Identification device having antimicrobial properties

Abstract

An identification device, preferably a wristband or adhesive label, is configured to receive identifying indicia by means of a direct thermal printer. A direct thermal layer includes antimicrobial particles embedded therein and is exposed, i.e., does not have a protective overcoat or varnish covering the direct thermal layer. The antimicrobial particles increase the surface available silver ions and are preferably formed of an aqueous dispersion of silver chloride-coated titanium dioxide particles. The antimicrobial particles may also be formed of an inorganic silver-containing compound such as silver zirconium phosphates or a silver substituted zeolite.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An identification device having an exposed direct thermal layer with inherent antimicrobial properties, comprising:
 a substrate;   an exposed direct thermal layer bonded to the substrate by an adhesive and configured to receive identifying indicia by direct thermal printing; and   an antimicrobial material embedded within the direct thermal layer so as to impart antimicrobial properties thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The identification device of  claim 1 , wherein the identification device comprises a bracelet or a label. 
     
     
         3 . The identification device of  claim 2 , wherein the direct thermal layer comprises a base layer of paper, face stock, label stock, or polymer material. 
     
     
         4 . The identification device of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises glassine, polycoated kraft, calendared kraft, a thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene or a multilayer combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The identification device any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises an inorganic silver-containing compound. 
     
     
         6 . The identification device of  claim 5 , wherein the inorganic silver-containing compound comprises silver chloride-coated titanium dioxide, silver zirconium phosphate, a silver substituted zeolite, or silver-containing glass particles. 
     
     
         7 . The identification device of  claim 6 , wherein the silver chloride-coated titanium dioxide is an aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         8 . The identification device any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises 0.01% to 10% by weight of the identification device. 
     
     
         9 . The identification device of  claim 8 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises 0.5% to 2% by weight of the identification device. 
     
     
         10 . An identification device having an exposed direct thermal layer with inherent antimicrobial properties, comprising:
 a substrate;   an exposed direct thermal layer bonded to the substrate by an adhesive and configured to receive identifying indicia by direct thermal printing; and   an inorganic silver-containing compound embedded within the direct thermal layer so as to impart antimicrobial properties thereto, wherein the inorganic silver-containing compound comprises 0.01% to 10% by weight of the identification device.   
     
     
         11 . The identification device of  claim 10 , wherein the silver chloride-coated titanium dioxide is an aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         12 . The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the inorganic silver-containing compound comprises silver chloride-coated titanium dioxide, silver zirconium phosphate, a silver substituted zeolite, or silver-containing glass particles. 
     
     
         13 . The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the inorganic silver-containing compound comprises 0.5% to 2% by weight of the identification device. 
     
     
         14 . The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the direct thermal layer comprises a base layer of paper, face stock, label stock, or polymer material. 
     
     
         15 . The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises glassine, polycoated kraft, calendared kraft, a thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene or a multilayer combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the identification device comprises a bracelet or a label.