PHARMACY MEDICATION SAFETY BOTTLE WITH PILL VIEWER WINDOW AND LABEL VERIFICATION SYSTEM
Embodiments of the invention comprise an improved prescription medication bottle that has a viewing window. This “viewer window” will display one or more pills, thereby enabling the pills to be visible within the bottle to the patient and pharmacy staff. The bottle comprises an internal shelf structure which creates a viewing chamber. One or more pills will become “caught” by the shelf structure and be displayed in the viewing chamber when the pharmacist places all the pills into the vial. The viewing chamber is visible through the viewing window. The viewing window may have the capability to magnify the area in which the pill rests and thereby provide a magnified view of the pill.
This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No. 61/119,454, filed Dec. 3, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the general field of capsule, tablet and caplet containers for dispensing by individuals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that between a staggering 44,000-98,000 patients die each year as a result of medical errors. Medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people every year according to the IOM report. The extra medical costs of treating drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals alone conservatively amount to $3.5 billion a year, and this estimate does not take into account lost wages and productivity or additional health care costs, the report says.
Patients seldom look at what is in the bottle when they receive a prescription from a pharmacy. They generally just assume that the bottle contains the correct medication at the correct dosage. People generally do not open the bottle to look at the contents. People typically do not have anything to which to compare the product inside their bottle. Even if the patient wanted to look at what is in the bottle, traditional pharmacy bottles have prescription labels that cover up the bottle's content.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the invention comprise an improved prescription medication bottle. The bottle comprises a pharmacy pill window viewer. This “viewer window” will actually display one or more pills, tablets, capsules, or caplets (generically referred to herein as “pills”), thereby enabling the pills to be very noticeable to the patient and pharmacy staff. The bottle comprises an internal shelf, as described in more detail below. One or more pills will become “caught” by and rest on the internal shelf when the pharmacist places all the pills into the vial. (While one or more pills may be “caught” and displayed, for simplicity of description the embodiments of the present invention will be described herein as displaying a single pill.) The area in which the pill rests is visible through the viewer window. The viewer window may have the capability to magnify the area in which the pill rests and thereby provide a magnified view of the pill.
The pharmacy label will include a realistic and accurate (e.g., photographic) image of the pill. The image of the pill enables the patient to compare the product they are receiving in the bottle to the image to ensure that the bottle contains the correct pills.
By using the pill bottle and label of embodiments of the invention, the patient will become accustomed to comparing the image and the actual pill in the viewer each and every time the patient is at the pharmacy counter. Embodiments of the present invention promote checking of the prescription before a patient leaves the pharmacy. Embodiments of the present invention also will create new opportunities for patient counseling, which is required by law. This bottle design difference will also separate retail pharmacies and likely make the retailer that implements the bottle system an industry leader.
The benefits also include safety measures behind the prescription counter, allowing the pharmacist and technicians one last quick glance to catch an error in which the wrong pills are placed in the bottle. The system will promote speed and not hinder the pharmacist's time.
In one embodiment of the invention, a container for storing and dispensing items comprises a container body and a cap. The container body defines an internal chamber for storing the items. The container body comprises a neck portion defining an opening to the internal chamber and further comprises a viewing window configured for enabling a user to view the items stored in the internal chamber. The cap is removably attachable to the neck portion.
The container may further comprise a shelf within the internal chamber adjacent to the viewing window. The shelf is configured to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window for enabling the user to view the items through the viewing window. The shelf may comprise a floor portion and a wall portion, wherein the floor portion, the wall portion, and an inner surface of the viewing window together form a display chamber to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window.
The container may further comprise a deflector element configured for directing at least some of the items onto the shelf as the items are placed into the container. The deflector element bifurcates the opening to the internal chamber.
The container may further comprise a shelf structure within the internal chamber adjacent to the viewing window that is configured to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window for enabling the user to view the items through the viewing window. The shelf structure may comprise a floor, one or more walls, and a deflector. The floor, the one or more walls, and an inner surface of the viewing window together form a display chamber to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window. The deflector is configured for directing at least some of the items into the display chamber as the items are placed into the container. The deflector may bifurcate the opening to the internal chamber. The shelf structure may be affixed to the neck portion. The shelf structure may comprise one or more tabs and the neck portion may comprise one or more slots corresponding to the one or more tabs of the shelf structure, such that the shelf structure is affixed to the neck portion by inserting the one or more tabs of the shelf structure into the corresponding one or more slots of the neck portion.
The container may further comprise a label having at least an image of the items stored in the container printed thereon, such that a user may compare the image to the items stored in the container to verify the correct items are stored in the container. The label may define an opening corresponding to the viewing window, and where the label opening aligns with the viewing window when the label is in place on the container to such that the label does not obstruct the viewing window. The image printed on the label may be adjacent the label opening.
The viewing window may comprise a magnifying window, such as a convex lens or a Fresnel lens.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The redesigned pharmacy medication bottle offers a unique and safety driven approach to consumer safety. The pill viewer window serves as a verification system that currently is not in place in known pharmacy bottle designs. Embodiments of the invention will prompt users to compare product to product based on the system described below. While embodiments of the invention are described as a bottle, the term “bottle” is intended to generically refer to a container for holding, storing, and/or dispensing items. The term “bottle” is not intended to be limiting as to the shape of the container, the size of the container, the material used to construct the container, the size and/or shape of the container opening, or the size, shape and/or type of closure used to seal the container opening.
