Patent Application
20150083626
The present invention relates to sharps injury protection, drug labeling, drug storage and drug dispensing systems.
In healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, drugs are administered to patients. Such drugs are typically stored in a cabinet or closet and are categorized by drug and dosage. Some, more advanced, facilities utilize an automated drug inventory system which uses a user interfaced processor to track the drugs being stocked in and taken from the drug cabinet. Some processors employ mechanisms to restrict access to certain drugs. Despite these drug inventory systems, such drug cabinets are still stocked by humans capable of error. Furthermore, highly concentrated injectable pharmaceuticals are often among the medications stored. Highly concentrated pharmaceuticals are often contained in small vials with a capacity as little as 1 milliliter up to 10 milliliters. The small sized vial limits the amount of information these products can display. Consequently, lettering, numbering and electronic coding are competing for this valuable space which restricts the amount of information that can be conveyed. Compounding this problem of limited labeling area is the possibility of increased labeling needs in the future. As home care increases so does the need for increased awareness and messaging on the product for individuals injecting the patient. It is often the patient himself or a family member. A doctor may prefer prescribing a product from a drug company that offers a product with larger display possibilities to help ensure good patient outcome for in-home use. Many people other than physicians and healthcare workers administer injectable products. Increased awareness in messaging are proven methods to aid in the prevention of human error.
There have been numerous documented cases of drug cabinets being improperly stocked and unintended outcomes resulted. This may be more prone to occurring in emergency settings when caregivers must act quickly. For instance, the healthcare provider may reach into the drug cabinet and remove a vial of medication in a concentration appropriate for a child. Unfortunately, the vial may actually be the adult concentration that was improperly stocked. Administered the adult dose to a child may result in unintended outcomes. In other cases, the wrong drug altogether is placed in a drug compartment. Compounding the problem of inadvertent placement of medications in the wrong section of drug cabinets is the difficulty healthcare workers may have reading drug information such as drug name and concentration on very small vials. These electronic codes often have less than the desired amount of information contained in within them due to space constraints. This lack of space limits employing additional time saving conveniences such as constant flow reordering whereby a facility's scanning of medications as they are utilized triggers the relay of the need for more product to be ordered. This type of interface is an integral part of an efficient supply chain saving time and money for the end user.
Another problem is that when a nurse attempts to insert the needle of a syringe through the lid of a vial in order to draw the drug into the syringe, the healthcare worker may accidentally stick one of her fingers holding the vial with the needle resulting in a sharps injury. In addition to the associated pain, the needle, syringe and medication must be discarded to avoid administering a contaminated drug. Prevention of needle sticks then prevents delays and wasted resources ultimately saving time and money.
Yet another problem is that healthcare facilities such as hospitals often need to augment the manufacturer's labeling with institution-specific pharmacy information such as “highly concentrated” or “caution, paralytic agent.” There may also be facility specific storage advisories that need to be affixed to medications such as “keep refrigerated.” This additional labeling is often applied within a facility's pharmacy. In order to accommodate these requirements on such small vials, additional labeling often covers or has the potential to cover if applied haphazardly the manufacturer's original labeling.
A need remains for a system that helps to insure that the proper drug is stocked in the proper compartment and/or that the proper drug is dispensed and administered to the patient. A need also remains for small medication vials to have a greater surface area to provide for larger lettering and more detailed electronic coding. A need also remains for a way to avoid needle sticks when the drug is being withdrawn from the vial. A need remains for pharmacy personnel to apply facility-specific advisories on products without risk of obscuring manufacturer's labeling.
The present invention provides a system for storing and/or dispensing drugs. In one aspect, the present invention provides a drug storage and dispensing system for storing drugs contained in a container. In one embodiment, the storage system includes a storage tray and a drug identification key member. The storage tray includes at least one drug storage receptacle including a keyed pattern of one or more projections and/or projection-receiving recesses. A holder for a drug container includes a complementary pattern of one or more projections and/or projection-receiving recesses that mates with the tray receptacle such that the drug container holder is securely retained by the tray receptacle. The complementary configurations/shapes of the projections and/or projection-receiving recesses correspond to at least one feature of the drug. The one or more projections are received in the one or more recesses when the container is received in the storage tray.
The invention comprises, in one embodiment thereof, a jacket retaining a cylindrical drug vial having a diameter oriented in a horizontal direction. The jacket includes a conically-shaped collar flaring in an upward direction. An upper end of the collar has a diameter at least 5% greater than the diameter of the vial. The collar has a vertically oriented channel sized to receive the vial therein. At least one leg extends downwardly from the collar. The leg has an outwardly facing panel having information printed thereon.
The invention comprises, in another embodiment thereof, a jacket for retaining a cylindrical drug vial. The vial has a diameter oriented in a horizontal direction. The jacket includes a collar having an upwardly facing surface. The collar has a width at least 5% greater than the diameter of the vial. The collar has an opening sized to receive the vial therein. A body is attached to a bottom of the collar and has a vertically oriented channel in communication with the collar opening. The channel is sized to receive the vial therein. The body includes an opening through which the vial is visible when the vial is in the channel.
The invention comprises, in yet another embodiment thereof, a drug vial storage system including a jacket having a collar with a vertically oriented opening sized to receive the vial therein. At least one leg is connected to the collar. The leg has an outwardly facing panel with information printed thereon. A bottom end of the leg includes at least one slot therein. A location of the slot along the lower end is dependent upon contents of the vial to be retained by the jacket. A tray has a plurality of sets of recesses therein. At least one of the sets of recesses matingly receives the lower end of the leg such that a portion of the tray between the recesses is received in the slot of the leg. Locations of the recesses in the tray are dependent upon contents of the vial to be retained by the jacket.
An advantage of the invention is that it may provide large surface areas on the jacket on which drug-identifying information may be printed. Thus, important information printed on the jacket may be viewed quickly without having to turn or manipulate the vial in order to read printing on a circumferential surface of the vial, thereby saving time and improving accuracy.
Another advantage is that the invention may provide improved and less obstructed visualization of the contents of the vial.
Yet another advantage is that the jacket may provide improved ability to maneuver and hold the vial due to the elongated panels.
Still another advantage is that because the need for a label on the vial may be eliminated, the user may more easily view the contents of the vial through a gap or window in the jacket. Thus, the user may be able to see contamination, debris, bacteria, mold, etc. in the drug.
The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention;
b is another perspective view the medicinal vial assembly of
a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medicinal vial jacket of the present invention;
b is a perspective view of the medicinal vial jacket of
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.
Referring first to
Jacket 24 may include an upper conically-shaped collar 38 having a circular top surface 36 with a circular throughhole 34 therein. A radially outward surface 40 of collar 38 may flare radially outwardly as top surface 36 is approached. An upper end 41 of collar 38 may have a diameter at least 5% greater than the diameter of vial 22.
Extending downwardly from collar 38 may be two parallel legs 42a-b defining a cylindrical channel 44 there between that is in communication with throughhole 34. Channel 44 and throughhole 34 may each have a diameter that approximately matches a diameter of vial 22 such that vial 22 may be snugly received and retained within channel 44 after being inserted through throughhole 34. Adhesive may be added to an outer surface of body 26 and/or to an inner surface of channel 44 in order to adhere vial 22 to legs 42a-b.
A detent in the form of a shoulder or ledge 46 may be provided on an inner surface of leg 42a and/or leg 42b in order to block and prevent vial 22 from progressing farther down channel 44. Thus, diaphragm 32 may remain easily accessible through throughhole 34.
Each of legs 42a-b may include a respective flat panel surface area 48a-b on which pertinent information may be printed. Panel 48a may be used by the hospital to identify the drug, volume and/or concentration level in vial 22. Panel 48b may be used by the dispensing pharmacy for in-house labeling such as the expiration date, caution paralytic agent, re-order, instructions such as “keep refrigerated”, information such as “highly concentrated”, etc. Such an ability to customize labeling by the dispensing pharmacy may assist providers in managing inventory and improving patient safety. For example, some combination of standard alphanumeric printing, writing, and codes (e.g., QR codes or bar codes) may be placed on panels 48-a-b. A distance between panels 48a-b is less than a diameter of top surface 36.
