GB2192864A

GB2192864A - Display tray

Info

Publication number: GB2192864A
Application number: GB8716747A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael J Lind
Original assignee: BOC Inc; BOC Group Inc
Current assignee: BOC Inc; Linde LLC
Priority date: 1986-07-21
Filing date: 1987-07-16
Publication date: 1988-01-27
Also published as: GB8716747D0; EP0254487A3; EP0254487A2; JPS6373961A

Abstract

A medication holder and display tray (10) holds colour coded bottles (22) of medications in a plurality of separate compartments (16b) which each have an inclined plane (18) to which is attached a colour coded label (20). The inclined plane (18) of each compartment positions the bottles (20) of medication resting thereon such that each can be easily and quickly recognized and removed. Colour coding on each bottle corresponds to the colour coding on a top portion of the inclined plane (18) of a compartment (16b). This speeds up identification of a medication and helps prevents mistakes. Colour coding is not meant as a substitute for reading a label on a container of medication. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2192864A 1 SPECIFICATION like. Trays in the top portion of the cart may

be used to house the drugs used during sur Medication holder and display apparatus gery.

It is believed that none of the currently This invention relates to a tray system which 70 available holders for medications carried in is adapted to hold, organize and display medi- hospitals carts are fully satisfactory for organ cations(drugs) and instruments for professional izing drugs in an efficient manner for use by a use in a medical treatment environment. hospital pharmacist, a certified registered It is estimated, that in the order of one nurse or an anaesthetist.

percent of all drugs are incorrectly adminis- 75 Various systems for holding and displaying tered in the operating room (OR). Although drugs for an individual patient are described in these errors occur infrequently and sporadi- the art. U.S. patent No. 2, 953,242 (M. A.

cally, there is an awareness that such errors Shaw) describes a circular container having a are a very significant problem in view of the plurality of separate compartments which each potential seriousness of a mix-up between 80 have at least one aperture therethrough. Each diverse drugs. The disorganization of drug hol- compartment has four vertical walls which in ders in the operating room is believed to play tersect a flat horizontal base portion. The a contributing role in drug administration er- base portion of each compartment has time, rors. Such disorganization may result in the and/or date indicators attached thereto which grabbing of a wrong vial or ampule during an 85 are indicative of when a patient is supposed operation. to take tablets or capsules placed in a particu It commonly occurs that holders for drugs lar compartment of the container.

used in the operating room are organized in a The contents of a particular compartment gerry rigged fashion. For example, one hospi- can be removed by aligning the aperture of tal is known to utilize a sheet of plastic with 90 one of the rotatable covers with the compart holes drilled into it for ampule storage. ment. One problem with this container is that Another hospital is known to use a nuts and anyone seeking to load or unload medication bolts work bench organizer of the kind sold in into or out of the container must bend his or hardware stores, which contains small pull out her head markedly downward so as to be drawers. Typically, the organization of drugs 95 able to read the date and/or time indicators or in such holders for use in the operating room must hold the container vertical. In some is not formal, but may consist of a system cases this takes more time than is desirable where most frequently used drugs are placed and may be inconvenient, awkward and in the front of the holder and less frequently stressful. Another problem is the container of used drugs are placed in the rear of the hol- 100 medication may partly or fully cover the writ der. ten information and thus make the same diffi Drugs may be regularly and systematically cult to read. Another problem is that rotating supplied to an operating room (OR) of a hospi- the cover(s) to the right location takes time tal by the hospital pharmacy. One method of and then reaching into the same takes more supplying drugs is based on orders from 105 time. This loss of time may be critical to sav those in charge of the OR. Normally, orders ing a patient's life. Another problem is that originate from the anaesthesiologist and the the wrong medication may be placed in a supplies are either delivered by the pharmacy compartment. Shaw does not teach or even or a technician from the OR is sent to pick suggest how to solve the problem of the them up.-Another method of supplying drugs 110 wrong medication being in a compartment.

is to have a cabinet in the OR with labelled U.S. Patent Nos. 4,039,080 (J.A. Cappuc compartments. The pharmacy replenishes sup- cilli), 4,318,477 (S.Z. Kerpa) and 4,473,156 plies as they are nepded. An alternate method (D.C. Martin) all describe rectangular tablet and of dispensing drugs from the pharmacy in- capsules containers which carry indicia of the volves using individual drug trays which are 115 day of the week and the time of the day on a set up for each case and returned once the top horizontal surface. The containers have case has been completed. rectangular, cylindrical or spherical bottoms.

