Tube verifier

• US 8,763,895 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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:
  US13/947,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20140021251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 723/75, 724/87, 724/91, 724/54, 724/620.1, 724/621.3, 604/533, 604/538, 340/572.1
• 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 connecting between a fluid sampling tube and a fluid analyzer, the tube connector comprising a circular annular end face configured to facilitate identification of the tube connector, wherein said circular annular end face comprises an electronic identification means comprising an RFID tag and a barcode tag, both tags configured to be read by verification system of said fluid analyzer to identify the tube connector and to determine a corresponding mode of operation of the fluid analyzer.

2. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said electronic identification means is configured to encode data selected from:

type of said tube connector, class and/or model of said tube connector, preferred mode of operation of said tube connector, and combinations thereof.

3. The tube connector of claim 2, wherein when the data encoded is indicative of a certain type of a tube connector, the fluid analyzer will operate in an operation mode that is suitable for the identified type of tube connector.

4. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said electronic identification means is a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) tag.

5. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein the verification system comprises a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) reader.

6. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein said RFID tag comprises an integrated circuit configured to store and process information, and to modulate and demodulate a radio frequency signal.

7. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein said RFID tag comprises an antenna configured to receive and transmit a radio frequency signal.

8. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein said RFID tag is a chip-less RFID.

9. The tube connector of claim 4, wherein said RFID tag is devoid of an autonomous power supply.

11. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said electronic identification means is printed on at least a region of said end face.

10. A tube connector connecting between a fluid sampling tube and a fluid analyzer, the tube connector comprising a circular annular end face configured to facilitate identification of the tube connector, wherein said circular annular end face comprises an electronic identification means comprising an RFID tag and a barcode tag, both tags configured to be read by a verification system of said fluid analyzer to identify the tube connector and to determine a mode of operation of the fluid analyzer, wherein the verification system further comprises at least a barcode scanner.

12. A system for analyzing configured to analyze fluid, said system comprising:

a capnograph comprising a device connector, said device connector configured to receive a tube connector comprising a circular annular end face, said end face comprising electronic identification means comprising an RFID tag and a barcode tag to facilitate identification of the tube connector, wherein the tube connector connects a fluid sampling tube with the capnograph;

a verification system configured to identify the tube connector, said verification system comprising;

a reader configured to read both tags and output a corresponding signal,

and a processor configured to identify a tube connector type based upon the signal received from the reader;

and wherein said verification system determines a mode of operation of the capnograph based upon the tube connector type identified by the processor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronic identification means is configured to encode data selected from:

type of said tube connector, class and/or model of said tube connector, preferred mode of operation of said tube connector, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronic identification means is a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) tag.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said reader is a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) reader.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said tube connector further comprises a barcode tag.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said verification system further comprises a barcode scanner.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said verification system identifies said tube connector wirelessly.