A gap 50 between legs 42a-b may be approximately between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm wide. A health care worker may view the pharmaceutical product in vial 22, as well as a needle placed therein, through transparent body 26 and gap 50.
During use, a nurse may hold legs 42a-b between the thumb and finger of one hand. The nurse then may use her other hand to insert the needle of a syringe through diaphragm 32.
In the event that the needle misses diaphragm 32, top surface 36 of collar 38 shields and protects the nurse's fingers from the needle and thereby prevents the fingers from being stuck with the needle.
Another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 220 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Assembly 220 may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid 228, then the needle will very likely hit inner surface 254 and slide down surface 254 with very little danger of sticking a user's finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface 254 and away from the user's fingers.
Another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 420 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the partially cross-sectional view of
Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 520, in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Jacket 524 includes a cylindrical body 570 having two opposing oval-shaped windows 550a-b through which the user may view the contents of vial 522. Projecting downwardly from the bottom of body 570 is a planar, rectangular single leg 542 having two flat rectangular printing surfaces 548a-b on opposite sides of leg 542.
Still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 620 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Jacket 624 includes a body 670 having two opposing oval-shaped windows, with only one window 650 being visible in
Attached to wall 666 via a flexible hinge 672 is a protective cap 674. Cap 674 may be rotated 180 degrees about hinge 672 such that cap 674 covers and protects vial 622. Cap 674 may protect vial 622 from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm 632 of vial 622 has already been pierced by a needle. Although cap 674 is not drawn to scale relative to wall 666 in
Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 720 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Like assembly 220, assembly 720 may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid 728, then the needle will very likely hit inner surface 754 and slide down surface 754 with very little danger of sticking a user's finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface 754 and away from the user's fingers.
Attached to wall 752 via a flexible hinge 772 is a protective cap 774. Cap 774 may be rotated 180 degrees about hinge 772 such that cap 774 covers and protects vial 722. Cap 774 may protect vial 722 from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm 732 of vial 722 has already been pierced by a needle. Cap 774 may include an arcuate groove 778 that is sized to snugly receive the upper edge of wall 752 such that cap 774 may be securely fastened in place over wall 752 and vial 722.
Each vial assembly 820 includes a jacket having two opposing legs 842a-b. Each of legs 842a-b includes a respective slot 880a-b for receiving a respective bridge 882a-b which serves as a barrier between recesses 804a-d. Slots 880a-b and bridges 882a-b have complementary configurations such that each of slots 880a-b is configured to mate with or receive a respective one of bridge 882a-b. The complementary configurations of slots 880a-b and bridges 882a-b are designed to correspond to and identify particular features of the drug to be stored in storage tray 812. For example, the relative sizes of recesses 804a-d and the locations of slots 880a-b on legs 842a-b may identify the drug within each of the vials and its concentration. The panels of legs 842a-b may be entirely above top surface 818 of tray 812 when legs 842a-b are matingly received in tray 812 such that the panels are completely and entirely visible.
In use, storage trays 812 may be placed on storage shelves in drug cabinets, mounted on walls in drug closets, or arranged in any suitable manner in the drug storage area of a healthcare facility. Legs 842a-b and storage trays 812 are equipped with mating drug identification keys that assist in the storage, identification and dispensing of drugs. For instance, complementary configurations of recesses 804a-d and slots 880a-b are designed to correspond to a particular feature of the drug. For example, the locations of bridges 882a-b and slots 880a-b may correspond to a specific drug composition. Accordingly, all jackets containing that specific drug are equipped with legs 842a-b having slots 880a-b, which identifies the drug within the vial. All drug containers containing other drugs are equipped with legs having slots of a different location or shape incapable of being received within recesses 804a-d. Thus, when drug cabinets are stocked, vials cannot be improperly placed in the wrong drug tray due to forced function, thereby, minimizing the chances that the wrong drug will be dispersed.
Storage trays 812 and the jackets may be formed of any rigid material capable of holding vials and forming a mating coupling. For instance, storage trays 812 and the jackets may be formed of rigid plastic, metal, wood and/or combination thereof. Trays 812 and the jackets may be formed by any means including extrusion, molding, machining or other means.
