PACKAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130066463A1
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ID-Con, LLC
• Original Assignee: Id-Con
• Inventors: Doyle, Mark C., Luoma, Roy S., Luoma, Linda S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• 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: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0463 formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for delivering single-dose packages sequentially from a substantially continuous strip having a first dispensing end and a second end, e.g., contained within a cassette or other dispenser. The strip includes a cover layer attached to a base layer to define a plurality of blisters therebetween that have one or more medications therein. The blisters are aligned in single file generally along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and/or otherwise arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, e.g., at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein. A first single-dose package at the first dispensing end may be separable from a second adjacent single-dose package such that individual single-dose packages may be removed successively from the first dispensing end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient, comprising:

a strip comprising a first dispensing end, a second end, and a plurality of blisters aligned in single file generally along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein;

a housing for receiving the strip therein such that the first dispensing end extends from an outlet of the housing;

a drive mechanism within the housing and coupled to the strip for selectively advancing the strip to dispense single-dose packages sequentially from the outlet;

a reader adjacent the outlet for reading one or more labels on each of the single-dose packages; and

a controller coupled to the reader and the drive mechanism for analyzing a label on a first single-dose package adjacent the outlet to determine a scheduled administration time for medications in the first single-dose package and for actuating the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package from the outlet at or about the scheduled administration time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a clock and wherein the controller compares the time on the clock to the scheduled administration time to determine when to dispense the first single-dose package from the outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an indicator on the housing coupled to the controller, the controller activating the indicator when the time on the clock corresponds to the scheduled administration time to notify an administrator that the first single-dose package is due to be dispensed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a speaker, a warning light, and a display.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller automatically activates the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package when the time on the clock corresponds to the scheduled administration time.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an access device coupled to the controller, the access device comprising a user interface that permits an administrator to input data confirming their authority to access the single-dose packages, the controller configured to an analyze input data from the access device to confirm the administrator'"'"'s authority before actuating the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the access device comprise at least one of a card reader and a keypad.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display on the housing coupled to the controller, the controller configured to obtain information from the one or more labels on the first single-dose package and present the information on the display.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information comprises at least one of an identity of an intended patient for the medications in the first single-dose package, a scheduled administration time for the medications in the first single-dose package, and special administration instructions for the medications in the first single-dose package.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cutting element for separating the first single-dose package dispensed from the outlet from a second single-dose package.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface coupled to the controller for accessing a patient database or other information source, the controller analyzing information from the one or more labels using the reader to identify medications in the first single-dose package and acquire an intended patient identity for the identified medications, the controller comparing the medications in the first single-dose package with a schedule of medications for the intended patient stored in the patient database to confirm whether all of the medications are scheduled to be administered to the intended patient.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises at least one of a wireless communication interface and a telecommunications interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a marker device coupled to the controller, the controller activating the marker device to label one or more blisters of the first single-dose package if medications within the one or more blisters are no longer scheduled to be administered to the intended patient before actuating the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a separation mechanism coupled to the controller, the controller activating the separation mechanism to separate one or more blisters of the first single-dose package from remaining blisters if medications within the one or more blisters are no longer scheduled to be administered to the intended patient before actuating the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the separation mechanism comprises one or more of punches and wherein the strip comprises weakened regions surrounding each blister such that actuation of one or more punches causes the weakened regions to separate a targeted blister from the first single-dose package.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the separation mechanism comprises one or more of cutting elements such that activation of one or more cutting elements cuts through the strip to separate a targeted blister from the first single-dose package.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a waste receptacle adjacent the separation mechanism for receiving one or more blisters separated from the first single-dose package.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an acceptance sensor adjacent the outlet and coupled to the controller, the acceptance sensor detecting when the first single-dose package is removed by a user after the first single-dose package is dispensed from the outlet.

19-23. -23. (canceled)

24. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient, comprising:

a strip comprising a first dispensing end, a second end, and a plurality of blisters aligned in single file generally along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein;

a housing for receiving the strip therein such that the first dispensing end extends from an outlet of the housing;

a drive mechanism within the housing and coupled to the strip for selectively advancing the strip to dispense single-dose packages sequentially from the outlet;

a reader adjacent the outlet for reading one or more labels on each of the single-dose packages;

a communication interface for communicating with a remote server via a network; and

a controller coupled to the reader for acquiring data from a label on a first single-dose package adjacent the outlet, the controller coupled to the communication interface for communicating the data to the remote server via the communication interface and receiving instructions regarding a scheduled administration time for medications in the first single-dose package, the controller coupled to the drive mechanism for actuating the drive mechanism to dispense the first single-dose package from the outlet at or about the scheduled administration time.

25. A system for managing administration of medications to a patient, comprising:

a dispenser comprising a housing and a strip comprising a first dispensing en extending from the housing, a second end, and a plurality of blisters aligned in single file generally along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein; and

a reader for reading labels on single-dose packages dispensed from the dispenser to confirm administration of medications in the dispensed single-dose packages.

26. A method for administering medications to a patient, comprising:

providing a strip comprising first and second ends housed within a dispenser such that the first end extends from an outlet of the dispenser, the strip comprising a plurality of blisters aligned in single file generally along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein;

analyzing one or more labels on a first single-dose package adjacent the outlet to acquire data identifying the first single-dose package;

communicating the data to a remote server via a network;

receiving instructions from the remote server regarding a scheduled administration time for medications in the first single-dose package; and

dispensing the first single-dose package from the outlet at or about the scheduled administration time.

27. A method for administering medications to a patient, comprising:

loading a strip comprising first and second ends into a dispenser such that the first end extends from an outlet of the dispenser, the strip comprising a plurality of blisters aligned in single file generally along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein;

activating the dispenser whereupon the dispenser analyzes one or more labels on a first single-dose package adjacent the outlet to determine a scheduled administration time for medications in the first single-dose package; and

removing the first single-dose package after the first single-dose package is dispensed from the outlet at or about the scheduled administration time.

28-53. -53. (canceled)