Abstract:
A medicinal vial protector and identifier system has a holding vessel, an interior cavity designed to hold a medicinal vial, an exterior sidewall that can be easily identified by a person, a plurality of retaining ribs designed to retain the vial within the holding vessel and facilitate insertion and removal of the vial, and at least one contents porthole to allow an easy determination of the amount of materials contained in the vial while the vial remains safely ensconced within the holding vessel. Additionally, a bottom port can be incorporated which facilitates the easy removal of the vial from the holding vessel. In order to facilitate identification of the medicine within a vial stored inside the holding vessel, the exterior sidewall of the holding vessel can be distinctly shaped and colored. The system can include a plurality of vessels to distinguish multiple medicinal vials from one another.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/699,824 entitled INSUCOZI and filed on Jan. 30, 2007, which is specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the health care field and, in particular, to a medicinal vial protector and identifier system. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]    The number of medicines and treatments for conditions and diseases has grown dramatically in recent years. Consequently, there are a growing number of people (and animals) who require periodic treatments with medicines that are stored and transported in standard medicinal vials. For example, the treatment of diabetes often requires the administration of insulin which is delivered to patients in medicinal vials. As this disease continues to proliferate, more and more people are handling and using medicinal vials for their insulin treatments. Because many medicinal vials have been standardized into a generic size and shape, it can often be difficult for people to distinguish one vial from another. Furthermore, because the vials are often made of glass or other relatively fragile materials, they must be handled with care to avoid breakage. Additionally, the glass vials are small, difficult to hold onto, and quickly warm when removed from refrigeration (as some medicines require). What is needed is a medicinal vial protector and identifier system that addresses the above limitations and problems. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention described and claimed herein address the foregoing limitations and problems by providing a medicinal vial protector and identifier system. The present invention comprises at least a holding vessel made of an impact resistant/absorbent material having an interior cavity designed to hold a medicinal vial, an exterior sidewall that can be easily identified by a person, a plurality of retaining ribs designed to retain the vial within the holding vessel and facilitate insertion and removal of the vial by a person, a contents porthole to allow the simple determination of the amount of materials contained in the vial at a given time without removing the vial from the holding vessel, and a bottom port to further facilitate the easy removal of the vial from the holding vessel by a person. In order to facilitate identification of the medicine within a vial stored inside the holding vessel, the exterior sidewall of the holding vessel should be distinctly shaped and colored. 
         [0005]    The plurality of retaining ribs provide a myriad of important functions. First, they serve to retain the vial within the holding vessel. The ribs are shaped to conform to the surface of the vial and extend over the neck of the vial, thereby holding the vial securely within the vessel. However, because the ribs do no contact the entire surface of the vial, they do not grasp the vial too firmly. Beverage can insulation devices in the prior art are well known, and similarly well known is the problem they have of grasping the can too firmly, making insertion and removal difficult. Additionally, because only the retaining ribs contact the medicinal vial, there is an extra amount of impact resistance added to the system as the holding vessel sidewall can bend and deform in the gap between the sidewall and the vial without transferring that energy directly to the medicinal vial. Finally, because only the relatively small amount of material that makes up the retaining ribs (versus the entire interior surface area of the sidewall) contacts the vial, insertion and removal of the vial is much easier. 
