Patent Application
20180151092
The present subject matter relates to form sheets, articles, and materials suitable for use as self-laminating identification products. Specifically, these articles may be employed as wristbands, ankle bands, and/or other looped, adhesively secured items having a printable surface that is selectively laminated after printing and removal from its liner.
Many operations rely on disposable, printable strips that may be affixed to people or objects. These strips are provided in an appropriate and sometimes adjustable length. Often, the strips are formed from a multi-layered form sheet having a face sheet of printable stock and a liner sheet to protect any adhesive. Typically, these strips were formed entirely within the face sheet, while the underlying liner is simply discarded.
The shape of the strip formed from the face sheet after it is released from its label sheet is based on a predetermined cutout. For wristbands, the strip is usually an elongated strip, possibly with an enlarged central portion capable of carrying printed information. Adhesive may be selectively applied to one or both ends of the strip on the underside of the face sheet (i.e., the side that is in contact with the liner when the form sheet is first created). In this manner, after the strip is removed from the liner, it can be looped around an object (e.g., the neck, wrist, ankle or other appendage of a human or other animal) and adhesively secured.
As an example, many hospitals and healthcare providers rely on wristbands to prevent medical errors due to patient misidentification. These bands are removed from form sheets and secured around a patient's wrist or ankle, usually after information such as a patient's name, date of birth, identification number, and sometimes even the patient's picture and an assigned barcode, has been printed or affixed to the band (preferably, while the strip is still carried on its label sheet). The use of a form sheet allows the printing to be applied manually or automatically by feeding the label sheet into a conventional printer such as a laser printer, an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, and the like.
Strips formed into wristbands (and other identification articles) should be relatively thin yet sufficiently stable and rigid to undergo automated printing. The label sheet, including its face sheet and liner, must be able to withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses associated with those operations.
Certain identification strips, and especially those intended for use in a setting where the printed information could be intentionally altered or unintentionally marred (e.g., through contact with fluids, as may happen in a hospital setting), require lamination. Generally speaking, these laminating strips rely on a separate, detachable, clear plastic overlay (provided on the form sheet or as a separate item) that is placed over the printed area by the user either before or after the strip is formed into a looped band.
One drawback to this overlay approach is that it requires the user to precisely position the overlay, and a failure to align the overlay with the printed surface of the wristband may leave adhesive from the overlay exposed in a manner that adheres to the person's body. Also, providing the strip and overlay as separate pieces can lead to loss of one of the pieces and/or confusion for the user in how, where, and when to apply them. If the overlay wrinkles when placed to the printed surface, barcoded images may not be able to be scanned, patient information may be unreadable, and/or wrinkles could provide channels for liquids to directly touch the inner ply, thereby damaging or distorting the patient information.
As a result, a further category of self-laminating wristbands have been developed. Self-laminating wristbands have the laminating layer integrally formed with the band itself. This arrangement avoids the possibility of misplacing the laminate layer (either through loss or through improper application to the strip itself).
Such self-laminating wristbands usually require a more highly engineered form sheet. In terms of components, the form sheet includes a face sheet and a liner sheet may be similar, in terms of materials and appearance, to the more simplistic versions described above. However, the form sheets for self-laminating strips tend to rely on more complex perforation and/or die cuts that selectively penetrate one or both of the face and liner sheets, as well as adhesives disposed on either or both of the underside of the face sheet (same as described above) and the top side of the liner sheet. Additionally, variable-strength cutouts (i.e., one cutout may tear away with less force in comparison to another cutout on that same sheet) and/or differing adhesives between the face and liner sheets may be used to allow portions of a strip made from a form sheet to be temporarily or permanently formed from a combination of layers (i.e., the face sheet and the liner sheet).
One example of known, self-laminating wristband is depicted as it would be disposed on a form sheet (viewed from the face sheet side) in
Sealing surface 24 is transparent and formed from the liner, while printable surface must be opaque or otherwise capable of retaining, and displaying in readable form, printed information. Printable surface 22 retains a portion of the face sheet for printing, although it is carried on and remains adhered to the liner when the strip 10 is removed from the form sheet.
