Encoding method for encoding medical items

A device for generating at least one coding on an 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 an optical information component, wherein the optical information component comprises at least one 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 item.

A method for decoding at least one encoded information component on an item, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• i) detecting at least one optical information component applied on the item, wherein the optical information component comprises at least one 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 an item, wherein the device comprises:

• I) at least one detection device for detecting at least one optical information component applied on the item, wherein the optical information component comprises at least one 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.