Abstract:
A medication and identification information transfer system is provided that includes a medication vial, a secondary medication container (syringe) and a medication information transfer apparatus. The medication information transfer apparatus, when coupled to a vial, can transfer information indicative of the contents of the vial to an intelligent injection site. The medication information transfer apparatus has a shape and size enabling it to be connected to a vial adapter for removal of medication from the vial transfer it to a syringe for delivery to an injection site while simultaneously transferring information about the medication in the vial to the injection site. In some implementations, the medication injection site can be placed on a fluid delivery line for infusion into a patient. Related apparatus, systems, and kits are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates to a medication and identification information transfer apparatus for use with identifying the contents of medication containers such as syringes, vials, and medication bags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many health care procedures involve a sequence of medication administrations to complete a specialized protocol. The type of medication and timing of administration are important to record in order to provide healthcare providers real-time information on the conduct of the procedure and the completion of a medical record. Some specialized protocols require quick medication administrations with limited time for documentation and record keeping. Pharmaceutical manufacturers produce many types of medication containers and include prefilled syringes, vials and bags. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a medication and information transfer apparatus is provided that includes an information transfer element, an information element affixed to, deposited to, or forming an integral part of the transfer element and a vial adapter. The information transfer element includes a fluid inlet fitting and a fluid outlet fitting. The information element can fluidically couple to a vial adapter at the fluid outlet. The information element can fluidically couple to a secondary container (an empty syringe) at the fluid inlet. The information element is disposed on the information transfer element and contains information indicative of the contents of a primary medication container (vial). 
     The shape and size of the information transfer element is such that it can mate with the housing of a medication injection site (that in turn can determine the contents of the medication vial/container using the information transfer element). The shape and size of the vial adapter spike and vial clips can be such that it provides access to large and small medication vials. However, in some implementations, the size of the vial adapter female luer fitting is only one size. 
     The information transfer element fluid inlet is a female luer fitting having a surface that engages the male luer fitting tip of a syringe and will retain the information transfer element when the syringe is removed from the vial adapter. The empty syringe is used to withdraw medication from a vial containing medication for transfer to an injection site. The information transfer element fluid outlet is a male luer fitting having a surface that can disengage from the female luer fitting of the vial adapter. 
     The syringe can be a suitable size that is equal to or greater than the volume of medication to be withdrawn from the vial. The vial can contain a single dose volume of medication or a multiple dose volume of medication. The information on the information transfer element can contain the appropriate single dose volume. 
     A removable sterility cap can be affixed to the information transfer element fluid inlet for the protection of sterility. The spike of the vial adapter can contain a removable sterility cap for protection of sterility. When used these sterility caps are removed. Alternatively, the information transfer element fluid inlet can be a needleless access port allowing multiple syringes to be used for multiple withdrawals from a multi-dose vial. Alternatively, the vial adapter female luer fitting can be a needleless access port allowing multiple connections of the information transfer element to be used for multiple withdrawals from a multi-dose vial. 
     The medication information transfer apparatus can be enveloped in a sterile pouch (i.e., enclosure, etc.). The sterile pouch can contain information indicative of the information on the information transfer element. The medication information transfer apparatus can be part of a kit that also contains the vial and medication instructions for use. The kit can be manufactured complete by a pharmaceutical company including the medication in the vial and the information transfer apparatus. The kit can be packaged by a local pharmacy and can include a pharmaceutical company packaged vial and the information transfer apparatus. In the pharmacy kit configuration the pharmacy can match and verify the medication information on the vial and vial packaging with the medication information on the information transfer apparatus packaging and the information transfer element. Once matched and verified the pharmacy can join the vial and information transfer apparatus into a secondary package and label the kit. The secondary package can provide a tamper evident element providing assurance of maintaining the matched elements. 
     The identification member can be disposed radially about a central fluid outlet axis of the fluid outlet tip enabling detection of the information when the medication container is rotated about the central fluid outlet axis. The identification member can be a ring shaped member configured to fit around the fluid outlet tip of the information transfer element. 
     The information can be selected from a group comprising: optically encoded information, magnetically encoded information, radio frequency detectable information, capacitively and/or inductively detectable information and mechanically detectable information. 
