Patent Application
20080308518
The present invention relates to the incorporation of an automatic identification device within a package or container for quickly and efficiently identifying the contents of the package or container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container enclosing an automatic identification device for identifying the contents therein.
Pharmaceutical or medical containers for storing, transporting or selling pharmaceutical or medical products are generally well-known. Such containers, bottles or packages are preferably formed of a high strength, lightweight material and are sized and shaped to be easily transported either individually or in a larger container. Such containers typically include a removable cap. Generally, the caps are removed from the container by a twisting motion. Further, certain containers include child-resistant caps that require a specific twisting function to remove the cap from the top of the container.
The process of preparing containers of medicaments for shipment to an end user typically includes steps of: (1) filling the container with a medicament, (2) sealing the end of the container with the cap, and (3) paper labeling the container with the contents of the container and other information related to the manufacturing history.
These containers are typically included in a larger package to transport the containers and are then individually placed on a shelf in a retail store for selling the product. Although the containers can contain a plurality of different types of pharmaceutical or medical products, the general appearance of the containers is often similar. Due to such similarity, it may be difficult to identify the contents of the container without opening the container to find out what is inside.
It is of the utmost importance that the information on the paper labeling of each container corresponds to the actual contents of the container and include such information that allows for traceability to the history of manufacture. Thus, information should ideally be associated with each filled container from near the moment that the container is filled.
Presently, however, it is not possible to include with each container at the time of filling, all of the required information on container contents and manufacturing, since paper labeling applied to the container at the time of filling does not always survive the manufacturing and shipping process, and there is sometimes insufficient room on the label to include all of the required information. Further, the destination for each filled container is not known at the time the container is filled. Since the minimum information to be applied to a paper label is generally prescribed by law, and such laws vary from country to country, the paper labeling of containers can not be done until the destination of a particular lot of containers is determined. Such determination may not be made until after a specific lot of the containers has been shelved for a period of time. In order to establish traceability of the containers in a lot that has been shelved, back to the time that the containers were filled, samples from each lot must be taken from the shelved lot prior to paper labeling, and the contents of the samples determined analytically. Such a procedure is time consuming and expensive.
A further problem associated with labeling of the containers is one of counterfeiting. Such counterfeiting may utilize packaging and paper labeling identical to the legitimate articles such that even an experienced end user pharmacist or medical practitioner can not distinguish the counterfeit article from the legitimate article.
Automatic identification technology, which increases business efficiency, reduces data-entry errors and frees-up staff to perform other functions, is generally well-known. Automatic identification is a broad term given to a host of technologies that are used to help machines identify objects. These technologies include bar codes, smart cards, voice recognition, biometric technology, optical character recognition and radio frequency identification (RFID). Specifically, RFID technology uses radio waves to automatically identify objects. By storing product information on a microchip that is attached to an antenna, RFID tags allow a reader to easily and efficiently identify an object and allow for the addition or deletion of information at any time.
Various prior art devices have incorporated RFID tags within pharmaceutical containers to avoid the problems described above. Previously, individuals have attempted to mold RFID tags within the containers. However, problem arises when a manufacturer, seller or user attempts to mold the RFID tag into the plastic container because the high temperatures achieved during the molding process often destroy the RFID tag.
Therefore, it would be desirable to add an automatic identification device to pharmaceutical or medical packages or containers at or near the time of filling such that a user or manufacturer can quickly and efficiently identify the contents of a packaging or container without inspecting the contents of each package or container. Specifically, it would be desirable to include an RFID tag within a pharmaceutical or medical package or container without having to mold the RFID tag to the container such that a user could quickly scan the container and accurately identify the product within the container. This combination would allow for an accurate knowledge of the inventory level by eliminating the discrepancy between inventory record and physical inventory and also prevent destruction of the RFID tag. Further, the sources of error of recordation can be prevented or reduced.
Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a container enclosing an automatic identification device for identifying the contents therein. The container includes a bottom having an outer periphery and a neck defining an opening at a top portion thereof for receiving a product and a shoulder proximate a bottom portion thereof. The neck has a radially inwardly extending flange on an inner surface thereof. The flange is located at a predetermined distance away from the top portion of the neck. The container further includes a sidewall extending generally upwardly from the periphery of the bottom to the shoulder of the neck. A cap is removably engageable to the neck and an automatic identification device is removably mountable on the flange of the neck.
The following detailed description of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the bottle in accordance with the present invention, and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
The periphery 16 of the container bottom 14 may be slightly rounded to eliminate any sharpe edges from the container 10. Preferably, the container bottom 14 and the container wall 18 define an outer container 10 which is generally annular in cross-section, although the outer container 10 may be of any shape, such as a generally rectangular in cross-section, as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand. Further, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the form and shape of the container 10 can be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the outer container 10 can be in the form of virtually any shape, such as a vial, vase or any other such packaging or container, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The outer container 10 is preferably formed of a polymeric material, but it is understood by those skilled in the art that the outer container 10 may be formed of virtually any high-strength, lightweight material, such as a glass on metallic material, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
As shown in
The neck 22 includes threads 32 on the outer surface for receiving a cap 40 and a flange 56 extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the neck 22. The flange 56 is located at a predetermined distance away from or below a top or upper portion of the neck 22. One skilled in the art would understand that other means besides threads 32 may be used to accommodate the cap 40, such as a friction fit or a child-proof fastener (not shown). The cap 40, which is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,216 (the '216 patent) and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, comprises an outer cap 42 removably secured to an inner cap 44. The outer cap 42 preferably includes gripping ridges 42a on an exterior surface of the outer cap 42 and may include instructions (
In reference to
In operation, a manufacturer, distributor or consumer places a desired amount of the product into the outer container 10. An automatic identification device, such as the RFID tag capsule 60, may then be placed onto the flange 56 within the neck 22 of the container 10. Next, the cap 40 is removably attached to the neck 22 of the container 10 to enclose the product and the capsule 60 within the container 10. When the manufacturer, distributor or consumer desires to know the contents of the container 10, a scanner (not shown) is placed within the general vicinity of the container 10 to read the information stored in the RFID tag 62. The RFID tag 62 is generally well protected when securely located within the container 10 and capsule 60, as taught by the present invention. A user or manufacturer will also generally know the exact location of the RFID tag 62 when attempting to identify the contents of the outer container 10. Further, the capsule 60 may be removed by either the manufacturer, distributor or consumer before the product within the container 10 is used or inspected after the cap 40 is removed from the neck 22 of the container 10 (
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the drawings and specification.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/944,001, filed Jun. 14, 2007 and entitled “Automatic Identification Device Inserted into a Bottle,” the entire subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60944001 | Jun 2007 | US |
