Antimicrobial coating for identification devices

• US 9,114,187 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Hofer, Gene Allen, Macedon, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Klinkel, Kortney L
• Application Number:
  US11/413,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,406 Days
• Field of Search: 428/411.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/14 Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/16 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/00 Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02; devices for putting-on or pulling-off bracelets A47G25/901
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/104 Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/202 with halogen atoms, e.g. triclosan, povidone-iodine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/14 Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides C09D5/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

An identification device that combines an antimicrobial coating with a printable substrate. For example, the invention includes a wristband with a face stock supporting indicia which are applied on (such as through thermal transfer printing) or through (such as through direct thermal printing) an antimicrobial layer. The antimicrobial layer is preferably a coating or varnish that is applied as the outermost layer and can bind with thermal transfer printing ink or supports pass through of direct thermal printing on a chemically receptive sublayer. The antimicrobial varnish includes varnish compounds and antimicrobial compounds such as a silver zeolite ion that is configured to react to moisture with a controlled release of microbial disinfectant. Preferably, the wristband is a hospital wristband bearing on-site printed identification indicia for a patient.

Claims

1. An identification device comprising:

a face stock;

a protective coating positioned at least one of proximate or adjacent to at least a portion of at least one surface of said face stock, wherein the protective layer consists of resin and a plurality of fillers and binders; and

a water-based antimicrobial varnish layer receptive to a thermal transfer ink printing process and positioned on at least a portion of said protective coating, said antimicrobial layer comprising a silver zeolite containing silver ions such that upon exposure of the device to moisture at least a portion of the silver ions are released to maintain an antimicrobial property of the antimicrobial layer.

2. The identification device according to claim 1, wherein said antimicrobial coating comprises a Triclosan compound.

3. The identification device according to claim 1, wherein said protective coating is hydrophobic.

4. The identification device according to claim 1, wherein said face stock comprises a flexible material.

5. The identification device according to claim 1, wherein said face stock comprises at least one of a polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, and woven nylon material.

6. The identification device according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification device.

7. The identification device according to claim 1, wherein the identification device is a wristband.

8. The identification device according to claim 7, wherein the wristband comprises a pair of long edges, a pair of short edges, a body portion and a connector portion, and wherein said connector portion is shorter and narrower than said body portion.

9. The identification device according to claim 8, wherein said connector portion is an adhesive patch.

10. The identification device according to claim 8, wherein said antimicrobial varnish layer and said indicia are located on at least a portion of the body portion.

11. The identification device according to claim 1 further comprising indicia imprinted on said antimicrobial varnish layer using the thermal transfer printing process.

12. The identification device according to claim 11, wherein said indicia comprises identifying indicia for a patient.

13. The identification device according to claim 12, wherein said antimicrobial coating comprises a Triclosan compound.

14. An identification device comprising:

a face stock;

a thermal chemical imaging layer applied to at least a portion of at least one surface of said face stock;

an ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer positioned proximate to at least a portion of said thermal chemical imaging layer and configured to enable direct thermal printing onto the thermal chemical imaging layer through the antimicrobial layer; and

a protective layer positioned between, and adjacent to, said thermal chemical imaging layer and said antimicrobial layer, wherein the protective layer consists of resin and a plurality of fillers and binders.

15. The identification device according to claim 14, wherein said thermal chemical imaging layer comprises at least one heat sensitive thermal imaging chemical capable of manifesting indicia upon the application of heat thereto.

16. The identification device according to claim 14, wherein said antimicrobial layer comprises a silver zeolite compound.

17. The identification device according to claim 14, further comprising a radio frequency identification device.

18. The identification device according to claim 14, wherein the identification device is a wristband.

19. The identification device according to claim 14 further comprising indicia imprinted on said chemical layer using the direct thermal printing.

20. A method of constructing an identification device comprising:

providing a face stock;

positioning a protective coating at least one of proximate or adjacent to at least a portion of at least one surface of the face stock, wherein the protective layer consists of resin and a plurality of fillers and binders; and

applying a water-based antimicrobial varnish layer receptive to a thermal transfer printing process on at least a portion of the protective coating, said antimicrobial layer comprising a silver zeolite containing silver ions such that upon exposure of the device to moisture at least a portion of the silver ions are released to maintain an antimicrobial property of the antimicrobial layer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein positioning comprises applying the protective coating directly onto the face stock.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein applying comprises applying the antimicrobial coating using a flexographic printing press.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising imprinting indicia on at least a portion of the antimicrobial varnish layer using the thermal transfer printing process.

24. A method of constructing an identification device comprising:

providing a face stock;

applying a thermal chemical imaging layer on at least one surface of at least a portion of the face stock; and

positioning an ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer proximate to at least a portion of the thermal chemical imaging layer, wherein the ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer is configured to enable direct thermal printing onto the thermal chemical imaging layer through the antimicrobial layer; and

positioning a protective layer between, and adjacent to, said thermal chemical imaging layer and said antimicrobial layer, wherein the protective layer consists of resin and a plurality of fillers and binders.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising printing indicia on at least a portion of the thermal chemical imaging layer using the direct thermal printing process.