Patent Publication Number: US-2015084252-A1

Title: Medicinal Expanded Vile Holder with Sharps Injury Preventer and Storage System

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to sharps injury protection, drug labeling, drug storage and drug dispensing systems. 
     In healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, drugs are administered to patients. Such drugs are typically stored in a cabinet or closet and are categorized by drug and dosage. Some, more advanced, facilities utilize an automated drug inventory system which uses a user interfaced processor to track the drugs being stocked in and taken from the drug cabinet. Some processors employ mechanisms to restrict access to certain drugs. Despite these drug inventory systems, such drug cabinets are still stocked by humans capable of error. Furthermore, highly concentrated injectable pharmaceuticals are often among the medications stored. Highly concentrated pharmaceuticals are often contained in small vials with a capacity as little as 1 milliliter up to 10 milliliters. The small sized vial limits the amount of information these products can display. Consequently, lettering, numbering and electronic coding are competing for this valuable space witch restricts the amount of information that can be conveyed. Compounding this problem of limited labeling area is the possibility of increased labeling needs in the future. 
     There have been numerous documented cases of drug cabinets being improperly stocked and unintended outcomes resulted. This may be more prone to occurring in emergency settings when caregivers must act quickly. For instance, the healthcare provider may reach into the drug cabinet and remove a vial of medication in a concentration appropriate for a child. Unfortunately, the vial may actually be the adult concentration that was improperly stocked. Administered the adult dose to a child may result in unintended outcomes. In other cases, the wrong drug altogether is placed in a drug compartment. Compounding the problem of inadvertent placement of medications in the wrong section of drug cabinets is the difficulty healthcare workers may have reading drug information such as drug name and concentration on very small vials. These electronic codes often have less than the desired amount of information contained in within them due to space constraints. This lack of space limits employing additional time saving conveniences such as constant flow reordering whereby a facility&#39;s scanning of medications as they are utilized triggers the relay of the need for more product to be ordered. This type of interface is an integral part of an efficient supply chain saving time and money for the end user. 
     Another problem is that when a nurse attempts to insert the needle of a syringe through the lid of a vial in order to draw the drug into the syringe, the healthcare worker may accidentally stick one of her fingers holding the vial with the needle resulting in a sharps injury. In addition to the associated pain, the needle, syringe and medication must be discarded to avoid administering a contaminated drug. Prevention of needle sticks then prevents delays and wasted resources ultimately saving time and money. 
     Yet another problem is that healthcare facilities such as hospitals often need to augment the manufacturer&#39;s labeling with institution-specific pharmacy information such as “highly concentrated” or “caution, paralytic agent.” There may also be facility specific storage advisories that need to be affixed to medications such as “keep refrigerated.” This additional labeling is often applied within a facility&#39;s pharmacy. In order to accommodate these requirements on such small vials, additional labeling often covers or has the potential to cover if applied haphazardly the manufacturer&#39;s original labeling. 
     A need remains for a system that helps to insure that the proper drug is stocked in the proper compartment and/or that the proper drug is dispensed and administered to the patient. A need also remains for small medication vials to have a greater surface area to to provide for larger lettering and more detailed electronic coding. A need also remains for a way to avoid needle sticks when the drug is being withdrawn from the vial. A need remains for pharmacy personnel to apply facility-specific advisories on products without risk of obscuring manufacturer&#39;s labeling. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a system for storing and/or dispensing drugs. In one aspect, the present invention provides a drug storage and dispensing system for storing drugs contained in a container. In one embodiment, the storage system includes a storage tray and a drug identification key member. The storage tray includes at least one drug storage receptacle including a keyed pattern of one or more projections and/or projection-receiving recesses. A holder for a drug container includes a complementary pattern of one or more projections and/or projection-receiving recesses that mates with the tray receptacle such that the drug container holder is securely retained by the tray receptacle. The complementary configurations/shapes of the projections and/or projection-receiving recesses correspond to at least one feature of the drug. The one or more projections are received in the one or more recesses when the container is received in the storage tray. 
     The invention comprises, in one embodiment thereof, a jacket retaining a cylindrical drug vial having a diameter oriented in a horizontal direction. The jacket includes a conically-shaped collar flaring in an upward direction. An upper end of the collar has a diameter at least 5% greater than the diameter of the vial. The collar has a vertically oriented channel sized to receive the vial therein. At least one leg extends downwardly from the collar. The leg has an outwardly facing panel having information printed thereon. 