         [0006]    One embodiment has a three holding vessel system in which a first vessel has a rounded, cylindrical sidewall colored red, a second vessel has a quadrilateral sidewall colored blue, and a third vessel has a hexagonal sidewall colored yellow. The shapes of the aforementioned sidewalls describe cross-sections taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and detail the exterior perimeter shapes. In other embodiments, the shapes can be other shapes such as triangular, octagonal, pentagonal, diamond, irregular polygons, curves, etc. Similarly, the colors can be other colors such as green, orange, purple, brown, white, black, etc. One goal of the system is to provide a plurality of holding vessels that can be identified by touch alone, another is to identify them by sight alone, and yet another is to use both senses to facilitate identification. In yet another embodiment, a small device is attached to the holding vessel which produces a sound upon activation by a person which can be used to identify the vessel—such aural identification means can be used in place of or in addition to the aforesaid touch and/or sight identification means. Other identification means are contemplated, such as a strong smell being integrated with a given holding vessel or the integration of flavors into holding vessels that can be tasted by licking a vessel. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides many benefits over the prior art. A medicinal vial protector and identifier system allows patients to easily distinguish between two or more vials to ensure that they administer the right medication. Similarly, patients who are either lacking or deficient in one or more of their five senses can instead rely on one or more of their other senses to identify their medicinal vials. For example, a diabetic person who is blind can grasp one of the holding vessels in the medicinal vial protector and identifier system and quickly and easily determine that it is hexagonal in shape (for example), which means it holds a particular type of insulin. Further, if the person were to drop or knock vials into each other or other things, the impact resistant/absorbing material(s) that make up the holding vessels (as well as the gap between interior sidewall and the vial) help to protect the medicinal vial stored within and lessen the chances of breaking the vial and destroying its contents. Since the vial protector and identifier system can utilize materials that are shock-absorbent and provide an improved gripping surface the chances of dropping and breaking the vials are reduced. Finally, because the holding vessels surround the vials, they help to insulate them as well. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the vial protector and identifier system is called InsuCozi and a user can put different types of insulin medicinal vials in the different holding vessels. The InsuCozis cover the insulin vials used by a diabetic patient and allow him or her to identify and protect their insulin vials. The insulin vials used by diabetics are generally small glass bottles of approximately ten milliliters of capacity that must be kept cool and used in proportion to the patient&#39;s medical needs. The InsuCozis allow the patient to identify each of the insulins he or she may be using, and the silicone rubber texture (or other materials having similar properties) allows the patient to hold onto the vial easier while preparing the injection. Furthermore, the holding vessels further function to insulate the covered vials in order to keep them cool longer. 
         [0009]    The invention is motivated by the medical industry&#39;s need for diabetic patients to make sure they are using the correct insulin, as well as ensure their insulin vials are protected from air temperature and breakage due to dropping or otherwise impacting the vials. The standard insulin vial is small and difficult to handle, and is nondescript making it difficult to identify the contents. A blind diabetic has no way of knowing if they are receiving the correct amount of the prescribed insulin. However, once one or more vials are used with the medicinal vial protector and identifier system, the vials are covered by holding vessels that have unique properties that facilitate identification of the vial contained within each holding vessel, protect the vials, insulate them, and allow patients to grip them more securely. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, a holding vessel&#39;s elasticity allows it to expand and contract enough for ease of receiving a medicinal vial, yet form-fitting so the vial will not escape until intended by a patient. In another embodiment, internal retention ribs are used to conform to the shape of a medicinal vial to retain it within the holding vessel. In such an embodiment either the retention ribs themselves or the body of the holding vessel (or both) can deform slightly in order to allow the insertion of the medicinal vial into the holding vessel and then one (or both) return to shape once the vial is properly placed within the vessel in order to retain and secure the vial in place. Additionally, the bottom of the holding vessel can incorporate an open end or bottom port to allow for inserting or removing the vial. In yet another embodiment, the bottom port is not large enough to allow passage of the vial therethrough but instead functions as an access port to allow the bottom of the vial to be pushed on during the removal process. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of a preferred embodiment and other embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a medicinal vial being inserted into an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a four-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a one-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a four-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a one-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a front perspective cross-sectional view of one half of a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a retaining rib; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a three-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a five-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    A medicinal vial protector and identifier system can comprise a single holding vessel or it can comprise two or more holding vessels, wherein the shapes of the outside perimeters of the sidewalls are different between the vessels. For example, a two-vessel system could have a first vessel that has a rounded, cylindrically shaped sidewall and a second vessel that has a four-sided, square shaped sidewall. The first vessel could then contain a first type of medicine and the second could contain a second type of medicine. A patient can then very easily tell the difference between the two medicines simply by looking at or feeling the external shapes of the two sidewalls: the rounded vessel contains medicine 1 and the squared vessel contains medicine 2. Identification in this manner is much simpler than trying to read the small print on the labels of the medicine vials. This is especially true if, for example, the patient is blind. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a medicinal vial  190  being inserted into an exemplary holding vessel  110 . The direction of insertion is indicated by the broken-line arrow  192 . 
         [0025]    The holding vessel  110  has a sidewall  111  that extends longitudinally from the bottom end  112  to the top end  113 . The sidewall is very generally cylindrical in shape, although an outside perimeter of a horizontal cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (i.e., the axis extending from the center of the bottom end  112  to the center of the top end  113 ) can have any regular or irregular shape. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sidewall has a cross-sectional shape resembling a six-sided figure or hexagon. In another embodiment, the six-sided figure can be an irregularly shaped hexagon. In yet other embodiments, the outside perimeter shape of the sidewall  111  cross-section can be other shapes. 
