WO2006029105A2

WO2006029105A2 - Apparatus for and method of providing rfid tags

Info

Publication number: WO2006029105A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/031594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Katherine L. Garmey; James M. Kress; William J. Carpenter
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
Priority date: 2004-09-07
Filing date: 2005-09-07
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: WO2006029105A3

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a removable RFID tag (210) is provided in a format for attaching to an item or container (100) therefor that allows enhanced readability of the tag, and permits removal or deactivation of at least a portion of the RFID tag (210).

Description

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING RFID TAGS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application

No. 60/607,364 (the '364 application), filed September 7, 2004. This application

is related to International Patent Application No. PCT/US04/023704 (the '704

application), filed July 23, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional

Application No. US 60/489,934 (the '934 application), filed July 25, 2003. The

'364, '704 and '934 applications are all incorporated herein by reference in their

respective entireties.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems typically use one or

more reader antennae to send radio frequency (RF) signals to items tagged

with RFID tags. The use of such RFID tags to identify an item or person is well

known in the art. In response to the radio frequency (RF) signals from a

reader antenna, the RFID tags, when excited, produce a disturbance in the

magnetic field (or electric field) that is detected by the reader antenna.

Typically, such tags are passive tags that are excited or resonate in response to the RF signal from a reader antenna when the tags are within the detection

range of the reader antenna.

[0003] RFID tags may be attached to certain items, such as luggage or

packages or containers for holding prescription drugs, to ensure that the items

reach the intended recipients. Such RFID tags, however, may contain

confidential information (e.g., personal information, patient health data, etc.).

Removal of the RFID tag prior to providing the tagged item to the recipient

greatly reduces the effectiveness of the system for ensuring that the correct

recipient receives the tagged item. Permanently affixing the RFID tag to the

item would potentially expose the recipient to loss of privacy and/or detection

of the contents by unauthorized third parties. Permanently affixing the RFID

tag to an item may even have an effect on the individual or entity affixing the

tag to the item. Permanently affixing the RFID tag to a prescription, for

example, may expose the pharmacy or pharmacist to liability for disclosure of

confidential client information under privacy statutes such as the Health

Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA").

SUMMARY

[0004] An apparatus for and method of providing a removable RFID tag is

disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an RFID tag is provided in a format for removable attachment of at least a portion

of the RFID tag to a container (e.g., vials, bottles, boxes, blister packs or similar

containers) or even to items, objects, persons, or anything tagged for

monitoring or controlled distribution. The format allows enhanced readability

of the tag, and permits removal (or deactivation) of at least a portion of the

RFID tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIGs. Ia, Ib and Ic illustrate RFID tags attached to exemplary

containers in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention;

[0006] FIGs. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d illustrate preferred embodiments of the

invention directed to removable RFID tags attached to exemplary containers in

a lengthwise orientation along the containers;

[0007] FIGs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d illustrate preferred embodiments of the

invention directed to removable RFID tags attached to exemplary containers in

an orientation along the width of the containers;

[0008] FIGs. 4a and 4b illustrate RFID tags which are removable from

exemplary containers in accordance with preferred embodiments of the

invention; and [0009] FIGs. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d illustrate RFID tags which have portions that

can be removed from (or deactivated while attached to) exemplary containers

in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments and applications of the invention will now

be described. Other embodiments may be realized and changes may be made

to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the

invention. Although the preferred embodiments disclosed herein have been

particularly described as applied to the field of RFID systems, and particularly

directed to RFID tags applied to prescription drug containers, it should be

readily apparent that the invention may be embodied or implemented in any

technology or applied in any field having the same or similar problems.

[0011] FIGs. Ia, Ib, and Ic collectively illustrate one application of the

invention in the field of pharmaceuticals. The figures illustrate an exemplary

container in the form of a prescription drug vial 100 (having lid or cap 105) for

which RFID tags may be attached in accordance with preferred embodiments

of the invention. (It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that

the invention may be easily implemented using any other containers such as

bottles, boxes, blister packs, etc. known in the art to be used for storage, retention, control, disposal or other functions related to drugs or other

pharmaceuticals. As will also be apparent, the invention may alternatively be

implemented as applied to any other field for use on other containers or even

on items, objects, persons, or anything tagged for monitoring or controlled

distribution without departing form the spirit or scope of the invention.)

