Prescription drug printer with drug verification indicia and method for use thereof

• US 7,044,664 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Papetti
• Original Assignee: Stephen Papetti
• Inventors: Papetti, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamdan, Wasseem H.
• Application Number:
  US10/870,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 400/124.01, 400/62, 358/302, 156/249, 206/534, 283/81, 283/67, 283/56
• US Class Current: 400/124.01
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/54 with two or more sets of type or printing elements B41J3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69

Abstract

A prescription drug printing machine is used by a physician in connection with prescribing one or more prescription drugs to a patient. The printing machine has a memory unit that contains a database of information on all known available prescription drugs, including a colored pictorial representation of each of the available drugs. Each of the colored pictorial representations is a substantially similar replica of the drug it depicts. Preferably, the colored pictorial representation is an exact replica of the actual drug, containing the drug'"'"'s exact color, shape and size. The printing device includes a first and second printing means for printing a prescription drug form and a patient receipt, respectively. Both of the prescription drug form and the patient receipt include the name of the drug, a colored pictorial representation, and other information. The prescribing physician inspects each of these documents for accuracy before handing them both over to the patient. Patients remit their prescription drug form to a pharmacist and retain the patient receipt for comparison with drugs that are prepared for them by the pharmacist. The printing machine has storage means for storing information concerning the prescription drug form in the memory unit of the printer, in order to keep accurate patient records. The printing device optionally includes translating means for translating the prescription drug information into a foreign language.

Claims

1. A prescription drug printing device having drug verification indicia used by a physician in connection with prescribing for a patient one or more prescription drugs, having a color, shape and size, comprising;

a. a printer having a memory unit that contains a database of information on all known available prescription drugs, including a colored pictorial representation of each of said available drugs;

b. said colored pictorial representation being a substantially similar replica of each of said available drugs, including the color, shape and size of each drug;

c. a first printing means for printing by said physician a prescription drug form that includes information about said prescribed drug, together with said colored pictorial representation of said prescribed drug;

d. a second printing means for printing by said physician a receipt for said patient comprising the name of said prescribed drug, said information about said prescribed drug and said colored pictorial representation of said prescribed drug; and

e. storage means for storing by said physician said information of said prescription drug form in said memory unit of said printer, in order to keep accurate records for said patient.

2. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said colored pictorial representation has a deviation in color not to exceed plus or minus 25 nm of electromagnetic radiation of the actual color of said prescribed drug.

3. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said pictorial representation has substantially the same shape as said prescribe drug.

4. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said colored pictorial representation is substantially the same size as said drug, having a deviation in scaling not to exceed plus or minus 25% of the actual size of said prescribed drug.

5. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said colored pictorial representation is an exact replica of said prescribed drug, including the exact size, shape and color of said prescribed drug.

6. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said prescribed drug is a tablet.

7. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said prescribed drug is a liquid oral medication being stored in a device, and said colored pictorial representation depicts said storage device.

8. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said prescribed drug is a topical cream being stored in a device, and said colored pictorial representation depicts said storage device.

9. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said prescribed drug comprises liquid drops being stored in a device, and said colored pictorial representation depicts said storage device.

10. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said prescribed drug comprises an inhalant being stored in a device, and said colored pictorial representation depicts said storage device.

11. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said second printing means prints colored pictorial representations of all known generic equivalents of said prescribed drug onto said patient receipt.

12. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second printing means prints colored pictorial representations of all known generic equivalents of said prescribed drug onto said prescription drug form and patient receipt, respectively.

13. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, further comprising a translating means adapted to translate said prescription drug information into a foreign language translation for printing onto said patient receipt.

14. A method for using said prescription drug printing device of claim 13 in order to prescribe for a patient one or more prescription drugs, comprising the steps of:

a. ascertaining said foreign language of said patient;

b. inputting said foreign language identity into said translating means;

c. selecting said prescription drug for treatment of said patient;

d. inputting selected drug identification to said printing device;

e. waiting for said first printing means to print said prescription drug form;

f. waiting for said second printing means to print said receipt in said selected foreign language for said patient;

g. reviewing said prescription drug form for accuracy and signing thereon;

h. reviewing said patient receipt for accuracy; and

i. handing each of said prescription drug form and patient receipt to said patient.

15. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, further comprising a translating means for translating said prescription drug information into a foreign language translation for printing onto each of said patient receipt and said prescription drug form.

16. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said printer is a color laser printer.

17. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said printer is an ink-jet printer.

18. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said printer is a dot-matrix printer.

19. A prescription drug printing device as recited by claim 1, wherein said patient receipt is printed on a document having a top side and a bottom side, each of said top and bottom sides being non-adhesive, respectively.

20. A method for using said prescription drug printing device of claim 1 in order to prescribe for a patient one or more prescription drugs, comprising the steps of:

a. selecting said prescription drug for treatment of said patient;

b. inputting selected drug identification to said printing device;

c. waiting for said first printing means to print said prescription drug form;

d. waiting for said second printing means to print said receipt for said patient;

e. reviewing said prescription drug form for accuracy and signing thereon;

f. reviewing said patient receipt for accuracy; and

g. handing each of said prescription drug form and patient receipt to said patient.