     The invention comprises, in another embodiment thereof, a jacket for retaining a cylindrical drug vial. The vial has a diameter oriented in a horizontal direction. The jacket includes a collar having an upwardly facing surface. The collar has a width at least 5% greater than the diameter of the vial. The collar has an opening sized to receive the vial therein. A body is attached to a bottom of the collar and has a vertically oriented channel in communication with the collar opening. The channel is sized to receive the vial therein. The body includes an opening through which the vial is visible when the vial is in the channel. 
     The invention comprises, in yet another embodiment thereof, a drug vial storage system including a jacket having a collar with a vertically oriented opening sized to receive the vial therein. At least one leg is connected to the collar. The leg has an outwardly facing panel with information printed thereon. A bottom end of the leg includes at least one slot therein. A location of the slot along the lower end is dependent upon contents of the vial to be retained by the jacket. A tray has a plurality of sets of recesses therein. At least one of the sets of recesses matingly receives the lower end of the leg such that a portion of the tray between the recesses is received in the slot of the leg. Locations of the recesses in the tray are dependent upon contents of the vial to be retained by the jacket. 
     An advantage of the invention is that it may provide large surface areas on the jacket on which drug-identifying information may be printed. Thus, important information printed on the jacket may be viewed quickly without having to turn or manipulate the vial in order to read printing on a circumferential surface of the vial, thereby saving time and improving accuracy. 
     Another advantage is that the invention may provide improved and less obstructed visualization of the contents of the vial. 
     Yet another advantage is that the jacket may provide improved ability to maneuver and hold the vial due to the elongated panels. 
     Still another advantage is that because the need for a label on the vial may be eliminated, the user may more easily view the contents of the vial through a gap or window in the jacket. Thus, the user may be able to see contamination, debris, bacteria, mold, etc. in the drug. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a medicinal vial assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is another perspective view the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 2   a  with a user inserting a needle of a syringe therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a side, partially cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective side view of still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective front view of a further embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an indexing and storage system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary, exploded view of the tray and a jacket of a medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a further embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a front sectional view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 13  along line  14 - 14  with the cap removed; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 13  with the cap removed; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded front view of the cap and adjustable clamp of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded front view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the medicinal vial assembly of  FIG. 16  with the cap open and being held by a user. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a medicinal vial assembly  20  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is described hereinbelow. Medicinal vial assembly  20  generally includes a medicinal vial  22  and a vial jacket  24 . Vial  22  may be substantially cylindrically shaped. Vial  22  may have a transparent glass body  26  with an upper circular mouth or opening that is covered by a lid  28 . Lid  28  includes a metal annular outer portion  30  which engages body  26 , and a circular diaphragm  32  which may be pierced by a needle of a syringe (not shown) in order to access a pharmaceutical product that is disposed in body  26 . 
     Jacket  24  may include an upper conically-shaped collar  38  having a circular top surface  36  with a circular throughhole  34  therein. A radially outward surface  40  of collar  38  may flare radially outwardly as top surface  36  is approached. An upper end  41  of collar  38  may have a diameter at least 5% greater than the diameter of vial  22 . 
     Extending downwardly from collar  38  may be two parallel legs  42   a - b  defining a cylindrical channel  44  there between that is in communication with throughhole  34 . Channel  44  and throughhole  34  may each have a diameter that approximately matches a diameter of vial  22  such that vial  22  may be snugly received and retained within channel  44  after being inserted through throughhole  34 . Adhesive may be added to an outer surface of body  26  and/or to an inner surface of channel  44  in order to adhere vial  22  to legs  42   a - b.    
     A detent in the form of a shoulder or ledge  46  may be provided on an inner surface of leg  42   a  and/or leg  42   b  in order to block and prevent vial  22  from progressing farther down channel  44 . Thus, diaphragm  32  may remain easily accessible through throughhole  34 . 
     Each of legs  42   a - b  may include a respective flat panel surface area  48   a - b  on which pertinent information may be printed. Panel  48   a  may be used by the hospital to identify the drug, volume and/or concentration level in vial  22 . Panel  48   b  may be used by the dispensing pharmacy for in-house labeling such as the expiration date, caution paralytic agent, re-order, instructions such as “keep refrigerated”, information such as “highly concentrated”, etc. Such an ability to customize labeling by the dispensing pharmacy may assist providers in managing inventory and improving patient safety. For example, some combination of standard alphanumeric printing, writing, and codes (e.g., QR codes or bar codes) may be placed on panels  48 - a - b . A distance between panels  48   a - b  is less than a diameter of top surface  36 . 
     A gap  50  between legs  42   a - b  may be approximately between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm wide. A health care worker may view the pharmaceutical product in vial  22 , as well as a needle placed therein, through transparent body  26  and gap  50 . 