[0012] In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, an

RFID tag may be affixed, attached, located or otherwise positioned on or to the

exemplary container (e.g., vial 100) in any number of ways or orientations

known in the art. As shown, for example, in FIG. Ia, an RFID tag 110 is

disposed in a lengthwise orientation along vial 100. (The RFID tags illustrated

in FIGs. Ia through 5d are all shown as a generic RFID tag structure composed

of a circuit inlay having an antenna and microchip. It should be apparent,

however, that any structure (and any number or combination of components

and inlays) of an RFID tag may be used as desired for a given application.)

[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the

RFID tag 110 is removably affixed, attached or otherwise positioned on a

surface of vial 100 such that the tag (or at least a portion of the tag) may be

removed after the RFID tag has served its function. The removable attachment

may be effectuated using an adhesive applied directly (or through some other known application, e.g., adding a layered backing) to a surface of RFID tag

110. Preferably, the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive or a temporary,

repositionable or readily removable adhesive, such as the Post-It Note brand

adhesive available from the 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. Alternatively,

RFID tag 110 can be removably attached by any mechanism (e.g., electrostatic

interaction, magnetic interaction, physical interaction (such as fasteners

including Velcro® brand hook and loop fasteners, fasteners with breakable

joins, etc.)) which temporarily or semi-permanently associates the RFID tag

with the container (or item).

[0014] The removable positioning of at least a portion of the RFID tag to the

vial 110 serves to temporarily associate at least a portion of an RFID tag with

an item while facilitating removal of at least a portion of the RFID tag after the

RFID tag has served its purpose (e.g., controlling distribution of the vial or

drug to an intended recipient).

[0015] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the

removable positioning of the RFID tag with a container (or item) may be made

by orientating the RFID tag along the width of the container (or item), as

shown by RFID tag 120 in FIG. Ib. Furthermore, an RFID tag may be

removably positioned along a side or end surface, as exemplified in FIG. Ic. (This figure also illustrates that the RFID tag may be formed in any 2-

dimensional or 3-dimensional shape or size, as required for the specific

application in which the invention is implemented.)

[0016] In certain applications, it may be preferable that at least a portion the

RFID tag (or an object to which the tag is attached or otherwise associated

with, such as a label, etc.) remain firmly attached to the vial, so that the

attached portion of the RFID tag does not readily detach from the item. For

example, during pharmacy operations, it is preferred that the RFID tag not

become detached from the item during processing and handling of a vial.

Otherwise, the identification features that the RFID tag provides for the item

may be compromised or lost. Nevertheless, it may be desired at some time

later to remove the RFID tag from the item after the RFID tag has served its

primary purpose. For example, a customer who purchases a prescription and

receives a vial with an RFID tag may have privacy concerns and may worry

that the tag could be used for tracking purposes beyond the pharmacy. After

the RFID tag has performed its primary function (e.g., ensuring that the correct

customer receives the correct prescription), the customer may then wish to

remove the RFID tag from the vial. [0017] Under certain circumstances, a pharmacy or pharmacist may be

required to remove information that contains client confidential health

information from the prescription vial to comply with privacy statutes and

regulations (e.g., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

("HIPAA")). This may be difficult and/or impracticable with an RFID tag that

that has been designed not to easily detach from the vial.

[0018] In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, an

RFID tag can be provided (or have incorporated into it, or be incorporated

with) a portion to be firmly affixed or otherwise attached to a container (or

item). FIGs. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d collectively illustrate such preferred

embodiments, wherein an RFID tag is firmly attached to an exemplary

container in the form of vial 100 (having lid 105) for a prescription drug or the

like. As shown, for example, in FIG. 2a, an RFID tag 210 may be attached to

vial 100 through a structure or area (referred to herein as an "adherent area")

in the form of adherent strip 212. Strip 212 is firmly, or substantially

permanently, affixed, attached, or otherwise fixedly disposed on (or within)

vial 100 in a lengthwise orientation along the vial 100.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, adherent strip 212 is made of a material

that is the same or similar to at least one layer of RFID tag 210. The strip 212 may take on any size, shape or dimension. As a non-limiting example, FIG. 2a

shows strip 212 adjacent to and having a length approximately the same as the

length of RFID tag 210, but a width that is smaller than the width of RFID tag

210.