     In one aspect, a system can include a medication vial, a secondary medication container, and an information transfer apparatus. The medication vial contains medication. The secondary medication container receives or extracts the medication contained within the medication vial when the secondary medication container is in fluid communication with the medication vial. The information transfer apparatus is configured to couple to the medication vial and to the secondary medication container such that, subsequent to the secondary medication container being in fluid communication with the medication vial, at least a portion of the information transfer apparatus physically transfers from the medication vial to the secondary medication container. In addition, the information transfer apparatus includes an information element to enable characterization of the medication. 
     In another aspect, a system includes a medication vial, a secondary medication container, and an information transfer apparatus. Unlike implementations in which the information transfer apparatus is first coupled to the medication vial, in this arrangement, the information transfer remains coupled to the secondary medication container. With such variations, the information transfer apparatus can include an information transfer element, a vial adapter configured to couple to the information transfer element on a first end and to pierce and to couple to the medication vial on a second end, and an information element characterizing medicine contained with the medication vial. 
     Various combinations of the medication vial, the secondary medication container, and the information transfer apparatus can be packaged together to form a portion of a kit. The packaging can be shrink wrap or other plastic enclosure or it can be a cardboard box. Additionally within or on the packaging instructions can be provided to ensure that one or more of the medication vial, the secondary medication container, and the information transfer apparatus include the correct or matching identifiers. 
     The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a medication and identification information transfer system; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram describing a detailed view of a medication and identification information transfer system as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is diagram illustrating a medication information transfer apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram describing a detailed cross-sectional view of a medication information transfer apparatus as in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams illustrating two variations of a syringe connection to an information transfer element as in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a variation of an information transfer element connection with a vial adapter as in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating an information element as a disc; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating an information element as a ring; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a first packaging configuration; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a second packaging configuration; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a third packaging configuration; and 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a sequence of steps describing the use of medication and identification information transfer system as in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like or similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a medication and identification information transfer system  2  in which a healthcare provider can access medication from vial  4  for transfer and administration to a patient. In particular, the healthcare provider can select vial  4  from an array of available vials and transfer the medication and medication information to a patient&#39;s medication injection site. Examples of medication injection sites and related data collection systems are described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/614,276 and 12/765,707 both entitled “Medication Injection Site and Data Collection System”, the contents of both are hereby fully incorporated by reference. 
     Vial adapter  6  and information transfer element  8  can be joined to form information transfer apparatus  10 . Information transfer apparatus  10  can be used to puncture vial  4  to access the medication for transfer to secondary container  12  (a syringe). Syringe  12  can initially be provided empty and can be attached  14  to information transfer apparatus  10  for the purpose of withdrawing medication from vial  4 . The healthcare provider withdraws medication from vial  4  into syringe  12  and detaches  16  syringe  12  from vial  4  carrying with it information transfer element  8 . Syringe  12  and the medication contents are now identified for transfer to a patient for injection. A health care provider can inject the medication in syringe  4  by first attaching or otherwise coupling information transfer element  8  to an intelligent medication injection site (not shown), at time of attachment to the injection site medication information contained on information transfer element  8  (described later) can be identified by the injection site (or other device) so that the medication injected into the patient can be identified and/or logged. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram describing a detailed view of a medication and identification information transfer system  2  as in  FIG. 1 . At the bottom of the figure, medication vial  4  contains medication  20  within primary container  22 . At the top of vial  4  the open end of primary container  22  can be closed by rubber closure  24  and protected by flip off cap  26 . Vial  4  can carry an information source  28  (e.g., medication ID code, etc.) that provides detectable information indicative of the medication in primary container  22  and/or of the volume of the contents. Vial  4  as used herein refers to both vials and other medication containers such as bags (except when explicitly disclaimed). It can be appreciated that many configurations of vial  4  can be manufactured and can function in system  2 . 
     At the top of the figure, secondary container  12  can be a syringe with syringe body  30 , luer fitting tip  32 , plunger  34  and plunger rod  36 . It can be appreciated that many configurations of secondary container  12  can be manufactured and can function in system  2 . 
     In the center of  FIG. 2  information transfer apparatus  10  consists of vial adapter  6  joined with information transfer element  8 . Vial adapter  6  can be a sterilizable plastic material and consists of vial spike  40  with spike cover  42 , vial clips  44 , vial flow channel  46  and a female luer fitting  48 . It can be appreciated that many configurations of vial adapter  6  can be manufactured and can function in system  2  (provided that the vial adapter can create a sterile fluid pathway between the vial and the secondary medication container). 
