System and method for creating space for identification labels on medication dispensers

A labeling system that enables labels to be attached to medication dispensing products that lack adequate surface area for the labels. The labeling system utilizes a panel having a first planar surface with a geometric center. The first planar surface extends to a periphery having a polygonal shape. An opening is formed in the panel proximate the geometric center. The opening is sized to receive the medication dispenser. Labels are adhered to the first planar surface. The polygonal shape of the panel provides its periphery with a first number of flat side surfaces. The polygonal shape is a visual indicator, wherein the labels adhered to the first planar surface correspond in number to the flat side surfaces along the periphery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to auxiliary structures that attach to medication dispensers, such as insulin pens or inhalers. More particularly, the present invention relates to auxiliary structures that attach to medication dispensers for the purpose of providing additional room for identifying labels.

2. Prior Art Descriptions

Many hospitals track the administration of medications to patients using barcode labels. Often a different barcode label is created each time a patient is to receive a dose of medication in a given day. The barcode labels are then attached to the medication. The barcode is scanned when the dose of medication is given to the patient. In this manner, the computer system of the hospital can keep accurate records of what medications were given to what patients at what times. The tracking system also ensures that patients are receiving the proper medications and that cross-contamination is not occurring between patients through accidental occurrences of shared medications.

For pill medications, the barcode labels are commonly attached to the container that holds the pills. Otherwise, individual pills are packaged and labeled. In both cases, the pills are easily identified. A problem occurs when the patient's medication is provided in a multi-dose container, such as an insulin pen or an inhaler, wherein the same multi-dose container needs to be reused during the entire stay at the healthcare facility. In such a situation, multiple barcodes must be applied to the container each day. The labels include patient-specific unit-dose barcode labels. However, there is often not enough space on the products to place such labels. For example, a patient may be required to receive insulin four times a day. In order to use an insulin pen within a hospital's barcode tracking system, four barcode labels would have to be attached to the insulin pen each day. This is nearly an impossibility given the space available on the insulin pen.

Referring toFIG. 1, a typical prior art insulin pen10is shown. As can be seen, the insulin pen10has a first section12that is used to indicate injection dose. The insulin pen10has a second section14for altering the injection dose. Furthermore, the injection pen10has a third section16that provides necessary information about the insulin pen10, including its contents, concentrations and expiration. In order to attach multiple barcode labels to this insulin pen, one or more of the pen's sections will be at least partially covered by a barcode label. As such, a healthcare worker may not be able to clearly view the three sections12,14,16of the insulin pen10. This can lead to mistakes in dosage or lead to the administration of the wrong medication to the wrong patient.

Furthermore, if a label is attached to a medication dispenser, such as an insulin pen or an inhaler, the label typically must be contacted by the fingers of the person using the device. This can cause the information on the label to smear or fade. This also can lead to mistakes in dosage or lead to the administration of the wrong medication to the wrong patient.

In the prior art, some systems have been developed in an attempt to increase the areas that are available for the placement of a barcode label. In these prior art systems, flaps are attached to the syringe that extend away from the syringe and provide room for labels. However, the flaps attach to the syringe by covering much of the exterior of the syringe. In these prior art systems, the label attachment device covers just as much of the syringe as would the barcode labels themselves. Accordingly, this inhibits a person from identifying and properly utilizing the syringe. Such prior art systems are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,522 to Baldwin, entitled Method and System for Labeling Syringe Bodies, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,404 to Osborne, entitled Syringe Bandolier With Control Feature. Thus, the prior art systems do not address the problem of having sections of the syringe blocked from sight.