[0020] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, RFID tag 210 is

provided with (or incorporates) a surface or layer referred to herein as a "non¬

adherent area," which is assumed for purposes of illustration only, to cover

the entire back side of RFID tag 210. (In implementation of embodiments of

the invention, any side or layer may be used in lieu of or in addition to the

"back" side.) Preferably, the "non-adherent area" does not have any (or has

an inoperable) means for being firmly, or substantially permanently, affixed,

attached, or otherwise fixedly disposed on (or within) vial 100. The "non¬

adherent area" may have no mechanism for disposing at least a portion of the

RFID tag to a container (or item), or may have a mechanism for temporarily

affixing (or otherwise removably positioning) at least a portion of the RFID tag

onto the container, as in FIGs. Ia through Id.

[0021] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, RFID

tag 210 is removably attached to adherent strip 212 through a removable

region formed by perforations 214 in the material connecting RFID tag 210 and adherent strip 212. (In a preferred embodiment, this material may be the same

material making up at least one layer of both RFID tag 210 and adherent strip

212.)

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, RFID tag 210 may be formed with or

have applied thereto a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on most or all of a

side or layer of the RFID tag (preferably, the "back" side of RFID tag 210).

This adhesive layer is protected by a release layer (such as a "release paper" or

backing (not shown)), that prevents the tag from sticking to anything else

before it is attached to the intended container (or item). In this

implementation, the release paper is easily removed from the back side of

adherent strip 212, but remains completely (or at least partially) intact on the

back side of RFID tag 210. As a result, adherent strip 212 is fixedly disposed or

adhered to the vial 100, but RFID tag 210 itself does not adhere to the vial.

(Alternately, the adhesive may be applied only to the back side of adherent

strip 212.)

[0023] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, when the correct

customer has received the correct prescription (or vial 100) or the RFID tag has

otherwise completed its primary function, RFID tag 210 may be torn loose

along perforations 214, thereby allowing removal of the RFID tag from the vial 100, and leaving adherent strip 212 attached to vial 100. Alternatively, other

mechanisms may be used in lieu of (or in addition to) perforations 214. A

ripcord or score line (not shown), for example, can be provided in (or near) the

removable region (i.e., the area located between the adherent area and the

RFID tag) to facilitate removal of the RFID tag from the adherent area. Any

suitable mechanism for facilitating removal of the RFID tag from the adherent

area can be employed in preferred embodiments of the invention, including

using mechanical perforations, laser cutting, or chemical weakening of the

perforated area, as well as removal of the tag using chemical compounds, laser

or other light activated mechanisms, etc.

[0024] As further illustrated in FIG. 2a, in accordance with a preferred

embodiment, a notch 215 (or slit, slot, or other formation) may be provided as

desired to facilitate an initial application of force (e.g., tear) along perforations

214.

[0025] Any number of alternative implementations may be utilized in

accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG.

2b, for example, RFID tag 220 is attached to a container in the form of vial 100,

as in FIG. 2a, but through the use of an adherent area in the form of adherent

strip 222. In this implementation, the size of strip 222 in a lengthwise direction is less than the length of RFID tag 220 (i.e., strip 222 is shown only running

partway along the length of RFID tag 220). Preferably, perforations 224 are

provided along the length of strip 222 to allow RFID tag 220 to be torn loose

from the vial 100 in a manner similar to that described above in connection

with FIG. 2a.

