at least one of a patient name, a patient age, a patient date of birth, a hospital name, a phlebotomist electronic signature, a time of use of the sample tube, a patient record number, a patient diagnosis, a type of patient sample and a set of ordered tests.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the hand held scanner further comprises a wireless transceiver.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the hand held scanner further comprises a processor.

24. A method of storing or delivering milk to an infant comprising:

providing a uniquely identifiable sample collection container configured to store milk for an infant;

providing a label permanently affixed to the uniquely identifiable sample collection container, wherein the label comprises a code, wherein the code is associated with manufacture data about the sample collection container, patient data about the infant and the origin of the milk;

providing milk from a milk provider; and

delivering the sample collection container and the milk to an infant.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising storing the sample collection container and the milk.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the sample collection container is a bottle or a jar.