Medication and Identification Information Transfer Apparatus

• US 20120037266A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Bochenko, Walter John
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1418 Threaded type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1425 Snap-fit type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like

Abstract

A medication and identification information transfer system is provided that includes a primary medication container, a secondary medication container, a secondary container label and a medication information transfer apparatus. The medication information transfer apparatus, when coupled to the primary medication container, can transfer information indicative of the contents of the primary medication container to a medication delivery device such as an intelligent injection site. The medication information transfer apparatus has a shape and size enabling it to be connected to an adapter for removal of medication from the primary medication container which enables transfer of the medication to a secondary container while simultaneously transferring information about the medication in the primary medication container to the injection site. In some implementations, the medication injection site can be placed on a fluid delivery line for infusion into a patient. Related apparatus, systems, methods and kits are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a primary medication container containing medication;

a secondary medication container; and

an information transfer apparatus configured to enable the primary medication container to couple to the secondary medication container, the coupling allowing medication to flow from the primary medication container to the secondary medication container, wherein at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus physically affixes or remains physically affixed to at least one of the (i) primary medication container and the (ii) secondary medication container when the primary medication container decouples from the secondary medication container, the information transfer apparatus having an information element to enable characterization of the medication.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary container label characterizing the medication, the secondary container label being affixable to the secondary container.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the primary medication container is selected from a group consisting of:

prefilled syringes, prefilled cartridges, vials, bottles, bags, and ampoules.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the information element comprises both machine-readable identification information and human-readable identification information.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises:

an information transfer element; and

an adapter configured to couple to the information transfer element on a first end and to pierce and/or to couple to the primary medication container on a second end.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein a fluid channel is formed through the information transfer element and the adapter from the primary medication container on a proximal end and the secondary medication container on a distal end.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer element further comprises:

a connector providing a releasable connection to the adapter allowing a user to readily disconnect the information transfer element from the adapter.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer element further comprises:

a connector providing a releasable connection to the secondary medication container preventing a user from readily disconnecting the information transfer element from the secondary medication container.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein the connector comprises elastomeric material.

10. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises a housing, and wherein the information transfer element is affixed to an outer surface of the housing.

11. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises a housing, and wherein the information transfer element is encoded or deposited on an outer surface of the housing.

12. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises a housing, and wherein the information transfer element is embedded within at least a portion of the housing.

13. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information transfer element is detected by a medication injection site when the contents of the secondary medication container are delivered to a patient via the medication injection site.

14. A system comprising:

a primary medication container containing medication;

a secondary medication container; and

an information transfer apparatus configured to enable the primary medication container to couple to the secondary medication container, the coupling allowing medication to flow from the primary medication container to the secondary medication container, wherein at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus physically affixes or remains physically affixed to at least one of the (i) primary medication container and the (ii) secondary medication container when the primary medication container decouples from the secondary medication container;

wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises;

an information transfer element;

an adapter configured to couple to the information transfer element on a first end and to pierce and/or to couple to the primary medication container on a second end; and

an information element characterizing medicine contained within the primary medication container.

15. A kit comprising:

packaging enveloping;

a first receptacle portion configured to receive a primary medication container containing medication, the primary medication container having a first information source to enable characterization of the medication;

a second receptacle portion comprising;

an information transfer apparatus configured to couple the primary medication container to a secondary medication container, the coupling allowing medication to flow from the primary medication container to the secondary medication container, wherein at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus physically affixes or remains physically affixed to at least one of the (i) primary medication container and the (ii) secondary medication container when the primary medication container decouples from the secondary medication container, the information transfer apparatus having a second information source to enable characterization of the medication; and

a label affixable to the secondary medication container characterizing the medication contained within the primary medication container.

16. A kit as in claim 15, wherein the label is human readable.

17. A kit as in claim 15, wherein the packaging includes at least one tamper proof element, the tamper proof element when broken indicating that the packaging has been breached.

18. A kit as in claim 15, further comprising a second label, mark or document indicating that a verification has been performed confirming that the first information source is in agreement with the second information source.