The pill bottles of embodiments of the invention may be available in various bottle sizes (not limited to one size). The bottles may be constructed of a traditional pharmacy bottle plastic material, or may be constructed of any suitable material. For example, the pill bottles of embodiments of the invention may be constructed of a biodegradable material or may be constructed of a material that is readily recyclable. The pill bottles of embodiments of the invention will comprise a cap, such as a standard plastic “push-to-turn” safety cap, that screws and unscrews onto the pill bottle to contain/maintain all the contents of the bottle, including the pills within the shelf area.
The pill bottles of embodiments of the invention may comprise a four sided plastic bottle having a pyramidal frustum shape, as illustrated in
The pill bottles of embodiments of the invention comprise a structure (e.g., an internal molded plastic structure) that acts as a chamber or shelf to hold a pill in place. This feature will be referred to herein as a “shelf”, “shelf structure”, “catch”, or “slide”. This shelf structure may be constructed together with the bottle as a unitary structure, or may be constructed separately from the bottle and assembled with the bottle. The shelf structure will be positioned inside of the bottle to enable the pill to be positioned such that it is visible through the viewing window. The pills can be inserted easily into the bottle via the top opening, as normally done by a pharmacist. The bottle opening's split or bifurcated design (discussed in more detail below) allows for one or more pills to be directed toward (and thereby collect on) the shelf and the remainder (typically the majority of the total number of pills placed in the bottle) to collect within the internal main cavity of the bottle.
The pill or pills that collect on the shelf are thereby viewable through the window. The viewing window (which may be magnified) allows for inspection of the product (pill/tablet/capsule/etc.) inside the bottle.
Embodiments of the invention may also comprise a novel label system that will adhere to the bottle, as illustrated in
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the viewing window 18 comprises an isosceles trapezoidal shaped opening defined in the front wall of the bottle with a transparent “window pane” that spans the opening. (In alternative embodiments, the viewing window may have any desired shape, such as square, rectangular, circular, oval, etc., and may be any desired size.) The window pane may (although not necessarily) have a capability to magnify the area in which the pill rests and thereby provide a magnified view of the pill. The magnification capability may be provided by any suitable magnification technique, such as using a convex lens or a Fresnel lens for the window pane, or by use of a special magnified coating on the window pane. (Both the window opening and the window pane will be collectively referred to herein as a “window”.)
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shelf structure may not be permanently affixed to the bottle. Rather, the tabs may fit snugly within the notches to enable the shelf structure to be “snapped” into place. Thus, the shelf structure may be retained securely within the bottle without the need for permanent affixation.
It should be appreciated that any suitable structure may be used to create a shelf to position one or more pills behind the viewing window.
Embodiments of the invention provide many safety benefits. For example, embodiments of the invention will prompt the consumer to compare the product they are receiving with the actual product in the bottle. This will be another check in place for the consumer to verify that they have received the right medication. This offers a lot of advantages over the current system. This safety system is designed to protect the consumer's health and decrease a dispenser's liability. Consumers rarely know what the tablet or capsule that they have been prescribed looks like.
While embodiments of the invention are described in relation to a container for storing and dispensing medications, such as pills, capsules, tablets, and caplets, embodiments of the invention may be used to store and dispense any items for which it may be desirable to view and verify the contents of the container without opening the container.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. A container for storing and dispensing items, the container comprising:
- a container body defining an internal chamber for storing the items, the container body comprising a neck portion defining an opening to the internal chamber, the container body further comprising a viewing window configured for enabling a user to view the items stored in the internal chamber; and
- a cap removably attachable to the neck portion.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a shelf within the internal chamber adjacent to the viewing window, the shelf configured to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window for enabling the user to view the items through the viewing window.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the shelf comprises a floor portion and a wall portion, wherein the floor portion, the wall portion, and an inner surface of the viewing window together form a display chamber to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window.
4. The container of claim 2, further comprising:
- a deflector element configured for directing at least some of the items onto the shelf as the items are placed into the container.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the deflector element bifurcates the opening to the internal chamber.
6. The container of claim 1, further comprising:
- a shelf structure within the internal chamber adjacent to the viewing window, the shelf configured to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window for enabling the user to view the items through the viewing window, the shelf structure comprising: a floor; one or more walls; and a deflector; wherein the floor, the one or more walls, and an inner surface of the viewing window together form a display chamber to catch one or more items and to hold the one or more items adjacent to the viewing window, and where the deflector is configured for directing at least some of the items into the display chamber as the items are placed into the container.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the deflector bifurcates the opening to the internal chamber.
8. The container of claim 6, wherein the shelf structure is affixed to the neck portion.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the shelf structure comprises one or more tabs, wherein the neck portion comprises one or more slots corresponding to the one or more tabs of the shelf structure, and wherein the shelf structure is affixed to the neck portion by inserting the one or more tabs of the shelf structure into the corresponding one or more slots of the neck portion.
10. The container of claim 1, further comprising:
- a label having at least an image of the items stored in the container printed thereon, such that a user may compare the image to the items stored in the container to verify the correct items are stored in the container.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the label defines an opening corresponding to the viewing window, and where the label opening aligns with the viewing window when the label is in place on the container to such that the label does not obstruct the viewing window.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the image printed on the label is adjacent the label opening.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein the viewing window comprises a magnifying window.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the magnifying window comprises one of a convex lens or a Fresnel lens.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 3, 2010
Inventor: John R. Lowe (Wilmington, NC)
Application Number: 12/574,908
International Classification: B65D 25/54 (20060101); B65D 83/04 (20060101);