An adhesive material resides on sealing surface 24 on the same outward facing side of strip 10 (i.e., of the top side of the release liner so as to contact the face sheet when the form sheet is fully intact). Thus, once the strip 10 is removed from the form sheet (for example, by pressing down on cutout 26 to release the liner from the face sheet), the adhesive on surface 24 is exposed. Once the entire band 10 is free from the form sheet, surface 24 (and it associated/attached end 14) are folded over surface 22 to laminate the printable surface 22. The fold must be sufficiently straight to ensure ends 12, 14 remain in proper alignment to simplify looping the ends 12, 14.
A separate adhesive patch and optional, removable face sheet cutout 26 are located at the terminal portion of end 14, also on the outward facing side (i.e., the same as the adhesive on surface 24). Cutout 26 protects the adhesive patch until the strip is ready to be looped and used as a wristband, as described below.
In use, the wristband is fed into a printer while on the form sheet, with the information printed on face sheet material of the print area 22. The liner is then separated from the remainder of the face sheet to create the strip 10. Perforations of varying, appropriate strengths are formed in the liner and face sheets to allow the strip 10 to be removed from the form sheet. While the band 10 is formed from the liner—which separates from the base liner sheet, a small portion of face sheet material associated with the printable surface 22 remains attached to the liner material of the strip 10. In the same manner, printed material appears on the strip 10. Removable cutout 26, designed to protect the adhesive also remains affixed at end 14.
As noted above, the entirety of sealing surface 24 and end 14 are then folded along dotted line 28 so that sealing surface 24 completely covers and adheres to printable surface 22, thereby acting as a laminate for the printable surface. Cutout 26 may then be removed, and ends 12, 14 are joined after looping the remainder of the strip around a person's wrist in a manner that has the printed, laminated information facing outward.
While this arrangement provides a laminated identification wristband, it has a number of drawbacks:
Accordingly, a need exists for a printable, self-laminating identification strip and/or wristband carried on form sheet article providing one or more band products which are securely retained in the sheet, yet which can be readily removed when desired. Moreover, it would be particularly desirable to provide such an article, in sheet, roll, or other form, that can withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses of printing, exhibits desirable skin-contacting qualities such as softness, and is relatively inexpensive and easy to make and use.
The difficulties and drawbacks associated with previously known products and practices are addressed in the present products and methods for sheeted or web based medical articles.
A self-laminating identification band is provided. The band is formed from the face stock of a form sheet, with a laminating flap that folds over a printed surface. Adhesive is provided along the flap and along at least one end of the band, so as to allow the band to positioned and looped around itself. In some embodiments, the liner sheet may form part of the laminating flap.
In one embodiment, the invention may incorporate any combination of the following features:
In another embodiment, an identification system incorporates any combination of the following features:
Yet another embodiment contemplates a sheeted article providing at least one identification band, the article having any combination of the following features:
A method of forming a laminated wristband having printed indicia for identification is also contemplated incorporating any combination of the following features:
Finally, a wristband made from a face layer is contemplated, the band incorporating any combination of the following features:
Specific reference is made to the appended claims, drawings, and description below, all of which disclose elements of the invention. While specific embodiments are identified, it will be understood that elements from one described aspect may be combined with those from a separately identified aspect. In the same manner, a person of ordinary skill will have the requisite understanding of common processes, components, and methods, and this description is intended to encompass and disclose such common aspects even if they are not expressly identified herein.
Operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations. These appended drawings form part of this specification, and any written information in the drawings should be treated as part of this disclosure. In the same manner, the relative positioning and relationship of the components as shown in these drawings, as well as their function, shape, dimensions, appearance, and the sequencing of any time-lapsed steps may all further inform certain aspects of the invention as if fully rewritten herein.
