U.S. patent application number 11/364428 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for packaging with color-coded identification.
Invention is credited to Mark R. Ellswood, Sandra N. Laudenslayer.
Application Number | 20070199848 11/364428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38057375 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellswood; Mark R. ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Packaging with color-coded identification
Abstract
A colored indicator packaging system and method of use is
described. The packaging entails providing an inner wrap for
protecting and identifying surgical products just before use. The
package has at least one kind of colored indicia to let a user
understand the physical properties of the surgical product.
Inventors: |
Ellswood; Mark R.;
(Alpharetta, GA) ; Laudenslayer; Sandra N.;
(Norcross, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
US
|
Family ID: |
38057375 |
Appl. No.: |
11/364428 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 90/92 20160201;
A61B 42/40 20160201; A61B 90/94 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A method for identifying a product article once it is removed
from its primary protective packaging, said method comprises:
providing a surgical article within a primary protective packaging;
removing said surgical article from said primary packaging, and
coordinating colored indicia associated either on said surgical
article or with a secondary, inner packaging with a color-coded
identification system.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises providing,
instruction on how to use said color-coded secondary packaging.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises placing said
product on a sterile field.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said color-coded
identification system involves a plurality of different colors,
each color indicating a particular predetermined performance
characteristic or physical property of said surgical article.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said color-coded
identification system is either. indicated on said primary
protective packaging or on a separate chart.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said secondary
packaging has indicia that are substantially similar in color to a
color code on said primary protective packaging.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said product article is
a surgical glove.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said secondary
packaging is a glove wallet or inner wrap.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said product article is
a medical device, surgical instrument or applicator.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising
coordinating a number of different product articles, each either
having either a label or indicia of a substantially similar color
to each other according to said color-coded identification system,
to assemble a kit of associated products adapted for a particular
use.
11. A method for identifying a surgical product once it is removed
from its primary protective packaging, said method comprises:
providing a surgical product within a primary protective packaging;
removing said surgical product with an associated color-coded
secondary packaging from said primary packaging, and coordinating
the color of said secondary packaging with a color-coded
identification system.
12. The method article package according to claim 10, wherein said
color-coded identification system identifies particular
characteristics: physical size of said surgical product,
performance or physical properties, or a combination thereof.
13. A surgical article package having a primary, outer packaging,
and a colored indicia associated either on a surgical article or
with a secondary, inner packaging, said colored indicia is
coordinated with a predetermined color code.
14. The surgical article package according to claim 13, wherein
said color code is either a label on said outer packaging or a
separate color-coded identification chart.
15. The surgical article package according to claim 13, wherein
said inner packaging has colored indicia coordinated with a colored
label on said outer packaging.
16. The surgical article package according to claim 13, wherein
said colored indicia has substantially similar color to said label
on said outer packaging.
17. The surgical article package according to claim 13, wherein
said colored indicia includes any one of the following: word or
words, symbol, picture, graphic design, or a combination
thereof.
18. The surgical article package according to claim 13, wherein
said outer packaging is a sterile tear or peal pack, or rigid tray,
and said inner packaging is a glove wallet or inner wrap.
19. A color-coded surgical packaging system, the system comprising
at least a first sterile packaging, and colored indicia associated
either with a surgical article or a secondary, inner packaging
around said surgical article.
20. The color-coded surgical packaging system according to claim
19, wherein said colored indicia involve a plurality of different
colors, each color indicating a particular predetermined
performance characteristic or physical property of said surgical
article.
21. The color-coded surgical packaging system according to claim
19, wherein said colored indicia is coordinated with a color-coded
identification system.
22. The color-coded surgical packaging system according to claim
19, wherein said secondary packaging has indicia that are
substantially similar in color to a color code on said primary
protective packaging or on a separate chart.
23. The color-coded surgical packaging system according to claim
19, wherein said colored indicia includes any one of the following:
word or words, symbol, picture, graphic design, or a combination
thereof.
