Abstract: A route-based connector for interconnecting a first drug delivery component with a second drug delivery component having a mating route-based connector. The connector has a geometrically-coded shape corresponding to a drug delivery route. A set of route-based connectors may be provided with plural geometrically-coded shapes that are each assigned to a corresponding drug delivery route according to a key. The connectors may also be color coded to designate the delivery route. A port adapter may be provided having a flow control valve for stopping and starting a flow of medication through the adapter. The port adapter may include a universal connector on one end thereof and a route-based connector on another end thereof that has a geometrically coded shape that allows the port adapter to connect to one of the route-based connectors. Machine readable or light emitting route identifiers may be provided on the connectors or on components associated therewith.

Abstract: A content-coded syringe for medical use includes a generally tubular body and a plunger slidably disposed in the body. A content code corresponding to a syringe content type to be introduced into the syringe is permanently and directly formed on the body or the plunger or both. It is selected from a set of content codes used on other syringes of like design that are adapted to receive other syringe content types. A set of such syringes with unique content codes can thus be used in a medical procedure to uniquely identify the syringe contents and thereby minimize syringe misidentification.