Pediatric patient identification wristband tag

Abstract

A wristband particularly suited for infants, has separate printable tag that may be threaded onto a wristband to provide a widened axial segment for clean printing and scanning of a barcode. The bar code is positioned to extend along the wrist so as to remain relatively flat on a wrist that may be a small as an adult's thumb.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 671,340 filed Apr. 14, 2005 and hereby incorporated by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] -- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention is related to identification wristbands and the like and, in, particular to a patient identification wristband tag suitable for pediatric use. [0004] Wristbands are commonly used within a hospital to ensure that patients are correctly identified for medical treatment. A computer-controlled printer, tied to a patient record system, may be used to print identification information directly on the surface of the wristband or on a label that may be affixed to the wristband. [0005] Some hospitals print a barcode, unique to the patient, onto the wristband, which may be scanned at the time medication is provided to the patient, either to automatically dispense the proper medication ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides a wristband having a separate printable tag that may be threaded onto a wristband and which is suitable for providing a widened axial segment for clean printing and scanning of a barcode. When fully assembled, the bar code is positioned perpendicularly to the patient's appendage. The tags may be supplied on a roll or sheet, easily fed through a printer for printing multiple tags in a single pass for a single patient, and then removed as needed by means of perforations or partial die-cuts in the roll or sheet. The tags accept standard wristband straps and allow a single width of strap to be used with both infants and adults. The tags may be flexibly manufactured from a material that has high tensile strength and is non-absorbent, resistant to substances common to a health care environment, non-crimpable, hygienic, printable, able to be cut with rounded, non-irritating edges, latex free and not necessarily the same material used in the wristband straps.

Problems solved by technology

When barcodes are printed around the circumference of the wristband, curvature of the wrist, particularly for infants, can interfere with reliable scanning of the barcode.

The curvature of the wristband can obscure portions of the barcode, cause crimping of the bar code, and prevent the entire bar code from being positioned within a scanning plane.

Shrinking the size of the bar code to fit on small wristbands may not be possible because of limits in printer and scanner resolution and may be impractical because of the susceptibly of small barcodes to damage or dirt.

The latter type of wristband can be difficult to manufacture, and thus more expensive, and when printed directly by a printer, may require a special carrier for supporting the wristband during the printing process and a special type of clasp that is compatible with being passed through a printer.

Special wristbands for infants can create problems in ordering and stocking wristbands in a hospital.

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