PHARMACEUTICAL CAPSULE CONTAINER VIAL WITH WINDOW
First Claim
1. A vial for containing pharmaceutical capsules comprising a substantially cylindrical, light-blocking rigid side-wall portion shaped for engagement with and closure by a safety cap to make a capsule container, and a closed end portion forming a window that is transparent to visible light, such that when the capsule container is filled and closed, a pharmacist can view the contents of the container through the window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pharmaceutical capsule container comprises (i) a novel vial having a closed-bottom window formed from a transparent polymer, and a side-wall formed from a light-blocking polymer, and (ii) a safety cap. The vial is made as one piece by dual injection molding. The window serves as a clear-view window through which a pharmacist may view capsules inside a closed capsule container. In a preferred embodiment the window serves as a magnifying lens for easier recognition of capsule indicia. A pharmacist uses the invention to re-verify the type and strength of the capsules in a filled, closed capsule container against the type and strength specified in the prescription by viewing the capsules in the filled, closed capsule container. The pharmacist holds the capsule container upright and looks up to view the capsules in the container through the window in the bottom of the vial This enables the pharmacist to re-verify a prescription without being required to remove and replace the safety cap every time a prescription is filled.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A vial for containing pharmaceutical capsules comprising a substantially cylindrical, light-blocking rigid side-wall portion shaped for engagement with and closure by a safety cap to make a capsule container, and a closed end portion forming a window that is transparent to visible light, such that when the capsule container is filled and closed, a pharmacist can view the contents of the container through the window.
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13. A method for making a vial for use in filling a retail prescription for pharmaceutical capsules, comprising:
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(a) forming a sidewall portion by injecting a light-blocking polymer into a first part of a mold; and (b) forming a window portion by injecting a transparent polymer into a second part of the mold; such that the sidewall portion and the window portion are formed together as a one-piece vial. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for filling a retail prescription for pharmaceutical capsules, using a capsule container having a safety cap and a vial, the vial having light-blocking sidewalls and a bottom window, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying an empty vial with prescription and capsule identity data; (b) counting and depositing capsules identified by the prescription into the vial, including verifying the identity of the capsules deposited; (c) closing the vial by fitting a cap to make a filled, closed capsule container; (d) re-verifying the identity of the capsules in the closed container against the identity of the capsules specified in the prescription by viewing the capsules in the closed container via a window in the bottom of the vial. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification