Label and method of using the label to fill containers

Abstract

A system is provided for dispensing pharmaceuticals or other material dispensed in prepackaged containers. The container includes a symbol such as a barcode to identify the contents of the container. The system uses a label having a first portion having an outer edge and a second portion that extends out from one side and above the top of the first portion. The second portion includes an indicium such as a barcode that is printed on the second portion that describes the desired contents of a container on which the label is intended. The symbol and the indicium are electronically read after the label is affixed to the container to determine if the label is on a container having the identified contents.

1 . A system for ensuring the proper dispensation of a pharmaceutical, the system comprised of: 
 a container;    a first label attached to the container, the first label having a machine readable first barcode and additional indicia identifying a particular pharmaceutical stored in the container;    a second label attached to the container in close proximity to the first label, the second label having a machine readable second barcode, the second barcode identifying a particular pharmaceutical desired to be distributed to a patient, and additional indicia;    the second barcode aligned with the first barcode such that both the first and second barcode and all additional indicia on both the first and second label are fully readable; and    a scanner capable of reading both the first and second barcode simultaneously and subsequently comparing the second barcode with the first to determine if the second barcode corresponds to the first barcode.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the second label attached to the container has a first portion and a second portion;    the second portion extends from the first portion and includes the second barcode; and    the second barcode is aligned with the first barcode.    
   
   
       3 . The system of clam  2 , wherein the first portion includes at least one of a typewritten and a handwritten prescription information.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first barcode and the second barcode are aligned side-by-side.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first label is a single-layer label.  
   
   
       6 . A system for ensuring that a product stored in container corresponds to the product identified on a label attached to a container, the quality control system comprised of: 
 a container;    a first label attached to the container, the first label having a scanner-readable identifying indicia identifying the product stored in the container, and additional indicia;    a second label attached to the container in close proximity to the first label, the second label having a scammer-readable confirmation indicia and additional indicia, the scanner-readable confirmation indicia aligned with the identifying indicia such that the identifying indicia, the confirmation indicia, and all additional indicia on both the first and second label are fully readable, and wherein the confirmation indicia corresponds to the identifying indicia; and    a scanner capable of simultaneously reading the identifying indicia and the confirmation indicia and subsequently comparing the two to determine if the identifying indicia corresponds to the confirmation indicia.