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
As used herein, the words “example” and “exemplary” mean an instance, or illustration. The words “example” or “exemplary” do not indicate a key or preferred aspect or embodiment. The word “or” is intended to be inclusive rather an exclusive, unless context suggests otherwise. As an example, the phrase “A employs B or C,” includes any inclusive permutation (e.g., A employs B; A employs C; or A employs both B and C). As another matter, the articles “a” and “an” are generally intended to mean “one or more” unless context suggest otherwise.
Referring to aspects of the invention shown in
Dashed line 142 establishes the boundary between the laminating flap 140 and the central body 122 of the band 100, and cuts or perforations may facilitate folding along that line. A removable cutout of face stock is provided in the flap area 140. Once this cutout is removed, the remaining flap 140 is a clear polymer appendage with an adhesive applied on the now-exposed top. The user then folds this clear plastic flap 140 over central portion 120, thereby covering and laminating central body 120.
In some embodiments, this laminating flap 140 is formed from the liner sheet, with the die cuts allowing this portion of the liner to remain adhered to the face sheet. In effect, both the face sheet and the liner associated with the flap 140 are released when the band 100 is removed from the form sheet, so that the face sheet of the flap 140 becomes a removable cutout that protects the adhesive placed on the liner in the flap area 140.
The liner has adhesive disposed between the liner and the face sheet in flap portion 140. This arrangement affords the user with greater flexibility in deciding when to laminate the printed surface by selectively removing the face sheet over the flap 140 (i.e., possibly before removing the band entirely from the form sheet, after the band is removed from the sheet but prior to its use or even after the band has been looped into place). In some embodiments, the portion of the liner sheet underneath the body 122 may also detach from the form sheet.
The boundary along line 142 may be formed so as to facilitate folding the laminating flap. It may also be possible to form the flap portion 140 from a tri-layer material, with the liner sheet both under the flap 140 and the remaining portions of the band 100 remaining completely intact and part of the discarded portion of the form sheet (i.e., the liner and unused portions of face stock outside of the periphery of the band).
As seen in
In one embodiment shown in
Alternatively, the peel tab 150 could be engineered to simply facilitate removal of the band 100 from the form sheet. In this case, the liner sheet associated with flap 140 remains attached to the face sheet portion of flap 140 so that, when the band 100 is removed from the form sheet, face sheet-only portions of ends 112, 114 and body 120 are included, while the flap 140 consists of both liner sheet and face sheet. This approach is shown in the time-lapse progression of
After the band 100, including the liner sheet portion of flap 140, is removed from the form sheet, tab 150 may then be used to separate and discard the face sheet associated with flap 140. The clear, liner-only portion of flap 140 remains attached to the band and is folded over the body 122, as shown in the time-lapse progression shown in
Sufficient perforations/die cuts allow the other portions of the band 100 to separate from the form sheet and, more specifically, from the unused portions of face sheet 102. Additional scoring, grooves, or thinned portions may facilitate the folding action of the liner sheet flap 140 over the central body 120.
In
One or more adhesive patches are also applied along end 112 and/or 114. In some embodiments, these patches may be applied to the underside of the face sheet so that the adhesive is exposed when the band 100 is released from the form sheet. In other aspects, it may be possible to integrally form removable, protective cutouts as part of a tri-layered face sheet so that the adhesive is protected it until the band 100 is looped/placed into its final position.
Further, in each of
One or more extender strips 104 may be incorporated into any of the form sheets described herein, with an example illustrated in
Additionally,
Once removed from the form sheet and looped into place as shown in
A method of forming a wristband according to the uses described above is also contemplated. In addition to the uses described above, the methods are further illustrated in
A plurality of bands may be integrated into a single form sheet, as seen in
The laminated, removed band is then looped around itself so that the adhesive on the terminal end of the band adheres to the opposing terminal edge, resulting in the wristband or identification bands shown in
Also,
Form sheet, and contextual references to it, can be understood as a term of art in this field. Generally speaking, it comprises a face stock material (also referred to as a face sheet) and a release liner (also referred to as a carrier, backing layer, release sheet, and/or liner sheet). Coatings and adhesives may be employed on either or both of the face stock and the release liner to impart certain, desired characteristics to the articles formed from such form sheets. Additional layers may be positioned proximate to or integrated with portions of the face stock and/or liner. Generally speaking, the form sheet is usually provided as a standard sized, rectangular sheet (e.g., A4 sized or U.S. letter sized, i.e., 8.5 inches by 11 inches) that may be fed into conventional desktop printers.