24. A color-coded surgical packaging system comprising a number of
different product articles, labeled with indicia of a substantially
similar color to each other according to a color-coded
identification system, forms an assembly of associated products
adapted for a particular use.
25. A color-coded surgical packaging system, the system comprising
a first and second packaging including a surgical article within;
said first packaging having a colored label and said second
packaging having colored indicia of substantially similar color and
coordinated with said colored label of said first packaging.
26. A method for providing a system of identifying a product
article once it is removed from its primary protective packaging,
said method comprises: providing a surgical article within a
primary protective packaging; providing a means to coordinate
colored indicia associated either on said surgical article or with
a secondary, inner packaging with a color-coded identification
system.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to certain packaging articles
that are color-coded for ease of identification when a consumer or
user is selecting the articles for use. In particular, the
invention relates to color-coded glove wallets and a method for
fact identification of the kind of gloves contained therein by
means of a color code.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Several different kinds of surgical gloves are used in
operating rooms. The kind of surgical glove used is often dictated
by both a desired level of protection or safety, as well as a
desired level of manual dexterity and tactile sensitivity. As such,
the choice of surgical gloves is an item decided by a surgeon
preference, so several different brands and different kinds of
gloves may be used during a single surgical procedure. Currently,
once a surgical glove, for instance, is removed from its primary
sterile package (i.e., peel pouch), and dispensed to the sterile
field, it can be difficult for operating room (OR) personnel to
quickly distinguish at a glance the different types of gloves,
since the glove wallets, or inner wrapping, often are of similar or
identical appearance. OR personnel often need to read the front of
each glove wallet for its label. Coordinating a color code on glove
wallets to their respective exterior peel pouch code can make
identifying the proper surgical gloves easier for OR personnel.
Currently, it is believed that no surgical glove manufacturer color
codes the inner glove wallet to help identify the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a packaging system and a
method for identifying surgical products once they have been
removed from their primary protective packaging, but before actual
use. This may be embodied in either a method or system for
providing a means to identify products using color-coded
indicia.
[0004] A method entails, in part, providing a surgical article
within a primary protective packaging; removing said surgical
article from said primary packaging, and coordinating colored
indicia associated either on said surgical article or with a
secondary, inner packaging with a color-coded identification
system. The method may further comprise providing instruction to
the final consumer or user about how to use the color-coded
secondary packaging. The color-coded identification system involves
a plurality of different colors, each color indicating a particular
predetermined performance characteristic or physical property of
said surgical article. The color-coded identification system may be
either indicated on the primary protective packaging itself or on a
separate chart. The indicia situated on the secondary packaging
desirably are substantially similar in color to a color code on
said primary protective packaging. The method may further involve
placing the product, such as a surgical glove, a medical device,
surgical instrument or applicator, on a sterile field. In such
embodiments, the secondary packaging is adapted to be either a
glove wallet or inner wrap. The method may further include
coordinating a number of different product articles, each either
having either a label or indicia of a substantially similar color
to each other according to said color-coded identification system,
to assemble a kit of associated products adapted for a particular
use.
[0005] Alternatively, the method for identifying a surgical product
once it is removed from its primary protective packaging, may
involve: providing a surgical product within a primary protective
packaging; removing said surgical product with an associated
color-coded secondary packaging from said primary packaging, and
coordinating the color of said secondary packaging with a
color-coded identification system. The color-coded identification
system can be used to identifies particular characteristics, such
as physical size of said surgical product, performance or physical
properties, or a combination thereof.
[0006] The invention also relates to a surgical article package
having a primary, outer packaging, and a colored indicia associated
either on a surgical article or with a secondary, inner packaging,
said colored indicia is coordinated with a predetermined color
code. The color code is either a label on said outer packaging or a
separate color-coded identification chart. Colored indicia of the
inner packaging desirably are either coordinated with a colored
label or has substantially similar color to the label on the outer
packaging. The colored indicia may include any one of the
following: word or words, symbol, picture, graphic design, or a
combination thereof. The outer packaging is a sterile tear or peal
pack, or rigid tray.
