Tamper resistant assembly for securing valuable material
The invention provides a tamper resistant assembly that that securely contains a valuable material. The assembly has a container for holding the valuable material, an optional carrier that contains the container, one or more cover components that enclose the valuable material in the container, and one or more labels having a plurality of devices that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices. The label(s) are positioned so that dislodging a cover component causes a detectable distortion in at least one of the plurality of devices, thereby revealing tampering with the assembly. In one embodiment the label can be affixed partially to a surface of a cover component and partially to a surface of the container or the optional carrier. Also disclosed are methods of detecting tampering and method of manufacturing a temper-resistant assembly. Because the assembly allows a remote validator to validate the assembly prior to providing essential instructions or authorization for conducting procedures on valuable material contained by the assembly, the manufacturer is assured that its procedures are being provided only to authorized persons.
1. A tamper resistant assembly that securely contains a valuable material comprising:
a) a container for holding the valuable material and, optionally, a carrier comprising the container;
b) one or more cover components that enclose(s) the valuable material in the container;
c) one or more labels, each comprising a plurality of devices comprising a frangible layer, a pattern detectable under visible light, and a layer detectable under ultra violet light, that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices; and
d) the one or more labels positioned so that dislodging one or more of the cover components causes the distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices, the distortion detectable by a detection system and thereby revealing tampering with the assembly.
2. The tamper resistant assembly of claim 1 wherein the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component, and partially to a surface of the container or to the optional carrier comprising the container.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the distortion is detectable by a remote validator.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the label comprises multiple layers, which comprise the plurality of devices.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer detectable under ultra violet light comprises a device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra violet light.
6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the assembly comprises a carrier that contains the container and the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component and partially to a surface of the carrier comprising the container.
7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the taggant ink is detectable when said device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra-violet light is fractured.
8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the frangible layer is distorted upon application of shear forces and further comprises a pattern detectable in visible light comprised on the frangible layer.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the distortion comprises distortion of the pattern detectable under visible light.
10. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the label comprises a first layer that comprises the pattern detectable under visible light and a second layer comprising the pattern detectable under infra-red light, and the second layer is comprised on top of the first layer.
11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of the cover component(s) seals the valuable material in the container.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the container comprises wells, and the valuable material is comprised in wells of the container, and one or more of the wells further comprise one or more taggant inks.
13. A method of detecting the occurrence of tampering with an assembly of claim 1 containing a valuable material, comprising:
a) analyzing the assembly with a detection system; and
b) detecting the presence or absence of distortion in one or more of the plurality of devices and thereby detecting whether tampering with the assembly has occurred.
14. A tamper resistant assembly that securely contains a valuable material comprising:
a) a container for holding the valuable material and, optionally, a carrier comprising the container;
b) one or more cover components that enclose(s) the valuable material in the container;
c) one or more labels, each comprising a plurality of devices comprising a frangible layer, a pattern detectable under infra-red light, and a layer detectable under ultra violet light, that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices; and
d) the one or more labels positioned so that dislodging one or more of the cover components causes the distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices, the distortion detectable by a detection system and thereby revealing tampering with the assembly.
15. The tamper resistant assembly of claim 14 wherein the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component, and partially to a surface of the container or to the optional carrier comprising the container.
16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the distortion is detectable by a remote validator.
17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the layer detectable under ultra violet light comprises a device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra violet light.
18. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the assembly comprises a carrier that contains the container and the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component and partially to a surface of the carrier comprising the container.
19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the taggant ink is detectable when said device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra-violet light is fractured.
20. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the label comprises a first layer that comprises the pattern detectable under visible light and a second layer detectable under ultra-violet light, and the second layer is comprised on top of the first layer.
21. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the container comprises wells, and the valuable material is comprised in wells of the container, and one or more of the wells further comprise one or more taggant inks.
22. A method of detecting the occurrence of tampering with an assembly of claim 14 containing a valuable material, comprising:
a) analyzing the assembly with a detection system; and
b) detecting the presence or absence of distortion in one or more of the plurality of devices and thereby detecting whether tampering with the assembly has occurred.
23. A tamper resistant assembly that securely contains a valuable material comprising:
a) a container for holding the valuable material and, optionally, a carrier comprising the container;
b) one or more cover components that enclose(s) the valuable material in the container;
c) one or more labels, each comprising a plurality of devices comprising a pattern detectable under visible light, a pattern detectable under infra-red light, and a layer detectable under ultra violet light, that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices; and
d) the one or more labels positioned so that dislodging one or more of the cover components causes the distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices, the distortion detectable by a detection system and thereby revealing tampering with the assembly.
24. The tamper resistant assembly of claim 23 wherein the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component, and partially to a surface of the container or to the optional carrier comprising the container.
25. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the distortion is detectable by a remote validator.
26. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the layer detectable under ultra violet light comprises a device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra violet light.
27. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the assembly comprises a carrier that contains the container and the label is affixed partially to a surface of a cover component and partially to a surface of the carrier comprising the container.
28. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the taggant ink is detectable when said device comprising a taggant ink detectable under ultra-violet light is fractured.
29. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the label comprises a first layer that comprises the pattern detectable under visible light and a second layer detectable under ultra-violet light, and the second layer is comprised on top of the first layer.
30. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the container comprises wells, and the valuable material is comprised in wells of the container, and one or more of the wells further comprise one or more taggant inks.
31. A method of detecting the occurrence of tampering with an assembly of claim 23 containing a valuable material, comprising:
a) analyzing the assembly with a detection system; and
b) detecting the presence or absence of distortion in one or more of the plurality of devices and thereby detecting whether tampering with the assembly has occurred.