Exemplary documents, all of which are incorporated by reference herein, describing materials and methods associated with form sheets, their components, and exemplary articles formed therefrom can be found, inter alia, in United States Patent Publications 2016/0229211 and 2016/0293061, International Patent Publication No. WO/2016/172676, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,309,731 and 7,566,495.
The form sheet, including the wristband, labels, and/or unused portion, may include an RFID chip or other thin film flexible electronics to monitor patient location, vital signs such as pulse, oxygen level, temperature, and the like. Such components typically facilitate in communicating patient information, medication needs, dispensing instructions and history, and the like. When present, these components comprise circuitry and/or a power supply (e.g., a thin printed battery) and may be integrated in the face stock, the liner, or an additional layer, as well as being formed between such layers.
A plurality of die cuts can be made in the form sheet to facilitate formation and removal of the shaped objects described herein. The die cut arrays can be die cut, laser cut or otherwise formed to extend through or substantially through the face layer at a plurality of spaced apart locations thereon. The specific dimensions of the die cut arrays can vary depending upon the characteristics of the material from which the face layer is formed. However, the die cut arrays should be formed to permit separation of the face sheet and liner without excessive manipulation or force and without tearing either the identification bands or adjacent areas of the face layer. In certain embodiments, each die cut is a continuous die cut around the complete perimeter of all bands, cards, and/or labels. The length of each die cut and the lengths of the ties between die cuts will vary in accordance with the characteristics of the material from which the face layer is formed. In other aspects, die cuts that define the shape of the band are only formed in the face layer, and are not formed in the liner layer so as to enable a “peel off” functionality (i.e., only the strip comprising face stock is removable), particularly if a tri-layer material were to be used.
Additionally or alternatively, perforations may be formed to facilitate the separation of portions of the face sheet (and, with respect to the laminating flap, the liner sheet) from itself. These perforations may be formed in a manner similar to the die cuts described above or by other known mechanical means. As one example, die cuts in only the face sheet may be used to allow for peel off functionality of the ends 112, 114 and the central body 122, while perforations and/or die cuts penetrating both the face sheet and laminating flap (except along the boundary formed by line 142) allow for the liner to be released with the “peel off” portions of the band.
The face sheet may be formed from a wide variety of materials. For example, from paper, a woven material, a non-woven material, or a spun material. The face sheet can also be formed from combinations of these materials, either integrated together or provided on separate sections of the sheet itself. The thickness of this layer can vary anywhere from 25 up to 200 micrometers. Various continuous or partial coatings can be provided on either or both sides of the face sheet, as noted below.
Woven materials may include polymeric materials, such as polyester or nylon. Woven materials and fabrics may be impregnated with compatible fillers, polyester, styrene, acrylic or other compatible organic-based material. Woven materials typically are made from fibers that are oriented generally parallel to one another and can be bonded together via chemical, mechanical, heat, and/or solvent treatment(s). Non-woven material can be, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polylactic acid, cellulose, or mixtures thereof. Other materials include vinyl (PVC), polystyrene, latex impregnated paper, polyolefin, and biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). Spun materials are non-woven materials that typically are made from polymeric fibers. The fibers are oriented in a seemingly random orientation to resemble cloth or fabric. The fibers can be bonded together via chemical, mechanical, heat, and/or solvent treatment(s).
The face sheet includes a top surface or face and an oppositely directed underside or rear face. The top surface of the face layer can be imprinted with patient-specific indicia at locations corresponding to the identification band(s), the labels, the optional identification card, and/or other components, as will be described in more detail below.
