Medication packaging and labeling system

• US 7,942,451 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Adler, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): Self; Shelley
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRABOWSKI, KYLE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/477,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 283/81, 206/232, 206/534, 206/540, 206/459.5, 403/10
• US Class Current: 283/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0288 Labels or tickets consisting of more than one part, e.g. with address of sender or other reference on separate section to main label; Multi-copy labels
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/90 Medical record

Abstract

Method for generating a label for a medication in which information about the medication is obtained and printed on the label in a hierarchical manner with more important information in a more prominent location or more prominent type relative to other less important information. The information may be divided into primary information and secondary information with the primary information being placed on the label before the secondary information. The label may be used in a container having a curved front wall, a planar rear wall, a substantially planar bottom wall and a cap engaging with the front and rear walls to seal the container. The rear wall is constructed with a device for removably received an information card containing information relating to the medication.

Claims

1. A prescription system for a medication for a patient, the prescription system comprising:

a container including a front wall, a rear wall, and a cavity formed between and immediately adjacent to each of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein;

the rear wall is positioned opposite the front wall and at least partially defines a substantially planar exterior surface,

the rear wall is statically connected to a remainder of the container, and

the rear wall at least partially defines a slot immediately adjacent and extending over the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the front wall relative to the substantially planar exterior surface such that the slot and the cavity are entirely separated by the rear wall;

medication selectively maintained within the cavity of the container;

a substrate adhesively attached to at least the front wall of the container and including information about the medication; and

an information card folded and slidably and selectively maintained by the slot such that the information card extends immediately adjacent and over the substantially planar exterior surface of the rear wall of the container when the information card is in a storage position, wherein the information card is formed separately from the substrate and includes additional information about the medication contained in the cavity of the container;

wherein a portion of the information card includes a prescription notation and extends beyond an outermost edge of the container such that at least a word of the prescription notation is viewable and legible from a side of the container opposite the substantially planar exterior surface when the information card is fully positioned within the slot for storage adjacent the substantially planar exterior surface of the rear wall.

2. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein the container independently defines retaining means for slidably and selectively maintaining the information card along the substantially planar surface.

3. The prescription system of claim 1, further comprising a substantially planar magnifying lens slidably and selectively maintained with the information card along the substantially planar exterior surface.

4. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein the slot is defined along the substantially planar exterior surface of the container and slidably and selectively maintains the information card, and the information card is at least twice as wide as the slot prior to folding the information card to be slidably and selectively maintained within the slot.

5. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein the container is a rectangular container.

6. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the prescription system coupled with the container includes means for assigning the container to a first member of a single family using a first color selected from a plurality of colors, and each of the plurality of colors is assigned to a different member of the single family.

7. The prescription system of claim 6, further comprising:

a second container, wherein a second portion of the prescription system coupled with the second container includes means for assigning the second container to a second member of the single family using a second color selected from the plurality of colors, and the second color is different than the first color.

8. The prescription system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of discrete information areas visually defined on the substrate and containing printed information about the medication, including;

a first information area containing a printed patient'"'"'s name,

a second information area below the first information area and containing a printed name of the medication within the cavity,

a third information area below the second information area and containing a printed manner in which the medication within the cavity is to be taken,

a fourth information area below the third information area and containing at least one of a printed quantity of medication to dispensed into the cavity and printed refill parameter of the medication, and

a fifth information area below the fourth information area and containing a printed prescribing doctor'"'"'s name,

wherein the first-fifth information areas are horizontally aligned and adjacent ones of the information areas are visually discernable from one another by at least one of a printed background color and a printed demarcation line.

9. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed in direct contact with each of the front wall and the rear wall.

10. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein the container is formed as a single, injection molded piece.

11. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein:

the container includes opposing grooves facing one another and positioned on opposite edges of the substantially planar exterior surface, and

the slot is formed between and directly adjacent each of the opposing grooves.

12. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein:

the container includes a pocket defining the slot, and

the pocket is defined along and extends over the substantially planar exterior surface of the container opposite the cavity.

13. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein:

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, the information card covers a substantial entirety of the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the cavity.

14. The prescription system of claim 1, wherein:

the container is formed as a single, injection molded piece, and

the information card directly abuts the substantially planar exterior surface in a position entirely spaced from the cavity.

15. A prescription system for a medication for a patient, the prescription system comprising:

a container defining a chamber for selectively maintaining the medication, wherein;

the container is formed as a single, static piece of material and includes a front side and a rear wall opposite the front side relative to the chamber, and

the rear wall defines a rear external surface of the container facing away from the chamber and the front side of the container;

a substrate attached to the front side of the container and including information about the medication; and

an information card including additional information regarding the medication,

wherein;

the information card is selectively maintained along the rear external surface of the container opposite at least a portion of the substrate and the front side of the container,

the information card is formed separately from the substrate, and

when the information card is fully positioned for storage relative to the rear external surface of the container, a portion of the information card extends beyond an outermost edge of the container such that at least a word of the additional information is viewable and legible around the outermost edge of the container from the front side of the container opposite the information card.

16. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein the rear external surface of the container is substantially planar.

17. The prescription system of claim 16, wherein a substantially planar magnifying lens is slidably and selectively maintained with the information card along the rear external surface of the container.

18. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein a slot is defined along the rear external surface of the container, the slot slidably and selectively maintains the information card, and the information card is foldable such that the information card is at least twice as wide as the slot prior to folding the information card to be slidably and selectively maintained within the slot.

19. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein a first portion of the prescription system coupled with the container includes means for assigning the container to a first member of a single family using a first color selected from a plurality of colors, and each of the plurality of colors is assigned to a different member of the single family, and the prescription system further comprising:

a second container, wherein a second portion of the prescription system coupled to the second container includes means for assigning the second container to a second member of the single family using a second color selected from the plurality of colors, and the second color is different than the first color.

20. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein:

the rear wall is substantially planar wall and positioned immediately adjacent the chamber and defines the rear external surface of the container opposite the chamber, and

the rear external surface of the container is positioned in direct contact with the information card when the information card is fully positioned for storage.

21. The prescription system of claim 15, further comprising the medication maintained within the chamber.

22. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein the rear external surface is substantially planar.

23. The prescription system of claim 22, wherein the front side of the container is convex relative to the rear wall.

24. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein when the information card is fully positioned for storage relative to the rear external surface of the container, the information card covers a substantial entirety of the rear external surface.

25. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein:

the container defines opposing ridges facing one another and extending rearwardly from opposite edges of the rear external surface,

a slot is formed between and directly adjacent each of the opposing ridges, and

the information card is selectively maintained along the rear external surface of the container within the slot via direct interaction with the opposing ridges.

26. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein:

the container defines a pocket along and extending over the rear exterior surface of the container opposite the chamber, and

the information card is selectively maintained by the pocket along the rear external surface of the container.

27. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein when the information card is fully positioned for storage relative to the rear external surface of the container, the information card substantially covers the rear external surface opposite the chamber.

28. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein the substrate is adhesively secured to at least the front side of the container.

29. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein the information card is formed separately from the container and the substrate.

30. The prescription system of claim 15, wherein:

the rear wall is substantially planar and positioned immediately adjacent the chamber and defines the rear external surface of the container opposite the chamber,

the container includes a slot defined along the rear external surface of the container,

the slot slidably and selectively maintains the information card, and

the information card is foldable such that the information card is at least twice as wide as the slot prior to folding the information card to be slidably and selectively maintained within the slot.

31. The prescription system of claim 30, wherein:

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, the information card covers a substantial entirety of the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the cavity,

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, a portion of the information card extends beyond an outermost edge of the container and is viewable around the container when the container is viewed from the front side of the container, and

the portion of the information card includes a notation having at least one word legible around the container when the container is viewed from the front side of the container.

32. The prescription system of claim 31, further comprising the medication maintained within the chamber.

33. A prescription system for a medication for a patient, the prescription system comprising:

a container including a front wall, a rear wall, and a cavity formed between and immediately adjacent to each of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein;

the rear wall is positioned opposite the front wall and at least partially defines a substantially planar exterior surface,

the rear wall is statically connected to a remainder of the container, and

the rear wall at least partially defines a slot immediately adjacent and extending over the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the front wall relative to the substantially planar exterior surface such that the slot and the cavity are entirely separated by the rear wall;

medication selectively maintained within the cavity of the container;

a substrate adhesively attached to at least the front wall of the container and including information about the medication; and

an information card folded and slidably and selectively maintained by the slot such that the information card extends immediately adjacent and over the substantially planar exterior surface of the rear wall of the container when the information card is in a storage position, wherein the information card is formed separately from the substrate and includes additional information about the medication contained in the cavity of the container;

wherein;

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, the information card covers a substantial entirety of the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the cavity, and

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, a portion of the information card extends beyond an outermost edge of the container and is viewable around the container when the container is viewed from the front side of the container.

34. The prescription system of claim 33, wherein the portion includes a notation having at least one word legible around the container when the container is viewed from the front side of the container.

35. A prescription system for a medication for a patient, the prescription system comprising:

a container including a front wall, a rear wall, and a cavity formed between and immediately adjacent to each of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein;

the rear wall is positioned opposite the front wall and at least partially defines a substantially planar exterior surface,

the rear wall is statically connected to a remainder of the container, and

the rear wall at least partially defines a slot immediately adjacent and extending over the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the front wall relative to the substantially planar exterior surface such that the slot and the cavity are entirely separated by the rear wall;

medication selectively maintained within the cavity of the container;

a substrate adhesively attached to at least the front wall of the container and including information about the medication; and

an information card folded and slidably and selectively maintained by the slot such that the information card extends immediately adjacent and over the substantially planar exterior surface of the rear wall of the container when the information card is in a storage position, wherein the information card is formed separately from the substrate and includes additional information about the medication contained in the cavity of the container;

wherein;

the container is formed as a single, injection molded piece,

the information card directly abuts the substantially planar exterior surface in a position entirely spaced from the cavity, and

a portion of the information card includes a prescription notation and extends beyond an outermost edge of the container such that at least a word of the prescription notation is viewable and legible from a front side of the container opposite the substantially planar exterior surface when the information card is fully positioned within the slot for storage adjacent the substantially planar exterior surface of the rear wall.

36. The prescription system of claim 35, wherein:

the slot is defined along the substantially planar exterior surface of the container and slidably and selectively maintains the information card, and the information card is at least twice as wide as the slot prior to folding the information card to be slidably and selectively maintained within the slot, and

when the information card is folded and maintained by the slot, the information card covers a substantial entirety of the substantially planar exterior surface opposite the cavity.