ATTACHMENT AND COVER FOR AN ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION TAG

• US 20160296299A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caretag Surgical ApS
• Original Assignee: Caretag Surgical ApS
• Inventors: Mortensen, Soren Bilsoe
• Granted Patent: US 10,182,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/70 by moulding using a particular moulding technique, see the relevant technique , e.g. by injection B29C45/14467
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2007/004 Tags; Tickets labels B29L2031/744

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for attaching an identification tag to a solid surface and protecting the identification tag. The identification tag has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The method comprises: positioning the first surface of the identification tag in contact with an attachment site of the solid surface; applying a predetermined amount of a first adhesive substance on the second surface, the first adhesive substance being plastic during application and curable after application, the first adhesive substance having a first viscosity at the time of application; forming the first adhesive substance, such that the first adhesive substance covers the identification tag and abut a part of the solid surface circumscribing the identification tag; and curing the first adhesive substance.

Claims

1. A method for attaching an identification tag to a solid surface and protecting the identification tag, the identification tag including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the method comprising:

positioning a first surface of an identification tag in contact with an attachment site of a solid surface;

applying a predetermined amount of a first adhesive substance on a second surface, the first adhesive substance comprising plastic during application and curable after application, the first adhesive substance including a first viscosity at a time of application;

forming the first adhesive substance, such that the first adhesive substance covers the identification tag and abuts a part of the solid surface circumscribing the identification tag; and

curing the first adhesive substance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid surface is a solid surface of a medical instrument able to withstand repeated sterilization procedures at high temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first adhesive substance comprises subjecting the first adhesive substance to a first energy intensity for a first duration, wherein the first energy intensity and the first duration are selected such that viscosity of the first adhesive substance is decreased relative to the first viscosity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first energy intensity is a constant temperature.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein curing the first adhesive substance comprises subjecting the first adhesive substance to a second energy intensity for a second duration.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second energy intensity is similar to the first energy intensity.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second duration is more than 10 minutes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein viscosity of the first adhesive substance initially decreases and subsequently increases relative to the first viscosity when subjecting the first adhesive substance to a first energy intensity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the first surface of the identification tag in contact with the solid surface comprises applying a second adhesive substance between the solid surface and the first surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein positioning the first surface of the identification tag in contact with the solid surface comprises initially curing the second adhesive substance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein initially curing the second adhesive substance has an initial duration of less than 1 second.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein initially curing the second adhesive substance comprises applying heat and/or radiation to the second adhesive substance.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second adhesive substance is the same type of adhesive substance as the first adhesive substance.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first adhesive substance comprises applying a concave surface of a mold such that the mold abuts a part of the solid surface circumscribing the identification tag.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the first adhesive substance comprises removing the mold.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the first adhesive substance comprises selecting the mold to fit the combination of the identification tag and the solid surface.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the concave surface of the mold is coated with a substance to prevent the first adhesive substance to adhere to the concave surface.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive substance is an epoxy glue.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid surface is a metal surface.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises identifying the attachment site.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing the attachment site, wherein preparing the attachment site substantially does not alter the solid surface.

22. An apparatus for attaching an identification tag to a solid surface and protecting the identification tag, the apparatus comprising:

a positioner configured to position a first surface of an identification tag in contact with an attachment site of a solid surface;

an applicator configured to apply a predetermined amount of a first adhesive substance on a second surface of the identification tag opposite the first surface, the first adhesive substance comprising plastic during application and curable after application, the first adhesive substance including a first viscosity at a time of application;

a forming device configured to form the first adhesive substance; and

a first curing device configured to cure the first adhesive substance,

wherein the forming device is configured to form the first adhesive substance such that the first adhesive substance covers the identification tag and abut a part of the solid surface circumscribing the identification tag.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the solid surface is a solid surface of a medical instrument able to withstand repeated sterilization procedures at high temperature.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the forming device comprises a viscosity alteration device configured to decrease viscosity of the first adhesive substance by subjecting the first adhesive substance to a first energy intensity for a first duration, and wherein the first energy intensity and the first duration are selected such that viscosity of the first adhesive substance is decreased relative to the first viscosity.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus further comprises a heating device comprising the first curing device and the viscosity alteration device.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first curing device is configured to cure the first adhesive substance by subjecting the first adhesive substance to a second energy intensity for a second duration.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first energy intensity is similar to the second energy intensity.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises an identification device configured to identify the attachment site on the solid surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises a preparation device configured to prepare the attachment site without substantially altering the solid surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the applicator is configured to apply a second adhesive substance between the first surface of the identification tag and the attachment site, and wherein the apparatus further comprises second curing device configured to initially cure the second adhesive substance.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to:

control the positioner to position the first surface of the identification tag in contact with the attachment site of the solid surface;

control the applicator to apply the predetermined amount of the first adhesive substance on the second surface;

control the forming device to form the first adhesive substance; and

control the first curing device to cure the first adhesive substance.