A need therefore exists for a system and method that can attach multiple labels to a small dispenser, such as a syringe or an inhaler, without blocking significant areas of the dispenser from view. The present invention attaches to medication dispensers in a hospital setting and provides extra space for multiple patient-specific unit-dose barcode labels. This enables patient specific multi-dose medication dispensers, such as insulin pens, to be used in place of vial administration systems. Multi-dose insulin pens have been proven to be superior to insulin vials and syringes not only in home use but in hospital use as well with respect to quality of care, patient safety, and cost. Unfortunately, they do not provide enough room for labeling and when used in hospital settings they can be easily misplaced or confused with another patient's insulin pen. Hospitals that use scanning systems for patient safety must scan the Rx barcode number. Unfortunately, this does not eliminate the possibility of cross contamination. The FDA recognized that danger long ago and has been trying to find a solution. The solution is provided by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a labeling system that enables labels to be attached to medication dispensing products that lack adequate surface area for the labels.

The labeling system utilizes a panel having a first planar surface with a geometric center. The first planar surface extends to a periphery having a polygonal shape. An opening is formed in the panel proximate the geometric center. The opening is sized to receive the medication dispenser. Labels are adhered to the first planar surface. The polygonal shape of the panel provides its periphery with a first number of flat side surfaces. The polygonal shape is a visual indicator, wherein the labels adhered to the first planar surface correspond in number to the flat side surfaces along the periphery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention system and method can be applied to many devices that hold and/or dispense medications. Accordingly, the present invention can be embodied in many ways to fit various devices. In the description provided below, only a few exemplary embodiments have been selected for the purposes of illustration and discussion. The exemplary embodiments illustrated and described present some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The exemplary embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

Referring toFIG. 2in conjunction withFIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of the labeling system20is shown in conjunction with a prior art medication dispenser. In the illustrated case, the medication dispenser is a prior art insulin pen10, such as that previously shown inFIG. 1. As can be seen, the labeling system20includes a panel22. The panel22is planar in shape, having a top first surface24and an opposite bottom second surface26that share a common periphery. The periphery presents one or more side surfaces28. The periphery of the panel22can be round. However, the periphery of the panel22is preferably shaped as a polygon to prevent rolling when placed on a surface. The number of side surfaces28in the polygon is preferably equal to the number of dose labels30to be used on the medication dispenser.

In the illustrated embodiment, the medicated dispenser is an insulin pen10. Insulin pens are typically used four times a day. They are typically used at each meal and prior to bed. In a hospital, each dosage prescribed is provided with a label30. As such, using the same example, the insulin pen10typically would be provided with four labels30at the beginning of a day. The four labels30contain barcodes or other scanning indicia that are used to track the administration of the insulin to a patient over the course of the day.

In the shown embodiment, it can be seen that the exemplary four labels30are attached to the first surface24of the panel22. The four labels30align with the four side surfaces28of the panel22. In this manner, any healthcare provider can simply look at the shape of the panel22and instantly determine that the medication associated with the panel22is to be administered four times daily. As an alternate example, it will be understood that an eight-sided panel can be used to hold eight labels for medication that should be administered eight times daily. Accordingly, the peripheral polygonal shape of the panel22is a visual indicator that corresponds to the dosage schedule. The shape of the panel22, therefore, provides an instant visual indication as to the dosage schedule of the medication identified by the labels30on the panel22.

In the center of the panel22is a cut opening32. The cut opening32produces a series of flexible flaps33that face the center of the panel22. The insulin pen10can be inserted through the cut opening32. The insulin pen10bends the flaps33as the insulin pen10is inserted into the cut opening32. The bent flaps33are biased towards the sides of the insulin pen10and press against the insulin pen10. This causes the panel22to engage the insulin pen10with a strong and secure friction fit.

Once the insulin pen10is engaged with the flaps33at the cut opening32, the panel22becomes a flange that radially extends away from the insulin pen10. The flaps33only cover a small portion of the insulin pen10. As such, the important elements on the exterior of the insulin pen10remain observable. Likewise, the functional elements on the exterior of the insulin pen10remain unobstructed.