         [0026]    The top end  113  of the vessel  110  highlights the six-sided shape of the sidewall illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The top end  113  functions to transition between the outside perimeter of the sidewall  111  and the inside cavity  120  of the vessel  110 . The top end  113  has a top opening  125  which allows access to the inside cavity  120 . In one embodiment, a medicinal vial can be inserted and removed via the top opening  125 . In another embodiment, a medicinal vial is inserted and removed via a bottom port (see  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C). 
         [0027]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the inside cavity  120  of the vessel  110  is shaped so as to receive and encompass the main body of the medicinal vial  190 . At least a portion of the neck  194  and cap  196  of the vial  190  extend out above the top end  113  of the vessel  110  when the vial  190  is properly positioned within the inside cavity  120  of the vessel  110 , in a preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, the neck  194  and/or cap  196  may not extend above the top end  113  of the vessel  110 . 
         [0028]    Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  are a first contents porthole  114  and a second contents porthole  115 . These gaps in the sidewall  111  serve to allow a person to view the side of the medicinal vial  190  in order to determine the contents thereof and the approximate amount of contents held in the vial  190 . As most vials hold a medicinal liquid, it should be apparent that the level of liquid held in a clear vial  190  can be discerned when one examines the side of a vial  190  held generally upright. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of contents portholes  114  and  115  are shown. In other embodiments, one, two, three or more contents portholes  114  and  115  can be incorporated into the holding vessel  110 . Although the contents portholes  114  and  115  of  FIG. 1  are shown as gaps in the sidewall  111 , in other embodiments they could be constructed out of transparent or translucent materials instead of being gaps in the sidewalls  111 . In yet other embodiments, multiple gaps or contents portholes can be incorporated into the sidewall rather than single, long contents portholes  114  and  115 . 
         [0029]    The tops of a plurality of retaining ribs  130  are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The retaining ribs  130  have a number of functions. First, the plurality of retaining ribs  130  function to hold a vial  190  within a holding vessel  110 . The ribs  130  have a protrusion near the top which extends over the top of the side of the vial  190  and contacts the neck  194  of the vial  190 . This protrusion serves to retain the vial  190 . However, because the plurality of retaining ribs  130  can deform (and/or the sidewall  111  to which they are attached can deform), the vial  190  can be easily inserted into the holding vessel  110  by pushing the tops of the plurality of retaining ribs  130  out of the way. The tops move back into position encasing the vial  190  once the vial  190  is correctly positioned within the holding vessel  110 . The plurality of retaining ribs  130  also serve to create a space between the interior surface of the sidewall  111  and the exterior surface of the vial  190 . This space helps to further protect the vials from damage caused by external impacts to the sidewall  111 . Having a space between the vial  190  and the sidewall  111  also eases the process of insertion and removal of the vial  190  from the holding vessel  110 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a four-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  210 . The top plan view illustrates the general shape of the outside perimeter of the sidewall  211 . In the case of  FIG. 2A , said shape is that of a four-sided polygon. In the embodiment in  FIG. 2A , the polygon is a quadrilateral or square shape. In other embodiments, other shapes are contemplated. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  also depicts the top end  213  of the holding vessel  210 . In the generally square-shaped sidewall  211  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the interior cavity  220  is generally square-shaped as well. However, the interior cavity  220  could have other shapes in other embodiments, such as the generally cylindrical shapes of the interior cavities  220  shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C . 
