A method and apparatus for removing or breaking tabs from a pill container is described. The system for performing the method is based in a computerized and networked environment and utilizes a tab removal machine for breaking the tabs of the pill container.

The pill container is part of a pill container assembly that includes a pill container housing and a cap that can rotatably fit and lock with the housing of the pill container. The housing is a hollow cylinder having a wider opening at the top and a narrower enclosed bottom and a cylindrical and tapered body in-between. The housing includes a flange that has a section for breakable tabs. Each of the breakable tabs is labeled with an hour of administration (HOA) that identifies the HOA for the medications that are to be stored within the pill container. The breakable tabs include perforations around them to allow a force to be applied such that they break along the lines of the perforation.

The tab removal machine includes a base plate, a cover, a tab breaking mechanism having a plurality of pistons, a circular protrusion at its base for inserting a pill container, and a alignment protrusion for inserting inside a hole of the pill container. The tab breaking mechanism is capable of moving up and down and engaging with the pill container housed in the circular protrusion. The pistons are capable of moving up and down to independent apply a force on a desired tab of the pill container for breaking it away from the flange. In one instance, the base of the tab removal machine is a conveyor belt with a plurality of circular protrusions for housing a plurality of pill containers at a time.

The method for removing a tab from the pill container includes receiving a pill container in the circular protrusion of the base plate. The pill container is then locked within the circular protrusion by having the circular protrusion wrap along the bottom of the pill container as well as inserting an alignment protrusion inside the hole of the pill container to restrict it in the XY plane. The system then determines the hours of administration (HOA) for the pills that are to be stored in the pill container by querying a database to obtain the HOA. Based upon the data received, the tab removal machine removes the tabs with HOAs that are not associated with medication to be stored in the pill container, i.e. HOA that are not in the regimen for the specific patient for whom the pill container is intended. The breaking of the tab occurs by applying pressure to the tab using a movable protruding arm of the tab breaking mechanism, thereby resulting in the tab being broken away from the flange along the lines of pe

Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed relating to certain aspects of blood processing, collecting or storing, including method and system for automated authentication, processing device with scanner, blood container with two dimensional barcode, blood collection containers, blood container label and related tracking method, integrated container system, and processing device with sterile connection device.

A coded collapsible drug reservoir and a drug delivery system including the coded collapsible drug reservoir. The drug reservoir includes a collapsible housing and a port in communication with the collapsible housing. The drug reservoir further includes a coding feature disposed on the drug reservoir, and the coding feature identifies the drug reservoir.

A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.

The present disclosure is directed to pharmaceutical packages, such as syringes, vials, etc., containing wave-shifting crystals that, when excited, emit light having one or more characteristics by which information about the package, such as a unique package identifier, may be obtained. The wave-shifting crystals may be rare earth doped crystals. In some embodiments, the wave-shifting crystals may be incorporated into or onto a wall of a vessel, e.g. a syringe barrel or vial, in a way that maintains transparency of the vessel wall. In other embodiments, the wave-shifting crystals may be incorporated into or onto a portion of the package that need not be transparent, such as a needle shield, tip cap, or vial closure. The wave-shifting crystals may be used to track and/or authenticate a pharmaceutical package.

A coded collapsible drug reservoir and a drug delivery system including the coded collapsible drug reservoir. The drug reservoir includes a collapsible housing and a port in communication with the collapsible housing. The drug reservoir further includes a coding feature disposed on the drug reservoir, and the coding feature identifies the drug reservoir.

The article of manufacture has a body and an exterior surface on the body that is at least partially configured to receive indicia thereon without binding and/or being absorbed thereby. The article of manufacture may be adapted with a releasable attachment for a marking implement operable to adhere such indicia. The article of manufacture may be configured for an attachment to an exterior surface of a medicine holding container or between the open end of the medicine holding container and a cap provided to selectively cover and uncover the open end.

A medicine dispensing system and a method for facilitating medicine dispensing. The system comprises a dispenser control module arranged to receive a medication prescription including at least one prescription item; a cabinet control module arranged to locate a position of each of the at least one prescription item stored in one of a plurality of predetermined compartment of a cabinet; and an indicator module arranged to provide a visual indication to a dispenser indicating a physical location of each of the at least one prescription item.

Magazines that include a supporting member such as a strap, rod or chamber and one or preferably a plurality of portable medicament cases that each include a medicament provided in a package. Each case has first and second housing members that are configured to form a medicament package receiving cavity when joined together. The housing members mate together in a sealed configuration that prevents moisture or contaminants from entering into the cavity. The magazines are configured for containing a plurality of medicament cases for administration of medicaments to a group of people. Also included is a method of administering medications to mass casualties of multiple persons that are in need thereof. The medicaments are rapidly disintegratable and can include a dye that stains the person's mouth so that medical personnel can determine who has been treated with the medicament.

Pharmaceutical containers and methods for producing, registration, identification and authentication of such containers and for determining the operation state of machines for producing pharmaceutical containers are provided.