[0007] The invention also envisions a color-coded surgical
packaging system, the system having at least a first sterile
packaging, and colored indicia associated either with a surgical
article or a secondary, inner packaging around said surgical
article. The colored indicia involve a plurality of different
colors, each color indicating a particular predetermined
performance characteristic or physical property of said surgical
article. The color-coded surgical packaging colored indicia is
coordinated with a color-coded identification system.
Alternatively, we envision a color-coded surgical packaging system
with a number of different product articles, labeled with indicia
of a substantially similar color to each other according to a
color-coded identification system, forms an assembly of associated
products adapted for a particular use. In another variation, the
system may also comprises a first and second packaging including a
surgical article within; the first packaging having a colored label
and the second packaging having colored indicia of substantially
similar color and coordinated with said colored label of the first
packaging.
[0008] In another aspect the invention describes a method for
providing a system of identifying a product article once it is
removed from its primary protective packaging, said method
comprises: providing a surgical article within a primary protective
packaging; providing a means to coordinate colored indicia
associated either on said surgical article or with a secondary,
inner packaging with a color-coded identification system.
[0009] Additional features and advantages of the present color
indicator system, packaging, and associated methods will be
disclosed in the following detailed description. It is understood
that both the foregoing summary and the following description are
merely representative of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is an example of a coordinated color chart that can
be used as a means for interpreting color-coded indicia on the
packaging of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 2A-C are schematic illustrations, according to an
embodiment of the present invention, of a typical inner package,
commonly referred to as a glove wallet, which protects surgical
gloves. FIG. 2A is a view of the package completely unfolded and
laid out flat. FIG. 2B is a partially folded view of the package,
and FIG. 2C is a three-quarter view of the final package, as it may
appear just before use. As indicated by cross-hatching, for
example, color indicia can be located on the package along an
edge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to
color indicators that are used with surgical articles, and the
articles' associated packaging. The term "color," as used herein,
refers to the phenomenon of visual perception that enables one to
differentiate otherwise identical objects. Colors may be expressed
in terms of "hues," i.e., the perceptible attribute of colors that
permits them to be classified as red, yellow, green, blue, etc., or
any intermediate between any contiguous pair of colors. A wide
palette of colors can be used with the present inventions and
particular set or arrangement of colors may be selected to indicate
a desired or predetermined functionality in a color code
system.
[0013] According to one aspect, the invention discloses a method
for identifying a surgical article, once an article is removed from
its primary protective packaging. If the article itself is not
labeled or otherwise distinguished, it can be difficult for a user
to differentiate its physical or performance properties. The method
involves providing a surgical article within a primary protective
packaging removing said surgical article from said primary
packaging, and coordinating colored indicia associated either on
the surgical article itself or with a secondary, inner packaging or
wrap with a color-coded identification system. The color-coded
identification system involves a plurality of different colors,
each color indicating a particular predetermined performance
characteristic or physical property of said surgical article. As
used herein, the term "characteristic" or "property" refers to any
distinguishing trait, quality, or properties of the article, for
instance, an article's shape, size, texture, thickness, weight,
material construction, absorbance or barrier properties, or other
functional parameters. The color code could be manifested either as
a label on the outer packaging or as a separate color-coded
identification chart.
[0014] The colored indicia can include any one of the following
elements: a word or words, a symbol, picture, graphic design, or a
combination of the elements. It is desired that each of the colored
indicia have a substantially similar color to a corresponding
colored label on the outer packaging. Any kind or combination of
colors can be used in developing a particular code for
distinguishing the various articles. The color coding according to
an embodiment can be implemented by printing the words of existing
labels in the color of the desired, predetermined code.
Alternatively, one may use a certain stripe or graphic design of a
certain color on the packaging to indicate type of glove contained
therein.
