Activatable Barcode Label for Small Blood Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small volume blood collection containers have limited surface area, leading to 'overlabeling' issues where both computer-readable and human-readable information are required, obscuring the container's contents and causing clinical and diagnostic errors.
Innovation Solution
A label with a light-transmissive portion for viewing the container's contents and an excitation-activatable material for machine-readable information, which is undetectable in ambient light but visible upon application of an excitation wavelength, allowing both types of information to be provided in a compact format without obscuring the container's contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If both computer-readable barcode information and human-readable testing information are provided on a label, then the required information is complete, but the label size increases and obscures the container contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluorescent or phosphorescent materials that change their optical properties under different lighting conditions. The barcode is invisible under ambient light but becomes visible when exposed to UV or other excitation wavelengths, allowing the label to display different information at different times without increasing physical size
Solution Approach 2:
The label transitions from a static display to a dynamic one where the barcode can be activated on demand. The excitation-activatable material allows the barcode to appear only when needed for scanning, while remaining invisible during normal handling and viewing, effectively managing information display dynamically
2Loss of information
If a large label is used to provide all required information, then information completeness is improved, but visual access to container contents is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
By using materials that change color or become visible only under specific excitation wavelengths, the label maintains a clear, transparent appearance under normal lighting, allowing full visual access to container contents while still containing all required information in an activated state
Solution Approach 2:
The information is transferred to a different domain (optical activation domain) rather than being permanently visible. The barcode exists as latent information that can be copied or revealed only when excitation energy is applied, separating the information storage from visual obstruction
3Ease of operation
If the barcode is always visible, then machine reading is simplified, but the label becomes larger and may cause clinical errors
Solution Approach 1:
The barcode visibility is made dynamic rather than static. It appears only when the excitation source is applied during the scanning process, eliminating the risk of premature or accidental scanning while maintaining ease of operation during the actual reading process
Solution Approach 2:
The invisible state of the barcode under ambient light serves as a preliminary protective measure against accidental scanning or misreading. The barcode becomes active only when intentionally activated by the proper excitation source, preventing erroneous operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables clear visibility of the container's contents while providing necessary machine-readable information only when activated, reducing errors and improving specimen handling and testing processes.
Implementation Method 1
an excitation-activatable material arranged to contain machine readable information disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the light-transmissive portion, wherein the machine readable information is undetected by a detector in ambient light, and detectable by the detector upon application of an excitation wavelength to the excitation-activatable material
Data Source
AI summary
A label including a label body having an upper surface and a bottom surface and a light-transmissive portion and an opaque portion is disclosed. The label includes an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface for affixing the label body to a portion of a container. An excitation-activatable material arranged to contain machine readable information is disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the light-transmissive portion of the label body. The machine readable information is undetected by a detector in ambient light, and detectable by the detector upon application of an excitation wavelength to the excitation-activatable material.