Method of dispensing medicine

• US 4,781,696 A
• Filed: 08/27/1987
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald G. Ellis, Thomas S. Moulding Jr
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Ellis, Thomas S. Moulding Jr
• Inventors: Moulding, Thomas S. Jr., Ellis, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US07/089,852
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 R, 604/189, 53/381 R, 53/381 A, 53/384, 53/75, 206/438, 83/63, 83/367, 83/467
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0317 having bolt like sealing means means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it F16B21/00

Abstract

A method of dispensing medicine by providing a medicine package having a sealed reservoir containing the medicine and bearing a machine readable code indicating the contents of the package, initiating the opening of the package with a machine having a special cutting tool, having a code reader for recording the information indicated by the code, and having a clock for recording the time when the opening of the package is initiated. The method of dispensing medicine further includes recording the identity of the person administering the medication and the identify of the person receiving the medication. The method also further includes the step of rendering the machine readable code unreadable upon the initiation of the opening of the package.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing medicine to a person comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medicine package having a first sealed reservoir containing the medicine and a second reservoir, the region of the package surrounding the second reservoir provided with a code indicating information concerning the characteristics of the medicine;

(b) reading the code;

(c) severing the package in the region of the code and the second reservoir;

(d) applying a force to the package in the region of the second reservoir such that the first reservoir is opposed to expose the medicine; and

(e) delivering the medicine to the person.

2. A method of dispensing medicine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medicine package having a first sealed reservoir containing the medicine, said package being provided with a machine readable code indicating the contents of the package, said package having a portion thereof remote from said first sealed reservoir, said package capable of being opened substantially only with a tool acting upon said remote portion;

(b) providing a machine including a tool adapted to act upon said remote portion to initiate the opening of the package and further including means for reading said code such that the code of the package is read by the reading means whenever said tool acts upon said remote portion to initiate the opening of the package;

(c) acting upon said remote portion with the tool such that the opening of the package is initiated;

(d) opening said package; and

(e) removing said medicine from said package.

3. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said package must be maintained substantially in a selected orientation relative to said machine in order for said tool to act upon said remote portion and for said reading means to read said code, wherein said package includes means for maintaining said selected orientation, and wherein said method comprises the further step of maintaining said package in said selected orientation by said orientation maintaining means while said tool acts upon said remote portion and while said reading means reads said code.

4. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 3 wherein said orientation maintaining means is disposed on said remote portion.

5. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 4 wherein said orientation maintaining means comprises a second sealed reservoir.

6. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 4 wherein said remote portion includes at least two overlapping sheets of materials disposed substantially in a plane and wherein said orientation maintaining means is disposed substantially outside said plane.

7. A method dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said two overlapping sheets are bonded together in selected regions, but are unbonded in other selected regions.

8. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said package further includes a ring substantially surrounding said medicine, said ring being of a strength such that the complete severing of said package along a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ring and through said ring is substantially prevented.

9. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said remote portion includes a ring, said ring being of a strength such that the complete severing of said remote portion along a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ring and through said ring is substantially prevented.

10. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said machine further includes means for recording the time substantially when the package opening is initiated by said tool acting upon said remote portion and means for recording the information indicated by said code and wherein said method comprises the additional step of recording by said time recording means the time substantially when the package opening is initiated and the step of recording by said information recording means the information indicated by said code.

11. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said machine includes means for recording the identity of a person to whom the medicine is to be administered and comprising the further step of recording by the identity recording means the identity of the person.

12. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said machine includes means for recording the identity of a person other than the person to whom the medicine is to be administered and comprising the further step of recording by the identity recording means the identity of the person.

13. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said machine includes means for rendering said code substantially unreadable and comprising the further step of rendering said code substantially unreadable by said rendering means.

14. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 2 wherein said tool is adapted to cut said remote portion and wherein said tool cuts said remote portion to initiate the opening of said package.

15. A method of dispensing medicine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medicine package having a formed section and covering for the formed section, said formed section including a reservoir containing the medicine and including a depression remote from said reservoir, said covering in sealing engagement with said formed section in the region around said reservoir, said package capable of being opened substantially only with a tool severing said covering in the region of said depression, said package provided with a machine readable code indicating information concerning the characteristics of the medicine;

(b) providing a machine including a tool adapted to sever said covering in the region of said depression and including means for reading said code such that the code of the package is read by said reading means whenever said tool severs said covering in the region of said depression;

(c) severing said covering in the region of said depression by said tool;

(d) applying a force to said package such that said covering is separated from said formed section to unseal said reservoir and expose the medicine; and

(e) removing the medicine from said package.

16. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said said package further includes a ring substantially surrounding said reservoir, said ring being of a strength such that the complete severing of said package along a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ring and through said ring is substantially prevented.

17. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said package further includes a ring substantially surrounding said depression, said ring being of a strength such that the complete severing of said package along a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ring and through said ring is substantially prevented.

18. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said machine further includes means for recording the time substantially when said covering is severed by said tool and means for recording the information indicated by said code, and comprising the additional step of recording by said time recording means the time substantially when said covering is severed by said tool and the step of recording by said information recording means the information indicated by said code.

19. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said machine includes means for recording the identity of a person to whom the medicine is to be administered and comprising the further step of recording by the identity recording means the identity of the person.

20. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said machine includes means for recording the identity of a person other than the person to whom the medicine is to be administered and comprising the further step of recording by the identity recording means the identity of the person.

21. A method of dispensing medicine according to claim 15 wherein said machine includes means for rendering said code substantially unreadable and comprising the further step of rendering said code substantially unreadable by said rendering means.

22. A method of dispensing medicine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substantially sealed package containing the medicine, the opening of said package capable of being initiated substantially only with a tool;

(b) providing a machine including a tool for initiating the opening of said package and means for recording the time substantially when the initiation of the opening of said package occurs;

(c) initiating by said tool the opening of said package;

(d) recording by the time recording means of time substantially when the initiation of the opening of said package occurs;

(e) opening said package; and

(f) removing said medicine from said package.

23. A method of dispensing medicine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substantially sealed package containing the medicine, said package capable of being opened substantially only with a tool;

(b) providing a machine including a tool for opening said package and means for recording the time substantially when the opening of said package occurs;

(c) opening said package by said tool;

(d) recording by the time recording means the time substantially when the opening of said package occurs; and

(e) removing the medicine from said package.