Referring toFIG. 3, it can be seen that once the panel22is applied to the insulin pen10, the presence of the panel22creates a radial flange that elevates the needle end11of the insulin pen10. This prevents the needle end11of the insulin pen10from contacting any surface when it is placed to rest. This helps prevent the needle end11of the insulin pen10from becoming contaminated while waiting to be used. The inclined insulin pen10is also much easier to grasp and lift from an instrument tray or other flat surface. Lastly, the inclination of the panel22makes the labels30on the panel22easy to observe and scan.

The panel22is planar and is disposable. As such, the panel22is made as inexpensively as possible. The panel22can be cut from paperboard. However, to prevent issues of contamination, it is preferred that the panel22be made of synthetic, non-organic materials, such as a plastic or foam board. Foam board, which is a polystyrene foam sandwiched between smooth waxed sheets, does not readily harbor bacteria. Furthermore, foam board is rigid yet subtle enough to enable the cut opening32to bend and expand around the insulin pen10and engage the insulin pen10with a friction fit.

Referring toFIG. 4, it will be understood that the panel22can be made in many different sizes and can be applied to many different medication dispensers. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, a medication dispenser is provided in the form of a pressurized inhaler40. The inhaler40has a tubular shaft42that surrounds a pressurized container44. The cut opening32in the center of the panel22is sized to pass around the tubular shaft42. Once placed around the inhaler40, the panel22radially extends from the tubular shaft42. The panel22provides much more room for labels30than would otherwise be available on the inhaler40.

It will be understood that the present invention can be applied to any medication dispenser assembly or storage container capable of passing into the cut opening32of the panel22and engaging the panel22with a friction fit. Medication dispenser assemblies and storage containers include, but are not limited to, syringes, inhalers, vials, pill containers, bottles and test tubes.

In the embodiments shown inFIG. 1throughFIG. 4, the panel22is has a periphery shaped as a rhombus with four side surfaces28that is used to hold four labels30. Referring toFIG. 5, it will be understood that the present invention labeling system20can utilize a panel50having a peripheral shape of any polygon. Although not required, the number of side edges52on the panel50corresponds to the number of labels30being applied. Of course, it is recognized that the more side edges52that are provided to the panel50, the less room exists along the sides to place a label30. The panel50can be made with a larger area. However, at some point, the panels50may lack the area needed to support the labels30.

Referring toFIG. 6, a solution to this problem is provided. In this embodiment, a panel60is provided that is shaped as an asterisk. The panel60has a central hub64and arms66that radially extend from the central hub64. A cut opening62is formed in the middle of the central hub64. The cut opening62can engage a medication dispensing assembly or a medical storage container in the same manner as was described with the earlier embodiments.

A label30can be attached to each of the arms66. In this manner, the labels30are arranged to radially extend away from the central hub64. This optimizes the available space on the panel60and enables many labels30to be attached to a product without the system becoming overly burdensome.

In all previous embodiments, the panel used in the labeling system10has been planar. However, this need not be the case. Referring toFIG. 7, it can be seen that a panel70can be provided that has a flat top surface72and side surfaces74that are created by bends76in the panel70. This orients the side surfaces74to be perpendicular to the primary plane of the top surface72. The multiple side surfaces74created by the bends76provide more areas for the adhesion of labels30A,30B. Label30A can be attached to the flat top surface72. Additional labels30B can be attached to the side surfaces74.

The bends76in the panel70also make the overall device more stable, wherein the panel70can rest sideways on one of its side surfaces74. The side surface74provides a wide, stable support base.

In all previous embodiments, the panel attaches to a medication dispenser using a cut opening. This need not be the case. Other friction connectors can be utilized. Referring toFIG. 8, such an alternate friction connector is presented. InFIG. 8, it can be seen that a hollow, frustum-shaped sleeve82is attached to the panel80. The sleeve82is made from an elastic material or formed from an elastomeric polymer. As a medication dispenser85is inserted through the sleeve82, the sleeve82expands and conforms to the shape of the medication dispenser85. Friction holds the medication dispenser85in place and joins the panel80to the medication dispenser85. The use of an elastic sleeve82is useful if the invention is being applied to any medication dispenser that has a bulky or complex exterior shape.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.