Medication and medical supply storage package and method

Abstract

A medication and medical supply storage package and packing method are provided for use with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device. In various embodiments, the medication and medical supply storage package and method are configured to accommodate oversized medications or medical supplies by providing a package and packaging method that include first and second surfaces that are sealed with first and second seals, as well as an intermediate seal that extends through a limited portion of the first and second surfaces. As a result of the limited extent of the intermediate seal, oversized medication and medical supplies may extend into an open area on at least one side of the seal, allowing existing medication and medical supply dispensing devices to locate and dispense oversized medications or medical supplies that would otherwise have to be manually picked.

1 . A medication and medical supply storage package for use with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device having a plurality of hanging rods disposed in an array, said package comprising:
 first and second opposing surfaces, said surfaces being substantially planar and each defining a pair of sides, a top end, a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate said top end and between said sides, wherein said apertures are substantially aligned and are configured to support said package on said rods;   a top seal joining said first and second surfaces proximate said top ends, said top seal located above said apertures and extending substantially from one side of said first and second surfaces to the other side;   a bottom seal joining said first and second surfaces proximate said bottom ends, said bottom seal extending substantially from one side of said first and second surfaces to the other side; and   an intermediate seal joining said first and second surfaces below said apertures and extending through a limited portion of said surfaces between said sides.   
   
   
       2 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate seal is approximately centered between the sides thus defining a pair of open areas on either side of the intermediate seal and that extend approximately to the top seal. 
   
   
       3 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures of the first and second surfaces are approximately centered between the sides. 
   
   
       4 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces are comprised of a single extruded flexible film. 
   
   
       5 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces comprise separate portions of flexible film. 
   
   
       6 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces comprise linear low density polyethylene. 
   
   
       7 . The medication and medical supply storage package of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second surfaces each have an approximate thickness of 0.003 inches. 
   
   
       8 . A method of packaging an oversized medication or medical supply for use with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device having a plurality of hanging rods disposed in an array, said method comprising:
 providing a medication and medical supply storage package comprising first and second opposing surfaces, the surfaces being substantially planar and each defining a pair of sides, a top end, a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate the top end and between the sides, wherein the apertures are substantially aligned and are configured to support the package on the rods;   sealing the first and second surfaces together with a first seal that extends substantially from one side of the first and second surfaces to the other side;   sealing the first and second surfaces together with an intermediate seal that extends through a limited portion of the surfaces approximately centered between the sides such that a pair of open areas are created on either side of the intermediate seal;   inserting the oversized medication or medical supply into the package such that a portion of the oversized medical supply storage package extends into at least one of the open areas; and   sealing the first and second surfaces together with a second seal that extends substantially from one side of the first and second surfaces to the other side.   
   
   
       9 . The method of packaging an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 8 , wherein sealing the first and second surfaces with a first seal comprises sealing the first and second surfaces with a top seal that joins the first and second surfaces proximate the top ends, and wherein the top seal is located above the apertures. 
   
   
       10 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 9 , wherein sealing the first and second surfaces together with a second seal comprises sealing the first and second surfaces with a bottom seal that joins the first and second surfaces proximate the bottom ends. 
   
   
       11 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 8 , wherein the apertures of the first and second surfaces are approximately centered between the sides. 
   
   
       12 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second surfaces are comprised of a single extruded flexible film. 
   
   
       13 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second surfaces comprise separate portions of flexible film. 
   
   
       14 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second surfaces comprise linear low density polyethylene. 
   
   
       15 . The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second surfaces each have an approximate thickness of 0.003 inches.