The method of transport of drugs from the The cylindrical and spherical bottoms facilitate hospital pharmacy to the OR is usually not timely removal of the contents. Each of these formalized. Any available container is typically 120 containers has a cover which must be re used to hold drugs on the top of a hospital moved or lifted before the medication can be vehicle during transport to the OR. A widely removed. In the D.C. Martin patent the com used vehicle for both storing drugs in the OR partments which are to contain medication to as well as transporting drugs to the OR is the be taken at the same time each day, for Sears CRAFTSMAN'cart. Another commer- 125 example in the morning, have an identity uni cially available hospital cart is the Herman Mil- que colour such as red. A patient must still ler L cart. These carts have shelves and bend his head over or turn the container verti drawers in the cart wall for stacking peripheral cal to determine which compartment contains items such as masks, tables, scopes, sy- the proper medication. He must then open the ringes, electrodes, suction catheters and the 130 cover and remove the contents of one or 2 GB 2 192 864A 2 more compartments. These observations and provide a tray which organizes drugs so as to mechanical acts take time which may ad- - prevent mishandling or mix-up of drugs in the versely affect the health of the patient. For operating room.

example, a patient with a heart condition may Another aim of the present invention is to collapse before being able to reach nitrogly- 70. provide a tray which is flexible with respect to cerin medication. the arrangement of compartments for holding U S. Patent No. 1,306,591 (MB. Grant) is vials or ampules.

directed to a tray designed---foruse by a Another aim of the present invention is to nurse in a hospital in his or her attendance provide a tray which is adaptable either for upon a number of different patients to whom 75 use for an individual patient or for use for medicines or the like or different characters multiple patients on a shared basis.

can be administered in a safe, rapid, and sani- According to the present invention medical tary manner---. The tray disclosed is rectanguapparatus comprises a plurality of compart lar and has a plurality of guiding/supporting ments at least one of the compartments in arms which each hold a separate tumbler that 80 cluding a first inclined plane member having a is adapted to hold medication. A separate surface which forms an acute angle with the spring loaded cover is rotated over the top of horizontal; and the surface of the first inclined each tumbler to keep the contents and inside plane member being adapted to support and surfaces of each tumbler---asfree as possible display one or more containers of medication from contamination-. Both sides of each 85 placed in the compartment so that each con cover are adapted to receive indicia such as tainer of medication is displayed at an angle to the prescription, when to administer the such that an observer can identify the medica same, and the name of the patient. The nurse tion without having to bend his or her head must bend his or her head down to see the significantly.

top of the cover and then lift up the cover 90 - The present invention is directed to medical and then read the reverse side of same. He or apparatus which is adapted to hold, organize she can then remove the tumbler from the and display a number of medications (drugs) tray and administer the medication contained in a manner which makes same easily visible, therein to a patient. This process is time con- recognizable and removable. The medical suming and therefore might even cost the life 95 apparatus comprises a plurality of compart of the patient. In addition, no colour coding is ments with at least one of the compartments taught, suggested or implied. Thus confusion having a inclined plane member having a sur may arise and a patient may receive the face which forms an acute angle with the hori wrong medication. zontal. The surface of the inclined plane is U.S. Patent No. 1,650,980 (K. Campbell) 100 adapted to support and to display containers describes a case adapted to hold vertically a of medication in a manner which makes same plurality of glass vials of medications. Each easily visible to an observer without the medication is removed from its via[ using a observer having to significantly bend his head hypodermic needle. The horizontal areas over to identify the contents of the container around the openings through which the vials 105 of medication and such that the containers of are placed in the case contain written informa- medication can be easily and quickly removed.

