Method of identifying a container and/or a finished article obtained from the said container, in particular for medical use

• US 20090159654A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Grimard, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/00 After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock pre-treatment or treatment during printing B41M5/0011; printers for treating or overcoating copy materials before, during or after printing B41J11/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/0025 by a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns

Abstract

Method of identifying a container (1) obtained by a process comprising the following steps: (A) starting from a blank (2) of the container (1), at least part of the said container (1) is formed; (B) a two-dimensional or three-dimensional marking zone (4), the temperature of which is maintained at a value below the glass transformation temperature of the constituent substrate, is provided in or on the substrate of the blank (2) and, in the said marking zone (4), an identification code (5) is reproduced by illumination (6) of the said marking zone (4) with at least one beam (7) of coherent monochromatic localized electromagnetic radiation to which the substrate is at least partially transparent, the said beam (7) being operated and controlled in order to remove or modify the constituent substrate of the wall (3) and to leave the identification code (5), in positive or negative form, in the said wall so that the said code is readable; and (C) at least the said marking zone (4) is annealed so as at least to reduce the differences in internal tension in the substrate between the said marking zone (4) and the rest of the said wall (3).

Claims

1. Method of marking a container (1) for identification purpose for medical or diagnostic use, intended to hold a product (10) of interest, the said container (1) being obtained by a process characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps during which:

(B) a two-dimensional or three-dimensional marking zone (4), the temperature of which is maintained at a first temperature, is provided in or on the substrate of a blank (2) intended to constitute the said container (1) and, in the said marking zone (4), an identification code (5) is reproduced by illumination (6) of the said marking zone (4) with at least one beam (7) of coherent monochromatic localized electromagnetic radiation to which the substrate is at least partially transparent, the said beam (7) being operated and controlled in order to remove or modify the constituent substrate of the wall (3) and to leave the identification code (5), in positive or negative form, in the said wall so that the said code is readable; and

(C) at least the said marking zone (4) is annealed by heating it to a second temperature strictly above the said first temperature so as at least to reduce the differences in internal tension in the substrate between the said marking zone (4) and the rest of the said wall (3).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the said first temperature is chosen so as to be strictly below the glass transformation temperature of the constituent substrate of the said container (1).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, during a step (A) carried out before the said step (B), the said blank (2) is obtained by at least one of the techniques chosen from the group comprising:

cutting, deburring, hot forming, hot deformation of at least one end portion (2a) of the said blank (2) after this end portion (2a) has been heated up to a temperature that permits the said deformation.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank (2), including the marking zone (4) is annealed in its entirety during the said step (C).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that, during the said step (C), the said marking zone (4) is annealed with a heat source different from that used for annealing the entire said blank (2), this heat source comprising, for example, at least one flame, at least one microflame or at least one defocused laser beam.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the said identification code (5) consists of discrete elements and in that, during the said step (C), the said discrete elements are annealed individually or in groups by means of the said separate heat source.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking zone (4) is provided in the thickness of the wall (3) of the container (1), at some distance from its internal face (3a) and/or from its external face (3b).

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking zone (4) is provided on the wall (3) of the container (1).

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking zone (4) is provided on the internal face (3a) of the wall (3) of the container (1).

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the said wall (3) is used to form, at least in part, a container (1) for medical use chosen from the group comprising a syringe, a bottle or vial, a cartridge, a tube, a slide, intended to hold a product (10) of interest, chosen from the group comprising a medicament, a vaccine, a product, a physiological fluid, in divided or undivided solid, gel, powder or liquid form.

11. Container (1) for medical or diagnostic use, intended to hold a product (10) of interest, in divided or undivided solid, gel, powder or liquid form, characterized in that at least one wall (3) of the said container (1) is provided with at least one two-dimensional or three-dimensional marking zone (4) in which at least one identification code (5) is reproduced so as to be readable, said marking zone (4) being provided in the thickness of the wall (3) of the container, at some distance from its internal face (3a) and/or from its external face (3b).

13. Injection device (11) for injecting a product (10) of interest, for example a medicament in divided or undivided solid, gel, powder or liquid form, characterized in that it comprises at least one container (1) according to claim 11.

14. Device according to claim 13, which contains the product (10) of interest and is closed off by means (12) for at least partly ensuring the integrity of the contents, the said means (12) defining at least two end sealing zones (12a, 12b), which seal against the wall (3) of the container (1), and leaving a gap (13) between them, characterized in that the length (1), or height, of the marking zone (4) along the axis of the container is less than the distance (d) separating the two end sealing zones (12a, 12b) that define the said gap (13).

12. Container (1) for medical or diagnostic use, intended to hold a product (10) of interest, in divided or undivided solid, gel, powder or liquid form, characterized in that at least one wall (3) of the said container (1) is provided with at least one two-dimensional or three-dimensional marking zone (4) in which at least one identification code (5) is reproduced so as to be readable, said marking zone (4) being provided on the internal face (3a) of the wall (3) of the container (1), the said part being intended to hold or containing the product (1) of interest.

15. Injection device (11) for injecting a product (10) of interest, for example a medicament in divided or undivided solid, gel, powder or liquid form, characterized in that it comprises at least one container (1) according to claim 12.

16. Device according to claim 15, which contains the product (10) of interest and is closed off by means (12) for at least partly ensuring the integrity of the contents, the said means (12) defining at least two end sealing zones (12a, 12b), which seal against the wall (3) of the container (1), and leaving a gap (13) between them, characterized in that the length (1), or height, of the marking zone (4) along the axis of the container is less than the distance (d) separating the two end sealing zones (12a, 12b) that define the said gap (13).