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PACKAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

  • US 20170014309A1
  • Filed: 05/19/2016
  • Published: 01/19/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient, the medications provided in a strip, the 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, the apparatus comprising:

  • 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, the controller further configured to extend the strip through the first dispensing end a variable distance according to the prescription and the scheduled administration time, the variable distance accommodating a plurality of blisters in a single dose package, at least some of the single-dose packages including different numbers of blisters as between adjacent packages.

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