     A key aspect of the current subject matter is information transfer element  8  which can be a sterilizable injection molded plastic material consisting of element body  50 , fluid inlet  52 , fluid outlet  54 , flow channel  56  and information element  58 . 
     Information element  58  can be one or more of an optical source, a magnetic source, a mechanical source, a switchable RFID source, a conductive source, and/or a proximity source. One implementation can provide information encoded within information element  58  in the form of an optically detectable surface, reflective or absorbing light, that is embedded into or on top of element body  50 . 
     Alternatively, information provided by information element  58  can be a magnetically detectable strip similar to a credit card magnetic strip, facilitating a magnetic scan similar to credit card swiping, that is embedded into or on top of element body  50 . 
     Further and alternatively, information provided by information element  58  can be a mechanically detectable feature consisting of Braille like features of bumps or ridges or valleys on the surface of or at the end of element body  50 , facilitating mechanical detection by a microswitch or similar physical detection method. 
     Further and alternatively, information provided by information element  58  can be an RFID tag located on the surface of element body  50 , facilitating detection by an RFID reader. The antenna of the RFID tag can be switchable and would be OPEN prior to connection to a medication injection site. Upon connection to the medication injection site the antenna can become CLOSED (or connected) facilitating RFID reader detection. When the transfer apparatus  10  is disconnected from the medication injection site the RFID tag antenna can again become OPEN. 
     Further and alternatively, information provided by information element  58  can be in the form of a capacitive or inductive proximity feature on the surface of or embedded into element body  50 , facilitating capacitive or inductive proximity detection. 
     The information element  58  can be an integrated feature of the information transfer element  8  such as etched or molded features. The information element  58  can alternatively be adhered or deposited to element body  50  (i.e., information element  58  can be a label, etc.) or embedded therein. In addition, the information element  58  can be a separate element that extends around fluid outlet  54 . 
     When information transfer apparatus  10  is manufactured, vial adapter  6  can be joined with information transfer element  8  by attaching fluid outlet  54  to female luer fitting  48 . This assembly can be packaged, sterilized and provided together with vial  6  or provided separately. The packaging configurations will be described later. 
       FIG. 3  is diagram illustrating medication information transfer apparatus  10  as assembled for use. The assembly can be provided in package  60  with peel open tab  62  and ID code  64 . ID code  64  can be provided on the outside of package  60  and can be directly related to the information contained in information source  58  inside. ID code  64  can be used by pharmaceutical company manufacturing personnel or equipment during the packaging of vial  4 , by pharmacy personnel or equipment during the kitting of vial  4  with information transfer apparatus  10 , or by health care providers or equipment during the use of the medication in vial  4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram describing a detailed cross-sectional view of medication information transfer apparatus  10 . Sections A-A and B-B are of information transfer element  8 . Section A-A shows the cross section of fluid inlet  52 . Inside can be fluid flow channel  56  and outside can be positive engagement surface  70 . Section B-B shows the cross section of fluid outlet  54 . Inside can be fluid flow channel  56  and outside can be releasable engagement surface  72 . Sections C-C and D-D are of vial adapter  6 . Section C-C shows the cross section of female luer fitting  48 . Inside can be flow channel  46  and outside can be releasable surface  76 . Section D-D shows the cross section of the spike end of vial adapter  6 . Inside can be vial flow channel  46  and outside can be vial clips  44 . There can be two or more vial clips  44  located anywhere around circumference  78 . 
     In one implementation of information transfer element  8 , engagement surface  72  and releasable surface  76  are easily detachable mating surfaces so as to allow disengagement. These surfaces can be are smooth and do not promote a restrictive engagement when a user tries to disengage information transfer element  8  from vial adapter  6 . Additionally, positive engagement surface  70  promotes a restrictive engagement with luer fitting  32  of syringe  12 . If syringe  12  is a slip luer fitting  32  without a luer lock, the positive engagement surface  70  can be on the inner surface of the female slip luer fitting forming fluid inlet  52 . If syringe  12  is a luer lock fitting, the outer surface the positive engagement surface  70  can be on the outer surface of the luer fitting forming fluid inlet  52 . Information transfer element  8  can have one or both positive engagement surfaces  70 . Positive engagement surface  70  can be one or more of a threaded surface, a knurled surface, a splined surface, an etched surface, a ribbed surface, etc. 
