Patent · US Expired

Identification device for hospital patients

US4328978A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1980
Grant dateMay 11, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09F3/005
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The identification device takes the form of a plastic holder worn about a patient's wrist in the manner of a wristwatch. The holder itself has a fluorescent coating on the top surface emitting light. A patient identification card is positioned on this fluorescent surface, the identification card being perforated with a patient identifying number. The emitted light from the fluorescent material thus shines up through the perforations in this number. Any particular procedure to be carried out on the patient is directed in an appropriate order blank signed by a physician or other hospital personnel. Such order blank for the patient includes the patient's identification number which number is also perforated on the order blank. By then positioning the order blank portion upon which the number is perforated over the patient's identifying number in the holder, if the numbers are the same, the light will then pass through both the perforations. If the numbers are different, neither number can be properly identified and it is immediately known that the order is not for that particular patient. The risk of specific orders or procedures being carried out on the wrong patient is thus substant…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.