Scrub-resistant ink and methods and apparatus for fabrication and use thereof

Abstract

Scrub resistant inks and methods and apparatus for fabrication and use thereof are provided. Scrub-resistant ink compositions may include a dye for marking skin; and a solvent dissolving a marking effective amount of the dye, wherein the solvent comprises about 0.1 to about 90 percent of a polar aprotic solvent. Apparatus for marking patients may include an ink reservoir; an ink dispenser having a fluid connection to the ink reservoir to dispense the ink at a desired rate to mark a patient; and a scrub resistant ink disposed in the ink reservoir. Methods for forming scrub-resistant ink compositions may include providing a marking effective amount of a dye suitable for use in marking skin; and mixing the dye with a first solvent comprising 0.1% to 90% of a polar aprotic solvent. Methods of marking patients may include applying an ink as recited above to a body part of the patient.

1 . A marking pen for marking surgical patients, comprising:
 an elongate body;   an ink reservoir disposed in the body and having an ink disposed therein; and   an ink dispenser disposed at an end of the elongate body and having a fluid connection to the ink reservoir to dispense the ink to mark a patient;   wherein the ink comprises:
 a dye for marking skin; and 
 aqueous solvent dissolving all of the dye, wherein the solvent comprises 50 to 90 percent by weight of polar aprotic solvent(s), wherein an amount of the dye is between 1 percent to 5 percent by weight of the ink composition, wherein the ink is free of thickeners, wherein the ink is entirely a solution, and wherein polar aprotic solvent, water, and dye comprise 95% by weight or more of the ink composition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein the ink is scrub-resistant such that a mark made on skin of a patient remains visible after 30 seconds or longer of scrubbing with a vigorousness appropriate for pre-surgical preparation with a 2 percent w/w solution of chlorhexidine in 70 percent by volume isopropyl alcohol. 
     
     
         3 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein the polar aprotic solvent consists of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). 
     
     
         4 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein the ink composition consists of the dye, the polar aprotic solvent, water, and, if present, any further ingredients are limited to one or more of water-miscible alcohol, water-miscible glycol ether and fragrance. 
     
     
         5 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein the ink composition is free of alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein polar aprotic solvent(s) comprise about 60% to about 90% of the solvent. 
     
     
         7 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein polar aprotic solvent, water and dye comprise 98% or more of the ink composition. 
     
     
         8 . The marking pen of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises about 65% to about 85% of the polar aprotic solvent(s). 
     
     
         9 . A method for forming surgical marker having an ink composition pursuant to  claim 1 , comprising:
 providing a marking effective amount of a dye suitable for use in marking skin;   mixing the dye with a first solvent comprising 50% to 90% of a polar aprotic solvent, wherein the dye is about 0.1 to about 5 percent of the ink composition, to obtain the ink; and   disposing the ink in the ink reservoir of the marking pen of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first solvent comprises dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing the marking effective amount of the dye comprises:
 providing a dye concentrate solution having the marking effective amount of the dye contained therein or mixing a marking effective amount of the dye with a second solvent to form the dye concentrate; and   wherein mixing the dye with the first solvent comprises mixing the first solvent into the dye concentrate to form an ink mixture having a resultant composition of 50 to 90 percent of the first solvent.   
     
     
         12 . A method of marking a patient using the marking pen of  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining a portion of a patient to be marked; and   applying an ink to the patient using the marking pen of  claim 1  to mark the portion of the patient.   
     
     
         13 . A marking pen for marking surgical patients, comprising:
 an elongate body;   an ink reservoir disposed in the body and having an ink disposed therein; and   an ink dispenser disposed at an end of the elongate body and having a fluid connection to the ink reservoir to dispense the ink to mark a patient;   wherein the ink comprises:
 a dye for marking skin; and 
 aqueous solvent dissolving all of the dye, wherein the solvent comprises 50 to 90 percent by weight of polar aprotic solvent(s) comprising dimethyl sulfoxide such that 50 to 90 percent by weight of the solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide, wherein an amount of the dye is between 1 percent to 5 percent by weight of the ink composition, wherein the ink is entirely a solution, and wherein polar aprotic solvent, water, and dye comprise 95% or more of the ink composition. 
   
     
     
         14 . The marking pen of  claim 13 , wherein the ink is scrub-resistant such that a mark made on skin of a patient remains visible after 30 seconds or longer of scrubbing with a vigorousness appropriate for pre-surgical preparation with a 2 percent w/w solution of chlorhexidine in 70 percent by volume isopropyl alcohol. 
     
     
         15 . The marking pen of  claim 13 , wherein the ink composition consists of the dye, the polar aprotic solvent, water, and, if present, any further ingredients are limited to one or more of water-miscible alcohol, water-miscible glycol ether and fragrance. 
     
     
         16 . The marking pen of  claim 13 , wherein the solvent comprises about 65% to about 85% of the polar aprotic solvent(s). 
     
     
         17 . A marking pen for marking surgical patients, comprising:
 an elongate body;   an ink reservoir disposed in the body and having an ink disposed therein; and   an ink dispenser disposed at an end of the elongate body and having a fluid connection to the ink reservoir to dispense the ink to mark a patient;   wherein the ink comprises:
 a dye for marking skin; and 
 aqueous solvent dissolving all of the dye, wherein the solvent comprises 65 to 85 percent by weight of polar aprotic solvent(s) comprising dimethyl sulfoxide such that 70 to 80 percent by weight of the solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide, wherein an amount of the dye is between 1 percent to 5 percent by weight of the ink composition, wherein the ink is entirely a solution, and wherein polar aprotic solvent, water, and dye comprise 95% or more of the ink composition. 
   
     
     
         18 . The marking pen of  claim 17 , wherein the ink is scrub-resistant such that a mark made on skin of a patient remains visible after 30 seconds or longer of scrubbing with a vigorousness appropriate for pre-surgical preparation with a 2 percent w/w solution of chlorhexidine in 70 percent by volume isopropyl alcohol. 
     
     
         19 . The marking pen of  claim 17 , wherein the ink composition consists of the dye, the polar aprotic solvent, water, and, if present, any further ingredients are limited to one or more of water-miscible alcohol, water-miscible glycol ether and fragrance. 
     
     
         20 . The marking pen of  claim 17 , wherein the solvent comprises about 65% to about 85% of the polar aprotic solvent(s).