[0026] As another variation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2a,

multiple adherent areas may be provided to secure an RFID tag to a container

(or item). As shown, for example, in FIG. 2c, a pair of strips 232 may be

provided on two separate sides of an RFID tag 230. Like the adherent strips

212, 222 discussed above, strips 232 may be implemented having any size,

shape or dimension, as desired for any given application. The embodiment of

FIG. 2c, for example, shows strips 232 having an exemplary length

approximately the same length as RFID tag 230, but having a width smaller

than the width of RFID tag 230. One of the many advantages of this

construction as should be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art is that

RFID tag 230 is more securely positioned on vial 100. Nevertheless, a

customer, having received the correct prescription (or vial), may tear RFID tag

230 loose along perforations 234, thereby removing the RFID tag from the vial,

and leaving strips 232 fixedly disposed on the surface of vial 100. [0027] To facilitate removal of RFID tag 230, one or more tabs may be

provided (having any size, shape or dimension) at various locations adjacent

RFID tag 230. As shown in FIG. 2c, for example, a single tab 236 is provided at

one end (e.g., top) of RFID tag 230. In this exemplary embodiment, tab 236 has

a width approximately the same as the width of RFID tag 230, but a length that

is smaller than the length of the RFID tag 230. In this preferred embodiment,

tab 236 is not affixed (or at least not permanently affixed) to vial 100. Once the

RFID tag 230 is to be removed, tab 236 can be used to facilitate a downward

force on perforations 234 so as to separate RFID tag 230 from strips 232.

[0028] Any number of modifications can be made to the preferred

embodiment shown in FIG. 2c. One or more additional strips, for example,

can be added to more securely attach the RFID tag to the container (or vial) as

shown in FIG. 2d. In particular, RFID tag 240 is shown (having tab 246)

attached to a vial by strips 242 through perforations 244 in a manner similar to

that of FIG. 2c. An additional strip 248, however, is provided adjacent to an

end portion of RFID tag 240 through perforations 249. Preferably, strip 248 is

fixedly disposed on a surface of the vial in the same manner described above

in connection with adherent strips 212, 222 and 232. In accordance with a

preferred embodiment, strip 248 may be implemented as a separate strip apart from strips 242 or, alternatively, one or more of strips 244 may be combined

with strip 248 to form a contiguous adherent area (not shown). Although not

illustrated, it should be readily apparent that one or more side portions of tab

246 may be extended to join one or more strips 242 through perforations (or

other removal mechanisms) connecting tab 246 to strips 242.

[0029] FIGs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d illustrate exemplary embodiments of the

invention, wherein portions of the RFID tags can be removably attached to a

container (or item) in an orientation along the width of the container (or vial).

As shown in FIG. 3a, for example, an RFID tag 310 is attached to vial 100

through adherent strip 312 and perforations 314. In the same manner as

described above with respect to adherent strips 212, 222, 232 and 242, strip 312

(as well as strips 322, 332 and 342 discussed below in connection with FIGs. 3b,

3c and 3d, respectively) can be fixedly disposed or adhered to a surface of a

container (or item) such as vial 100 (having lid 105). Because RFID tag 310 is

not affixed (or at least not permanently affixed) to vial 100, RFID tag 310 is

easily removed after its primary function (e.g., ensuring receipt of a

prescription to the correct patient) is completed in the same manner as RFID

tag 210 discussed above. [0030] In another preferred embodiment, FIG. 3b illustrates RFID tag 320

attached to a vial by one or more strips 322 at each end of the tag (other end

not shown). Perforations 324 are provided between RFID tag 320 and strips

322 to allow at least a portion of the tag to be removed from the vial. One or

more non-adhering tabs 326 may be provided to facilitate removal of the tag

from the vial in a manner similar to that described above in connection with

tabs 236 and 246 in FIGs. 2c and 2d, respectively.

[0031] Various other modifications may be made to the embodiment shown

in FIG. 3a. As shown in FIG. 3c, for example, an RFID tag 330 can be attached

to a container (or item) in the form of a vial. RFID tag 330 is attached through

an adherent area in the form of adherent strip 332 and perforations 324. Strip

332 and perforations 324 operate in the same manner as described above in

connection with strip 312 and perforations 314 in FIG. 3a. An additional

adherent area in the form of strip 338 (with perforations 339), however, can be

added to another portion of RFID tag 330. In accordance with the preferred

embodiment of FIG. 3c, additional strip 338 is provided on a (top) side of RFID

tag 330, having a width less than the width of RFID tag 330. Because RFID tag

330 is not affixed (or at least not permanently affixed) to the surface of the vial,

