GB2273266A

GB2273266A - Identification means for infant.

Info

Publication number: GB2273266A
Application number: GB9325361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Riad Roomi
Original assignee: MED UNITED
Current assignee: MED UNITED
Priority date: 1992-12-12
Filing date: 1993-12-10
Publication date: 1994-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-10
Also published as: GB9325361D0; GB2273266B; GB9225976D0

Abstract

A method of providing identification of newborn babies in, say, a hospital environment, utilises flexible portions of sheet material (8) provided with an aperture or apertures (10) so as to depict numerals or letters which when assembled together provide identification information. The portions of sheet material (8) are then used as stencil means to which is applied a semi-permanent non-allergic dye material (14) e.g. a herbal dye such as henna. A protective layer (16, figure 3) placed over the dye material during the time taken to stain the skin, after which the portions (8), the dye material (14) and the layer (16) are removed to reveal legible identification marks which may remain visible for up to three weeks. <IMAGE>

Description

IDENTIFICATION MEANS The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to identification means, particularly but not exclusively for use in providing ready identification of newborn babies in a hospital environment.

Many procedures have been adopted to reduce the risk of a mother being given a baby that is not her own in a busy maternity ward. These include providing the child with wrist and/or ankle bands bearing its family name and date of birth. Such bands are easily detached and lost.

It has also been proposed to take foot- or finger-prints, but the impression made is either too small or too smudged to be reliable on its own, although it may provide a useful back-up procedure.

The present invention provides a method of applying identification markings on an infant's skin, comprising the application of a semi-permanent dye material in an area having a pre-determined shape and outline. If necessary, a removable carrier or protective layer therefor may be provided, to reveal a coloration of the skin.

Conveniently, the dye material may be transferred by means of a process involving decalcomania or by a writing instrument.

Alternatively, the markings may be applied by means of dye-impregnated self-adhesive tape, conveniently one in which the dye material is pre-applied to the tape in the form of letters and/or numerals. Further alternatives include stencil means which may be pre-loaded with dye material.

The invention provides in another of its several features a method of providing identification of infants comprising the steps of procuring a portion of flexible material having a self-adhesive backing layer, said portion having at least one aperture therein comprising a readily recognisable shape or sign, positioning the portion onto the skin of the infant and applying to the portion a non-toxic, non-allergenic dye material so as to provide a layer of said dye material at least to cover said aperture, allowing the dye material to remain in place upon the portion for a pre-determined length of time and removing said portion and said layer of dye material to reveal a semi-permanent staining of the skin in a configuration corresponding to the shape of the aperture.

Preferably, the layer of dye material may be covered by a protective covering during said predetermined length of time.

Advantageously, said apertures may be in the form of numerals and/or letters of the alphabet.

Preferably, letters of the alphabet may be used to form the baby's family name if necessary in abbreviated form. The date of birth may also be included.

Alternatively, a serial number may be formed from a series of numbers "O" to "9", and a separate register kept of the details of the infant bearing that serial number.

Although the dye material may be of any suitable type, it may be preferable to select an organic dye, advantageously a herbal or botanic dye for example derived from Egyptian privet (Lawsonia inermis Lythraceae) commonly known as henna. The selected dye will advantageously produce a coloration upon skin which, while not wholly permanent, remains clearly visible for two weeks or so.

The invention further provides in another of its several aspects an identification means for use on skin comprising a first layer of flexible material having at least one area therein comprising a readily recognisable shape or sign, said first layer having a backing layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive bonded thereto, a support layer being provided upon the adhesive backing layer for ease of storage and transit, and a supply of non-toxic, non-allergenic dye material to stain the skin in a zone corresponding in appearance to the shape of said area.

Preferably, a further layer of material is provided to protect the dye material in use according to the method described in the fourth paragraph of the specification.

