Importance

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Abstract

A method of coding drug pills in which a machine readable code is placed on the outer surface of the drug pills. The code includes the name and dosage of the pill. The code is a linear bar code, a radial bar code, a code on the outer peripheral edge of a tablet, or a coaxial code extending completely around a capsule. The code is applied to the pill by a) engraving the outer surface of the pill, b) by applying a code label, or c) by painting the code on the pill. In a method of distributing coded drug pills, the identification information is read from the pill. A desired drug delivery information file for a patient is also read. The identification information for the drug pill is compared to the desired drug delivery information prior to delivery of the pill to the patient. An alarm is generated upon detection of discrepancies between the pill identification information and the desired drug delivery information. A drug delivery system includes: a code reader for reading identification information from individually coded drugs and from patients; an input device for retrieving the desired drug delivery information; a comparator for comparing the identification information for an individually coded drug with the desired drug delivery information for the patient; and an alarm signal that is initiated upon detecting a discrepancy between the identification information for a drug to be delivered to a patient and the desired drug delivery information.

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First Claim