CA2034693A1 - Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system - Google Patents

Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system

Info

Publication number
CA2034693A1
CA2034693A1 CA 2034693 CA2034693A CA2034693A1 CA 2034693 A1 CA2034693 A1 CA 2034693A1 CA 2034693 CA2034693 CA 2034693 CA 2034693 A CA2034693 A CA 2034693A CA 2034693 A1 CA2034693 A1 CA 2034693A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
indicia
information
cap
convey
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2034693
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Charles Papciak
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
Original Assignee
Charles Papciak
West Company, Incorporated (The)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Charles Papciak, West Company, Incorporated (The) filed Critical Charles Papciak
Publication of CA2034693A1 publication Critical patent/CA2034693A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/245Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2205/00General identification or selection means
    • A61J2205/20Colour codes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2205/00General identification or selection means
    • A61J2205/30Printed labels
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2203/00Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015Upper closure of the 41-type
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068Lower closure
    • B65D2251/009Lower closure of the 51-type

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A system for pharmaceutical product identification, comprising a closure on a pharmaceutical container, including a cap seal having a dependent skirt and an upwardly facing top. The seal has a first identifying indicia and the removable overcap protecting the closure has a second identifying indicia thereon. The first and second indicia cooperatively conveying information to the user of said container.

Description

2~3~6~3 DECORATION, IDENTIFICATION AND DIFFBRENTIATION CLOSURE SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVE~TION

The present inven~ion relates to a system for product identification, and more particularly to a system for product identiflcation for pharmaceutical products. The invention relates directly to a system for providing direct safety at the point of use of pharmaceutical products.

2~3~

BACRGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION

Pharmaceutical products are sold with extensive labeling. Packaging and containers are filled with instructions, warnings, and other information. Goods which can be packaged in vials, such as unit doses of medicaments, are packaged with written instructions inside the box or other package which contains the vial. These vials are intended for use with syringes and are to be applied to the patient at the bedside or other place of treatment.

Typically, nurses will be assigned to give medicines and the like to a number of patients at one period of time.
Often times, the administering nurse will have an entire tray or even a cart full of medicines to be given to a part or all of a floor in a hospital. In order to understand the background of the present invention and the environment in which it is intended to be used, it is necessary to visualize a health care worker assembling a cart or tray for a visit to several patients. T~pically, the nurse or health care worker will have individual instructions for each patient, and will place those instructions on separate locations on the tray or cart. Reading each set of instructions separately, the health care worker will then place the appropriate medicines from the pharmacy department of the hospital on to th respective instruction sheets or slips of paper.
.1 2 ~ 3 When tablets or pills are given, they are often placed in disposable cups and one can be relatively certain that the correct patient will be given the correct medicine.
Similarly, when medicines are to be given wlth a syringe, unit dose vials of the correct medicine in the correct amount can be placed on the patient' 5 instruction list or chart and there is every expectation that the appropriate medicine will be delivered to the appropriate patient.

In some instances, however, the medicine which is to be given to the patient will be mixed at the point of administration or use. For example, dilution instructions are often times provided for medicine which, if it is not diluted can cause serious problems. This information is given with the instructions from the Doctor or Pharmacist in most cases. In addition, this information is often printed on the vial label or container itself. Every effort is made to insure that the instructions are followed at the point of administration.

A problem arises when the health caxe worker relies upon information which is placed on the cap of the container, particularly in containers which have a removable protective cap. These caps are essential to maintain sterile conditions for the medicines, and are designed to be I easily removed by a flipping motion of the thumb, while the vial is held in one hand. At that point, the nurse can then add the diluent or perform whatever additional steps are necessary as the medicine is transferred to a syringe and 2~3~3.

then to the patient. Occasionally, however, the health care worker will remove more than one cap, particularly if a number of treatments are all to be given at one time. Also, even when one medicine is being administered, if it is to be diluted and if the diluent is supplied separately, caps from many containers must be removed. If the container without the cap does not contain the appropriate instructions, or if there is some way for the container to be separated from the cap, thereby losing the instructions, an unnecessary risk is taken.

While every intention is to avoid confusion and haste, sometimes it is unavoidable that the health care worker will have too many patients to treat in too short of time, and the very real possibility exists that the medicine given to a particular patient may not be precisely the treatment which the doctor has prescribed. While sometimes too much or too little diluent may not cause a significant problem, the very real possibility exists that improper administration of medicine can cause serious harm to the patients being treated.

