Label processor and method relating thereto

The present invention relates to labeling for laboratory related products, including but not limited to, biological sample collection containers and other biological sample collection vessels.

Labeling specimen container devices are well-known in the art for careful placement and alignment of a primary label onto a container for automated manufacturing. Additionally, some labeling machines are capable of affixing onto a container a label that is specific to a patient, specific to a type of tube, or combinations of both. Examples of known label affixation techniques include those described in the following documents including EP 510615A1 to Neeley; JP 3041365A2; JP 5097133A; U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,041 to Von Hofe; U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,176 to Gess; U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,440 to Davies; U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,433 to Sallet; U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,605 to Treiber et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,141 to Christian et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,314 to Wesley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,716 to McEwen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,798 to Schindele; U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,795 to Nakayama et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,361 to Itoh; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,015 to Moore.

While these devices handle certain labeling functions, these devices are lacking flexibility for outputting (i.e., placement) information in connection with the specimen container. Such flexibility is based upon physical attributes of the container and/or responsive to practices of the healthcare professionals handling the container. Nevertheless, improvements to the above references are always desired.

The present invention relates to an improved technique for providing information onto or into a container prior to or after the container is used as a biological specimen collection device. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a system and method are provided for providing information on at least one container for storing a biological sample including a holder configured to hold at least one biological sample container and a receiver configured to receive information relating to at least one of the container or the biological sample, as well as data relating to at least one instruction for printing the information. The system and method further include a printer configured to print the information in accordance with the at least one instruction.

In one embodiment, the printer is configured to print the information directly on the container. In another embodiment, the system and method further include an applicator configured to apply a label on the container and the printer is configured to print the information on the label. In another embodiment, the system and method include a printer to first print the information on a label and then with an applicator, apply the label on the container. In yet a further embodiment, the positioning of the printed label is influenced by the interpretation of information specific to the container.

In another embodiment, the system and method include a detector configured to detect whether the container contains the biological sample and a processor configured to determine the manner for printing the information. In this embodiment, the determination is based, at least in part, on whether the container contains the biological sample.

In another embodiment, the system and method include a processor configured to determine the manner for printing the information. In this embodiment, the instruction relates to, at least in part, whether the container contains the biological sample and the determination is based, at least in part, on whether container contains the biological sample.

In another embodiment, the system and method include a processor configured to determine information specific to a patient, determine the type of container to be labeled, position a label onto the container based on the determination of container type, and print information related to the patient on the label, wherein the printing of information related to the patient can occur before or after the positioning of the label onto the container.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a labeling processing machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c illustrate side views of a container that is labeled by the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 5 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a label roll in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a illustrates a perspective view of a labeling processing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 b illustrates an additional perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram depicting a process for labeling a container in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram depicting a process for labeling a container in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a diagram depicting a process for labeling a container in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention.

An evacuated container (or test tube) 10 is fed into a label processing machine 20 , which operates to apply, or optionally scan/read and then apply a label onto the container in the laboratory setting. The processing machine 20 facilitates labeling of containers 10 , which have been used or will be used in the process of collecting blood or specimens from a patient and eventually transferred to a diagnostic system (not shown), such as an analyzer, for subsequent analysis.

The label processing machine 20 generally comprises a hopper 22 , a holder for holding a roll of labels 29 comprising roll paper 31 with removably attached thereto a plurality of labels 30 , a printer (not shown) within a machine 20 for printing (i.e., onto a label 30 , a container 10 , or both), optionally a scanner for scanning indicia (i.e., on the label 30 , container 10 , or patient ID, health practitioner ID, etc.), and alignment elements to facilitate alignment of labels 30 applied to the container 10 . A controller and/or processor are incorporated to directly or indirectly instruct portions of the label-processing machine 20 to enable appropriate printing, scanning, and label application to objects fed into the hopper 22 . The containers 10 can be placed into the hopper 22 and indexed by a controller that enables selective positioning of the container 10 into an appropriate position to be labeled by the label-processing machine 22 . The hopper 22 of the label processing machine 20 accepts collection containers 10 of either similar or various diameter and length product variations. Optionally as shown in machine 20 a , the hopper may be designed to accept only one collection container at a time such as that shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b . For instance, hopper 22 a of machine 20 a in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b receives one tube at a time, wherein insertion of the container 10 into the hopper 22 a by motion along for instance path 33 enables either one or both of determining information about the container or a patient, and printing information related to the container or patient on the collection container 10 . As shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hopper 22 may accept a plurality of containers 10 stacked such that one container 10 at a time enters into a labeling, scanning, or printing zone within the label processing machine 20 .