RFID tag 330 can be easily removed by tearing the tag loose from strips 332 and 338. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3d, an RFID tag 340 may be attached

to a surface of a vial in an orientation along the width of the vial using two or

more adherent areas in the form of adherent strips 342. Strips 342 are

connected to RFID tag 340 through perforations 344 in the same manner as

described above with respect to strips 232 and perforations 234 in FIG. 2c. As

shown in FIG. 3d, strips 342 may be disposed along (or partway along) the

length of the RFID tag 340. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3d, providing one

or more strips 342 that are only attached to RFID tag 340 partway along the

length of the RFID tag, allows RFID tag 340 to have an extended portion 346

that can be used as a facilitating mechanism for facilitating removal of the tag,

much like the tabs 236, 246 and 326 described above in connection with the

embodiments of FIGs. 2c, 2d and 3b, respectively.

[0032] FIGs. 4a and 4b show additional embodiments of a removable RFID

tag in accordance with the invention. FIG. 4a, for example, illustrates an

embodiment in which an RFID tag 410 is attached to a container (or item) in

the form of vial 100 through an adherent area in the form of strip 412. Strip

412 (with perforations 414) is fixedly disposed on a surface of vial 100 in the

same manner as strip 212 (with perforations 214) described above in

connection with the embodiment of FIG. 2a. Strip 412 is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment in which it has a length that runs approximately

the full length of RFID tag 410, and is removably connected to RFID tag 410

through perforations 414. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a

container label 415 (or other structure affixed to, formed on, or formed as a

part of vial 100), such as a prescription label, may cover all or part of strip 412.

[0033] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4b, an RFID tag 420 is

attached to a vial through an adherent area in the form of strip 422, preferably,

running the full length of the tag. Like strip 412, strip 422 is fixedly disposed

on a surface of the vial in the same manner as strip 212 described above in

connection with the embodiment of FIG. 2a. Instead of (or in conjunction

with) perforations being used to removably connect strip 422 to RFID tag 420,

a ripcord 424 (or other removal mechanism) is disposed between the tag and

strip 422. In a preferred embodiment, tag 420 and strip 422 share at least one

layer of common material behind which ripcord 424 is positioned. (Ripcord

422 may be merely placed on or temporarily affixed to: the surface of the vial;

the back (or other) layer of strip 422; the back (or other) layer of RFID tag 420;

or some combination of the foregoing list.) At the appropriate time, ripcord

424 can be used to remove RFID tag 420 from the vial by tearing the tag loose

from strip 422. The tearing action may be facilitated by adding a ripcord puller 425 for easier grasping and pulling on the ripcord, as well as through

perforating the material connecting RFID tag 420 to strip 422.

[0034] FIGs. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d show additional preferred embodiments of

the invention in which an RFID tag (or at least a portion thereof) is to remain

attached, temporarily positioned, or otherwise fixedly disposed on a container

(or item). As shown in FIG. 5a, for example, an RFID tag 510 is removably

positioned or permanently disposed on a surface of a container (or item) in the

form of vial 100 in any manner described above (e.g., using pressure sensitive

adhesive, etc.). Instead of removing the RFID tag, as in the preferred

embodiments illustrated in FIGs. Ia through 4b, only a portion (preferably, an

operative portion) of RFID tag 510 is removed (or otherwise disabled or

deactivated) from further use. A ripcord 514 (or other removing mechanism)

is provided under or within RFID tag 510. (A ripcord puller 515 may be

provided for facilitating use of the ripcord.) At the appropriate time (e.g., after

RFID tag 510 has completed its primary function), ripcord 514 can be used

(e.g., pulled to tear through the RFID tag) severing or at least disabling RFID

tag 510. As shown in FIG. 5a, at least a portion (e.g., antenna, microchip, etc.)

of the RFID tag circuitry or even a portion (e.g., bottom half, for example, if

attached to ripcord 514) of the tag itself can be removed. [0035] Any number of variations may be made in implementing the

embodiment of FIG. 5a. As shown in FIG. 5c, for example, a ripcord 534 (with

or without puller 535) can be used to remove or disable a portion of the

circuitry for RFID tag 530. In this illustrated embodiment, microchip 539 of

RFID tag 530 is enclosed in an area preferably formed by a loop in ripcord 534.

