Patent ID: 8235292

Claim:
A system for verifying the connection status of a first and a second mechanically and reversibly engageable and disengageable couplable element, said system comprising: a first couplable element having a first portion of a machine-readable optical code defined thereupon; and a second couplable element, which is mechanically and reversibly engageable and disengageable with said first couplable element, said second couplable element having a second portion of a machine-readable optical code defined thereupon; wherein said first portion of said optical code is defined on said first couplable element, and said second portion of said optical code is defined on said second couplable element so that when said couplable elements are mechanically engaged, said first portion of said optical code and said second portion of said optical code are aligned so as to form a continuous, machine-readable optical code pattern, and so that when said couplable elements are mechanically disengaged said first portion of said optical code and said second portion of said optical code do not align to form said continuous, machine-readable optical code pattern.