RFID TAG AND BLOOD CONTAINER/SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED RFID TAG

• US 20140128832A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grifols Worldwide Operations Limited (Grifols SA)
• Original Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Blickhan, Bryan, Calderon, Carlos, Lynn, Daniel, Calhoun, Daryl R., Larson, Christine, Ozbag, Senan, Watts, W. Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/404
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/065 Rigid ampoules, e.g. glass ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/18 Arrangements for indicating condition of container contents, e.g. sterile condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to arrangements for attaching an RFID tag to a liquid container, and particularly to a blood components container. The RFID tag may be inserted in an enclosure, such as peel tab, or in a sealed cup attached to a container port. The tag could alternately be embedded in a molded plug or component attached to a port. The RFID antenna could be painted or stamped on the surface of the container. Or the tag could be inserted into the container to float freely in the liquid components. The RFID source may be secured around the neck of a rigid or semi-rigid container, attached with a tether or attached to a connector assembled in association with a blood component or other fluid flow path.

Claims

1. A blood component container assembly including a rigid or semi-rigid blood component container comprising a body, a neck, a port, and a connector mounted in association with the port;

and

an RFID tag secured to the container.

2. The blood component container assembly of claim 1 in which the RFID tag is secured to the container between the body and the connector.

3. The blood component container of claim 2 in which the RFID tag includes an aperture sized to receive the neck therethrough and to prevent passage of the container body and connector therethrough.

4. The blood component container assembly of claim 1 in which the RFID tag extends generally annularly around the neck.

5. The blood component container of claim 1 in which the RFID tag comprises a generally planar member carrying an RFID circuit.

6. The blood component container of claim 1 in which the RFID tag comprises a generally annular member including a generally central aperture that is large enough to fit over the neck and smaller than the body or connector so as to be captured between them.

7. The blood component container assembly of claim 1 in which the RFID tag includes a tether that is secured to the container.

8. A blood component container assembly including:

a flexible blood component container;

a generally tubular member extending from the container; and

an RFID tag located within the tubular member.

9. The assembly of claim 8 in which the RFID tag is carried by a support member that is located within the tubular member.

10. The assembly of claim 9 in which the support member comprises a molded plastic member.

11. The assembly of claim 9 in which the support member includes a receptacle containing the RFID tag.

12. The assembly of claim 11 in which the receptacle comprises a cup having an open end for receiving the RFID tag and a closure sealing the open end to contain the RFID tag within the cup.

13. The assembly of claim 8 in which the tubular member has an open end for receiving the RFID tag therein and a closure sealing the open end to contain the RFID tag within the tubular member.

14. The assembly of claim 10 in which the support member is a breakaway cannula.

15. The assembly of claim 10 in which the tubular member is located within an openable enclosure at one end of the container.

16. A blood component container assembly comprising:

a flexible flood component container;

an enclosure formed by peel tabs carried by the container;

an RFID tag enclosed within the enclosure; and

the peel tabs being manually openable to allow access to the RFID tag.

17. A blood component container having a wall with an exterior surface;

and an RFID antenna painted, printed or stamped directly onto the exterior surface.

18. The container of claim 18 in which the RFID antenna is aluminum.

19. The container of claim 18 in which the container comprises a pair of facing flexible plastic sheets and the RFID antenna is printed, stamped or painted directly on a surface of one of the sheets.

20. A method of attaching an RFID tag antenna to a blood component container having an exterior surface comprising painting, printing or stamping an RFID tag antenna directly onto the exterior surface.

21. A blood component container assembly including

a blood component container having an internal chamber for receiving a blood component;

and

an RFID tag located within the chamber.

22. A blood component container assembly including a blood component container and an RFID tag secured to the container by a tether.

23. An RFID tag for tracking a blood component, the RFID tag including an RFID scan component and a tether for permanently attaching the scan component to a product.

24. An RFID tag for use in connection with a blood component flowpath, the tag including a port connector having a fluid flow lumen extending therethrough for in-line connection in a fluid flow path and an RFID read portion carried by the port connector.

26. The RFID tag of claim 24 in which the read portion is hingedly connected to the connector so as to allow the read portion to be positioned in different orientations relative to the connector.

25. The RFID tag including in which the connector includes opposed extensions for attachment to fluid flow conduits and the lumen extends through the extensions.