Method and apparatus for printing labels for medical applications

A printer for generating a label for use in a medical application involving a sterile environment, the printer comprising:

• a label feeder that supplies labels on which label content is to be printed before the label is substantially sterilized;
• a print head that applies the label content comprising a machine-generated character to the label on demand;
• a sterilizer that receives the label bearing the label content and exposes the label bearing the label content to a sterilizing agent, thereby substantially sterilizing at least a surface of the label before the label is dispensed from the printer;
• and
• a dispenser that dispenses the label bearing the label content from the printer in a condition suitable for use in the sterile environment.

A printer accessory that is to cooperate with a printer for producing labels for use in a medical application involving a sterile environment, the printer accessory comprising:

• a receiver for receiving the label comprising label content printed, on demand at a facility where the label is to be used in the medical application, and dispensed by the printer, said label content comprising machine-generated characters;
• a packager that introduces the label bearing the label content to a package that is to at least partially enclose the label and dispenses the label in a condition suitable for use in the sterile environment;
• and
• a sterilizer that a exposes the label bearing the label content to a sterilizing agent before the label is introduced to the packager, wherein the label is received by the receiver in a non-sterile condition.