In certain aspects, the face sheet includes a variety of paper materials can be used on its top, with a laser imprintable paper being specifically contemplated. However, the subject matter includes other paper types having different characteristics and properties such as but not limited to papers adapted for use with laser, thermal, and ink jet printers. In addition, papers adapted for use with direct thermal or thermal transfer are also contemplated.
In certain applications, it may be desired to apply one or more top coats to the top or face surface of the face layer. For example, in certain versions, a thermal coating layer may be deposited, formed, or otherwise provided on the face layer to facilitate thermal printing. Thus, the thermal coating layer's material (also referred to as a direct thermally activatable material) is heat activatable. In general, the thermal coating layer comprises a low solids water, a solvent, or a solventless borne liquid that includes a stoichiometric mixture of dye, sensitizer, and developer components. Representative materials from which the thermal coating layer can be made, include but are not limited to the following: NuCoat 8957 and 8952, which are provided by NuCoat of Plymouth, Minn. Representative waterborne versions of the thermal coating layer material include about 30-50% solids. Representative embodiments of the thermal coating layer material can include a leuco dye, a sensitizer, and a developer, which are intermixed and applied as a single coating to the substrate layer material.
Because the chemistry of the thermal coating layer's material typically is vulnerable to attack by alcohols, solvents, water, and/or other contaminants, a protective barrier coat, e.g., a topcoat layer, typically is applied over the thermal coating layer to protect the thermal coating layer. The topcoat layer includes a material that is resistant to abrasion and chemical or other environmental contaminants, e.g., organic contaminants, inorganic contaminants, and biological fluids. Accordingly, the topcoat layer is a protective layer that prevents damage to, or contamination of, the thermal coating layer. The topcoat layer can include organic water, solvent, or solventless liquid(s), for example, solvent-borne acrylics or silicones that can be dried or cured to develop its properties. Also, the topcoat layer can be UV curable. Examples of topcoat layer materials include the following: varnishes and other topcoat layer material provided by companies including Acetega of Wesel, Germany, the Flint Group of Plymouth, Mich., and Ashland Inc. of Covington, Ky., for example, Acetega 814HSMW2 and Flint UVF02052. In certain embodiments, the topcoat layer is applied with a coat weight in the range between about 5 grams per square meter and about 20 grams per square meter.
In addition to providing resistance to contaminants, the topcoat coating layer also can be print-receptive to ink(s) and other medium. If the topcoat coating layer is not receptive to ink(s) or other medium, and such receptiveness is desired, an additional coating layer can be applied over the topcoat layer, such that the additional coating layer is coupled to the topcoat layer, to impart the desired properties. The additional coating layer has a thickness which can range in value from about 0.05 mils to about 0.25 mils. Thus, the overall thickness of representative embodiments of the face layer that include the additional coating layer with the substrate layer, the thermal coating layer, and the topcoat layer can range in value from about 3.3 mils to about 6.4 mils. The additional coating layer can be made from UV, or 100% solids, or solvent-borne acrylics or silicones, and contain materials having abrasion-resistant properties, or other additives, depending on what finished performance properties are desired. An example of the material that can be used in the additional coating layer is varnish.
Insofar as the face sheet includes the laminating flap, at least this portion of the form sheet contemplates a third layer. That is, when the strip is removed from the liner, the laminating flap will still comprise a removable cutout (unless the lamination step is accomplished while the strip is retained within the form sheet). The flap itself is a thin, sufficiently transparent material with pressure sensitive adhesive applied to its top face (i.e., under the protective cutout), relying upon any of the appropriate materials described elsewhere herein. Once the cutout is removed, the flap is folded over the printed area to effectively laminate the printed material covered by it.