In an embodiment, the label-processing machine 20 may read or scan through the sidewall of the transparent glass or plastic container 10 and determine if the container 10 has been filled with a sample or fluid specimen, and thereby incorporate that information into a decision of whether or not to label the container 10 , or optionally determine how to label the container 10 . In another embodiment of the label processing machine 20 , the machine 20 may read or scan the container 10 to see whether indicia is associated with the container 10 such that the machine can identify information about the container 10 that may facilitate what information is to be printed onto the container 10 , either directly onto a label pre-applied to the container 10 , directly onto the container 10 itself, or optionally indirectly by printing onto a label 30 that is applied to the container 10 by the label processing machine 20 .

In another embodiment of the invention, the label processing machine 20 interprets for a remote source information that influences or informs the label processing machine 20 on how and to what information should be printed. For example, a remote source can be a laboratory information system that may communicate directly or indirectly with the label processing machine 20 to inform what should be printed onto the container 10 . In some embodiments of the present invention, scanning of the container 10 to compare information about the container 10 with that from a remote source (i.e., an LIS system or user input module) is required. In other embodiments, scanning and/or comparing information is not required.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is desirable to achieve alignment and positioning improvement of labels 30 onto the container 10 . In one embodiment of the invention, the label is positioned purposefully in a position with respect to a label 30 already applied to a container 10 . It should be noted that it may be desirable to label a container 10 already labeled such that the second label is an over-label applied by the machine 20 to the container 10 . Additionally, it may be desirable to radially align a portion of the label 30 to either a radial datum on the container 10 , or optionally, a readable portion of a first label (under-label). Additionally, the label processing machine 20 may comprise a scanner that reads information about the container 10 or any label 20 attached thereto wherein the scanner moves or rotates relative to the container 10 , such that the container 10 , scanner, or both may be fixed or rotated to achieve such relative movement.

In another embodiment of the label processing machine 20 , a label 30 may be applied in a variety of manners. For example, an adhesive backed label may be used, wherein the adhesive backed label is pre-applied to a roll 29 which is placed into the machine's label applicator portion. The label applicator portion comprises rollers (not shown) that rotate the label roll 29 , the container 10 , or both such that individual labels are peeled from the roll 29 and purposefully applied to the container in a desired manner. The output of the machine 20 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is illustrated by the tube and label shown in FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c.

FIG. 3 a demonstrates a label applied to container 10 demonstrated in embodiments of the invention. FIG. 3 b demonstrates two labels 30 a and 30 b , one ( 30 a ) of which is pre-applied to the container 10 first, and label 30 b that is later applied to the container 10 by applying at least a portion of label 30 b onto at least a portion of label 30 a , thereby producing an overlabel subassembly 30 c shown in FIG. 3 c . The shape, design, size, and material choice of labels 30 a and 30 b are chosen such that upon correct and intended positioning of label 30 b with respect to label 30 a by machine 20 and 20 a , portions of label 30 a are possible to be seen visually as per design and positioning of label 30 a indicia. In FIGS. 4 to 6 (with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 ), the system and method for using the present invention is illustrated. As depicted in FIG. 6 , one or multiple tubes or containers 10 (hereinafter also referred to as vessels) are loaded into the hopper 20 (step 410 ). The label-processing machine 20 receives information that relates to the information that is printed onto the vessels directly or indirectly and the manner for effectuating such printing (step 420 ). The label processing machine 20 may receive information in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: from keyed user input, by accessing a database of information remote from or integral to the label processor, from a wireless or wired telecommunications connection, from data communicated by scanning scannable information (i.e., barcode RFID, 1D, or 2D barcode scanner on the vessel itself or on a patient's wristband, patient chart, or other related scannable apparatus). An algorithm accessible by label processing machine 20 incorporates the received information and prints information onto the container 10 or label 30 pre-applied to the container (step 430 ). Container 10 is then positioned to exit machine 20 (step 440 ).

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the label-processing machine 20 operates similar to FIG. 6 with the exception that the machine 20 first applies label 30 onto the vessel 10 (either onto a label-less vessel or onto a vessel that already has a label applied thereto ( 30 a )) (step 530 ), and subsequently prints specific information onto recently-applied label ( 30 b when 30 a is used as in FIGS. 3 b and 3 c ) (step 540 ). Vessel 10 is then positioned to exit machine 20 (step 550 ).

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the label-processing machine 20 operates similar to FIG. 7 with the exception that the machine 20 first prints onto label 30 (step 630 ), and then applies label 30 onto vessel 10 (step 640 ). Vessel 10 is then positioned to exit machine 20 (step 650 ).

Aspects of the invention may be used with vessels that have already been filled with a sample specimen or may be used with vessels that have not already been filled with a sample specimen. The processor can be programmed to accommodate both of these scenarios.

While the present invention is satisfied by embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the figures and described herein in detail, various embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. Various other embodiments will be apparent to, and readily made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention will be measured by the appended claims and their equivalents.