IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 3,848,112 A
• Filed: 09/11/1972
• Issued: 11/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A.B. Dick Company (MAI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Wilhelmson, Theodore E. Weichselbaum
• Inventors: Wilhelmson, Jack L., Weichselbaum, Theodore E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/287,925
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11D,61.12M,61.7B,61.7R,61.11A,61.11C 340/149A
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5453 for test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/08 by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/90 Medical record

Abstract

An identification bracelet attached to the arm of each patient entering a hospital dispenses a plurality of magnetically coded tags having an adhesive backing for attachment to samples, prescriptions and the like to uniquely identify the source individual. Tag readers located throughout the hospital decode the magnetic tags in order to correlate an analysis with the proper patient. In the patient'"'"''"'"'s room, a portable battery operated cross-check reader compares a magnetically coded treatment tag with an identification tag from the patient'"'"''"'"'s bracelet to prevent a treatment from being given to the wrong patient.

Claims

1. In an identification system for relating items with patients, cross-check means for insuring that an identifying item corresponds to an identified patient, comprising:

first identification tag means adapted to be dispensed from bracelet means attached to a single patient;

said first identification tag means carrying thereon magnetic means having a plurality of magnetic fields arranged to form a unique magnetic code for identifying a single patient;

second identification tag means adapted to be dispensed from the bracelet means and carrying thereon magnetic means having a plurality of magentic fields corresponding to the plurality of magnetic fields carried by said first identification tag means to form the unique magnetic code thereon;

means for removably attaching said second Identification tag means to an item which is to be associated with said single patient; and

reader means for comparing the unique codes of said first and second identification tag means comprising plate means mounted for movement along a predetermined path between first and second positions, first and second input receptacles for respectively receiving said first and second identification tag means, said receptacles being disposed on said plate means for simultaneous movement therewith, first and second magnetic read heads disposed adjacent said path for respective association with said first and second input receptacles, energy storage means coupled to said plate means for storing energy in response to movement of said plate means from said first position to said second position, said plate means being movable from said second position to said first position by the energy stored in said storage means for moving said first and second identification tag means relative to said first and second read heads to produce a first series of signals corresponding to the unique magnetic code of said first identification tag means and a second series of signals corresponding to the unique magnetic code of said second identification tag means, circuitry means responsive to said first and second series of signals for producing a signal comparison, and means responsieve to said signal comparison to provide a match indication when the magnetic codes of said first and second identification tag means are identical.

2. The identification system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage means includes spring means for normally urging said plate means toward said first position, damper means for controlling the speed of movement of said plate means from said second position to said first position, and said attaching means includes an adhesive layer on said second identification tag means.