Contamination detection system

Abstract

A dual bar code for detecting contamination. When no contamination is present, a first bar code identifies the product. When contamination is present a second bar code identifies the presence of contaminants.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A contamination detection system comprising: 
 a first bar code symbol coded to identify a container when contamination is not present;    a second bar code symbol coded to identify a contaminated container when contamination is present; and    means for altering said bar codes such that, when contamination is not present the first bar code identifies the container and when contamination is present the second bar code identifies the presence of contamination.    
     
     
         2 . The contamination detection system of  claim 1  wherein said means for altering said bar codes includes an antibody.  
     
     
         3 . The contamination detection system of  claim 2  wherein said antibody further comprises a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         4 . The contamination detection system of  claim 2  wherein said antibody is attached to a label.  
     
     
         5 . The contamination detection system of  claim 4  wherein said label further comprises an immunobead.  
     
     
         6 . A dual bar code system for detecting contamination comprising: 
 a first bar code symbol coded to identify a container having an indicator area for changing the appearance of said first bar code;    a second bar code symbol coded to identify contamination of the container having an indicator area for changing the appearances of said second bar code;    wherein when contamination is present, the appearance of the first bar code changes precluding product identification, and the appearance of the second bar code changes to identify contamination.    
     
     
         7 . The dual bar code system of  claim 6  wherein said means for altering said bar codes includes an antibody.  
     
     
         8 . The dual bar code system of  claim 7  wherein said antibody further comprises a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         9 . The dual bar code system of  claim 7  wherein said antibody is attached to a label.  
     
     
         10 . The dual bar code system of  claim 6  wherein said label further comprises an immunobead.  
     
     
         11 . A contamination detection system comprising: 
 (a) a container;    (b) a bar code printed upon a transparent substrate;    (c) a contamination indicator attached to said container and aligned with said bar code, whereby said indicator changes appearance when the container becomes contaminated and alters the appearance of said bar code.    
     
     
         12 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the altered appearance of said bar code makes the bar code unreadable by bar code reader.  
     
     
         13 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said indicator is a chemical.  
     
     
         14 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said indicator is located on said container.  
     
     
         15 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a second bar code printed upon a transparent substrate wherein the second bar code is aligned with the indicator, whereby said indicator changes appearance when the container becomes contaminated and alters the appearance of the second bar code.  
     
     
         16 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the altered appearance of said second bar code makes the second bar code readable by a bar code reader.  
     
     
         17 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the indicator comprises an antibody attached to a second substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the means for changing the color of the indicator comprises a label attached to the antibody wherein the antibody dissociates from the second substrate in the presence of the toxin.  
     
     
         19 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 18  wherein the label comprises a latex bead.  
     
     
         20 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the means for changing the appearance of the indicator comprises a labeled antibody which binds to the second substrate in the presence of the toxin.  
     
     
         21 . The contamination detection system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the label comprises a latex bead.  
     
     
         22 . A contamination detector comprising: 
 a container;    an indicator, wherein the indicator comprises    a first anti-toxin attached to a transparent substrate; and    a solution in contact with the first anti-toxin attached to the transparent substrate, wherein the solution comprises a labeled second anti-toxin and wherein the labeled second anti-toxin becomes bound to the transparent substrate rendering the substrate opaque in the presence of a toxin.    
     
     
         23 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 22  wherein the first anti-toxin recognizes an antigenic determinant on the toxin which is different from the antigenic determinant on the toxin recognized by the second anti-toxin.  
     
     
         24 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 22  further comprising a bar code aligned with the transparent substrate.  
     
     
         25 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 22  wherein the transparent substrate seals a hole in the container.  
     
     
         26 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 22  wherein the solution comprising the second antibody is enclosed in a compartment.  
     
     
         27 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 26  wherein the compartment comprises a semipermeable membrane.  
     
     
         28 . A contamination detector comprising: 
 a container;    an indicator strip associated with the container, wherein the indicator strip includes markings which are removed in the presence of a toxin; and    a bar code aligned with the indicator strip, wherein the combination of the presence of markings on the indicator strip and the bar code form an intact visible indicator.    
     
     
         29 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 28  wherein the markings on the indicator strip are formed by labeled antibodies bound to a substrate.  
     
     
         30 . The contamination detector as recited in  claim 28  wherein removal of the markings from the indicator strip results in a defective indicator.  
     
     
         31 . A method of detecting contamination of a container comprising: 
 (a) attaching a bar code printed upon a transparent substrate to a container;    (b) attaching a contamination detector to said package, wherein the detector comprises an indicator which changes appearance when the container becomes contaminated, whereby said indicator is aligned with said bar code and alters the appearance of the bar code when the indicator changes appearance; and    (c) detecting whether the bar code has been altered by a change in the appearance of the indicator.    
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 31  wherein the contamination detector comprises an antibody attached to a second substrate.  
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 31  wherein the change in the appearance of the bar code makes the bar code unreadable by a bar code reader.  
     
     
         34 . The method of detecting contamination as recited in  claim 31  wherein said indicator is a chemical.  
     
     
         35 . The method of detecting contamination as recited in  claim 31  wherein the detection is performed by use of a bar code reader.  
     
     
         36 . The method of detecting contamination as recited in  claim 31  wherein the detection is performed by visual identification.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising: 
 attaching a second bar code printed upon the transparent first substrate, wherein the second bar code is aligned with the indicator, whereby said indicator changes appearance when the container becomes contaminated and alters the appearance of the second bar code; and detecting whether the second bar code has been altered by a change in color of the indicator.  
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the change in the appearance of the second bar code makes the second bar code readable by a bar code reader.  
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 31  wherein the means for changing the color of the indicator comprises a label attached to the antibody wherein the antibody dissociates from the substrate in the presence of the toxin.  
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 39  wherein the label comprises a latex bead.  
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 31  wherein the means for changing the appearance of the indicator comprises a labeled antibody which binds to the substrate in the presence of the toxin.  
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 41  wherein the label comprises a latex bead.  
     
     
         43 . A container comprising: 
 a first product information component associated with the container so it is visible from the exterior of the container, the first component comprising a first substrate and one or more first visual elements printed on the first substrate with a material capable of detecting a contaminant; and    a second product information component associated with the container, the second component comprising a second substrate aligned with the first substrate without hiding the first visual elements and a plurality of second visual elements printed on the second substrate with a noncontaminant detecting material.    
     
     
         44 . The container of  claim 43 , in which the first and second elements together form a bar code.  
     
     
         45 . The container of  claim 43 , in which the second substrate is aligned with the first substrate.  
     
     
         46 . The package in  claim 45 , in which the second substrate is opaque and has one or more cutouts and the one or more visual elements of the first substrate are visible through the one or more cutouts.