Upon use of the ripcord 534, the enclosed area can be torn from the remainder

of RFID tag 530, thereby removing an operative portion (e.g., microchip 539) of

RFID tag 530. Alternatively, RFID tag 530 may be rendered disabled by using

ripcord 534 to isolate microchip 539 through removal or disabling of antenna

(or other) conductive lines connecting microchip 539 to the circuitry of RFID

tag 530.

[0036] The ripcord removal mechanism of FIGs. 5a and 5c may be replaced

by tabs 525 and 545 attached to (or formed with) at least a portion of RFID tags

520 and 540, as respectively shown in FIG. 5b and 5d. In these variations, a

portion or all of an RFID tag 520 or 540 is attached, temporarily positioned, or

otherwise fixedly disposed on the surface of the vial, as in the previous

embodiments. Much like ripcord 514 and 534 (in the embodiments

respectively described in connection with FIGs. 5a and 5c), tabs 525 and 545

can be used to remove (or otherwise disable) an operative portion (e.g., antenna, bottom half, microchip 549, etc.) of RFID tags 520 and 540,

respectively. Tearing at least a portion of the tags using tabs 525 and 545 may

be facilitated by providing perforations, score lines, or other mechanisms, as

indicated by broken lines 524 and 544 in FIGs. 5b and 5d, in at least one layer

of RFID tags 520 and 540.

[0037] Any number of additional embodiments of the invention may be

devised. For example, an embodiment may be directed to the use of RFID tags

that contain a release layer which provides a non-adherent surface to an RFID

tag, as described, for example, in connection with FIGs. 2a through 4b. In

accordance with such an embodiment, the entirety of the release layer may be

removed to allow the adhesive layer of the RFID tag to fixedly dispose the

RFID tag to a desired container, item or other object. Another embodiment

may involve an RFID tag attached to a container, item or other object through

removal of a release layer, which is applied to an adherent area attached to the

RFID tag. In accordance with this embodiment, the RFID tag can be removed

from the container, item or other object by severing the attachment to the

adherent area, as previously described. The RFID tag could then be discarded,

or simply stored or filed. Alternatively, the release layer could be removed from the RFID tag to allow the RFID tag to be further attached to a different

container, item or any other object (e.g., record book, etc.).

[0038] Methods of making and using the removable RFID tags in

accordance with the invention should be readily apparent from the mere

description of the removable RFID tags and their varied applications as

provided herein. No further discussion or illustration of such methods,

therefore, is deemed necessary.

[0039] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described

and illustrated, it should be apparent that many modifications to the

embodiments and implementations of the invention can be made without

departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Although the preferred

embodiments illustrated herein have been described in connection with the

positioning of an RFID tag on a container (or item), these embodiments may

easily be implemented in accordance with the invention by removably

embedding or incorporating the RFID tags in the structure of the container (or

item) itself, or even removably (or permanently) positioning the RFID tag on a

removable portion of the container (or item) itself. While the preferred

embodiments have been illustrated using rectangular tags, tabs, strips and other components, it should be understood that other (uniform or non¬

uniform) shapes (e.g., square, oblong, oval, circle, etc.) may be used in

accordance with the invention. It should be understood further that portions

of the adherent strips or tags, especially the portions that remain attached to

the vial, may be hidden under other labels such as pharmacy labels that are

attached to the vials or under portions of the vials.

[0040] Although embodiments have been described in connection with

vials used for prescriptions, it should be readily apparent that the invention

may be implemented using any structure that may be used in selling,

marketing, promoting, displaying, presenting, providing, retaining, securing,

storing, or otherwise supporting an item or product, and the item or product

itself may be used in implementing embodiments of the invention in

pharmaceutical applications or any other applications known to those of

ordinary skill in the art. It should be further apparent that, while FIGs. Ia

through 4b have all been disclosed as allowing an RFID tag to be removed in

its entirety, any of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented such that

only a portion of the RFID tag is removed from the container (or item).

