Apparatuses and methods for storing pharmaceutical product
View Patent ↗A container ( 100 ) for storing transdermal patches is disclosed. The container ( 100 ) includes a child-resistant mechanism ( 112 ) to reduce the likelihood of access to the transdermal patches (TP) by children. The child-resistant mechanism ( 112 ) may include first and second access components ( 116, 120 ) that may be disposed in a non-opposing manner and that may be in any appropriate form (e.g., buttons). Activation or engagement of the first and second access components ( 116, 120 ) in a particular manner allows the container ( 100 ) to assume an open configuration to access and/or load patches. In one arrangement, the first and second access components ( 116, 120 ) may be simultaneously engaged (e.g., depressed) to open the container ( 100 ). In another arrangement, the first and second access components ( 116, 120 ) may be engaged in series in a particular sequence to open the container ( 100 ).
1. A method of managing use of pharmaceutical product, comprising the steps of:
activating each of first and second access components of a pharmaceutical product container when said pharmaceutical product container is in a closed configuration, wherein said first and second access components are disposed in non-opposing relation to one another, and wherein said pharmaceutical product container is locked whenever said pharmaceutical product container is in said closed configuration;
unlocking said pharmaceutical product container using said activating in relation to each of said first and second access components;
changing said pharmaceutical product container into an open configuration after said unlocking;
changing said pharmaceutical product container from said open configuration back to said closed configuration where said pharmaceutical product container is locked; and
disabling said first access component, after said pharmaceutical product container has been changed from said open configuration back to said closed configuration where said pharmaceutical product container is locked, such that said first access component is thereafter unavailable for any subsequent execution of said unlocking and such that said pharmaceutical product container is then maintained in said closed configuration where said pharmaceutical product container is locked.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating comprises:
exerting a first force on said first access component of said pharmaceutical product container, wherein said first force is along a first vector; and
exerting a second force on said second access component of said pharmaceutical product container, wherein said second force is along a second vector, and wherein said first and second vectors are non-collinear.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said pharmaceutical product container further comprises a third access component, wherein said method further comprises:
activating said third access component when said pharmaceutical product container is in said closed configuration where said pharmaceutical product container is locked, wherein said activating in relation to said third access component comprises exerting a third force on said pharmaceutical product container, wherein said third force is along a third vector, and wherein said unlocking also uses said activating in relation to said third access component.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said third vector is non-collinear relative to one of said first and second vectors.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said third vector is non-collinear relative to each of said first and second vectors.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
removing pharmaceutical product from said pharmaceutical product container when in said open configuration; and
loading pharmaceutical product into said pharmaceutical product container when in said open configuration.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least some of said pharmaceutical product is contained within primary packaging.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein all of said pharmaceutical product is contained within secondary packaging, which in turn is disposable in said pharmaceutical product container, and wherein said pharmaceutical product that is within said primary packaging is further disposed within said secondary packaging.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least some of said pharmaceutical product is in a sealed configuration when disposed within said pharmaceutical product container.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said pharmaceutical product comprises a pharmaceutical product blister pack, which in turn is disposed in said pharmaceutical product container.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating in relation to said first and second access components occurs simultaneously.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating in relation to said first access component and said activating in relation to said second access component are executed in series.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating in relation to said first access component comprises moving said first access component along a first path, wherein said activating in relation to said second access component comprises moving said second access component along a second path, and wherein said first and second paths are other than collinear.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disabling comprises removing said first access component.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disabling comprises heating said pharmaceutical product container to a temperature such that any subsequent activation of said first access component will not be usable for any subsequent said unlocking such that said pharmaceutical product container remains locked in said closed configuration, and wherein said temperature is less than a melting temperature of a container body of said pharmaceutical product container.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pharmaceutical product is stored within said pharmaceutical product container and is selected from the group consisting of at least one transdermal patch, transmucosal strip or film, buccal strip or film, pharmaceutical product blister pack, or any combination thereof.
17. A method of managing use of pharmaceutical product, comprising the steps of:
activating each of first and second access components of a pharmaceutical product container when said pharmaceutical product container is in a closed configuration, wherein said first and second access components are disposed in non-opposing relation to one another, and wherein said pharmaceutical product container is locked when in said closed configuration;
unlocking said pharmaceutical product container using said activating step in relation to each of said first and second access components;
changing said pharmaceutical product container into an open configuration after said unlocking step;
changing said pharmaceutical product container into said closed configuration; and
disabling said first access component such that said first access component is thereafter unavailable for any subsequent execution of said unlocking step, wherein said disabling step comprises heating said pharmaceutical product container to a temperature such that any subsequent activation of said first access component will not be usable for any subsequent said unlocking step, and wherein said temperature is less than a melting temperature of a container body of said pharmaceutical product container.
18. A method of managing use of pharmaceutical product, comprising the steps of:
activating each of first and second access components of a pharmaceutical product container when said pharmaceutical product container is locked in a closed configuration, wherein said first and second access components are disposed in non-opposing relation to one another for execution of said activating;
unlocking said pharmaceutical product container using said activating in relation to each of said first and second access components;
opening said pharmaceutical product container by changing said pharmaceutical product container from said closed configuration to an open configuration, wherein said opening is executed after said unlocking;
closing said pharmaceutical product container by changing said pharmaceutical product container from said open configuration back to said closed configuration;
locking said pharmaceutical product container after said closing to retain said pharmaceutical product container in said closed configuration; and
disabling said first access component after said locking such that said first access component is thereafter unavailable for any subsequent execution of said unlocking whereby said pharmaceutical product container thereafter remains locked in said closed configuration.