Coding symbology and a method for printing same

• US 7,108,184 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Edwards, Scott, Mase, Joseph C., Trinidad, Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koyama, Kumiko C.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20030047616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.04, 235/462.06, 235/468, 235/489, 235/491, 235/462.45, 235/462.01, 235/462.05
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/382 Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes sublistatic printing using a pre-formed image B41M5/035; ink-, dye- or pigment-receptive coatings B41M5/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermographic registration recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1434 Barcodes with supplemental or add-on codes

Abstract

The present invention includes forming a coding symbology by disposing a plurality of light-reflecting segments separated by spaces on a substrate. The coding symbology represents fixed information and variable information.

Claims

1. A medical container having a negative image bar code comprising:

a medical container comprising transparent plastic film;

a first plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines first spaces that separate the first plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the first spaces also itself defines a first set of light-absorbing segments, and wherein the first plurality and the first set define a first negative image bar code representing fixed information;

a second plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines second spaces that separate the second plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the second spaces also itself defines a second set of light-absorbing segments, wherein the second plurality and the second set define a second negative image bar code representing variable information, wherein the variable information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

lot number, batch number, expiration date, serial number, production time, price, and concentration; and

wherein the first bar code and the second bar code are each detectable using a reader.

2. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the medical container is flexible.

3. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the first or second negative image bar code comprises a symbology selected from the group consisting of:

Code 16K, Code 39, Code 49, Codabar, Code 128, UPC-E, UPC-A, EAN-8, EAN-13, Reduced Space Symbology, composite symbol, PDE-417, and Interleaved 2-of-5.

4. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the variable information comprises the lot number and expiration date and wherein the fixed information comprises a National Drug Code Number.

5. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the medical container film comprises a multi-layer film.

6. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the medical container film comprises a polyvinyl chloride material.

7. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the medical container film comprises a polyester material.

8. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the medical container film comprises polyolefin material.

9. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the light-reflecting segments have the color white.

10. The medical container of claim 1 wherein the light reflecting segments are not visible to the naked eye.

11. The medical container of claim 1 wherein each negative image bar code has a length less than or equal to 52 millimeters.

12. The medical container of claim 1 further comprising an overpouch, the medical container being disposed within the overpouch and the negative image bar code being decodable upon scanning through said overpouch.

13. The medical container of claim 12 wherein said overpouch has a wall thickness of at least 2 millimeters.

14. A container system comprising:

a medical container comprising transparent plastic film;

a plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines spaces that separate the plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the spaces also itself defines light-absorbing segments, wherein the light reflecting segments and the light-absorbing segments define a negative image bar code representing fixed information and variable information, and

a material positioned over a portion of the bar code, wherein the portion has an A or B scan grade when decoded through the material and in accordance with ANSIX3.182.

15. The container system of claim 14 wherein the negative image bar code has a length less than 72 millimeters.

16. The container system of claim 14 wherein the negative image bar code has a length less than or equal to 52 millimeters.

17. A container system comprising:

a medical container comprising transparent plastic film;

a first plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines first spaces that separate the first plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the first spaces also itself defines a first set of light-absorbing segments, and wherein the first plurality and the first set define a first negative image bar code representing fixed information;

a second plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines second spaces that separate the second plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the second spaces also itself defines a second set of light-absorbing segments, and wherein the second plurality and the second set define a second negative image bar code representing variable information;

-and

a material positioned over a portion each bar code, wherein each portion has an A or B scan grade when decoded through the material and in accordance with ANSIX3.182.

18. The container system of claim 17 wherein the negative image bar code has a length less than 72 millimeters.

19. The container system of claim 17 wherein the negative image bar code has a length less than or equal to 52 millimeters.

20. The container system of claim 17 wherein the second plurality of light-reflecting segments are indicia having a color selected from the group consisting of white, red, yellow, orange, gold, and silver.

21. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the variable information comprises the lot number and expiration date and wherein the fixed information comprises a National Drug Code Number.

22. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the medical container film comprises a multi-layer film.

23. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the medical container film comprises a polyvinyl chloride material.

24. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the medical container film comprises polyolefin material.

25. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the light-reflecting segments have the color White.

26. The medical container of claim 17 wherein the light reflecting segments are not visible to the naked eye.

27. A container system comprising:

a medical container comprising transparent plastic film;

a plurality of light-reflecting segments disposed on the medical container film, wherein the medical container film defines spaces that separate the plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the spaces also itself defines a set of light-absorbing segments, wherein the plurality and the set define a negative bar code representing variable information;

a material positioned over a portion of the bar code, and

wherein the portion of the bar code has an A or B scan grade when decoded through the material and in accordance with ANSIX3.182.

28. The container system of claim 27 wherein the medical container is flexible.

29. The container system of claim 28 wherein the material is an overpouch comprising polyethylene, and wherein the overpouch has a thickness of at least 2 mils.

30. The container system of claim 29 wherein the thickness of the overpouch is at least 4 mils.

31. The container system of claim 29 wherein the thickness of the overpouch is at least 8 mils.

32. The container system of claim 28 wherein each bar code has a length less than 52 millimeters.

33. The container system of claim 28 wherein each bar code has a length less than 72 millimeters.

34. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the variable information comprises the lot number and expiration date.

35. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the medical container film comprises a multi-layer film.

36. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the medical container film comprises polyvinyl chloride material.

37. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the medical container film comprises a polyester material.

38. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the medical container film comprises polyolefin material.

39. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the light-reflecting segments have the color white.

40. The medical container of claim 27 wherein the light reflecting segments are not visible to the naked eye.

41. A container system comprising:

a flexible container comprising a transparent plastic film;

a plurality of light-absorbing segments disposed on the flexible container film, wherein the flexible container film defines spaces that separate the plurality of light-reflecting segments, wherein the film defining the spaces also itself defines light-absorbing segments, wherein the light-reflecting segments and the light-absorbing segments define a negative image bar code representing fixed information and variable information, wherein the variable information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

lot number, batch number, expiration date, serial number, production time, price, and concentration, and wherein the bar code is detectable using a reader;

a material positioned over a portion of the bar code, wherein the portion of the bar code has an A or B scan grade when decoded through the material and in accordance with ANSIX3.182.

42. The container system of claim 41 wherein the bar code has a length less than 72 millimeters.