Pharmaceutical capsule container vial with window

Abstract

A pharmaceutical capsule container comprises (i) a novel vial having a closed-bottom window formed from a transparent polymer, and a side-wall formed from a light-blocking polymer, and (ii) a safety cap. The vial is made as one piece by dual injection molding. The window serves as a clear-view window through which a pharmacist may view capsules inside a closed capsule container. In a preferred embodiment the window serves as a magnifying lens for easier recognition of capsule indicia. A pharmacist uses the invention to re-verify the type and strength of the capsules in a filled, closed capsule container against the type and strength specified in the prescription by viewing the capsules in the filled, closed capsule container. The pharmacist holds the capsule container upright and looks up to view the capsules in the container through the window in the bottom of the vial This enables the pharmacist to re-verify a prescription without being required to remove and replace the safety cap every time a prescription is filled.

1 . A vial for containing pharmaceutical capsules comprising a substantially cylindrical, light-blocking rigid side-wall portion shaped for engagement with and closure by a safety cap to make a capsule container, and a closed end portion forming a window that is transparent to visible light, such that when the capsule container is filled and closed, a pharmacist can view the contents of the container through the window. 
   
   
       2 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the side-wall portion and the vial portion are formed from a light-blocking polymer and a transparent polymer, respectively, in a dual injection molding process. 
   
   
       3 . A vial in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the transparent polymer is polypropylene. 
   
   
       4 . A vial in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the transparent polymer is clarified polypropylene. 
   
   
       5 . A vial in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the window is formed in the shape of a magnifying lens, such that a user can view a magnified image of the contents of the container through the window for easier recognition of capsule indicia. 
   
   
       6 . A vial in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the window has a substantially flat lower surface and a convex upper surface. 
   
   
       7 . A vial in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the transparent closed end defines a substantially planar window. 
   
   
       8 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the side-wall portion conforms to the light-transmission standards specified in USP 23 <661>. 
   
   
       9 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a skin layer of suitable light-blocking material on a surface of the side-wall. 
   
   
       10 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a strip of suitable light-blocking material on a surface of the side-wall. 
   
   
       11 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a side-wall part and a window part are joined by bonding to make a vial. 
   
   
       12 . A vial in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the side wall part and the window part are of at least two different transparencies and are joined chemically or by thermal bonding to form the vial with the side of one transparency and the bottom with a different transparency. 
   
   
       13 . A method for making a vial for use in filling a retail prescription for pharmaceutical capsules, comprising:
 (a) forming a sidewall portion by injecting a light-blocking polymer into a first part of a mold; and   (b) forming a window portion by injecting a transparent polymer into a second part of the mold;   such that the sidewall portion and the window portion are formed together as a one-piece vial.   
   
   
       14 . A method for making a vial in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein forming a sidewall portion includes injecting a transparent polymer and a light-blocking polymer mix into the first part of the mold. 
   
   
       15 . A method for filling a retail prescription for pharmaceutical capsules, using a capsule container having a safety cap and a vial, the vial having light-blocking sidewalls and a bottom window, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying an empty vial with prescription and capsule identity data;   (b) counting and depositing capsules identified by the prescription into the vial, including verifying the identity of the capsules deposited;   (c) closing the vial by fitting a cap to make a filled, closed capsule container;   (d) re-verifying the identity of the capsules in the closed container against the identity of the capsules specified in the prescription by viewing the capsules in the closed container via a window in the bottom of the vial.   
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein identifying an empty vial with prescription and capsule identity data includes generating a prescription-specific label, and affixing the label to an empty vial. 
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein viewing the capsules includes holding the container upright and viewing the capsules from below the container. 
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein re-verifying the identity of the capsules includes re-verifying the type of the capsules. 
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein re-verifying the identity of the capsules includes re-verifying the strength of the capsules.