Monitoring of a time period relating to a product

Abstract

A label includes a timer to monitor a predetermined time period relating to a medical device, such as an indwelling cannula, or other product. The label includes a signalling apparatus that provides an alert signal on expiry of the predetermined time period and a fixing portion to fix the label to a support surface such as medical records of a patient. The label can have a first portion and a second portion and the first portion can be separable from the second portion. The fixing portion can be provided in the second portion and all or part of the signalling apparatus provided in the first portion. Also disclosed is a monitoring system for a medical device, including a base station and a label receivable by the base station. The monitoring system monitors a predetermined time period based on receipt of the label by the base station.

1 . A label comprising:
 a timer to monitor a predetermined time period relating to a product;   a signalling apparatus that provides an alert signal on expiry of the predetermined time period; and   a fixing portion to fix the label to a support surface,   wherein the label comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion located towards a first end of the label and a second portion located towards a second end of the label opposite to the first end, and   wherein the signalling apparatus is comprised in the first portion and the fixing portion is comprised in the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is separable from the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The label of  claim 2  comprising a frangible element, tear line, tear notch, perforations and/or region of weakness between the first portion and the second portion to enable separation of the first portion from the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a medical device. 
     
     
         5 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is provided by patient medical records. 
     
     
         6 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein the medical records comprise one or more sheet elements of paper, plastic or card. 
     
     
         7 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion is arranged to overhang an edge of the medical records when the label is fixed to the medical records by the fixing portion. 
     
     
         8 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a substance or material located in a container. 
     
     
         9 . The label of  claim 8 , wherein the support surface is provided by a surface of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion is planar. 
     
     
         11 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the label is a single-use label. 
     
     
         12 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the label comprises a power source and the power source, timer and signalling apparatus are comprised in the first portion. 
     
     
         13 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a display portion. including a surface on which a user can write information and/or a surface on which information is pre-printed. 
     
     
         14 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the signalling apparatus is configured to provide a first type of alert signal prior to expiry of the predetermined time period and a second type of alert signal upon expiry of the predetermined time period, the first and second types of alert signal being different. 
     
     
         15 . The label of  claim 14 , wherein the first type of alert signal is emitted upon an actuation step being carried out by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The label of  claim 14 , wherein the actuation step comprises pressing a button comprised in the label. 
     
     
         17 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the label comprises a tab that is removable to initiate monitoring of the predetermined time period by the timer. 
     
     
         18 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion is moveable between a first state and a second state, wherein moving the fixing portion from the first state to the second state places the fixing portion in a condition for fixing the label to the support surface and initiates monitoring of the predetermined time period by the timer. 
     
     
         19 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises adhesive covered by a removable backing layer. 
     
     
         20 . The label of  claim 18 , wherein the fixing portion comprises adhesive covered by a removable backing layer and wherein removal of the backing layer moves the fixing portion from the first state to the second state.