tion describing the contents of the vials. Vials In a preferred embodiment the apparatus containing one type of drug are typically comprises a tray which is adapted to hold a grouped together. To use a particular drug plurality of removable sections which each one must first open a cover of the case and 110 comprise one or more compartments that are then significantly bend his or her head over to adapted to hold one or more colour coded 1 read the name of the drug. This is time con- containers of medication. Colour coded indicia suming and can cost the life of a patient. In means(labels) are provided which can be at addition, no colour coding is described or sug- tached to top portions of the surface of the gested and it is possible the wrong vial can 115 inclined plane of each compartment. The col be removed---and administered to a patient. our coding on the labels corresponds to corre It is desirable to provide a medication holder sponding colour coding on labels on contain which is adapted to'hold a plurality of medica- - ers of medication which are to be placed in tions and medical instruments and which is the compartments. The use of colour coded designed to permit an operating room physi- 120 labels on containers(bottles) of medication and cian to locate relatively quickly, identify, and corresponding colour coded labels on corn remove a-medication from the holder. partments is designed to reduce the number An aim of the present invention is to pro- of medication errors. Colour coding is not in vide a tray for organizing drugs for use in tended as a substitute for reading the name of transporting drugs from a hospital or satellite 125 the drug on the label of the container housing pharmacy to an operating room. the drug.

Another aim of the present invention is to The colour coding scheme separates and provide a tray for organizing drugs for use by thus organizes drugs(medication) into thera an anesthesiologist during surgery. peutic categories by using a different colour Another aim of the present invention is to 130 for each therapeutic category. Thus if an error 3 GB2192864A 3 does occur in the operating room it will likely labels and/or tops of bottles 22 of medica be made with a drug from the same therapeution.

tic category as the intended drug. Ampules, jars or vials and/or any combina This will tend to result in less serious con- tion of the three and/or bottles of medication sequences to the patient than if some other 70 can be held in tray 10. Bottles 22 rest against drug is mistakenly given, Letters, symbols, an- inclined plane members 18 and 19 and walls d/or numbers on labels on the bottles are 12 such that the tops and labels on the same made larger and bolder than letters, symbols, are easily visible without a person having to and/or numbers, respectively, on many con- significantly bend his or her head over to see ventional medication bottles inorder to facili- 75 the labels. Angle a is typically approximately tate easy and quick identification. Bar coding 30 degrees but can be varied in the range of can be placed on the labels attached to the approximately 10 and 80 degrees. A preferred compartments and/or to those on the contain- range for angle "a" is 15 to 45 degrees.

ers of medication. Angle "b" is typically 90 degrees but can be The apparatus of the present invention is 80 varied in the range of 60 to 170 degrees. A useful in the operating room and can be used preferred range for angle "b" is 70 to 110 to transport drugs from a hospital pharmacy degrees.

to the operating room. It allows sections of Colour coded bottles 22 of medication and various numbers and sizes of compartments corresponding colour coded labels 20 attached to be custom organized. The apparatus is 85 to compartments 16b are used to reduce the adaptable either to be used on one patient or number of medication errors.

for use with multiple patients on a shared ba- A preferred colour scheme separates drugs( sis. medication) into therapeutic categories by us Embodiments of the invention will ncw be ing a different colour for each therapeutic cat described, by way of example, reference being 90 egory. For example, an entire row of compart made to the Figures of the accompanying dia- ments 16b may be colour coded a certain grammatic drawings in which: colour to signify that the drugs stored in that FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodi- row are analgesics. Thus if an error does oc ment in accordance with the present inven- cur in drug selection it will likely be made with tion; - 95 a drug from the same therapeutic category as FIG. 2 is an isometric view of another em- the intended drug. This is believed to result in bodiment-in accordance with the present inpotentially less serious consequences to the vention; patient than if some other drug is mistakenly FIG. 3 illustrates a removable portion of the given. Colour coding is not intended as a sub embodiment of FIG. 2; 100 stitute for reading the label on a container of FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an other em- medication.

