Manually settable tamper resistant indicator device

• US 8,434,421 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Janet L. Fagan
• Original Assignee: Janet L. Fagan
• Inventors: Fagan, Janet L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US12/884,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 116/306, 116/307, 116/308, 116/309, 116/311, 116/315, 116/316, 116/321, 116/323, 116/324, 206/459.1, 283/65, 283/79, 283/81, 40/5, 404/88, 404/90, 404/91, 404/92
• US Class Current: 116/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/23 the advertising or display material forming part of rotating members, e.g. in the form of perforations, prints, or transparencies on a drum or disc

Abstract

A manually settable, tamper resistant indicator device suitable for use in medical and other professions, and a method for operating the device, are disclosed. An indicia member is manually moved relative to a pointer member, in setting the indicator device to display selected indicia at a pointing area. The displayed information is locked by fixing the indicia member relative to the pointer member, using a tamper resistant locking member. A fastening device, which may be tamper resistant, is used for attaching the indicator device to an article, which may be a medical device attached to a medical patient. The indicator device may be sterilized. In a medical setting, the displayed information may include a day, a date, a usage count or a personnel identifier. In one example, the indicia member has a plurality of sliding strips, each sliding strip being mounted to the pointer member and independently movable.

Claims

1. A method for visibly indicating information on a medical device attached to a medical patient, the method comprising:

affixing an indicator device to a medical device;

attaching the medical device to a medical patient;

setting the indicator device to display information relating to the medical device and including a time, a day, a date, a usage count, a baseline information, or a personnel identifier, concomitantly with attaching the medical device to the medical patient;

employing a means for mechanically arresting an indicia member of the indicator device relative to a pointer member of the indicator device in a tamper resistant manner; and

identifying the indicator device using a scannable identification device;

wherein setting the indicator device includes manually moving at least a portion of the indicia member relative to at least a portion of the pointer member.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sterilizing the indicator device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein affixing the indicator device to the medical device includes adhering the indicator device to the medical device using an adhesive surface of the indicator device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein affixing the indicator device to the medical device includes inserting a fastener through an aperture of the pointer member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein affixing the indicator device to the medical device includes manufacturing the indicator device integrally with the medical device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical device is disposable and the date is a start date or an expiration date, relating to a usage of the medical device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical device includes one of:

an intravenous tubing, an intravenous tubing valve, an intravenous tubing port, a medication container, a catheter, a dressing, an infusion equipment, a drain, a respiratory therapy device or a feeding tube.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein locking the displayed information includes adhering an adhesive surface of a locking member of the indicator device to at least one of the indicia member or the pointer member.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein manually moving at least a portion of the indicia member includes moving at least one of a plurality of sliding strips of the indicia member.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein setting the indicator device includes aligning selected indicia on sliding strips of the indicia member to a pointing area of the pointer member to display the information.

11. The method of claim 1 further including extending or collapsing at least a portion of the indicator device.

12. The method of claim 1 further including stacking a plurality of members or ones of the indicator device.

13. The method of claim 1 further including moving at least one member of the indicator device about a pivot point of the indicator device to form a fan arrangement.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching the indicator device to a medical device includes attaching tubing of the medical device to a splice fitting of the indicator device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching the indicator device to a medical device includes fastening a locking clamp of the indicator device to the medical device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching the indicator device to a medical device includes fastening a tamper resistant clamp of the indicator device to the medical device.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator device includes a sliding resistant tubing clamp.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching the indicator device to a medical device includes inserting a tubing of the medical device into a tubing clamp of the indicator device and securing the tubing using a locking mechanism.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the information further includes a starting time, day or date or an expiration time, day or date.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the information further includes a unit of measure, a location, or an identifier of person or a product.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein first and second portions of the indicia member or the pointer member are independently lockable.

22. An indicator device comprising:

an indicia member with a plurality of sliding strips having indicia thereupon;

a pointer member with at least one pointing area;

a tamper resistant locking member operable to fix at least a portion of the indicia member to at least a portion of the pointer member; and

a fastening device;

wherein each sliding strip is mounted to the pointer member and independently manually movable to display a respective selected one of the indicia at the pointing area;

wherein an adhesive surface of the locking member adheres to a portion of at least one sliding strip and to a portion of the pointer member.

23. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein each sliding strip enters a respective slit of the pointer member, displays the respective selected one of the indicia at the pointing area and exits a further respective slit of the pointer member.

24. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the pointing area includes at least one window.

25. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the pointing area includes at least one of an arrow, a symbol, a line segment or text.

26. The indicator device of claim 22 further including a barcode, an RFID or a microchip.

27. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the locking member includes a transparent portion through which the selected indicia are visible upon adhering an adhesive surface of the locking member to a front side of the pointer member.

28. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device includes an adhesive surface on a back side of the pointer member.

29. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device includes an aperture of the pointer member through which a fastener is insertable.

30. The indicator device of claim 22 further comprising the indicator device being in a sterile condition within a sterile packaging.

31. The indicator device of claim 22 further comprising at least a portion of the indicator device being extendable or collapsible.

32. The indicator device of claim 22 further comprising at least a portion of the indicator device being stackable and having at least a pin for stacking.

33. The indicator device of claim 22 further comprising pivoting members deployable to a fan arrangement.

34. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device further includes a tubing splice fitting.

35. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device further includes a locking clamp having at least a locking pin.

36. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device further includes a tamper resistant clamp.

37. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device further includes a tubing clamp having at least one finger.

38. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the fastening device further includes a slidable tubing clamp having a pinch region, a tubing insertion gap and a lockable mechanism to secure a tubing in the slidable tubing clamp.

39. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein the locking member includes a crush region or a deformation member.

40. The indicator device of claim 22 wherein a one of the plurality of sliding strips is lockable independently of a further one of the plurality of sliding strips.

41. The indicator device of claim 22 further comprising a container in which an unused portion of a one of the plurality of sliding strips is stowed.