Electronic Compliance Packaging Systems and Methods

• US 20080197043A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meadwestvaco (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Meadwestvaco (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Freeze, Timothy E., Grinnan, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/838,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0069 Trays for holding or distributing medicines display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/38 Drawer-and-shell type containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/503 Tray-like elements formed in one piece formed by folding a blank B65D5/5038

Abstract

Taught herein is a package for electronically monitoring the removal of items. An item is placed in the receiving chamber of a tray. A circuit is positioned across a gate that spans the chamber. To access the item the user breaks the gate which in turn breaks the circuit. The breaking of the circuit is an event registered and stored by an electronic monitoring device in communication with the circuit. The information stored on the monitoring device may be directly viewed by the user through a display interface or communicated to a remote party for viewing.

Claims

1. A compliance packaging system, comprising:

a tray including at least one chamber, wherein said at least one chamber is configured to receive at least one item;

a slide card configured to receive said tray;

a top panel covering at least a portion of said tray and said at least one chamber, said top panel including at least one access window aligned over said chamber;

a sealing tab spanning said access window;

a circuit spanning said sealing tab; and

an electronic monitoring device in communication with said circuit.

2. The compliance packaging system of claim 1, wherein said slide card comprises said top panel.

3. The compliance packaging system of claim 2, wherein said slide card further comprises side panels and a bottom panel foldably attached to said top panel.

4. The compliance packaging system of claim 3, wherein said tray is inserted within said slide card.

5. The compliance packaging system of claim 1, wherein said tray is mounted to said slide card.

6. The compliance packaging system of claim 1, further comprising an outer sleeve for releaseably receiving said slide card and tray.

7. A method for providing packaging, comprising:

providing a slide card adapted to receive a tray;

providing a tray having at least one chamber;

associating said tray with said slide card;

providing a top panel having at least one access window and a sealing tab spanning said at least one access window;

at least partially covering said tray with said top panel such that said at least one access window and sealing tab is positioned over said at least one chamber; and

,

providing a frangible circuit across said sealing tab.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of placing at least one item in said chamber.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of connecting said circuit to an electronic monitoring device.

10. A compliance packaging system, comprising:

a blank configured to form a slide card, said slide card comprising;

a top panel having at least one access window;

a sealing tab spanning said at least one access window; and

,

a bottom panel, spaced apart from said top panel, said bottom panel having a tray receiving area;

a tray having at least one chamber, positioned on said tray receiving area such that said chamber is substantially, vertically aligned with said access window; and

,

a frangible circuit spanning said sealing tab.

11. The compliance packaging system of claim 10, further comprising an electronic monitoring device in communication with said circuit.