Encoding method for encoding medical items
AssigneeRoche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
InventorsWolfgang Petrich, Stefan Kalveram, Markus Serr
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Abstract
A coding for a medical disposable item is proposed comprising at least one information component in encoded form. Associated encoding methods and devices, and associated decoding methods and devices, are also proposed. The coding generally comprises an optical information component comprising one or more fields filled with a gray-scale value up to a certain degree of filling. Each gray-scale value and degree of filling are associated as a value pair determined as part of a code generated to correlate to an information component desired to be applied to and conveyed from a medical disposable item to an associated device that utilizes such items.
Claims19
A method for generating at least one coding on a medical disposable item, wherein the coding comprises at least one information component in encoded form, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- a) converting the at least one information component into a code, wherein the code comprises a plurality of value pairs each pair comprising a gray-scale value and a degree of filling;
- b) converting the code into a two-dimensional optical information component, wherein the optical information component comprises a plurality of fields, each field filled with at least one gray-scale value up to an associated degree of filling in accordance with the code;
- and c) applying the optical information component to the medical disposable item.
A device for generating at least one coding on a medical disposable item, wherein the coding comprises at least one information component in encoded form, wherein the device comprises:
- A) at least one code generating device, wherein the code generating device is adapted to convert the at least one information component into a code, wherein the code comprises a plurality of value pairs each pair comprising a gray-scale value and a degree of filling;
- B) at least one conversion device operatively connected to the at least one code generating device, wherein the conversion device is adapted to obtain or receive the code from the code generating device and to convert the code into a two-dimensional optical information component, wherein the optical information component comprises a plurality of fields, each field filled with at least one gray-scale value up to an associated degree of filling in accordance with the code;
- and C) at least one application device operatively connected to the at least one conversion device, wherein the application device is adapted to apply the optical information component to the medical disposable item.
A method for decoding at least one encoded information component on a medical disposable item, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- i) detecting at least one two-dimensional optical information component applied on the medical disposable item, wherein the optical information component comprises a plurality of fields, each field filled with at least one gray-scale value up to an associated degree of filling;
- ii) converting the optical information component into a code by means of a histogram analysis, wherein the code comprises a plurality of value pairs each pair comprising a gray-scale value and a degree of filling based on the histogram analysis;
- and iii) converting the code into the information component.
A device for decoding at least one encoded information component on a medical disposable item, wherein the device comprises:
- I) at least one detection device for detecting at least one two dimensional optical information component applied on the medical disposable item, wherein the optical information component comprises a plurality of fields, each field filled with at least one gray-scale value up to an associated degree of filling;
- II) at least one evaluation device operatively connected to the at least one detection device and adapted to convert the optical information component into a code by means of a histogram analysis, wherein the code comprises a plurality of value pairs each pair comprising a gray-scale value and a degree of filling in accordance with the histogram analysis;
- and III) at least one decryption device operatively connected to the evaluation device and configured for converting the code into the information component.
A medical disposable item comprising at least one coding, wherein the coding comprises a two-dimensional optical information component having a plurality of fields, each field filled with a gray-scale value up to a degree of filling wherein the gray-scale value and degree of filling for each field comprise a value pair determined in order to associate the two-dimensional optical information component with a code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.