19. A kit as in claim 15, further comprising the primary medication container disposed within the first receptacle portion.

20. A kit as in claim 15, wherein the label is in the second receptacle portion.

21. A kit as in claim 20, wherein at least one of the first receptacle portion and the second receptacle portion includes at least one transparent surface.

22. A kit as in claim 15, wherein the second receptacle portion and the information transfer apparatus are sterilized.

23. A kit comprising:

packaging enveloping;

two primary medication containers containing medication, the medication containers each having a first information source to enable characterization of the medications;

an information transfer apparatus configured to couple to the medication containers and having a second information source to enable characterization of the medications; and

a label, mark, or document identifying the medications to ensure that the first information sources are in agreement with the second information source.

24. A kit as in claim 23, wherein the label, mark or document are human readable.

25. A kit as in claim 23, wherein the information transfer apparatus is sterilized.

26. A kit as in claim 23, wherein at least one label affixable to the secondary medication container identifying the medications contained within the two primary medication containers.

27. A kit as in claim 26, wherein the label is human readable.

28. A kit as in claim 23, wherein the information transfer apparatus comprises:

an information transfer element; and

an adapter configured to couple to the information transfer element on a first end and to pierce and/or to couple to one of the medication containers on a second end.

29. A method comprising:

coupling an information transfer apparatus to a secondary medication container;

coupling a primary medication container containing medication to the information transfer apparatus while it is coupled to the secondary medication container to enable fluid communication between the primary medication container and the secondary medication container, the information transfer apparatus having an information element to enable characterization of the medication;

extracting medication from the primary medication container using the secondary medication container;

decoupling the secondary medication container from the primary medication container, the information transfer apparatus configured such that, during the decoupling, at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus automatically affixes or remains affixed to the secondary medication container; and

administering medication within the secondary medication container via a medication delivery device, the medication delivery device reading the information element affixed to the secondary medication container to characterize the medication.

30. The method in claim 29, wherein a label within the kit is applied the second secondary container.

31. A method comprising:

coupling an information transfer apparatus to a first secondary medication container;

coupling an information transfer apparatus to a primary medication container containing medication while it is coupled to the first secondary medication container to enable fluid communication between the primary medication container and the first secondary medication container, the information transfer apparatus having an information element to enable characterization of the first medication;

extracting the first medication from the primary medication container using the first secondary medication container;

decoupling the first secondary medication container from the primary medication container;

coupling the information transfer apparatus to a second secondary container while it is coupled to the first secondary medication container to enable fluid communication between the first secondary container and the second secondary container;

delivering the first medication within the first secondary medication container into the second secondary medication container, the second secondary medication container having a fluid delivery outlet;

decoupling the information transfer apparatus from the second secondary medication container; and

affixing at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus to the fluid delivery outlet of the second secondary medication container so that the information element can be read by a medication delivery device to characterize the first medication.

32. The method in claim 31, wherein a label within the kit is applied at least to one of the first secondary container or the second secondary container.

33. A method comprising:

coupling an information transfer apparatus to a secondary medication container;

coupling the information transfer apparatus to a first primary medication container while it is coupled to the secondary medication container to enable fluid communication between the first primary medication container and the secondary medication container, the information transfer apparatus having an information element to enable characterization of a first primary medication and a second primary medication;

extracting first medication from the first primary medication container using the secondary medication container;

decoupling the information transfer apparatus from the first primary medication container while it remains coupled to the secondary medication container;

coupling the information transfer apparatus to a second primary medication container while it is coupled to the secondary medication container to enable fluid communication between the second primary medication container and the secondary medication container;

extracting second medication from the second primary medication container using the secondary medication container to result in mixed medications;

decoupling the secondary medication container from the second primary medication container, the information transfer apparatus configured such that, during the decoupling, at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus automatically affixes or remains affixed to the secondary medication container; and

administering the mixed medication within the secondary medication container via a medication delivery device, the medication delivery device reading the information element affixed to the secondary medication container characterizing the mixed medications.

34. The method in claim 33, wherein a label within the kit is applied the second secondary container.