Similarly, while these same disclosed embodiments have been described as

providing for the permanent retention of adherent areas (e.g., strips 212, 222, 232, 242, 248, 312, 322, 332, 338, 342, 412, 422), it should be readily apparent

that the adherent areas can be removed in part (or completely) with (or even

after) the removal of the attached RFID tag.

[0041] While the preferred embodiments have been described in connection

with a customer or patient removing the RFID tag from a container (or item), it

should be readily apparent that other embodiments may be implemented

involving the removal of the RFID tag (manually or automatically) by a

distributor of the container (or item).

[0042] Any number of modifications to the structural aspects of the

embodiments of FIGs. Ia through 5d can be made. Any orientation (e.g.,

horizontal, vertical, diagonal, etc.), for example, may be used in implementing

any of these embodiments regardless of the orientations specifically illustrated

herein. Additionally, the mechanisms provided in or with RFID tags to

facilitate removal (i.e., notch 215, tab 236, and tab 246 (FIGs. 2a, 2c and 2d,

respectively)) may be replaced by an extension of the length of RFID tags 210,

230 and 240, respectively. Similarly, the extended length of RFID tags 220, 330

and 340 (FIGs. 2b, 3c and 3d, respectively) can be replaced with a tab (or any

other mechanism for facilitating removal of the RFID tag). [0043] It is to be understood therefore that the invention is not limited to

the particular embodiments disclosed (or apparent from the disclosure) herein,

but only limited by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS[0044] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. An RFID tag for use in monitoring an object, the RFID tag

comprising:

an RFID inlay;

a first adherent area, coupled to said RFID inlay, for attachment of the

RFID tag to the object; and

a removable region, wherein said removable region allows removal of

at least a portion of the RFID tag from attachment to the object.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first adherent area is a first

strip running along a first side the RFID tag.

3. The RFID tag of claim 2, further comprising a second adherent area

in the form of a second strip running along a second side of the RFID tag.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein said adherent area is provided

with pressure sensitive adhesive for fixedly disposing said adherent area to a

surface of the object.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a non-adherent area as a

layer of the RFID inlay that prevents the RFID inlay from permanently attaching

to the object.

6. The RFID tag of claim 5, wherein said non-adherent area is a back

layer provided with adhesive, the adhesive being covered by a release layer to

prevent the adhesive from attaching the RFID tag to the object.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein said adherent area is attached to an

object chosen from the group of: a vial, a bottle, a blister pack, and a box.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein said removable region comprises a

series of perforations in a material attaching said RFID inlay to said adherent area.

9. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein said removable region comprises a

ripcord embedded in a material attaching said RFID inlay to said adherent area.

10. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a facilitating

mechanism, coupled to said RFID inlay, that facilitates the removal of the RFID

tag from attachment to the object.

11. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein said facilitating mechanism is a

tab formed adjacent said RFID inlay.

12. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein said first adherent area is formed

on a back layer of said RFID inlay to attach the RFID tag to the object.

13. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein said RFID inlay comprises RFID

circuitry including a tag antenna and a microchip, and wherein said removable

region encompasses a first portion of the RFID circuitry.

14. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein said removal region allows

removal of the first portion of the RFID circuitry from the RFID tag.

15. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein said removal region allows

deactivation of the first portion of the RFID circuitry from the RFID tag.

16. A method of providing an RFID tag for use in tracking an object, the

method comprising:

providing an RFID tag;

removably attaching the RFID tag to the object; and

removing at least a portion of the RFID tag after the RFID tag has

completed its tracking function.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said removably attaching step

comprises applying a temporary adhesive to a back layer of the RFID tag, wherein

the temporary adhesive is operative to temporarily adhere the RFID tag to the

object.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said removably attaching step

comprises the steps of:

providing an adherent area coupled to the RFID tag, wherein the

adherent area is substantially permanently affixed to the object; and providing a non-adherent area coupled to the RFID tag, wherein the

non-adherent area allows the RFID tag to be removed in its entirety from the

object.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said removing step comprises

removing a portion of an RFID circuitry from the RFID tag.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said removing step comprises

rendering the RFID tag inoperable.