The liner layer is sized and shaped to correspond to the face layer and generally positioned along the face layer such that the top surface of the liner is directed toward the back surface or underside of the face layer. The liner layer can be made from any flexible paper or film, including fibrous and/or paper materials and other sheets/films with surface roughness suitable for feeding through a sheet fed printer. Most roll fed printers use a super calendered (SCK) paper or film liner.
Understanding that many available printers can process sheets with a total thickness of about 400 micrometers or less, the liner layer may have a thickness of anywhere from 25 to 200 micrometers, in order to provide sufficient support for the form sheet while still permitting efficient processing through a conventional printing apparatus. The thickness of the liner will ultimately depend upon the combined thickness of the face stock, the liner, and any intervening layers that may be required (including but not limited to the adhesives and other coatings that may be selectively applied to/within the layers of the overall form sheet).
The liner layer has a top surface, and an oppositely directed bottom or rear surface. As described in greater detail herein, a release coating is applied to one or more areas of the top surface of the liner layer that will register with the labels and one or more regions of the bands. Additional details of the release coating are provided herein.
The back surface or underside of the face layer can be registered with, and secured to, the top surface of the liner layer to form the sheet article. The sheet or rolled article then can be processed through a printer, such as a laser printer, thermal, or inkjet printer to print patient specific indicia on at least the identification panel of each identification band, on one or more labels, and on the optional identification card. Patient specific indicia also can be printed on other portions of the top surface of the face layer. As noted above, a combination format may be used, so that an identification band may be created simultaneously along with additional, separate label(s) that would be used in conjunction with the band (e.g., to affix to charts, medication or specimen bottles, and the like).
A variety of release coatings can be used. These coatings typically include a release coating or layer of a release agent between the layer of adhesive and an adjacent layer such as the liner layer. Generally, the release agent or composition containing such is in the form of a continuous layer, although discontinuous and/or pattern coatings can be leveraged to allow for portions of the face sheet and liner to become selectively separated more easily or quickly in comparison to others. In certain aspects, the release coating is a silicone material and more particularly, a UV cured silicone with an internally formulated release level deemed suitable for the application. Suitable suppliers include Momentive, Bluestar, Wacker, and Evonik. Other release compositions, such as fluorinated or amine based release compositions can be used. The release coating can be relatively thin, e.g., in the range of about 2.5 to 15 micrometers.
The release agent is typically applied in a liquid form and then cured. UV curable release agents are suitable for many embodiments. UV curing release systems are generally either cationic or free radical systems. Thermally cured release agents can also be used.
The various embodiment sheets typically include a layer of one or more adhesives between the face layer and the liner layer. Generally, the adhesive is a continuous layer in the region of the labels defined in the face layer, although it may be discontinuous and/or pattern coated in certain regions. Pressure sensitive adhesives may be preferred according to certain aspects, and water based pressure sensitive adhesives are also suitable for many embodiments. The thickness of any adhesive layers or portions/patches should be between 5 and 50 micrometers.
The adhesive should have a composition that will remain stable and not flow or substantially not flow when subjected to temperatures approaching or even exceeding 200° C. These characteristics facilitate printing of the sheet assembly article in a laser printer or other high temperature printing apparatus. The adhesive also should not degrade easily when exposed to ultra-violet (UV) light. In this regard, exposure to ultra-violet light during normal use of the components of the sheet assembly should not turn the adhesive yellow or cause the adhesive to lose its tackiness. One such adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,216 to Popat et al., which is incorporated by reference. A hot melt adhesive is available from Avery Dennison Corporation under the designation P32™.
In certain versions of the present subject matter, an adhesive deadener or more particularly, a coating of a deadener material can be incorporated in certain regions of the sheet articles. One or more deadener agents can be provided along a region or face of an adhesive layer to reduce or eliminate the tackiness of the adhesive. Deadener can be applied to a previously formed region or layer of release agent that is disposed along an adhesive layer. Instead of applying the deadener agent(s) to a previously deposited release face, it is also contemplated that the deadener(s) could be incorporated within the release agent material prior to its deposition. Alternatively or in addition, the deadener(s) could also be utilized in conjunction with adhesive materials as described in greater detail herein. A variety of adhesive deadeners are known in the art such as for example, the deadeners disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,982,284; 7,575,791; and 7,579,059.
