Tube verifier

• US 8,720,772 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oridion Medical (1987) Ltd. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Colman, Joshua Lewis, Botesazan, Zion, Itzhak, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/946,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20140014729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/487, 235/491, 235/454, 604/533, 604/538
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1094 at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/24 in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet action
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0614 : the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 : arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

There is provided a tube connector for connecting between a fluid sampling tube and a fluid analyzer, the tube connector includes an end face adapted to identify the tube connector, said end face comprising a reflecting surface having one or more reflective regions adapted to reflect light at a predetermined range of wavelengths.

Claims

1. A tube connector, comprising:

a circular annular end face, at least a portion of the circular annular end face comprising at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions, said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions configured to reflect light at different wavelengths and arranged such that a tube connection system can identify recurring changes of reflectivity from said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions, being illuminated by said connection system, during the revolving of said tube connector relative to said tube connection system.

2. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said circular annular end face is configured to encode data indicative of a type of said tube connector.

3. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said circular annular end face is configured to encode data indicative of a preferred mode of operation of said tube connector.

4. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said tube connection system comprises one or more light sources and one or more optical detectors.

5. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises a red, green, and blue (RGB) detector.

6. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions comprise at least one geometrical shape.

7. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions exhibit at least one concave region and at least one convex region.

8. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions cover a substantial portion of said tube connector.

9. A method, comprising:

forming a tube connector having a circular annular end face; and

applying at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions to at least a portion of the circular annular end face, said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions configured to reflect light at different wavelengths and arranged such that a tube connection system can identify recurring changes of reflectivity from said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions, being illuminated by said connection system, during the revolving of said tube connector relative to said tube connection system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said circular annular end face is configured to encode data indicative of a type of said tube connector.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said circular annular end face is configured to encode data indicative of a preferred mode of operation of said tube connector.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said tube connection system comprises one or more light sources and one or more optical detectors.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises a red, green, and blue (RGB) detector.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions comprise at least one geometrical shape.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions exhibit at least one concave region and at least one convex region.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions cover a substantial portion of said tube connector.