bodiment in accordance with the present in- Lettering, symbols, and/or numbers on vention; and labels of bottles 22 are made larger and bol FIG. 5 illustrates cut away views of remova- der than lettering, symbols, and/or numbers ble portions of the embodiment of FIG. 4. 105 on many conventional medication bottles in Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an order to facilitate easy and quick identification.

isometric view with a cut away section of Bar coding can be placed on labels 20 and/or medication holder and display apparatus 10 in on bottles 22.

accordance with the present invention. Appa- Tray 10 has a rectangular foot print and has ratus 10, which may be referred to as tray 110 outer perimeter side walls which have stag 10, comprises a plurality of compartments gered heights so as to facilitate the stacking 16a and 16b. Compartments 16a, which in a of a plurality of trays 10 with each tray 10 typical embodiment are each a rectangular par- interlocking with the one above and the one allelpiped, each havq an essentially horizontal below in the stack.

floor member 14 which intersects wall mem- 115 Tray 10 may be fabricated from plastics us bers 12 and are adqpted to store hypodermic ing a pressure forming or vacuum forming needles, syringes, scissors, and/or other med- process.

ical equipment. Each of compartments 16b Apparatus 10 is designed to make it easy comprises a first inclined plane member 18 to determine quickly and accurately which which forms an angle "a" with respect to the 120 medication is which and to allow one to re- horizontal and which intersects with a second move easily and quickly the desired medica inclined plane member 19 to form an angle tion. This is extremely important in operating "b". Compartments, 16b are designed to hold and emergency rooms where lost time can and display bottles(containers) 22 of medica- result in the loss of a patient's life, tion which are shown in some of compart- 125 Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated ments 16b. Colour coded labels 20 are. sup- an isometric view of a medication holder and plied with tray 10 and are typically placed by display apparatus 50 which comprises wall an end user of tray 10 on an upper portion of members 52 intersecting a floor member 54 inclined plane 18 of compartment 16b. The to define two fixed compartments 56. Appa- colours on labels 20 correspond to colours on130 ratus 50 is illustrated partly filled with a plural- 4 GB2192864A 4 ity of removable compartments 60. FIG. 3 il- 10 and 50 of FIG's 1 and 2, respectively, and lustrates one of the removable compartments performs the same basic function.

60. Compartments 56 are adapted to hold Each of the compartments of sections 104, and display medical equipment and compart- 106, 108, 110, and 112 has end side walls ments 60 are adapted to hold and display 70 which are essentially vertical and slope up containers of medication. Apparatus 50 pro- ward toward the rear of each compartment.

vides the same function and is similar to These end side walls help prevent containers apparatus 10 of Fig. 1. (not illustrated) of medication placed in the Compartment 60 comprises side walls 62, a compartments from moving from one com- first inclined plane member 64, and a second 75 partment to another or from failing out of inclined member 66 which define a compart- apparatus 100.

ment 68 in which ampules, bottles, jars, an- Rectangular box member 102 has essentially d/or vials of medication can be placed and vertical side walls 102a which intersect with a displayed. Inclined plane member 64 forms an horizontal base member 102b. As is illustrated angle -c- with respect to the horizontal and 80 in FIG. 5, each of removable sections 104 intersects with inclined member 66 to form an, defines a single compartment which has a angle "d". Angle -c- is typically 30 degrees relatively flat floor member, four side walls but can be vatied from 10 to 80 degrees. A which are essentially vertical, two interior preferred range for angle -c- is 15 to 45 slightly sloped inside side walls, and a reladegrees. Angle -d- is typically 90 degrees 85 tively flat floor portion.