     During use, a nurse may hold legs  42   a - b  between the thumb and finger of one hand. The nurse then may use her other hand to insert the needle of a syringe through diaphragm  32 . In the event that the needle misses diaphragm  32 , top surface  36  of collar  38  shields and protects the nurse&#39;s fingers from the needle and thereby prevents the fingers from being stuck with the needle. 
     Another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  220  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a - b . Medicinal vial assembly  220  includes an upper conically-shaped collar  238  having an annular thin wall  252  defining a mouth or opening  234  at an upper end  241  of collar  238  with a diameter greater than a distance between flat panels  248   a - b  of legs  242   a - b , respectively. An inner diameter of mouth  234  at upper end  241  may be at least 5% greater than the diameter of vial  22 . An inner surface  254  of wall  252  may be funnel-shaped and generally upwardly facing, although the direction in which surface  254  faces may also have a radially inwardly facing component. 
     Assembly  220  may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid  228 , then the needle will very likely hit inner surface  254  and slide down surface  254  with very little danger of sticking a user&#39;s finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface  254  and away from the user&#39;s fingers. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates assembly  220  in use with a nurse&#39;s thumb on one of legs  242   a - b  and the nurse&#39;s fingers on the other of legs  242   a - b . The other hand of the nurse is used to insert a needle of a syringe through the lid of the vial. Other features of assembly  220  are substantially similar to those of assembly  20 , and are not described herein in order to avoid needless repetition. 
     Another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  420  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the partially cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 . Medicinal vial assembly  420  includes a cylindrical detent  456  interconnecting legs  442   a - b . Detent  456  prevents a bottom surface  458  of vial  422  from progressing further than the top of detent  456  in downward direction  460 . A top surface  462  of vial  422  is below a top annular edge  464  of conically-shaped collar  438 . However, it is to be understood that in any of the embodiments disclosed herein the top surface of the vial may be below, flush with, or above the top surface of the jacket. 
     Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  520 , in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Medicinal vial assembly  520  includes a jacket  524  with an annular, horizontally-oriented brim or collar  538  having a ring-shaped upstanding wall  566  at the circumference of collar  538 . Wall  566  rises above the level of a top surface  568  of collar  538  such that if a needle point slides in a radially outward direction along top surface  568 , the needle may be stopped by wall  566  such that a user&#39;s fingers are protected from being stuck by the wayward needle. 
     Jacket  524  includes a cylindrical body  570  having two opposing oval-shaped windows  550   a - b  through which the user may view the contents of vial  522 . Projecting downwardly from the bottom of body  570  is a planar, rectangular single leg  542  having two flat rectangular printing surfaces  548   a - b  on opposite sides of leg  542 . 
     Still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  620  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Medicinal vial assembly  620  includes a jacket  624  with an annular collar  638  having a ring-shaped upstanding wall  666  at the circumference of collar  638 . Wall  666  rises above the level of a top surface  668  of collar  638  such that if a needle point slides in a radially outward direction along top surface  668 , the needle may be stopped by wall  666  such that a user&#39;s fingers are protected from being stuck by the wayward needle. 
     Jacket  624  includes a body  670  having two opposing oval-shaped windows, with only one window  650  being visible in  FIG. 6 . Through these windows, the user may view the contents of vial  622 . Projecting downwardly from the bottom of body  670  are two legs, with only one leg  642  being visible in  FIG. 6 . Each leg has a flat rectangular outwardly facing printing surface, with only one printing surface  648  being visible in  FIG. 6 . 
     Attached to wall  666  via a flexible hinge  672  is a protective cap  674 . Cap  674  may be rotated 180 degrees about hinge  672  such that cap  674  covers and protects vial  622 . Cap  674  may protect vial  622  from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm  632  of vial  622  has already been pierced by a needle. Although cap  674  is not drawn to scale relative to wall  666  in  FIG. 6 , an inner diameter of cap  674  may be about the same size or slightly larger than an outer diameter of wall  666 . Along the inner diameter of cap  674  may be one or more latches  676  which may snap over wall  666  such that cap  674  may be securely fastened in place over wall  666  and vial  622 . 
     Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  720  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Medicinal vial assembly  720  includes a jacket  724  with an upper conically-shaped collar  738  having an annular wall  752  defining a mouth or opening  734  with a diameter greater than a diameter of a lower portion of jacket  724 . The lower portion of jacket  724  includes two opposing legs which each have a respective flat panel, although only one leg  742  and one flat panel  748  is visible in  FIG. 7 . An inner surface  754  of wall  752  may be funnel-shaped. 
     Like assembly  220 , assembly  720  may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid  728 , then the needle will very likely hit inner surface  754  and slide down surface  754  with very little danger of sticking a user&#39;s finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface  754  and away from the user&#39;s fingers. 
