Medical product expiration alerting

• US 7,212,100 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terenna, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/053,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/309.2, 340/309.3, 340/309.7, 368/10, 368/108
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/025 acting only at one preselected time

Abstract

A system for monitoring a time sensitive medical product includes a medical product; a packaging containing the medical product; and at least one label associated with the packaging or the medical product. The at least one label includes at least one permanent region having permanent indicia; at least one transformable region having time sensitive indicia wherein the time sensitive indicia is non-detectable in a first state and detectable in a second state; a micro-controller operatively connected to at least one of the at least one permanent region and the at least one transformable region, wherein the micro-controller monitors elapsed time and causes the at least one transformable region to change from the first state to the second state thereby revealing the time sensitive indicia in the second state; and a power source operatively connected to the micro-controller. A clock and a keypad for inputting data relating to an expiration date for the medical product are operatively connected to the micro-controller respectively.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a time sensitive medical product, the system comprising:

a medical product;

a packaging containing the medical product;

at least one label associated with the packaging or the medical product, the at least one label comprising;

(i) at least one permanent region having permanent indicia;

(ii) at least one transformable region having time sensitive indicia, the time sensitive indicia being non-detectable in a first state and detectable in a second state;

(iii) a micro-controller operatively connected to at least one of the at least one permanent region and the at least one transformable region, the micro-controller monitoring elapsed time and causing the at least one transformable region to change from the first state to the second state thereby revealing the time sensitive indicia in the second state; and

(iv) a power source operatively connected to the micro-controller.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transformable region is irreversibly transformable.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a clock operatively connected to the micro-controller.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a keypad operatively connected to the micro-controller for inputting data.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the data relates to an expiration date for the medical product.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the expiration date is displayed in the at least one permanent region.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising an audio output device operatively connected to the micro-controller, the audio output device outputting an audio signal when the at least one transformable region changes from the first state to the second state.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a second transformable region operatively connected to the micro-controller, the second transformable region being used as a positive control relating to use of the medical product.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a third transformable region operatively connected to the micro-controller, the third transformable region being used as a negative control relating to use of the medical product.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the second transformable region and the third transformable region display indicia.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the indicia for at least one of the second transformable region and the third transformable region includes a symbol.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the indicia for at least one of the second transformable region and the third transformable region includes a color.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one transformable region, the second transformable region and the third transformable region comprise an electro-chromic material.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one transformable region, the second transformable region and the third transformable region comprise a photo-chromic material.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one transformable region, the second transformable region and the third transformable region comprise a thermo-chromic material.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the medical product is a drug.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the medical product is a device.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the medical product is a drug eluting stent.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the medical product further includes a stent delivery system.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the packaging comprises a box.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the packaging further comprises an outer pouch.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the packaging further comprises an inner pouch.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the packaging further comprises a tray.

24. The system according to claim 21, further including a second label with the outer pouch.

25. The system according to claim 24, further including a third label with the inner pouch.

26. The system according to claim 15, wherein the packaging comprises a bottle.

27. The system according to claim 15, wherein the packaging comprises a box.

28. The system according to claim 15, wherein the packaging comprises a pouch.