Method of individually tracking and identifying a drug delivery device

• US 20030127508A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Neil Jones
• Original Assignee: William Neil Jones
• Inventors: Jones, William Neil
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69

Abstract

A method of and system for identifying an individual drug delivery device and tracing its ownership. An individual drug delivery device, such as a patch, is coded with a unique identifier. Such coding is performed by using a bar code or by storing the identifier in a memory device in the drug delivery device. A database contains a record of the identifier, representing the drug delivery device. The identifier is read upon a transfer of the drug delivery device and the database is updated to include information such as the date of the transfer, the identity of the transferee and the prescribing physician. The ability to retrieve such information regarding specific drug delivery devices can result in the prevention of abuse of controlled substances contained therein.

Claims

1. A method of identifying and tracing the ownership of an individual transdermal or transmucosal patch characterized by coding said patch with a unique identifying code placed on or in said patch said patch, placing said code corresponding to the patch in a database, and adding information to said database corresponding to said code upon a transfer of possession of said patch, wherein said information comprises at least one of the identity of a transferee in said transfer, the identity of a prescribing physician, the identity of a dispensing pharmacy, the date of said transfer, and the name and amount of a drug contained in said patch.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the coding of said patch is in a form selected from the group consisting of a bar code, an alphanumeric string, a microchip and an RFID tag.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising storing additional information in said one of a microchip and RFID tag, said additional information consisting essentially of at least one of the identity of a prescribing physician, the identity of a dispensing pharmacy and the date of said transfer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said code is readable by means of electronic and visual means.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said patch comprises a backing, and said code is printed code on a surface of said backing.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said drug is a controlled substance.

7. A system for uniquely identifying and tracing ownership of an individual transdermal or transmucosal patch, said system characterized by a transdermal or transmucosal patch comprising a unique identifying code placed on or in said patch, and a database for storing said code corresponding to said patch and information pertaining to said patch upon a transfer of possession of said patch, wherein said information comprises at least one of the identity of a transferee in said transfer, the identity of a prescribing physician, the identity of a dispensing pharmacy, the date of said transfer, and the name and amount of a drug contained in said patch.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said code is in a form selected from the group consisting of a bar code, an alphanumeric string, a microchip and an RFID tag.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said code is readable by means of electronic and visual means.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said patch comprises a backing, and said code is printed code on a surface of said backing.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein said drug is a controlled substance.