     Attached to wall  752  via a flexible hinge  772  is a protective cap  774 . Cap  774  may be rotated 180 degrees about hinge  772  such that cap  774  covers and protects vial  722 . Cap  774  may protect vial  722  from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm  732  of vial  722  has already been pierced by a needle. Cap  774  may include an arcuate groove  778  that is sized to snugly receive the upper edge of wall  752  such that cap  774  may be securely fastened in place over wall  752  and vial  722 . 
       FIGS. 8-9  illustrate an indexing and storage system of the present invention that may be used in conjunction with the medicinal vial assemblies illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . Storage system  800  includes a plurality of storage trays  812  stacked on top of each other by use of four support posts, with the two front support posts  802  being visible in  FIG. 8 . In the particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , each tray  812  receives and stores forty-four medicinal vial assemblies  820  of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , each storage tray  812  includes a plurality of keyed sets of recesses  804   a - d  in a top surface  818  of tray  812 . 
     Each vial assembly  820  includes a jacket having two opposing legs  842   a - b . Each of legs  842   a - b  includes a respective slot  880   a - b  for receiving a respective bridge  882   a - b  which serves as a barrier between recesses  804   a - d . Slots  880   a - b  and bridges  882   a - b  have complementary configurations such that each of slots  880   a - b  is configured to mate with or receive a respective one of bridge  882   a - b . The complementary configurations of slots  880   a - b  and bridges  882   a - b  are designed to correspond to and identify particular features of the drug to be stored in storage tray  812 . For example, the relative sizes of recesses  804   a - d  and the locations of slots  880   a - b  on legs  842   a - b  may identify the drug within each of the vials and its concentration. The panels of legs  842   a - b  may be entirely above top surface  818  of tray  812  when legs  842   a - b  are matingly received in tray  812  such that the panels are completely and entirely visible. 
     In use, storage trays  812  may be placed on storage shelves in drug cabinets, mounted on walls in drug closets, or arranged in any suitable manner in the drug storage area of a healthcare facility. Legs  842   a - b  and storage trays  812  are equipped with mating drug identification keys that assist in the storage, identification and dispensing of drugs. For instance, complementary configurations of recesses  804   a - d  and slots  880   a - b  are designed to correspond to a particular feature of the drug. For example, the locations of bridges  882   a - b  and slots  880   a - b  may correspond to a specific drug composition. Accordingly, all jackets containing that specific drug are equipped with legs  842   a - b  having slots  880   a - b , which identifies the drug within the vial. All drug containers containing other drugs are equipped with legs having slots of a different location or shape incapable of being received within recesses  804   a - d . Thus, when drug cabinets are stocked, vials cannot be improperly placed in the wrong drug tray due to forced function, thereby, minimizing the chances that the wrong drug will be dispersed. 
     Storage trays  812  and the jackets may be formed of any rigid material capable of holding vials and forming a mating coupling. For instance, storage trays  812  and the jackets may be formed of rigid plastic, metal, wood and/or combination thereof. Trays  812  and the jackets may be formed by any means including extrusion, molding, machining or other means. 
     Still another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  1020  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Medicinal vial assembly  1020  includes a jacket  1024  with a flat, elliptical shield  1038  having a width greater than a width of jacket  1024 . Jacket  1024  includes a transparent window  1050  through which the vial may be viewed. The width of window  1050  may be greater than the width of the vial in order to accommodate and receive the vial therein. A bottom surface of jacket  1024  includes two non-symmetrically positioned holes  1042   a - b  which may mate with the male projections of a socket of a base (not shown) such that the base supports assembly  1020  in an upright position. The male projections of the base socket may be also non-symmetrically positioned such that the holes and projections function as a key which allows the base to mate with and support only assembly  1020  with its particular hole positioning. Assembly  1020  may receive only a vial of a particular drug having a particular concentration, etc. Thus, assembly  1020  won&#39;t mate with the base, the healthcare professional is alerted that the drug in the vial may not be the one that is intended to be supported by the base. 
     A further embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  1120  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 11-12 . Medicinal vial assembly  1120  includes a jacket  1124  having a relatively long length  1180  and a flat area  1182  which is large enough to accommodate a large amount of written information. At the top of jacket  1124  is a flat, elliptical shield  1138  having a width greater than a width of jacket  1124 . Instead of elliptical, shield  1138  may be other shapes, e.g., circular. 
     Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  1320  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 13-15 . Medicinal vial assembly  1320  includes a jacket  1324  with a bowl-shaped base  1325  and a handle  1383  both sharing a snap-fit cap  1374  with a flat panel  1348  suitable for receiving writing thereon. As shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , jacket  1324  includes four tabs  1384   a - d  projecting into a circular throughhole  1386  at an angle of about forty-five degrees relative to the vertical and horizontal directions. 
     During assembly, vial  1322  may be inserted upwardly through throughhole  1386  until lid  1328  advances past tabs  1384   a - d , at which point tabs  1384   a - d  are clamped between lid  1328  and a slanted outer surface  1388  of a body  1390  of vial  1322 . Thus, vial  1322  is effectively attached to jacket  1324 . Lid  1328  and surface  1388  each have a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a neck  1391  of vial  1322 , which enables tabs  1384   a - d  to be securely received in neck  1391 . 
     Like assemblies  220  and  720 , assembly  1320  may be particularly advantageous in that if the needle misses lid  1328 , then the needle will very likely hit an inner surface  1354  of jacket  1324  and slide down surface  1354  with very little danger of sticking a user&#39;s finger. The needle in effect may be funneled downward along surface  1354  and away from the user&#39;s fingers. 
     Cap  1374  may be rotated 180 degrees about a hinge  1372  such that cap  1374  covers and protects vial  1322 . Cap  1374  may protect vial  1322  from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm of vial  1322  has already been pierced by a needle. 
     Yet another embodiment of a medicinal vial assembly  1620  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 16-20 . Medicinal vial assembly  1620  includes a substantially flat, rectangular base  1624  having an optional snap-fit cap  1674  with a panel  1648  suitable for receiving writing thereon. The writing may be added by hand or may be on printer foil tags which can accommodate a substantial amount of information. Panel  1648  may also accommodate in-house coding to manage the product once it is received. Panel  1648  can aid a pharmacy in conveying messages to other health care workers, or can carry a message for in-home use. Plastic color coding and/or corporate logos may be employed. 
     Cap  1674  may be rotated 180 degrees about a hinge  1672 , as best shown in  FIG. 19 , such that cap  1674  covers and protects vial  1622 . The connective hinge  1672  may prevent cap  1674  from being lost or dropped, thereby preventing contamination. Cap  1674  may protect vial  1622  from dirt and bacteria, which could particularly cause problems if a diaphragm of vial  1622  has already been pierced by a needle. An underside  1690  of cap  1674  may be employed as a drug packing insert or may carry other valuable information. 
     Finger grooves  1692   a - b  may be ergonomically designed to fit the contour of the underside of the caregiver&#39;s fingers. Thus, grooves  1692   a - b  may help create a stable bridge, decreasing the chance of a needle stick (i.e., sharps injury). 
     During assembly, vial  1622  may be inserted upwardly between two plastic convex ramps  1694   a - b  which respond by spreading outwardly during the initial insertion of lid  1628 . After lid  1628  passes ramps  1694   a - b , ramps  1694   a - b  may spring back inwardly into the recess  1696  between lid  1628  and a shoulder  1698  of vial  1622 . After ramps  1694   a - b  are back in place filling the space between lid  1628  and shoulder  1698 , an adjustable clamp  1700  may be placed into cutouts  1702   a - b  and cinched or tightened such that vial  1622  is effectively attached to base  1624 . Clamp  1700  may be a simple zip tie, a wire, or may be made of stainless steel. In the embodiment shown, clamp  1700  is a self-locking tie with a rounded end. A banding tool with cutters may be provided for increased efficiency. Ledges  1704   a - b  map prevent adjustable clamp  1700  from sliding off of ramps  1694   a - b . Both assemblies  1320  and  1620  may have the advantage that an original manufacturer&#39;s label, such as label  1706 , is fully visible. 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , cap  1674  may be rotated away from base  1624  such that lid  1628  is exposed and assembly  1620  may be gripped such that base  1624  shields the user&#39;s fingers from a needle being inserted through lid  1628 . Thus, base  1624  may function as a protective barrier for health care workers by reducing the chance of a sharps injury. Base  1624  includes a circular throughhole  1686  through which a user has access to lid  1628 . 
     The systems of the present invention help insure that the correct drug is stocked in the correct location in the drug storage area, thereby minimizing the chances that the wrong drug is selected and administered due to inaccurate stocking. The systems of the present invention also help insure that access to the drugs is selectively granted, thereby minimizing the chances that the wrong drug will be taken from the drug storage area. 
     In addition to providing a medium for printing or writing, the vial jackets of the present invention may carry electronics, such as plastic-embedded RFID circuit chips, which contain information identifying characteristics of the drug in the vials and allow for more secure shipping. The jacket provides opportunity for RFID chips to be affixed remotely from the liquid of the vial which may cancel the signal. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.