Nail identification wafer

• US 4,614,366 A
• Filed: 02/21/1984
• Issued: 09/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exact-I-Dent A UT Partnership
• Original Assignee: Exactident Incorporated
• Inventors: North, Vaughn W., Elggren, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US06/582,086
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 433/229, 283/1 R, 283/72, 283/79, 283/73, 283/75, 283/76, 283/81, 283/85, 283/107, 283/101, 283/70, 283/900, 283/71, 283/904, 283/901, 235/375, 235/376, 235/385, 235/382, 235/449, 235/493, 116/114 R
• US Class Current: 283/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06234 miniature-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data

Abstract

A device and method for applying and retaining a data carrier to a living body for providing identification of the body with respect to a reference group wherein the body'"'"'s external nail surface structure, the method comprising selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to the nail surface, modifying the carrier to include a unique data format and attaching the carrier at the nail surface. The data carrier comprises a thin, substantially flat carrier suitable for attachment to the nail surface and a unique data format applied to the carrier adapting the same for repeated detection. The device and method are adaptable for use within identification systems such as hospital patient identification, clinical testing and security access control environments.

Claims

1. A method for identifying persons entitled to access to restricted areas or information comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to a fingernail or toenail surface of the person;

b. encoding said carrier with a unique data format which authorizes access for the person to the area or information for the person;

c. permanently attaching the encoded carrier at a nail surface of the person;

d. scanning the nail surface for detection of the data format; and

e. comparing the scanned data format with an access code for determining if access is proper.

2. A method for identifying persons entitled to access to group benefits such as medical care, insurance coverage, social services, welfare assistance, and similar privileges limited to qualified persons, said method comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to a fingernail or toenail surface of the person;

b. encoding said carrier with a unique data format which authorizes access to a selected benefit for the person;

c. permanently attaching the encoded carrier at a nail surface of the person;

d. scanning the nail surface for detection of the data format; and

e. comparing the scanned data format with reference code for determining if access is proper.

3. An identification system for providing short term identification of a body having surface nail structure, said system comprising:

a. a thin, substantially flat carrier attached to the nail surface, said carrier having width and length dimensions less than the exposed width and length of the nail to which the carrier is attached;

b. a unique visual data format encoded on the carrier and providing identification information with respect to the attached body;

c. means for attaching and retaining the carrier to the nail surface until it is to be purposefully removed; and

d. a reading device for visual observation of the data format on the carrier, said reading device including (i) a dislay window for providing a visual display of the data format, (ii) means for optically transmitting the data format from the carrier to the window and (iii) means for positioning the nail surface with carrier at the transmitting means.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for automatically activating the reading means upon proper positioning of the nail at the reading means.

5. A method for identifying a body with respect to a reference group wherein the body has external nail surface structure, said method comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to the nail surface;

b. encoding said carrier with a unique data format for the body with respect to its reference group;

c. permanently attaching the carrier at the nail surface;

d. scanning the nail surface for detection of the data format.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of sealing the carrier within a protective coating to the nail surface.

7. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the encoding step more particularly comprises the step of encoding the carrier with a visible data format capable of optical detection.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the encoding step more particularly includes the step of encoding the carrier with a machine readable code capable of detection by an automated scanning means.

9. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of entering the detected data format into an automated reference file to provide an independently retrievable record of the data format for subsequent comparison with the data format contained on the nail.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

a. detecting the data format on the nail subsequent to its being entered into the reference file,

b. comparing the detected data format with the reference file, and

c. signaling whether the respective detected and referenced data formats are the same or are dissimilar.

11. A method for identification as defined in claim 5, wherein the carrier comprises a thin, flexible wafer no larger than the nail surface and is adapted on one side with means for adhering the wafer thereto.

12. A method of identification as defined in claim 5, wherein the carrier comprises a thin, magnetic wafer no larger than the nail surface and is adapted on one side with means for adhering the wafer thereto, said wafer including means for magnetic encoding of the data format therein.

13. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of applying a color coating and texture which substantially resemble the appearance of other nails in their normal state, the data format being visually unnoticeable, but detectable for purposes of identification.