     There may be need for multiple medication withdrawals required from vial  4  containing a multi-dose volume of medication  20 .  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6  depict the use of needleless access devices that can provide easy luer fitting and fluid access.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict information transfer element  8  with fluid inlet  52  configured as a needleless access port allowing multiple engagements of syringe  12  without the need for needles.  FIG. 5A  shows a luer lock type syringe tip  32  and  FIG. 5B  shows a luer slip type syringe tip  32 . Each can access needleless access port  52  allowing multiple engagements of information transfer element  8 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts vial adapter  6  with female luer fitting  48  configured as a needleless access port allowing multiple engagements of information transfer element  8 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict an information element  58  as a disk.  FIG. 7A  depicts information transfer element  8  with a flat information disk  80 . Information element  58  can be on a planar and annular portion of an underside of disk  80 .  FIG. 7B  depicts information transfer element  8  with information ring  82 . Information source  56  can be on a curved cylindrical outer surface of ring  82 . 
       FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  depict alternate implementations of packaging.  FIG. 8  depicts a first packaging configuration that can be completed by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. In this variation, vial  4  can be packaged together with information transfer apparatus  10  in container  90 . Various labeling and instructions for use (not shown) about the medication can be printed on or contained within container  90  including information  92  indicative of the contents of vial  4 . Here the pharmaceutical manufacture checks and verifies that medication ID code  28 , information  92 , information element  58  and ID code  64  all match and are correct. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a second packaging configuration completed by a pharmacy. In this variation, vial  4  can be packaged in container  91  by the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Various labeling and instructions for use (not shown) about the medication can be printed on or contained within container  91  including information  92  indicative of the contents of vial  4 . The pharmacy can package together vial  4  and information transfer apparatus  10  into pharmacy wrap  94 . Pharmacy wrap  94  can have a tamper evident break point  96  and pharmacy seal  98  to provide assurance of package integrity. In this variation the pharmacy can check and verify that information  92  and ID code  64  match and are correct. Pharmacy label  98  can be an indication of this verification check. 
       FIG. 10  depicts a third packaging configuration. In this variation, a manufacturer can join secondary container  12  to transfer apparatus  10  forming assembly  100 . The assembly  100  can be affixed together (bonded, snapped, latched, threaded, etc.) at point  102  such that separation is limited. In this affixed case, point  104  remains easily separable by the health care provider during use. Further, assembly  100  can be packaged in pouch  106 , marked with ID code  108  and sterilized. The sterilized packaged assembly  100  can be provided to the health care provider for use. Note, that in this variation, vial  4  is provided to the health care provider separately. Similar to  FIG. 9 , a pharmacy can package vial  4  and assembly  100  into pharmacy wrap  94  with tamper evident break point  96  and seal  98 . 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a sequence of steps describing the use of medication and identification information transfer system  2 . The following steps are numbered in sequence and generally progress from left to right:
     1. Open package and remove vial  4  and information transfer apparatus  10 .   2. Open information transfer apparatus  10  package and remove information transfer apparatus  10 .   3. Remove flip-off cap  26  from vial  4 .   4. Attach information transfer apparatus  10  to vial  4  by puncturing vial  4 &#39;s rubber closure  24  with spike  40 .   5. Remove syringe  12  from its sterile pouch and attach to information transfer apparatus  10 .   6. Invert vial  4  and information transfer apparatus  10  and withdraw medication  20  from vial  4  by pulling on plunger rod  32 .   7. Detach syringe  12  with information transfer element  8  from vial adapter  6  and vial  4 .   8. Attach syringe with information transfer element  8  to intelligent injection site  110 .   9. Inject medication  20  into injection site  110  and fluid pathway  112 .   10. Medication information is transmitted by intelligent injection site  110  to data collection system  114  (not shown). Features and functions of intelligent injection site  110 , fluid pathway  112  and data collection system  114  are described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/614,276 and 12/765,707 both entitled “Medication Injection Site and Data Collection System”.   

     The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. In particular, aspects of the subject matter described herein can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. 
     These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any non-transitory computer program product, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. 
     The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows and steps for use described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments can be within the scope of the following claims.