Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The presen~ inven~ion relates to a combined lab
requisition sample identification form for use in medical
patient diagnosis, and more particularly relates to such a form
which can be used in laboratories or hospitals to correlate
patients with reports and/or spec;mens.
When samples are taken from a patient in a hospital or
laboratory, it is necessary to identify that sample. This is
usually done by the preparation of a specific label having
information on it such as, for exam~le, patient name, date,
test-type, sa~ple identification, etc.. The sorting and
checking of labels and laboratory test requisition forms at the
laboratory reception site i8 usually done manually and requires
diligent and careful work to ensure proper sample
identification and corLela~ion with the pa~ient. Samples are
repeatedly manually checked during most laboratory procedures,
consuming much time and requiring much care to ensure that
mistakes are not made.
Many laboratory instruments are now equipped with a
bar code reader and such automated reading of sample
identification has obvious advantages such as reduction of
errors, increased speed, automated sample handling and the
like.
Davidson et al U.S. Patent No. 4,156,539 issued
May 29, 1979 describes and illustrates an identification card
'';i'~;.
to be used by athletes and spor~smen which includes
identification of the user and has perforated SectiGnS for
selec~ive removal fLom the card. Each section indicates a
medical proble~. The card and the removable sections are
provided with pressure sensitive adhesive on khe back and are
initialy covered with a removable paper shield. In use, the
user fills out his name and address in one portion on the card,
and then removes and discards appropriate perforated sections
to identify his disabilities. The paper shield is removed and
the appcopriate portions of the card are secured for example to
the person's clothing.
LockhaLt U.S. Patent No. 4,15~,129 issued June 26,
1979 describes and illustrates a pharmaceutical prescription
sheet having ~rescription label segments which are removably
secured to the sheet. Each of these label segments receives
typed information and permits simultaneous tran6fer of that
information to the backing sheet. The prescription label
segment may be removed from the backing sheet and applied to a
container of the prescribed pharmaceuticals, leaving, on the
backing sheet, the necessary informat~on as to the patient and
the prescribed pharmaceuticals.
Other patents of general background interest are U.S.
Patent No. 4,312,523 of Haines issued January 26, 198~
describing a type of label for securing to pharmaceutical
product containers, McLaughlin U.S. Patent No. ~,328,978 issued
May 11, 1982 describing a bracelet-type identification device
fo{ hospital patients in which perforated holes in a pa~ient's
card, individual to tha~ patient, are aligned with perforations
in hospital forms when such forms relate to that patient, Xelly
U.S. Patent No. 2,563,340 issued Augu~t 7, 1951 describing a
reusable type of label and Machlup et al Canadian Patent No.
802.075 issued December 24, 1968 desceibing and illustrating a
mounting sheet fcL storing medical information which comprises
a plurality of p~essure-sensitive zones to receive. for
example, electrocardiographs.
It is an object of the present inven-tion to provide a
system for correlating forms and samples with patients in a
hospital OL laboratory which will facilitate the handling of
such forms and specimens and reduce the chances of error in
relating such forms and specimens to a particular patient.
SU~ARY OF THE INVENTIO~
The present invention provides a combined lab
requisition sample identification form for use in medical
patient diagnosis. The identification form comprises a printed
form having discreet sections for lab requisition purposes to
set out tests required and for reports of test results.
plurality of identical adhesive-backed labels are secured to
the form and are selectively detachable ~herefrom. The
adhesive-backed labels are coded to identify one or more of:
patient name, test type, sample identifica~ion and date. These
labels are to be individually attached to specimen bottles or
other report sheets.
The form according to the present invention permits
definitive labelling of samples at the site of collection and
eliminates the necessity of sorting and checking samples and
requisitions at the laboratory reception site for re-labelling
with a laboratory code. The form significantly reduces the
likelihood of mixing specimens or forms for one patient with
those for another.
The maximum effectiveness of this type of form and
labels is obtained when used in combination with a computeri~ed
laboratory administration system. The sample identification,
as well as the identical labelling of derivatives (blood films,
etc.) of the o~iginal sample can be used throughout the entire
test procedure: from the nursing station requis-'Ltioning the
test, to the bedside, and -to the laboraltory where it is tied in
to the (electronic) patlent file, to the final report and to
the filing of the test result.
The integration of requisitioning forms with
machine-readable labels in accordance with the present
invention enables definiti~e labelling of samples at the site
of collection and eliminates, as was prevalent in prior art
labelling sys~ems, the necessity of sorting alnd checking
samples of requisitlons at the laboLatory reception site for
re-labelling with the laboratory code.
L.L
~RI~F DESCRIPTION OF T~E DR~WINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in
which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, from the f~ont, of a
combined lab requisition-sample identification form in
accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a rear view of such a form;
FIGURE 3 is a section view of the form illustrated in
FIGURE l; and
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a specimen bot~le on
which a label from the form of FIGV~E 1 has been attached.
While the invention will be described in conjunction
with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment. On the
contrary, it is intanded to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as may be included withill ~he
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRTPTION_OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
~urning to FIGURE 1 there is shown a combined lab
requisition sample iden~ification form 2 in accordance with the
present invention, for use in medical patien~ diagnosis. The
specific requisition form 2 has an upper area 4 sectioned for
various requisition items, a lower form ~ sectioned for various
report items, and is in the form of three aligned similar
sheets ~, the information being entered into formatted zones on
the top sheet being simultaneously transferred through
impressions to the other two sheets. Attached to this form on
a backing sheet lO are a plurality of peel-off, pressure-
sensitive adhesive backed label~ 12 (FIGURE 2). As can be seen
in FIGURE 2, these labels are identically coded with a
machine-readable bar code 14 thereon. While six such labels lZ
are illustrated, there may be any number. The labels may
contain information such as test-type, patient name, sample
identification, date, etc.. In a typical configuration only
the sample identification number is coded in machine-readable
form. However some or all of ~he above-men~ioned other
information may be coded or may be entered or inscribed by the
user of the form. A6 has been previously indicated, since
laboratory instruments now often a~e equipped with a bar code
reader, the labels of the form according to the present
invention permit automated reading of samples identified with
the labels, resulting in reduction of error~, increased speed,
automatic sample handling, etc.. While the labels may be
applied to containers 16 containing specimens ~aken from the
patient, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, they may also be applied
to other re~orts and forms. As each form 2 for a particular
patient would have a plurality of labels 12 bearing its own
unique code, it will be appreciated that it is extremely simple
~o ensure that specimens and forms for a particular patient
will be easily recognizable and difficult to mix-u~ or confuse
with those of another patient.
Thus it is apparent that theLe has been provided in
accordance with the invention a lab Lequisition-sample
identification orm for use in medical patient diagnosis that
fully satisfies the objec~s, aims and advantages set forth
above. While the invention has been described in conjunction
with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
description. ~ccordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the invention.