Still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 1020 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
A further embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 1120 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 1320 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
During assembly, vial 1322 may be inserted upwardly through throughhole 1386 until lid 1328 advances past tabs 1384a-d, at which point tabs 1384a-d are clamped between lid 1328 and a slanted outer surface 1388 of a body 1390 of vial 1322. Thus, vial 1322 is effectively attached to jacket 1324. Lid 1328 and surface 1388 each have a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a neck 1391 of vial 1322, which enables tabs 1384a-d to be securely received in neck 1391.
Like assemblies 220 and 720, assembly 1320 may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid 1328, then the needle will very likely hit an inner surface 1354 of jacket 1324 and slide down surface 1354 with very little danger of sticking a user's finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface 1354 and away from the user's fingers.
Cap 1374 may be rotated 180 degrees about a hinge 1372 such that cap 1374 covers and protects vial 1322. Cap 1374 may protect vial 1322 from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm of vial 1322 has already been pierced by a needle.
Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 1620 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
Cap 1674 may be rotated 180 degrees about a hinge 1672, as best shown in
Finger grooves 1692a-b may be ergonomically designed to fit the contour of the underside of the caregiver's fingers. Thus, grooves 1692a-b may help create a stable bridge, decreasing the chance of a needle stick (i.e., sharps injury).
During assembly, vial 1622 may be inserted upwardly between two plastic convex ramps 1694a-b which respond by spreading outwardly during the initial insertion of lid 1628. After lid 1628 passes ramps 1694a-b, ramps 1694a-b may spring back inwardly into the recess 1696 between lid 1628 and a shoulder 1698 of vial 1622. After ramps 1694a-b are back in place filling the space between lid 1628 and shoulder 1698, an adjustable clamp 1700 may be placed into cutouts 1702a-b and cinched or tightened such that vial 1622 is effectively attached to base 1624. Clamp 1700 may be a simple zip tie, a wire, or may be made of stainless steel. In the embodiment shown, clamp 1700 is a self-locking tie with a rounded end. A banding tool with cutters may be provided for increased efficiency. Ledges 1704a-b map prevent adjustable clamp 1700 from sliding off of ramps 1694a-b. Both assemblies 1320 and 1620 may have the advantage that an original manufacturer's label, such as label 1706, is fully visible.
As shown in
Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 2120 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medicinal vial jacket 2224 including an elongate, two-sided rectangular, planar panel 2248 having two elongate rectangular arms 2242a and 2242b. One or both arms may have line markings 2214 to indicate where the arms should be cut, such as with scissors, to fit or accommodate, as shown in
Another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 3420 (
In another embodiment of an integral medicinal vial assembly 3720 shown in
Another embodiment of an integral medicinal vial assembly 3520 (
In yet another embodiment of an integral medicinal vial assembly 3620 (
In still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly 3820 (
Although not specifically shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that any of the embodiments of
In each of the embodiments of
It is to be understood that for any of the panels or labels shown in the above embodiments, the writing may be added by hand or may be on printer foil tags which can accommodate a substantial amount of information. The panel or label may also accommodate in-house coding to manage the product once it is received. The panel or label can aid a pharmacy in conveying messages to other health care workers, or can carry a message for in-home use. Plastic color coding and/or corporate logos may be employed.
The systems of the present invention help insure that the correct drug is stocked in the correct location in the drug storage area, thereby minimizing the chances that the wrong drug is selected and administered due to inaccurate stocking The systems of the present invention also help insure that access to the drugs is selectively granted, thereby minimizing the chances that the wrong drug will be taken from the drug storage area.
In addition to providing a medium for printing or writing, the vial jackets of the present invention may carry electronics, such as plastic-embedded RFID circuit chips, which contain information identifying characteristics of the drug in the vials and allow for more secure shipping. The jacket provides opportunity for RFID chips to be affixed remotely from the liquid of the vial which may cancel the signal.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14033911 | Sep 2013 | US |
| Child | 14323578 | US |