As simple as it sounds, there have been many tragic examples of mistakes being made by health eare personnel.
These mistakes has caused lives and have endangered the lives of many others. For example, many deaths occur nationally each year because of a mix-up of sodium chloride and potassium chlor~de which, if not diluted, can cause death. And yet, at the present time, there is no system for 2 ~ 3 ~ 3 product identification of pharmaceutical products and the like which i5 designed specifically for a point of application treatments. In many instances, where removable outer caps are used for protection of the patient and maintenance of sterile conditions, the cap is placed near the vial. Yet there is no real assurance that the cap and vial match at a later time when the busy health care worker picks up the medicine for a particular patient.

Accordingly, it is an ob~ect of this invention to provide additional safety at the point of use of medicines.
It i8 a specific ob~ect of this invention to provide a system for pharmaceutical product identification which can be used at the point of application to insure the proper identification and other information be communicated to the nurse or other health care personnel.

2 ~ 3 -SUMMARY OF T}IE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that the above and other ob~ects of the present invention may be accomplished in the following manner. Specifically, a new system for pharmaceutical product identification has been developed.
The sys~em includes a closure on a pharmaceutical container, including an aluminum cap seal which has a first identifying indicia. Also provided is a removable overcap protecting the closure and having a second identifying indicia. The first and second indicia cooperatively convey information to the user of the container.

Example of information which iæ conveyed by the first and second indicia are safety messages, identical messages, dosage messages, restriction on use warnings, color codings and other instructions. In addition, the indicia may convey contents, brand names, dosage strengths and other information.

'I;

!1 ;

~3~6~

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other ob~ects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Fig. 1 Is an enlarged elevational view of one embodiment shown is section illustrating the attachment of a removable overcap onto a closure shell.

Figs 2 - 5 are perspective, exploded views of different embodiments of the present inventlon.

2~3~93-DETAILED DESCRIPTTON OY THE PRE~RRED EMBODINENT

As shown in Fig. 1, the system of the present invention includes a device, shown generally by the reference numeral 10, which includes, among other par~s of the closure system, a cap seal 11 which is normally made from aluminum.
The cap seal includes a top 13, on which a first identifying indicia may be placed. The top terminates inwardly at the center hole 15 which is designed to accept the overcap 17. Overcap 17, shown in Fig. 1, is typically a plastic button like member which has been formed or molded from plastic and which contains a second identifying indicia. The annular dependent ring 19 is sized to fit hole 15 and, during assembly, is formed outward, shown at l9a as the dot and dash view of cap 17a fits on top 13. This entire assembly is then placed on a rubber stopper or other clo~ure. When the cap 17a is desired to be removed, the health care worker merely pres~es upward against the cap 17a, fracturing frangible portions and exposing the top 13.

Shown in Fig. 2 is a pharmaceutical product identLfication system in which the cap 21 is plain and the top 23 has been colored. Overcap 27 is clear, thereby allowing the information contained on the top to be seen both before and after removal o~ cap 27. This ensurQs that the health care worker using this system will have whatever information is desired by the pharmacist, drug manufacturer, or phy~ician, as need be, before and after the cap is remoYed .

Similarly, in Fig. 3, the plain cap 31 has printed information such as advertising or instruction such as "must be diluted", for potassium chloride. This information is placed on top 33 which is visible through clear cap 37, both before and after the cap 37 has been removed. In this case, whether color coding or information is important for the user, that information can be relayed without any possibility of the information bein~ thrown away with the cap.

In Fig. 4, a plain cap 41 with a plain top 43 include a printed cap 47 which is primarily for advertising purposes in this example.

In Fig. 5, a colored cap 51 and colored shoulder 53 are matched with a similarly colored cap 57. In this case, the information is contained on cap 57, but the similarity of color coding allows the health worker to match the cap to the appropriate vial or container, even after the cap 57 has been removed. Of course, the vials, not shown, to which the seal and cap are added may be clear or the same or different colors from the seal and/or cap.

In each case, the information conveyed by the first identifying indicia on the cap seal is cooperatively combined with the information conveyed by the indicia on the removable overcap, to provide a failsafe redundancy of , .

~3~3 information at the point o~ use of the container to which they are applied.

As has been noted, safety messages such as the appropriate material for dilution or the quantity of dilution can be conveyed with both the first and second indicia, either duplicating the information or combining to convey that information. Extra assurances are given when the same message is on both the cap and the top of the container seal. Similarly, restrictions on use or other warnings can be used. For example, the cap may state that dilution i~ required while the seal top may state that the contents cannot be used without dilution.