14. A method of identifying a patient, patient specimens, records, and related information within a health care institution comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to a fingernail or toenail surface of the patient;

b. encoding said carrier with a unique data format for the patient;

c. permanently attaching the encoded carrier at a nail surface of the patient;

d. scanning the nail surface for detection of the data format;

e. entering the detected data format into a reference file to provide an independently retrievable record of the patient identification for subsequent comparison with the data format attached on the nail.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

a. preparing a plurality of carriers having the unique data format of the patient;

b. attaching at least one data carrier to a test specimen container, plate or record relating to the patient; and

c. comparing the data carrier attached to the test specimen container, plate or record with the reference file to verify correct correlation of tests and records with patient identity.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 comprising the more particular step of preparing transferable labels as the plurality of data carriers for attachment to the containers, plates or records, each label having the unique data format representing patient identification.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein test specimen containers, plates, or records for use with the patient are labeled at the patient location with a patient code comprising the data format, said method further comprising the step of comparing the labeled data format with the data format on the patient nail to verify proper identification of the test specimen containers, plates or records prior to subsequent processing thereof at laboratory or other locations removed from the patient.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of automatically transferring and recording test results into a data file by means of the patient code contained on the test container, record or plate, said code being machine scanned for automatic input into a recording means which compares the inputed code with a set of reference codes representing patients within the institution.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of automatically transferring and recording test results into a patient billing file by means of the patient code contained on the test container, record or plate, said code being machine scanned for automatic input into a recording means which compares the inputed code with a set of reference codes representing patients within the institution.

20. An identification system for providing short term identification of a body having surface nail structure, said system comprising:

a. a thin, substantially flat carrier attached to the nail surface, said carrier having width and length dimensions less than the exposed width and length of the nail to which the carrier is attached;

b. a unique data format encoded on the carrier and providing identification information with respect to the attached body;

c. means for attaching and retaining the carrier to the nail surface until it is to be purposefully removed;

d. a scanning device for detecting the data format on the carrier, including means for positioning the device over the nail; and

e. transmission means for sending the detected data format to a reference file for comparison with related information.

21. An identification system as defined in claim 20, further comprising signal means coupled to the scanning device for providing positive or negative results of identification in response to input from the scanning device.

22. An identification system as defined in claim 20, further comprising a plurality of carriers which include the same data format, at least one of the carriers being attached to the nail, the remaining carriers including means for fixation to other surfaces to be identified in connection with the nail wafer.

23. A data carrier for fixation at a fingernail or toenail surface of a body for providing identification thereof with respect to a reference group, said data carrier comprising:

a. a thin, substantially flat carrier attached directly to the nail surface and having width and length dimensions less than the exposed width and length of the nail to which it is attached;

b. a unique data format encoded on the carrier and including information relating to the identity of the individual to which the carrier is attached; and

c. a means for attaching and retaining the carrier at the nail surface until it is to be purposefully removed.

24. A data carrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the carrier comprises a thin sheet of film which has the data format applied at a surface thereof.

25. A data carrier as defined in claim 24 wherein the data format is applied at the film surface positioned adjacent the nail surface and wherein the data format is oriented for detection through the exterior surface of the film, thereby adapting the film as a protective covering for the data format.

26. A data carrier as defined in claim 23 wherein the data format comprises a visible data form capable of optical detection.

27. A data carrier as defined in claim 23 wherein the data format includes a machine readable code capable of automatic detection by a scanning means.

28. A data carrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the data format includes patient identification information for use within a medical care institution.

29. A data carrier as defined in claim 28 wherein the data format includes coded information identifying special medical information such as blood type, allergies and special conditions relating to the patient wearing the wafer.

30. A data carrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the data format and carrier include security access information for use as security clearance for obtaining access to restricted information or locations.

31. A data carrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the carrier comrises a thin, magnetic wafer no larger than the nail surface and adapted to carry a data format capable of machine detection.

32. A method of identifying persons entitled to access to restricted areas or information comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a carrier suitable for attachment to a fingernail or toenail surface of the person;

b. encoding said carrier with a unique data format;

c. permanently attaching the encoded carrier at a nail surface of the person;

d. scanning the nail surface for detection of the data format;

e. entering the detected data format into a reference file to provide an independently retrievable record for subsequent comparison with the data format attached on the nail.

33. A method for determining access rights of a person to a restricted area or controlled information as defined in claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

a. scanning the person'"'"'s nail surface for detection of the data format prior to permitting access; and

b. comparing the scanned information with the reference file or other comparable authority for access.