Identification tag reader system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11630965-B2
Application number	US-202117226639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2021
Priority date	Feb 28, 2017
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

A reader system for reading information on at least one identification tag associated with a syringe connected to a fluid injector has a detector and a background screen spaced apart from the detector such that at least one of the at least one identification tags is positioned in an optical path between the detector and the background screen when the syringe is connected to the fluid injector. The reader system further has an illumination system configured for illuminating at least a portion of the background screen. The detector is configured for detecting and decoding the at least one identification tag. Methods for reading information on at least one identification tag associated with a syringe are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for reading information on at least one identification tag associated with a syringe, the method comprising:
locating at least one of the at least one identification tags associated with a sidewall of the syringe inserted between a background screen and a frame of a detector, such that the at least one of the at least one identification tags is positioned in an optical path between the detector and the background screen;
illuminating at least a portion of the background screen with an illumination system such that at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one identification tags is illuminated by the background screen;
detecting by the detector the at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one identification tags while it is illuminated by the background screen; and
communicating with a control mechanism of a fluid injector at least one parameter from the at least one identification tag,
wherein the background screen is spaced apart from the frame of the detector such that at least a portion of the syringe having the at least one identification tag is insertable in a space between the background screen and the frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising decrypting at least one decryption code with unique identifying information associated with the at least one identification tag.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises a digital signature for the syringe, the method further comprising enabling operation of the fluid injector when the at least one identification tag associated with the syringe comprises a correct digital signature.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising notifying a user that the syringe is not a correct syringe if the syringe does not comprise the correct digital signature.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising disabling the fluid injector while the syringe is inserted in an injector port if the syringe does not comprise the correct digital signature.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein illuminating at least a portion of the background screen comprises illuminating a surface of at least the portion of the background screen.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein illuminating the surface comprises at least one of illuminating a painted surface of the background screen, illuminating a textured surface of the background screen, and illuminating a light pipe of the background screen.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detector is a digital camera and detecting at least a portion of the at least one identification tag comprises capturing a digital image of the at least one identification tag.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein capturing the digital image of the at least one identification tag comprises identifying and extracting information defining the at least one identification tag; and converting the information into usable data.

10. A method of reading with a reader system at least one of at least one identification tag associated with a syringe, the method comprising:
inserting the syringe into a syringe port associated with a fluid injector such that at least one of the at least one identification tags is positioned in a space between a protective screen of the reader system and an illuminated background screen of the reader system;
initiating a scan with the reader system of the at least one identification tag while it is illuminated by the illuminated background screen;
capturing an image of the at least one of the at least one identification tag against the illuminated background screen;
decoding the at least one identification tag;
extracting information about at least one parameter of at least one of the syringe and a medical fluid contained within the syringe; and
sending the information to a control mechanism of the fluid injector.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising turning on an illumination system to illuminate the illuminated background screen prior to initiating the scan with the reader system.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising focusing a lens of the reader system onto the at least one of the at least one identification tag.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising turning off the illumination system after decoding the at least one identification tag.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein decoding the at least one identification tag comprises using at least one algorithm programmed in the reader system or in injector software.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein turning on the illumination system comprises illuminating at least a portion of a surface of the illuminated background screen.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises a digital signature for the syringe, the method further comprising enabling operation of the fluid injector when the at least one identification tag associated with the syringe comprises a correct digital signature.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising notifying a user that the syringe is not a correct syringe if the syringe does not comprise the correct digital signature.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising disabling the fluid injector while the syringe is inserted in the syringe port if the syringe does not comprise the correct digital signature.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein capturing an image of the at least one of the at least one identification tag against the illuminated background screen comprises capturing a digital image of the at least one identification tag.

Assignees

• Bayer Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Capone Christopher
• Wlodarczyk Jaroslaw

Classifications

• A61M5/14546 Primary

  Front-loading type injectors · CPC title

• A61M2205/6072

  Bar codes · CPC title

• G06K7/1095

  the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like · CPC title

• A61M5/16827

  controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths (infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407) · CPC title

• G06K7/1486

  Setting the threshold-width for bar codes to be decoded · CPC title