but can be varied from 60 to 170 degrees. A Section 106 has five essentially vertical side preferred range for angle -d- is 70 to 110 walls which define two separate compart degrees. A colour coded label 70 is typically ments 106(1) and 106(2). Each of compart attached by an end user to a top portion of ments 106(1) and 106(2) has a first inclined each inclined plane member 64. Optionally, 90 plane member which forms an angle -e- with colour coded labels 70 could also be attached respect to the horizontal and which intersects to each inclined plane member 64 by a manu- with a second inclined member forming an facturer of tray 50. angle---f-. Each of sections 108 has six One advantage of apparatus 50 is that the essentially vertical side walls which define size of compartments in which bottles of 95 three separate compartments 108(1), 108(2), medication are held and displayed can be and 108(3). Section 110 has seven essentially varied and that medications can be prepack- vertical side walls which define four separate aged in individual compartments 60 that are compartments 110(1), 110(2), 110(3), and then placed into apparatus 50 in any desired 110(4). Each of compartments 110(1), 110(2), organization. 100 110(3), and 110(4) has a first inclined mem Apparatus 50 is designed to make it easy ber which forms an angle -9- with respect to to determine quickly and accurately which the horizontal and which intersects with medication is which and to allow one to re- another inclined member to form an angle move easily and quickly the desired medica- ---11---. Each of sections 112 has eight essen- tion. 105 tially vertical side walls which define five sepa This is extremely important in operating and rate compartments 112(1), 112(2), 112(3), emergency rooms where lost time can result 112(4), and 112(5). All angles -e- and -9 in the loss of a patient's life. are both typically 30 degrees but may be in Tray 50 may be fabricated from plastics us- dependently in the range of 10 to 80 degrees.

ing a pressure forming or vacuum forming 110 The preferred range for all angles -e- and process. 11 g- is 15 to 45 degrees. All angles -f- and Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated -h- are both typically 90 degrees but may be an isometric view of a preferred embodiment independently in the range of 60 to 170 de of a medication holder and display apparatus grees. The preferred range for all angles -f- 100 in accordance with the present invention. 115 and -h- is 70 to 110 degrees.

Apparatus 100, whiph may be referred to as A colour coded label 114 is illustrated in tray 100, comprises a rectangular box mem- FIG. 5. The arrow indicates that label 114 is ber (housing means) 102 and a plurality of to be placed on an area 106a of compartment removable sections 104, 106, 108, 110, and 106(1) of section 106. Each of the compart 112. Sections 104 are adapted to hold and 120 ments of sections 108, 110, and 112 has a display medical equipment. Sections 106, similar area 108a, 11 Oa, and 1 12a, respec 108, 110, and 112 are adapted to hold con- tively, in which a colour coded label can be tainers of medication (drugs). Sections 104, placed. Colour coding is not intended as a 106 and 110 are each illustrated in a cut substitute for reading the label on a container away isometric view in FIG ' 5. Sections 108, 125 of medication. The colour coded label can also 110, and - 112 have:essentially the same contain a bar code. The colour on the label cross-section as section 106. One of each of corresponds to the colour on a bottle of medi sections 104 and 112 are illustrated removed cation that- is to be placed in a compartment.

from 102 with an arrcw indicating where Colour coding is preferrably used to sepa same fit into 102. Tray 100 is similar to trays 130 rate drugs into therapeutic categories. For GB2192864A 5 example, separate therapeutic categories may ing retained in the trays and the cleaning of comprise the following: analgesics, anticholin- same. Furthermore, the compartments of each ergics, antinauseant/gastric motility, IV anesthtray can be colour coded in accordance with etics,muscle relaxants, narcotic reversal, neu- individual preference or can be standardized romuscular reversal, tranquilizers/sedatives, 70 throughout a hospital.