[0015] For many kinds of products, color-coded indicia is used on
the outer transit case in the form of a color coded label, or on a
dispenser box which may be totally color coded, an outer peel or
tear pouch, that is color coded with a name and a bar. A wide range
of other colors or combination of colors and designs or indicia may
be employed in addition or substituted to indicate for as many
different parameters as one may desire. For instance, color coding
on surgical gowns is used to designate the level of protection the
gown material provides.
[0016] The outer packaging can in certain embodiments be a sterile
pack, which for example, one tears or peals apart, to access the
surgical product immediately or an inner packaging, for example, a
glove wallet. In certain embodiments, the color-coded secondary
packaging substantially matches the color of the primary protective
packaging. The secondary packaging can be used as a glove wallet,
such as for protecting sterility of surgical gloves before donning.
The color-coded identification system may be used to identify
certain physical properties of a surgical article, such as physical
size, or a combination of them. The surgical product or packaging
can be placed on a sterile field. The method may further comprise
providing instruction on how to use said color-coded secondary
packaging.
[0017] Currently, for instance in the situation of surgical glove
wallets, however, the color-coding scheme is, carried down to the
peel pouch level, and unfortunately not carried through the inner
packaging, or glove wallet. Rather, the final user encounters only
black printing, which does not convey the color coded information
to the final user. This is important because the final user is
often not the same person who retrieves, opens, and prepared the
gloves for donning. A reason for the color coding is to provide
ease in identification on the back table when all the other
packaging has been peeled away and they are left with just the
gloves inside the wallet. During a single procedure there will be
additional gloves pulled in case they need more. Several different
types can be worn within one procedure based on the preference of
the surgeons and staff. Therefore, if they need a new glove, the
nurse needs to be able to quickly grab it to re-don a surgeon. By
color coding they won't have to stop to read the wallet, they can
quickly identify the required product thus saving time.
[0018] According to another aspect, the invention provides a
surgical article package and packaging system that implements or
embodies the method described above. The package in one iteration
has a primary, outer packaging, and a colored indicia associated
either on a surgical article or with a secondary, inner packaging,
said colored indicia is coordinated with a predetermined color
code. FIG. 1 illustrates, for example, a color coded indicator
system adapted for several types of powder-free gloves made by
Kimberly Clark Corporation, under the SAFESKIN.RTM. brand:
TABLE-US-00001 Color Description Property blue Standard natural
rubber latex 0.25 mm thickness at fingertip orange Underglove 0.19
mm green Micro 0.19 mm brown Ortho 0.32 mm
The example demonstrates that a certain color is associated with a
particular physical property, such as finger tip thickness, which a
user may desire. (Associated cross-hatching is used to represent
the presence of certain colors.)
[0019] FIGS. 2A-2C shows a typical glove envelope or wallet that
may embody the present color coded system as described. In the
embodiment of FIG. 2A, the wallet is shown as an open, unfolded
sheet, with a colored stripe along what will become a folded edge
of the envelope. FIG. 2B shows a face-on view of the wallet after
folding and partially open, while FIG. 2C shows the same wallet
from an outer, side view. A surgical article package may have a
primary, outer packaging and a secondary, inner packaging, wherein
the inner packaging has colored indicia coordinated with a label on
the outer packaging.
[0020] The present invention also envisions the used of such
packaging as part of a color-coded surgical packaging system, the
system comprising a first and second packaging including a surgical
article within; the first packaging having a colored label and the
second packaging having colored indicia of substantially similar
color and coordinated with said colored label of said first
packaging. Alternatively in a surgical packaging system, the system
comprises at least a first sterile packaging, and colored indicia
associated either with a surgical article or a secondary, inner
packaging around the surgical article.
[0021] The present invention has been described in general and in
detail by way of examples. Persons of skill in the art, however,
will appreciate that various changes, modifications, or equivalents
can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as described and claimed.
* * * * *