In certain versions of the present subject matter, the release material and the deadener material are used together or in conjunction with one another. The silicone or other release agent is applied first to desired regions of the underside of the face layer, and then any area that is to exhibit reduced or no tack is coated with deadener over the silicone. For example, deadener is applied on silicone on the underside of the face layer in the strap region of a band. A permanent adhesive is coated on a corresponding region of the liner layer and then the two layers are laminated together. Upon end user removal of the band, the deadener transfers from the silicone due to adhesion between the deadener and the permanent adhesive. In particular embodiments, both the deadener and the silicone are UV cured coatings.
Alternatively, a deadener may be applied directly over the adhesive in certain locations while still releasably bonding the face and liner materials in a desired area of the form. Dry peel adhesives and/or releasable pressure sensitive adhesive may also be employed.
Instead of release agents and/or deadeners, a temporary adhesive exhibiting relatively low levels of tack or no tack, upon separation of the layers, could potentially be used. Additionally or alternatively, dry peel coatings may be used in place of the deadened pressure sensitive adhesives described herein.
As previously described, the various embodiment sheets may include one or more identification articles such as identification bands. The identification bands are typically attached to wrists and/or ankles of a patient in a hospital or healthcare environment. Indicia printed on the band can serve to identify the patient. Indicia printed on the band may also include information about the patient or the patient's care, medication(s), medical history, preferences, allergies, therapy, or other conditions or characteristics. It will be appreciated that the present subject matter includes a wide range of uses and applications of the identification bands.
Identification bands as described herein are particularly well suited for patients in a health care setting. Narrow width bands are especially well suited for the small wrists or ankles of infants. The band is sufficiently wide to provide the necessary strength and to prevent biting into the wrist or ankle of the patient. Additionally, the band in certain embodiments is wide enough to prevent twisting during normal use. In certain embodiments, the strip may have a width of from 0.5 to 5 centimeters in wide and a length of 10 to 30 centimeters.
One aspect of the various embodiments described herein is the ability to print the identification band efficiently and reliably in a laser printer, thermal, an inkjet printer or other commercially available printing apparatus. Printers work best when the printed sheets are relatively thin and have uniform thickness or coplanarity across the length and width of the sheet. Sheets that are too thick may not feed well in many machines and sheets that do not exhibit coplanarity across the sheet are likely to jam or otherwise become lodged in the feed mechanisms of the printer.
Further, the form sheets described herein focus only on sheets containing one or more bands. However, it may be possible to incorporate a band or a series of bands on a form sheet having chart labels formed on that form sheet, possibly enabling the user to print customized information on labels for additional uses that coincide with the wristband. In the same manner, other known technologies (e.g., radio frequency identification tags; temperature reactive coatings; thin film, printed batteries; intelligent polymers; etc.) might be incorporated on the sheet. These technologies can be provided within the form sheet itself, so that the aforementioned technologies would be integrated onto the band. Additionally or alternatively, these technologies could be provided on a label that is provided on or appended to the form sheet containing the wristband.
Finally, while the description focuses on form sheets, it will be understood that the layered structure of such sheets may be provided in a rolled form. That is, rather than providing the articles in a single sheet, a plurality of bands could be formed on a continuous roll, with die cuts or perforations allowing the user to easily detach a band (or combination band/label) after it has been printed from the roll form. In this manner, direct thermal printers are amenable to the concepts described herein. Additionally or alternatively, inkjet printable coatings and thermal coatings may be applied to the sheets and rolls to accomplish these, and other, objects.
Although the present embodiments have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, and numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions are also contemplated. The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, but further modifications and alterations encompass the preceding detailed description. These modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority to, and all benefits of, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/427,847, filed on Nov. 30, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62427847 | Nov 2016 | US |