respiratory stimulant, vasopressors, vasopres

Claims

sors, vasodilators, and antiarrhythmics. Each CLAIMS category may have one

or more drugs. For 1. Medical apparatus comprising a plurality example, the category of analgesics may con- of compartments, at least one of the compart- tain fentanyl, meperidine, morphine, nalbu- 75 ments including a first inclined plane member phine, and buprenorphine and the category of having a surface which forms an acute angle muscle relaxants may contain metocurine, pan- with the horizontal; and the surface of the first curonium, and succinylcholine. inclined plane member being adapted to sup The width of each compartment can be pre- port and display one or more containers of selected to fit one or an integral number of 80 medication placed in the compartment so that bottles, ampules, jars, and/or bottles of medi- each container of medication is displayed at cation. an angle such that an observer can identify Tray 100 is useful in the operating room to the medication without having to bend his or hold and display the drugs used by an ana- her head significantly.

esthesiologist or other doctor during surgery. 85
2. Medical appartus as claimed in claim 1, It allows drugs to be organized in an effici- in which vertical wall members intersect a ent manner, displays same such that they are floor member to form a plurality of separate easy to see and recognize without having to compartments.

unduly bend ones head over, and allows the
3. Medical appartus as claimed in claim 1 or medications to be easily and quickly removed. 90 2, in which the or each said one compartment This results in an efficient and quick handling has a width which is preselected to fit an of drugs during surgery which saves critical integral number of standard size containers of time. It may be used on an individual case medication.

basis or for use for multiple patients on a
4. Medical appartus as claimed in claim 1, 2 shared basis. Tray 100 may also be used to 95 or 3, in which the or each said one compart transport drugs from a hospital or satellite ment includes a second inclined plane member pharmacy to an operating room. which has a surface which intersects the sur Tray 100 is typically fabricated from plastics face of the first inclined plane member.

using a pressure forming or vacuum forming
5. Medical appartus as claimed in anyone of process. 100 claims 1 to 4, in which compartments are ar Apparatus 100 is designed to make it easy ranged in sections, each section being remo to determine quickly and accurately which vable frcm the apparatus.

medication is which and to allow one to re-
6. Medical appartus as claimed in any one move easily and quickly the desired medica- of the claims 1 to 5, in which indicia means tion. 105 are provided and adapted to be attached to This is extremely important i, n operating and the surface of the first inclined plane member, emergency rooms where lost time can result said indicia means corresponding to indicia in the loss Of a patient's life. - means on a container of medication to be It is to be understood that the embodiments placed in a particular compartment.

described herein are merely illustrative of the 110
7. Medical appartus as claimed in any one general principles of the invention. Various of claims 1 to 6, in which the acute angle is modifications are possible, for example, the in the range from ten to eighty degrees.

size of the compartments can be varied to
8. Medical appartus as claimed in any one accommodate differprit needs. Still further, of claims 4 to 7, in which said surface of the some of the vertical straight walls of the trays 115 second inclined plane member intersects said can be sections of cylinders. Furthermore, the surface of the first inclined plane member at bottoms of the cor9partments can be rounded an angle in the range from sixty to one hun to make them easier to clean. Still further, the dred and seventy degrees.

inclined planes can be cylindrical sections. Fur-
9. Medical appartus as claimed in any one thermore, a cover could be added to the trays 120 of claims 1 to 8, in which bottom areas of to limit dust and other contaminants from get- each compartment are rounded to facilitate ting into the trays while same are not in use. cleaning.

Still further, the number of compartments used,
10. Medical appartus as claimed in any one to hold and display medications can be varied of claims 1 to 9, in which the base of each from one to any desired number. Furthermore, 125 compartment defines apertures therethrough the number of compartments used for medical which facilitates contaminants not being re equipment can be varied from zero to any tained in the apparatus and the cleaning of the desired number. Still further, the floor mem- same, bers can be designed to define- apertures ther-
11. Medical appartus as claimed in any one ethrough which facilitate contaminants 'not be- 130 of the claims 1 to 10, in which the appartus 6 GB2192864A 6 is adapted to be stacked with a plurality of like appartus and each appartus is adapted to interlock with the apparatus immediately above and below it in the stack.
12. Medical appartus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, in which the indicia means comprises colour ccding which corresponds to colour coding on a container of medication to be placed in the compartment.
13. Medical apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.

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