Self-Laminating Wristband With Segmented Label And Cinch Slot

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Solution Overview

Problem

In emergency medical situations, there is a need for a rapid, intuitive, and foolproof method to identify patients and their belongings, especially in chaotic environments where medical personnel are under time pressure and must handle multiple victims while wearing protective gloves, and there is a challenge in efficiently communicating patient information to families and collecting data for triage purposes.

Innovation Solution

A self-laminating wristband/label assembly with a cinch slot and color-coded tabs, which can be easily applied to a patient's wrist, features individually separable labels with bar codes, and is designed for quick data collection and transmission, allowing for efficient identification and tracking of patients and their belongings, even in hostile environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a standard form is used in emergency situations, then the form structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the form is difficult to handle with gloved fingers and requires complex application procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of applicationVSAvoidform structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The form is divided into separate functional components: a wristband portion with cinch slot for securing to the patient's wrist, and a detachable label portion with printed information. This segmentation allows the wristband to be applied independently without requiring complex manipulation of the entire form, while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The label portion is extracted from the wristband portion through a die-cut separation. This allows the label to be easily removed and attached to the patient's belongings separately from the wristband application process, simplifying the overall operation while maintaining a simple form structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a laminated wristband is used, then the wristband is protected from fluids and damage, but the print area is reduced and manufacturing is more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from fluidsVSAvoidprint area size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lamination is applied locally only to the wristband portion where fluid protection is needed, rather than the entire form. The label portion remains un laminated to preserve maximum print area and facilitate easy information transfer. This localized approach provides necessary protection while minimizing impact on print area and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If multiple labels are provided on the form, then patient information can be collected comprehensively, but the form becomes more complex and harder to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation collection completenessVSAvoidform handling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple labels are segmented into individual detachable units on the form. Each label can be easily removed and attached to separate patient belongings or medical items. This segmentation maintains comprehensive information collection capability while making the form easier to handle, as labels can be independently managed without manipulating the entire complex form structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the wristband uses adhesive to secure, then application is simple, but the wristband can be accidentally removed and is less secure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication simplicityVSAvoidwristband security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wristband combines two securing mechanisms: adhesive elements for initial attachment and a cinch slot with loop structure for mechanical securing. The adhesive provides simple initial application, while the cinch slot requires deliberate action to open and close, providing reliable security against accidental removal. Both mechanisms work together to achieve both ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2660798B1Business form and self-laminating wristband with improved print area and single layer straps
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 LASERBAND LLC
  • EP2660798B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2660798B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2660798B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A business form including a wristband is provided with a print area forming a badge, the badge having a length less than and a width greater than a width of either of two straps used to attach the wristband to the wrist, the badge thus having a greater print area to improve the readability of the indicia displayed therein. A business form including a wristband has a bulged rectangularly shaped print area to allow information to be printed transversely across the print area to improve readability of the indicia displayed in the print area. Thus, the bulged rectangularly shaped print area can accommodate one or both of bar codes printed thereon in ladder as well as picket fence fashion. A security seal is disclosed which comprises a small, adhesive coated patch of laminate for sealing the joinder of the wristband ends and which has points of weakness such as X's die cut therein so that it separates or destructs upon removal to provide an indication of tampering with the wristband. Also disclosed is an embodiment of the wristband form that is imprinted with identifying indicia for collecting, tracking and administering a patient's blood collection and blood product compatibility.