Tube verifier

• US 8,967,461 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Limited (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:
  US14/255,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20140252082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/462.01, 235/492, 235/493, 235/454, 235/375, 235/462.13, 340/572.1, 250/224, 250/559.3, 250/465.1, 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:

an end face comprising at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions; and

an RFID tag;

wherein said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions are configured to reflect light at different wavelengths; and

wherein said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions are arranged such that a tube connection system of a fluid analyzer can identify recurring changes of reflectivity from said at least two spectrally distinct reflective regions, during the revolving of said tube connector relative to said tube connection system, the revolving occurring after said tube connector is connected 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 when data encoded by said RFID tag is indicative of a certain type of a tube connector, said 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 RFID tag 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.

5. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag comprises an integrated circuit configured to store and process information, and to modulate and demodulate a radio frequency signal.

6. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag comprises an antenna configured to receive and transmit a radio frequency signal.

7. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is a chip-less RFID.

8. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is devoid of an autonomous power supply.

9. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is located on an outer wall of said tube connector.

10. The tube connector of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is located on an inner wall of said tube connector.