         [0032]    The plurality of retaining ribs  230  are illustrated in  FIG. 2A . These ribs  230  function to retain the vial inside the interior cavity  220 . The tops of the ribs  230  are the only portions visible in  FIGS. 2A-C . For a more complete illustration of the shape of the retaining ribs  230 , see  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2A  also illustrates the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the bottom end  212  incorporates a bottom port  219  to allow the bottom of the vial to be pushed on during the removal process. In another embodiment no such bottom port  219  is utilized. In yet another embodiment, the bottom port  219  is large enough to allow passage of the vial therethrough, thereby allowing the vial to be inserted and removed from the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In such a case, the bottom port  219  would need to be somewhat elastic to ensure that the vial can not slip out through the bottom port  219  when the user wishes for it to be retained within the vessel  210 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  210 . The top plan view illustrates the general shape of the outside perimeter of the sidewall  211 . In the case of  FIG. 2B , said shape is that of a six-sided polygon. In the embodiment in  FIG. 2B , the polygon is a hexagon. In other embodiments, other shapes are contemplated. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2B  also depicts the top end  213  of the holding vessel  210 . In the generally hexagonally shaped sidewall  211  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the interior cavity  220  is generally cylindrically shaped. However, the interior cavity  220  could have other shapes in other embodiments, such as the generally square shape of the interior cavity  220  shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0036]    The plurality of retaining ribs  230  are illustrated in  FIG. 2B  as well. These ribs  230  function to retain the vial inside the interior cavity  220 . The tops of the ribs  230  are the only portions visible in  FIGS. 2A-C . For a more complete illustration of the shape of the retaining ribs  230 , see  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2B  also illustrates the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the bottom end  212  incorporates a bottom port  219  to allow the bottom of the vial to be pushed on during the removal process. In another embodiment no such bottom port  219  is utilized. In yet another embodiment, the bottom port  219  is large enough to allow passage of the vial therethrough, thereby allowing the vial to be inserted and removed from the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In such a case, the bottom port  219  would need to be somewhat elastic to ensure that the vial can not slip out through the bottom port  219  when the user wishes for it to be retained within the vessel  210 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a single-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  210 . The top plan view illustrates the general shape of the outside perimeter of the sidewall  211 . In the case of  FIG. 2C , said shape is that of a circle. In other embodiments, other shapes are contemplated, including, but not limited to, an oval, square, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2C  also depicts the top end  213  of the holding vessel  210 . In the generally circular shaped sidewall  211  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2C , the interior cavity  220  is generally cylindrically shaped as well. However, the interior cavity  220  could have other shapes in other embodiments, such as the generally square shape of the interior cavity  220  shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0040]    The plurality of retaining ribs  230  are illustrated in  FIG. 2C  as well. These ribs  230  function to retain the vial inside the interior cavity  220 . The tops of the ribs  230  are the only portions visible in  FIGS. 2A-C . For a more complete illustration of the shape of the retaining ribs  230 , see  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2C  also illustrates the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2C , the bottom end  212  incorporates a bottom port  219  to allow the bottom of the vial to be pushed on during the removal process. In another embodiment, no such bottom port  219  is utilized. In yet another embodiment, the bottom port  219  is large enough to allow passage of the vial therethrough, thereby allowing the vial to be inserted and removed from the bottom end  212  of the holding vessel  210 . In such a case, the bottom port  219  would need to be somewhat elastic to ensure that the vial can not slip out through the bottom port  219  when the user wishes for it to be retained within the vessel  210 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a four-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  310 . The sidewall  311  is shown in  FIG. 3A  as having a generally square, four-sided outside perimeter. Other shapes are contemplated. The bottom end  312  is illustrated as having a generally flat surface containing a bottom port  319 . As discussed above, the bottom port  319  may be larger, smaller, or nonexistent in other embodiments. Similarly, the surface of the bottom end  312  may not be generally flat in other embodiments. The plurality of contents portholes  314  and  315  shown in  FIG. 3A  are depicted as gaps in the sidewall  311  extending all the way through the bottom end  312 . In other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  do not extend through the bottom end  312 . In yet other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  are fewer or greater in number, and can be translucent or transparent areas rather than gaps. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  310 . The sidewall  311  is shown in  FIG. 3B  as having a generally six-sided outside perimeter. Other shapes are contemplated. The bottom end  312  is illustrated as having a generally flat surface containing a bottom port  319 . As discussed above, the bottom port  319  may be larger, smaller, or nonexistent in other embodiments. Similarly, the surface of the bottom end  312  may not be generally flat in other embodiments. The plurality of contents portholes  314  and  315  shown in  FIG. 3B  are depicted as gaps in the sidewall  311  extending all the way through the bottom end  312 . In other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  do not extend through the bottom end  312 . In yet other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  are fewer or greater in number, and can be translucent or transparent areas rather than gaps. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a one-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  310 . The sidewall  311  shown in  FIG. 3C  is generally in the shape of a cylinder and, as such, it has a generally curved, one-sided outside perimeter. Here, the perimeter is in the form of a circle. Other shapes are contemplated. The bottom end  312  is illustrated as having a generally flat surface containing a bottom port  319 . As discussed above, the bottom port  319  may be larger, smaller, or nonexistent in other embodiments. Similarly, the surface of the bottom end  312  may not be generally flat in other embodiments. The plurality of contents portholes  314  and  315  shown in  FIG. 3C  are depicted as gaps in the sidewall  311  extending all the way through the bottom end  312 . In other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  do not extend through the bottom end  312 . In yet other embodiments, the contents portholes  314  and  315  are fewer or greater in number, and can be translucent or transparent areas rather than gaps. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a front perspective cross-sectional view of approximately one-half of a six-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  410  of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system. The cross-section is taken parallel to the longitudinal axis and slightly in front of the center point of the top end  413  and bottom end  412 . This was done in order to illustrate the general size and shape of the plurality of retaining ribs  430 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4A  provides a more clear view of the interior surface of the sidewall  411  (for a view of the exterior surface of the sidewall, see  FIG. 1 ). The interior surface surrounds the inside cavity and defines the shape thereof. A plurality of retaining ribs  430  run longitudinally up the interior surface of the sidewall  411 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4A , the tops of the plurality of retaining ribs  430  have a protrusion that fits over the top of the vial and in contact with the neck of the vial. This helps to retain the vial inside the interior cavity  420  of the vessel  410 . Also shown in  FIG. 4A  is one of the contents portholes  415 , the sidewall  411 , the bottom port  419 , the top end  413  and the bottom end  412 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a retaining rib  430 . The retaining rib  430  has a top portion  431  and a main body portion  433 . The top portion  431  is shaped with a protrusion  432  that extends inward towards the center of the inside cavity so as to fit over a portion of the neck of a medicinal vial. The main body portion  433  is made up of a proximal body portion  434  and a distal body portion  435 . The retaining rib  430  can decrease in thickness from the top of the proximal body portion  434  to the bottom of the distal body portion  435  as shown in  FIG. 4B . In other embodiments, the retaining rib  430  can have the same or increasing thickness from the proximal portion  434  to the distal portion  435 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a three-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  510 . The sidewall  511  is shown in  FIG. 5A  as having a generally triangular, three-sided outside perimeter. Other shapes are contemplated. The bottom end  512  is illustrated as having a generally flat surface containing a bottom port  519 . As discussed above, the bottom port  519  may be larger, smaller, or nonexistent in other embodiments. Similarly, the surface of the bottom end  512  may not be generally flat in other embodiments. The plurality of contents portholes  514  and  515  shown in  FIG. 5A  are depicted as gaps in the sidewall  511  extending all the way through the bottom end  512 . In other embodiments, the contents portholes  514  and  515  do not extend through the bottom end  512 . In yet other embodiments, the contents portholes  514  and  515  are fewer or greater in number, and can be translucent or transparent areas rather than gaps. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a medicinal vial protector and identifier system highlighting a five-sided embodiment of an exemplary holding vessel  510 . The sidewall  511  is shown in  FIG. 5B  as having a generally pentangular, five-sided outside perimeter. Other shapes are contemplated. The bottom end  512  is illustrated as having a generally flat surface containing a bottom port  519 . As discussed above, the bottom port  519  may be larger, smaller, or nonexistent in other embodiments. Similarly, the surface of the bottom end  512  may not be generally flat in other embodiments. The plurality of contents portholes  514  and  515  shown in  FIG. 5B  are depicted as gaps in the sidewall  511  extending all the way through the bottom end  512 . In other embodiments, the contents portholes  514  and  515  do not extend through the bottom end  512 . In yet other embodiments, the contents portholes  514  and  515  are fewer or greater in number, and can be translucent or transparent areas rather than gaps. 
         [0050]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been described and disclosed in the present application, it should be understood that any number of permutations, modifications, or embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is not the intention of this application to limit this invention in any way except as by the appended claims. 
         [0051]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
         [0052]    The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiment or form disclosed herein or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0053]    In light of the above “Detailed Description,” the Inventor may make changes to the invention. While the detailed description outlines possible embodiments of the invention and discloses the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention may be practiced in a myriad of ways. Thus, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the spirit of the invention as disclosed by the inventor. As discussed herein, specific terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0054]    While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention. 
         [0055]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. Many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.