Special receptacle or package – Combined or convertible – Packaged assemblage or kit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-05
2001-09-11
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Combined or convertible
Packaged assemblage or kit
C206S572000, C206S459500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286682
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medical alert message emblem and kit and method of use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years attention has been ever-increasingly drawn to the need for a system which allows a patient, who may or may not be capable of communicating, to alert medical staff of a pre-existing medical condition or of an advance directive regarding certain medical decisions, e.g., living wills. One such system is described in applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,861 entitled “Medical Stamp System and Method of Use,” incorporated herein by reference. This stamp system provides an ink stamp kit to be used by a physician in marking a patient with indicia for withholding extraordinary medical care after receiving appropriate authorization. However, due to certain regulations and concerns about re-using any product which has been in contact with a patient, there exists a need in the art for an alternative medical marking system to alleviate these concerns.
Another method for marking the skin of a patient is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,306,271, 5,407,440, and 5,743,899 all to Zinreich et al., each incorporated herein by reference. This method provides for radiation therapy marking to delineate a radiation portal area on a patient's skin surface. The device includes a set of radiation therapy skin markers which are releasably attached to a backing liner and include an adhesive surface such that the markers may be releasably attached to a patient's skin surface. This marking method allows the tape-like markers to be readily removed (intentionally or accidentally) which then can lead to loss of the marker or re-adherence to an improper location or to another patient. Such type of markers are, therefore, unsuitable for medical alerts or advance directives which should be semi-permanent in nature and not reusable.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a medical alert message emblem, kit, and method which provides a plurality of one-time use semi-permanent skin markers for various messages, such as for pre-existing medical conditions or advance directives regarding certain medical decisions.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention solves the needs in the art by providing a one-time use semi-permanent skin marker in the form of an adhesive substrate (similar to temporary tattoos) for various messages, such as for pre-existing medical conditions or advance directives regarding certain medical decisions. These medical stamp emblems can be used by a physician or other authorized personnel to allow a patient's body to communicate directions for any medical action or inaction, or medical message that the physician, medical staff person, or patient wishes to emphasize.
The medical stamp emblems are preferably made with FDA approved and certified hypo-allergenic inks. In storage, the temporary medical stamp emblems are releasably attached to a backing liner. The surface of the emblem consists of porous, non-woven, compacted tissue substrate with an adhesive on the backside of the substrate. The transferable image is made with FDA approved and certified hypo-allergenic inks. The image is reversed (mirror image) on the backing liner so as to be correctly viewed when applied to the skin.
The temporary medical stamp emblems are designed specifically for the purpose of alerting medical personnel (i.e., medics, physicians, surgeons, etc.) as to any action, inaction, or medical message that an individual or patient wishes to emphasize such as previously performed medical procedures and information concerning the patient's health or medical status. For example, the messages on the temporary medical stamp emblems may include, but are not limited to, ORGAN DONOR, DO NOT RESUSCITATE, ALLERGY ALERT, OPERATIVE SITE, SEIZURES, PACEMAKER, DIABETIC, HEART/LUNG/KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, BLOOD TYPE, ON BLOOD THINNER, and the like. Important messages will be placed over the heart, such as DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).
The medical stamp emblems may be separately packaged for individual sale or be provided in kit form. The medical alert kit can consist of: a holding container in the form of a box, a variety of medical emblems, a medical stamp applicator, a bottle containing rubbing alcohol, and an optional computer disk with medical and legal authorization forms. Placed on the inner top planar surface of the holding container could be various instructions or limited warranty statement in the form of a water-proof decal. A computer disk may also be placed there. The inner area of the box is preferably divided into six compartments (each holding a different item contained in the kit).
Also contained in the medical alert message kit is a medical emblem applicator which is used to transfer the appropriate medical message onto the skin.
A bottle of rubbing alcohol is also contained in the kit. The rubbing alcohol is used to clean the skin prior to application of the medical stamp emblem, and also for removal of the medical stamp emblem.
Finally, a computer disk (e.g., floppy, CD or other media) is also contained in the medic alert message kit. This disk contains all the necessary legal forms for each temporary medical stamp emblem contained in the kit. This kit will enable each medical institution, as well as each individual purchaser, to reproduce the forms and/or modify them according to their needs. Because the forms are customized and readily available time, money and paper will be saved. Additional information can also be provided in the kit, such as information concerning Advance Directives, information on Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Surrogates, and various other information concerning legal rights and powers that patients have for decisions concerning their estate and management of their death.
The temporary medical stamp emblems can be applied anywhere on the body as is appropriate, using it (the body) as the media, thus providing assurance that the message it states will not get lost or overlooked in an emergency.
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patent: 5306271 (1994-04-01), Zinreich et al.
patent: 5357861 (1994-10-01), d'Arbelles et al.
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patent: 5817385 (1998-10-01), Stanislav
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patent: 5958560 (1999-09-01), Ewan
patent: 5979658 (1999-11-01), Allen et al.
Bui Luan K.
Mywil, Inc.
Saliwanchik Lloyd & Saliwanchik
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