Pharmacy Waste Identification Labeling and Disposal System and Related Method of Using

• US 20120173440A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Dehlinger, Anne M., Becker, William
• Application Number:
  US13/496,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/308
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0078 having additional unlocking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a tag and labeling system that is used in connection with the disposal of pharmaceutical waste materials that are created in a health care treatment facility. The tag uses a RFID device with an alterable parameter in order to selectively actuate a disposal system to receive a particular type of waste material

Claims

1. A disposal system for use with pharmaceutical waste, comprising;

an identification assembly including first and second surfaces and at least first and second portions, the first portion has an area for receiving indicia related to a patient and treatment requirements, the second portion having a plurality waste identification areas, each of the waste identification areas having distinct indicia;

a plurality of waste receptacles, with each of the waste receptacles having a distinct waste identification indicia that matches with at least one of the distinct indicia on the second portion of the identification assembly; and

wherein the identification assembly and each of the waste receptacles having a verification feature to authenticate disposal of pharmaceutical waste and the verification feature is changed from a first condition to at least a second condition.

2. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein the verification feature is human readable and is selected from a group including color, symbols, indicia and combinations thereof.

3. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein the verification feature utilizes one of a bar code or radio frequency.

4. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein the verification feature is changeable to a permanent condition.

5. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first condition is a first read range and the second condition is a second read range distinct from the first read range.

6. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first condition is a first color and the second condition is a second color distinct from the first color.

7. A disposal system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the waste receptacles has an electronic detection device.

8. A disposal system as recited in claim 7, wherein the electronic detection system is selected from a group including a radio frequency reader, optical scanner, or combinations thereof.

9. A disposal system as recited in claim 4, wherein the verification feature is changeable to the permanent condition by a releasable coupler.

10. A disposal system as recited in claim 9, wherein the releasable coupler has a plurality of separable sections.

11. A tag for use with pharmaceutical waste, comprising;

a substrate having first and second surfaces, first and second longitudinally extending sides and first and second transversely extending edges, the substrate having first through third portions;

a RFID transceiver attached to the third portion, the RFID transceiver having an integrated circuit and an antenna and is encoded with both product and waste disposal information; and

a releasable coupler capacitively coupled to the RFID transceiver, the coupler having a plurality of separable sections for selectively altering a parameter of the RFID transceiver.

12. A tag as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the separable sections is color coded.

13. A tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the releasable coupler is removably attached to the tag.

14. A tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the parameter of the RFID transceiver is selected from the group including impedance, gain or directionality of an antenna.

15. A tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the separable sections of the releasable coupler are separable by lines of weakness.

16. A pharmaceutical waste disposal system comprising, a pharmaceutical container containing a pharmaceutical;

a tag, the tag comprising, a substrate having first and second surfaces, first and second longitudinally extending sides and first and second transversely extending edges, the substrate having first through third portions;

a RFID transceiver attached to the third portion, the RFID transceiver having an integrated circuit and an antenna with the RFID transceiver encoded with both product and waste type information;

a releasable coupler capacitively coupled to the RFID transceiver, the coupler having a plurality of separable sections for selectively altering a parameter of the RFID transceiver;

the third portion is attached to the pharmaceutical container; and

a plurality of pharmaceutical waste containers, each of the containers having a reader to selectively respond to a specific parameter or encoded information of the RFID transceiver.

17. A pharmaceutical waste disposal system as provided in claim 16, wherein the parameter of the antenna is selected from directionality, gain or impedance.

18. A method for disposing of pharmaceutical waste, comprising the steps of;

providing a pharmaceutical waste management tag, the tag having a RFID transceiver, segmented, releasable coupler and color coded indicia corresponding to a particular pharmaceutical waste type;

attaching the tag to a pharmaceutical product;

dispensing the pharmaceutical product;

providing a series of waste receptacles, each receptacle having a RFID reader to selectively unlock the receptacles;

reading the tag to unlock one of the receptacles;

removing a portion of the releasable coupler to permanently change an antenna parameter; and

disposing of the pharmaceutical waste product.

19. A method as provided in claim 18, wherein the parameter of the antenna includes one of directionality, gain or impedance.

20. A method as provided in claim 18, wherein the color scheme is provided on both the tag and the releasable coupler.