Medication container encoding, verification, and identification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- generating or receiving, by a processor, first data comprising at least one optical identifier, the at least one optical identifier encapsulating second data characterizing at least one medication;
applying, by an applicator electronically coupled to the processor, the at least one optical identifier to the outer surface of a tip portion of a medication container, mating the medication container with a complementary fitting on a medication device operable to receive the medication in fluid form from a fluid outlet of the medication container, the at least one optical identifier being positioned such that it is automatically read by at least one optical sensor of the medication device along the outer surface of the tip portion when the medication container rotatably mates with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
rotatably mating the medication container with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
automatically reading the at least one optical identifier in response to the rotatably mating; and
in response to the reading and the mating, verifying, by the medication device, that the medication within the medication container matches the second data encapsulated in the at least one optical identifier.
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Abstract
A medication container encoding, verification and identification method is provided that includes receiving data characterizing a medication, generating an identifier encapsulating the data and applying an identifier to a medication container such that it is automatically readable by a medication device. Related apparatus, systems, methods and articles are also described.
416 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating or receiving, by a processor, first data comprising at least one optical identifier, the at least one optical identifier encapsulating second data characterizing at least one medication; applying, by an applicator electronically coupled to the processor, the at least one optical identifier to the outer surface of a tip portion of a medication container, mating the medication container with a complementary fitting on a medication device operable to receive the medication in fluid form from a fluid outlet of the medication container, the at least one optical identifier being positioned such that it is automatically read by at least one optical sensor of the medication device along the outer surface of the tip portion when the medication container rotatably mates with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
rotatably mating the medication container with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
automatically reading the at least one optical identifier in response to the rotatably mating; andin response to the reading and the mating, verifying, by the medication device, that the medication within the medication container matches the second data encapsulated in the at least one optical identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method comprising:
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generating or receiving, by a processor, data comprising at least one optical identifier, the at least one optical identifier encapsulating data characterizing at least one medication; applying, by an applicator electronically coupled to the processor, the at least one optical identifier to the outer surface of a tip portion of a medication container, performing a triggering event with a medication device operable to receive the medication in fluid form from a fluid outlet of the medication container, the at least one identifier being positioned such that it is automatically read by at least one optical sensor of the medication device along the outer surface of the tip portion upon the triggering event; and automatically reading the at least one optical identifier to the triggering event, in response to the reading and the triggering event, verifying, by the medication device coupled to the applicator, medication within the medication container matches the data encapsulated in the at least one optical identifier, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of;
fluidically coupling the medication container to the medication device, a predefined offset after fluidically coupling the medication container to the medication device, activation of a coupling switch on the medication device, and sensing of fluid flow by the medication device.
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47. An apparatus configured to apply at least one optical identifier to a medication container, the medication container including a fluid conduit leading to a fluid outlet and an identification surface at least partially surrounding the fluid conduit and adjacent to the fluid outlet, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiving portion configured to receive the identification surface; and an applicator device configured to apply the at least one identifier to the identification surface whereby the identifier at least partially surrounds the fluid outlet, wherein the at least one optical identifier encapsulates data characterizing at least one medication, and wherein the applicator device is configured to wrap and adhere the at least one optical identifier to the identification surface, wherein the apparatus is electronically coupled with a medication device configured to verify the medication in the container matches the encapsulated data, wherein the medication container is configured to rotatably mate with the medication device, and wherein the medication device automatically reads the at least one optical identifier upon the rotatably mating. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method comprising:
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providing a medication container including a fluid conduit for delivering medication in a direction generally from a proximal portion of the medication container to a distal fluid outlet of the medication container, the medication container defining an identification surface located at a generally distal portion of the medication container and at least partially surrounding the fluid conduit; receiving the identification surface into the receiving portion of an encoding apparatus; applying an optical identifier to the identification surface, wherein the optical identifier encapsulates data characterizing at least one medication, wherein the identification surface comprises an outer surface of a tip portion of the medication container; and subsequent to the applying, mating the medication container and a complementary fitting on a medication device operable to receive the medication from the fluid outlet of the medication container, automatically reading the optical identifier during rotation of the mated medication container, and in response to the reading and mating, verifying, by a reader device coupled to the encoding apparatus, that the medication within the medication container matches the data encapsulated in the optical identifier. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, performs the steps of
generating or receiving first data comprising an optical identifier, the optical identifier encapsulating second data characterizing at least one medication; -
electronically controlling an applicator to apply the at least one optical identifier to the outer surface of a tip portion of a medication container, mating the medication container with a complementary fitting on a medication device operable to receive the medication in fluid form from a fluid outlet of the medication container, the at least one identifier being positioned such that it is automatically read by at least one optical sensor of the medication device along the outer surface of the tip portion when the medication container rotatably mates with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
rotatably mating the medication container with the complementary fitting on the medication device;
automatically reading the at least one first optical identifier in response to the rotatably mating; andin response to the mating, electronically controlling a reader to verify that the medication within the medication container matches the second data encapsulated in the at least one optical identifier.
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65. An apparatus comprising:
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means for generating or receiving first data comprising an optical identifier, the optical identifier encapsulating second data characterizing at least one medication; means for applying the at least one optical identifier to the outer surface of a tip portion of a medication container, means for mating the medication container with a medication device operable to receive the medication in fluid form from a fluid outlet of the medication container, means for automatically reading identifier when the medication container rotatably mates with a complementary fitting on the medication device; and means for verifying, in response to the mating, that the medication within the medication container matches the second data encapsulated in the optical identifier. - View Dependent Claims (66)
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Specification