CIRCULAR BAR-CODE, DRUG CONTAINER, ELEMENT CARRYING A CIRCULAR BAR-CODE AND SYSTEM OF CIRCULAR BAR-CODES

• US 20120153031A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Rupp, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/494
• 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 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5457 for container closures
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A circular bar-code for encoding information regarding at least one of a body or a content of a body is provided. The bar-code encircles a central point and is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along a closed line encircling the central point. The circular bar-code may be used for encoding a drug container, wherein the bar-code is located at the front face of the drug container such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable from a front view to the drug container. The circular bar-code may be applied to an element configured to be attached to the front end of the drug container.

Claims

1. A drug container comprising a circular bar-code for encoding information regarding at least one of the drug container or a content of the drug container,

wherein the bar-code encircles a central point and the bar-code is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along a closed line encircling the central point, and

wherein the drug container has a front face and the bar-code is located at the front face of the drug container such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable from a front view to the drug container.

2. The drug container according to claim 1, having an access area to its inner volume at a central part of the front face.

3. The drug container according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code encircles the access area.

4. The drug container according to claim 1, wherein the drug container is a cartridge mountable in an injection device.

5. The drug container according to claim 1, containing insulin, wherein the bar-code encodes the specific insulin type or the specific composition of insulin types.

10. The circular bar-code as included in claim 1, wherein the bar-code is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along a circular line encircling the central point.

11. The circular bar-code as included in claim 1, wherein the bar-code is contained in a circular disc.

12. The circular bar-code as included in claim 1, wherein the bar-code is contained in a circular ring.

13. The circular bar-code as included in claim 12,

wherein the bar-code is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along every closed line which both runs within the circular ring and encircles the central point.

14. The circular bar-code as included in claim 1, wherein the bar-code comprises a plurality of bars running in a radial direction.

15. The circular bar-code as included in claim 14, wherein the information is encoded by the angular positions of the bars and the sizes of the angular ranges covered by the bars.

16. The circular bar-code as included in claim 1, comprising a reference mark which provides a point of reference for the angular positions of the bars.

6. An element carrying a circular bar-code for encoding information regarding at least one of a body or a content of a body,

wherein the bar-code encircles a central point and the bar-code is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along a closed line encircling the central point, and

wherein the element is configured to be attached to the front end of a drug container for encoding at least one of the drug container and the content of the drug container.

7. The element of claim 6, wherein the element is a cap which is configured to be fitted over a front end of the drug container.

8. The element of claim 6, wherein the element is a label which is configured to be adhered to the front face of the drug container.

9. A system of circular bar-codes for encoding information regarding at least one of a body or a content of a body,

wherein the bar-code encircles a central point and the bar-code is configured such that the information encoded by the bar-code is readable along a closed line encircling the central point, and

wherein each bar-code is configured to identify a drug container or the content of a drug container within a plurality of drug containers.