Transparent Silicone Cover for the Safeguarding of Glass Pharmaceutical Vials

Abstract

A transparent silicone cover and accompanying transparent silicone securing bands that safeguard a glass pharmaceutical vial from shattering or cracking as a result of handling by automated dispensing units, patients, or medical or veterinary staff while simultaneously allowing inspection and reading of an enclosed vial, its contents and all labels in their entirety, as well as scanning of barcodes in the clinical setting. The main body provides a cylindrical lumen for the vial to rest in securely while effectively protecting the vial's sidewalls and base. One side of the main body has a narrow slit from top to base which also extends inwardly partially across the base, allowing the main body to flex open, offering easy insertion and removal of a vial. The transparent silicone securing bands fit tightly over the main body to further safeguard the enclosed vial. The entire assemblage is autoclavable, hypoallergenic, microbe resistant, removable and reusable.

1 . A protective vial cover, comprising:
 a cylindrical body;   an open face positioned at a first end of the cylindrical body;   a base positioned at a second end of the cylindrical body;   a side wall slit positioned within a curved face of the cylindrical body, the side wall slit extending from the base to the open face;   a base slit positioned within the base, the base slit extending along a radius of the closed base, the base being a closed surface.   
     
     
         2 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pharmaceutical vial being configured to be positioned within the cylindrical body, wherein a bottom surface of the pharmaceutical vial is configured to be positioned adjacent to the base and the open face is positioned above a top surface of the pharmaceutical vial.   
     
     
         3 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall slit and the base slit are configured to allow for flexion of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         4 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall slit is positioned at an angular offset from the base slit. 
     
     
         5 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall slit separates a first end of the curved face of the cylindrical body from a second end of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         6 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the base slit extends from a base point in the base to a circumference of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the base slit is aligned with the side wall slit. 
     
     
         8 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the base slit includes an open inner circumference, wherein a diameter of the open inner circumference is greater than a width of the base slit. 
     
     
         9 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective vial cover is comprised of a transparent material. 
     
     
         10 . The protective vial cover of  claim 1 , wherein a first width of the side wall slit and a second width of the base slit are configured to increase in size responsive to positioning a pharmaceutical vial within the cylindrical body, and wherein the first width and the second width are configured to decrease in size responsive to removing the pharmaceutical vial from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         11 . A method associated with a protective vial cover, the method comprising:
 creating a side wall slit within a curved face of the cylindrical body, the side wall slit extending from a base of the cylindrical body to the open face of the cylindrical body;   creating a base slit within the base, the base slit extending along a radius of the closed base, the base being a closed surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning a pharmaceutical vial within the cylindrical body, wherein a bottom surface of the pharmaceutical vial is positioned adjacent to the base and the open face is positioned above a top surface of the pharmaceutical vial.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the side wall slit and the base slit are configured to allow for flexion of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the side wall slit is positioned at an angular offset from the base slit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the side wall slit separates a first end of the curved face of the cylindrical body from a second end of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the base slit extends from a base point in the base to a circumference of the base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the base slit is aligned with the side wall slit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the base slit includes an open inner circumference, wherein a diameter of the open inner circumference is greater than a width of the base slit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the protective vial cover is comprised of a transparent material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning a pharmaceutical vial within the cylindrical body increasing a size a first width of the side wall slit and a second width of the base slit;   removing the pharmaceutical vial from the cylindrical body;   decreasing the size of the first width of the side wall slit and the second width of the base slit.