There will now be described an example of a method according to the invention. It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a plurality of flexible stencil portions on a support layer; and Figures 2 to 4 illustrate stages in the use of the invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown a part sheet of flexible material 2, which may be of a fine plastics foam sheet material and is provided with a layer 4 of pressure-sensitive adhesive, to which is removably secured a support layer 6 arranged to protect the layer 4. The material 2 is pre-cut into rectangular portions 8, each provided with an aperture 10 in the manner of a stencil.

In Figure 1 the apertures represent the letter "B" and the numeral "8" by way of example. In use of the stencil means so provided, a number of portions 8 are selected from the sheet, removed from the layer 6 and applied to an area of skin 12 as shown in Figure 2, to form the surname ADAMS and the date of 4-7-93, to indicate the date of birth of an infant having that family name. While the example shows the marking being applied to a baby's arm, it will be understood that it may be preferred to mark other skin areas, for example, the foot.

In another example, the portions 8 are assembled prior to being applied to the skin in the desired arrangement.

In yet another example, the apertures may be punched in the portions 8 as and when required, by use of a series of cutting bits or dies housed in an adjustable punch device.

A quantity of henna dye 14 in a suitable paste carrier is then applied to the apertured portions 8 (Figure 3), and allowed to remain for a suitable period of time in contact with the skin 12 beneath the apertures 10. In order to prevent unwanted disturbance of the dye material by the movement of the infant or contact with clothes or other surfaces, a protective layer 16 of, for example, plastics material is applied over the dye material 14.

When the necessary period of time has elapsed, the layer 16 is removed, together with the portions 8 and the skin is washed or wiped clean of residual dye material.

As shown in Figure 4 the skin is now clearly marked at 18 to identify the infant.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of applying identification markings on an infant's skin, comprising the application of a semi-permanent dye material in an area having a predetermined shape and outline.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of determining the shape and outline of an area of skin to be dyed by a stencil means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of determining the shape and outline of an area of skin to be dyed by transfer means (decalcomania).

4. A method of providing identification of infants comprising the steps of procuring a portion of flexible material having a self-adhesive backing layer, said portion having at least one aperture therein comprising a readily recognisable shape or sign, positioning the portion onto the skin of the infant and applying to the portion a non-toxic, non-allergenic dye material so as to provide a layer of said dye material at least to cover said aperture, allowing the dye material to remain in place upon the portion for a pre-determined length of time and removing said portion and said layer of dye material to reveal a semi-permanent staining of the skin in a configuration corresponding to the shape of the aperture.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the layer of dye material is covered by a protective covering during said predetermined length of time.

6. A method as claimed in either one of claims 4 and 5, wherein each one of said apertures is formed in a portion of flexible material, a plurality of said portions being assembled adjacent to one another to form recognisable identification information.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the portions are assembled prior to application to the infant's skin.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the portions are assembled upon the infant's skin.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dye is a herbal or botanic dye.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the dye is derived from henna.

11. An identification means for use on skin comprising a first layer of flexible material having at least one area therein comprising a readily recognisable shape or sign, said first layer having a backing layer of pressure sensitive adhesive bonded thereto, a support layer being provided upon the adhesive backing layer for ease of storage and transit, and a supply of non-toxic, non-allergenic dye material to stain the skin in a zone corresponding in appearance to the shape of said area.

12. An identification means as claimed in claim 11, wherein a further layer of material is provided to protect the dye material for a predetermined length of time while the dye material is in contact with the skin.

13. An identification means as claimed in either one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the first layer of flexible material comprises a fine-gauge plastics foam sheet material having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof.

14. An identification means as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first layer of flexible material comprises a plurality of material portions each defining one of said apertures, said portions being assembled adjacent to one another to form recognisable identification information in use.

15. An identification means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said portions of flexible material are adapted to be assembled in situ upon the skin.

16. An identification means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said portions of flexible material are adapted to be assembled prior to adhering to the skin.

17. A method of applying identification markings on an infant's skin, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

18. An identification means for use on skin, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.