In the preferred embodiment, cap 17 may be manufactured from plastic such as polypropylene or other similar plastics. The specific material is not critical, as long as other functional requirements are met. The plastic should be suita~le for receiving printing or other information after formation, and such be susceptible to being colored prior to manufacture. Similarl~, the seal can be made from a number of materials, although aluminum is the preferred material since it is suitable for application of colors through dies and lacquers, and since it is receptive to printing.

It is particularly important that the product be immediately and visually identified. Messages, instructions or warnings must be highly visible and for that reason the ~ ~ 3 ~ g3 printing process must be sufficient to clearly define the color and/or information which is intended to be placed on either the cap, under seal, or both. The colors should be easily duplicated, particularly since the cap and seal are often made at different points in the manufacturing process.
The products should be autoclavable, and thus would stand temperatures in excess of 121C for sufficient time to sterilize the products. It should be noted that the information added to the products by the present invention are on the exterior and are never in contact with the contents of the vial. Accordingly, there is no reason for expensive qualification testing and the like.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention. Changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A system for pharmaceutical product identification, comprising:

a closure on a pharmaceutical container, including a cap seal having a dependent skirt and an upwardly facing top, said seal having a first identifying indicia; and a removable overcap protecting said closure and having a second identifying indicia thereon;

said first and second indicia cooperatively conveying information to the user of said container.
2. The system of Claim 1, wherein said first and second indicia convey safety messages.
3. The system of Claim 1, wherein said first and second indicia convey the same message.
4. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first and second indicia convey dosage information.
5. The system of Claim 1, wherein said first and second indicia convey restriction on use information.
6. The system of Claim 1, wherein said indicia convey information using color coding.
7. The system of Claim 1, wherein said removable overcap is clear.
8. The system of Claim 1, wherein said first and second indicia convey source of goods information.
CA 2034693 1990-10-30 1991-01-22 Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system Abandoned CA2034693A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US60549490A 1990-10-30 1990-10-30
US07/605,494 1990-10-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2034693A1 true CA2034693A1 (en) 1992-05-01

Family

ID=24423904

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2034693 Abandoned CA2034693A1 (en) 1990-10-30 1991-01-22 Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system
CA002095032A Abandoned CA2095032A1 (en) 1990-10-30 1991-10-29 Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002095032A Abandoned CA2095032A1 (en) 1990-10-30 1991-10-29 Decoration, identification and differentiation closure system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0554393A4 (en)
AU (1) AU9016991A (en)
CA (2) CA2034693A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1992007769A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7357967B2 (en) 2004-02-27 2008-04-15 Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc. Container having fluorescent indicia

Family Cites Families (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3225914A (en) * 1963-06-10 1965-12-28 Solomon A Klein Kit for spot removal
US4347804A (en) * 1980-02-12 1982-09-07 Medi-Timer Corporation Mono-disc rotatory medication reminder
US4346833A (en) * 1980-08-05 1982-08-31 Daniel Bernhardt Replaceable multiple seal package
US4365722A (en) * 1981-06-26 1982-12-28 Kramer Steven G Reminder closure
US4572376A (en) * 1982-09-16 1986-02-25 Wrennall Richard K Dial pill box
DE3312064C2 (en) * 1983-04-02 1985-05-15 Bart 4044 Kaarst Nouwen Box for storing photographic films
US4471879A (en) * 1983-08-04 1984-09-18 The West Company Metal overcap for pharmaceutical and similar containers
WO1985002165A1 (en) * 1983-11-21 1985-05-23 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Tamper indicating cap
US4548157A (en) * 1984-02-10 1985-10-22 Timothy L. Chrisman Sanitary scheduling device for dispenser closures
US4749093A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-06-07 Trick O Lee Child-resistant medication reminder
US4687113A (en) * 1986-07-29 1987-08-18 Calmar, Inc. Tamper evident closure
US4723673A (en) * 1987-04-06 1988-02-09 Tartaglia Marc S Tamper resistant cap with indicator
DE3715175C1 (en) * 1987-05-07 1988-11-24 Pohl Metall Kunststoff Cap for infusion and transfusion bottles
US4779733A (en) * 1987-06-01 1988-10-25 The American Tobacco Company Display tab for overwrapped package
GB8810360D0 (en) * 1988-04-30 1988-06-08 Mardon Illingworth Tamper evident package & closure means
US4964512A (en) * 1990-02-20 1990-10-23 Eastman Kodak Company Recyclable package

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1992007769A1 (en) 1992-05-14
EP0554393A4 (en) 1994-03-18
CA2095032A1 (en) 1992-05-01
AU9016991A (en) 1992-05-26
EP0554393A1 (en) 1993-08-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead