U.S. patent application number 11/453571 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for individualized pharmaceutical selection and packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to Searete LLC, a limited liability corporation of the State of Delaware. Invention is credited to Edward K.Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Lowell L. Wood.
Application Number | 20070289258 11/453571 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38832579 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289258 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung; Edward K.Y. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
Individualized pharmaceutical selection and packaging
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems that may
be used for individualized selection of one or more pharmaceutical
agents and packaging of the one or more pharmaceutical agents.
Inventors: |
Jung; Edward K.Y.;
(Bellevue, WA) ; Levien; Royce A.; (Lexington,
MA) ; Lord; Robert W.; (Seattle, WA) ;
Malamud; Mark A.; (Seattle, WA) ; Rinaldo; John
D.; (Bellevue, WA) ; Wood; Lowell L.;
(Livermore, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEARETE LLC;CLARENCE T. TEGREENE
1756 - 114TH AVE., S.E., SUITE 110
BELLEVUE
WA
98004
US
|
Assignee: |
Searete LLC, a limited liability
corporation of the State of Delaware
|
Family ID: |
38832579 |
Appl. No.: |
11/453571 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/443 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 5/103 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/443 |
International
Class: |
B65B 21/06 20060101
B65B021/06 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: accepting input of one or more parameters
associated with an individual; selecting two or more pharmaceutical
agents in response to at least one of the one or more parameters
associated with the individual; and packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input of one or
more parameters associated with an individual comprises: accepting
the one or more parameters associated with a human individual.
3. (canceled)
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input of one or
more parameters associated with an individual comprises: accepting
the one or more parameters associated with a physician input.
5. (canceled)
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input of one or
more parameters associated with an individual comprises: accepting
the one or more parameters associated with a pharmacist input.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input of one or
more parameters associated with an individual comprises: accepting
the one or more parameters associated with a patient input.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input of one or
more parameters associated with an individual comprises: accepting
the one or more parameters associated with a machine input.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to at least one condition specifically associated with the
individual.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to at least one dosage specifically associated with the
individual.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response to dosage of at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to at least one time of administration.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to two or more times of administration within a time period.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to one or more sites of administration associated with the
individual.
15.-16. (canceled)
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to cost associated with at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to compatibility of at least one of the pharmaceutical agents with
another of the two or more pharmaceutical agents.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents with one or
more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
the two or more pharmaceutical agents with one or more wrappers for
administration to the individual.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
the two or more pharmaceutical agents within two or more concentric
wrappers for administration to the individual.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
the two or more pharmaceutical agents within two or more nested
capsules for administration to the individual.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
the two or more pharmaceutical agents within at least one tablet
for administration to the individual.
24. (canceled)
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in unit
dosage form.
26.-31. (canceled)
32. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to specified release at one or more times.
33. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to release over one or more time intervals.
34. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to release at one or more sites associated with an individual.
35. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to a sustained release profile.
36. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: packaging
the two or more pharmaceutical agents in storage material.
37. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: labeling
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents.
38. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual comprises: labeling
storage material containing the two or more pharmaceutical
agents.
39.-81. (canceled)
82. A method comprising: accepting input of one or more parameters
associated with an individual; selecting two or more pharmaceutical
agents in response to at least one of the one or more parameters
associated with the individual; and packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual in a single
administration form.
83. A method comprising: accepting input of one or more parameters
associated with an individual; selecting two or more pharmaceutical
agents in response to at least one of the one or more parameters
associated with the individual; and packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual in a single unit
dosage administration form.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to individualized selection
and packaging of pharmaceutical agents.
SUMMARY
[0002] In some embodiments a method is provided that includes
accepting input of one or more parameters associated with an
individual, selecting two or more pharmaceutical agents in response
to at least one of the one or more parameters associated with the
individual and packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents in
response to at least one of the one or more parameters associated
with the individual. In addition to the foregoing, other method
aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a
part of the present disclosure.
[0003] In some embodiments a system is provided that includes
circuitry for accepting input of one or more parameters associated
with an individual, circuitry for selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual and circuitry for
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents in response to at
least one of the one or more parameters associated with the
individual. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are
described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the
present disclosure.
[0004] In some embodiments a system is provided that includes means
for accepting input of one or more parameters associated with an
individual, means for selecting two or more pharmaceutical agents
in response to at least one of the one or more parameters
associated with the individual, and means for packaging the two or
more pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one
or more parameters associated with the individual. In addition to
the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
[0005] In some embodiments a system is provided that includes a
signal-bearing medium bearing at least one of, one or more
instructions for accepting input of one or more parameters
associated with an individual, one or more instructions for
selecting two or more pharmaceutical agents in response to at least
one of the one or more parameters associated with the individual,
and one or more instructions for packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual. In addition to the
foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
[0006] In some embodiments, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the
herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming
can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or
firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects
depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In
addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present
application.
[0007] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative
aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by
reference to the drawings, claims, and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 in which
embodiments may be implemented.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates an operational flow representing example
operations related to methods for individualized pharmaceutical
selection and packaging.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates an operational flow representing example
operations related to systems for individualized pharmaceutical
selection and packaging.
[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0019] FIG. 12 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0020] FIG. 13 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0021] FIG. 14 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0022] FIG. 15 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0023] FIG. 16 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0024] FIG. 17 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operation flow of FIG. 10.
[0025] FIG. 18 illustrates an example system 1800 in which
embodiments may be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented here.
[0027] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed
herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed
herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be
limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 in which
embodiments may be implemented. In some embodiments, the system 100
is operable to provide a method and system for individualized
pharmaceutical selection and packaging. In some embodiments, one or
more accepting units 102 accept input 104 of one or more parameters
106 associated with an individual 108, one or more selecting units
110 may then select two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to at least one of the one or more parameters 106
associated with the individual 108, and one or more packaging units
114 may then package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to at least one of the one or more parameters 106
associated with the individual 108. In some embodiments, the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged and output 116 in an
administration form that may be administered to an individual 108.
In some embodiments, the system provides for user interaction 118
with a user 120. In some embodiments, one or more users 120 may
provide input 104 to one or more accepting units 102. In some
embodiments, one or more users 120 may interact with one or more
accepting units 102. In some embodiments, one or more users 120 may
interact with one or more selecting units 110. In some embodiments,
one or more users 120 may interact with one or more packaging units
114. In some embodiments, one or more users 120 may interact with
one or more accepting units 102, one or more selecting units 110,
one or more packaging units 114, and/or substantially any
combination thereof. In some embodiments, the individual units may
be combined together into a single system 100. For example, in some
embodiments, the accepting unit 102, selecting unit 110, and
packaging unit 114 may all be combined into a single system 100. In
some embodiments, the individual units maybe located in separate
locations. For example, an accepting unit 102 may be located in one
area, a selecting unit 110 may be located in another area, and a
packaging unit 114 may be located in yet another area. For example,
in some embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may be in the form of a
personal digital assistant into which an individual 108 can input
104 parameters 106 associated with the individual 108. A separately
located selecting unit 110 may receive information from the
accepting unit 102 and select two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to the one or more parameters 106 associated with the
individual 108. A separately located packaging unit 114 may receive
information from the selecting unit 110 and package two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to the one or more parameters
106 associated with the individual 108. Accordingly, the individual
units of the system 100 described in FIG. 1 may be oriented in
substantially any physical combination. Such systems 100 may be
located in numerous areas. Examples of such areas include, but are
not limited to, hospitals, clinics, physician's offices, dentist's
offices, pharmacies, individual homes, pharmaceutical companies,
veterinary clinics, pet-owners homes, and the like.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates an operational flow 200 representing
examples of operations that are related to the performance of a
method for individualized pharmaceutical selection and packaging.
In FIG. 2 and in following figures that include various examples of
operations used during performance of the method, discussion and
explanation may be provided with respect to the above-described
example of FIG. 1, and/or with respect to other examples and
contexts. However, it should be understood that the operations may
be executed in a number of other environments and contexts, and/or
modified versions of FIG. 1. Also, although the various operations
are presented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should be
understood that the various operations may be performed in other
orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed
concurrently.
[0030] After a start operation, the operational flow 200 includes
an accepting operation 210 involving accepting input of one or more
parameters associated with an individual. In some embodiments, one
or more accepting units 102 may accept input 104 of one or more
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108.
[0031] In some embodiments, an individual 108 may be a human. In
some embodiments, an individual 108 may be a non-human animal.
Examples of such non-human animals include, but are not limited to,
domestic pets such as dogs, cats, horses, potbelly pigs, ferrets,
rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and the like. Non-human animals also
include animals that include, but are not limited to, cattle,
sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, and the like. Accordingly, the
systems and methods described herein may be used in association
with substantially any human and/or non-human animal.
[0032] Numerous parameters 106 may be associated with an individual
108. Such parameters 106 may include, but are not limited to,
physical characteristics, metabolic characteristics, financial
characteristics, and the like. Examples of parameters 106 include,
an individual's height, weight, gender, kidney function, liver
function, level of physical fitness, age, allergic response,
metabolic level (i.e., resting metabolic rate and/or
activity-related metabolic rate), disease state, body fat
percentage, personal health habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health
history, insurance coverage, food supplement usage, nutraceutical
usage, non-prescription drug use, prescription drug use, pregnancy
status, and the like.
[0033] Numerous technologies may be used to provide input 104 that
include one or more parameters 106 associated with an individual
108. Examples of such technologies include, but are not limited to,
hardwired input 104, wireless input 104, computer input 104,
telephonic input 104, internet based input 104, intranet based
input 104, digital input 104, analog input 104, input 104 from a
human, input 104 from a palm held organizer, input 104 from a
personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled cellular
telephone, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more accepting
units 102 accept input 104 from one source. In some embodiments,
one or more accepting units 102 accept input 104 from more than one
source. For example, in some embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may
accept input 104 from an insurance company, a physician, a
pharmacist, a clinical laboratory and a pharmaceutical company. In
some embodiments, input 104 may be associated with a physician
input 104, a pharmacist input 104, a patient input 104, a machine
input 104 and/or substantially any combination thereof.
[0034] In some embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may include an
input device. For example, in some embodiments, an accepting unit
102 may include an interface, such as a keyboard, touch-screen
and/or the like, where parameters 106 associated with an individual
108 may be input 104 directly into the accepting unit 102. In some
embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may lack an interface where
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 may be directly
input 104 into the accepting unit 102. In some embodiments, an
accepting unit 102 may accept input 104 of one or more parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 from one or more locations
that are remote from the accepting unit 102. For example, in some
embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may accept input 104 from a
wireless device, the internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm
held organizer, input 104 from a personal digital assistant, input
104 from a web enabled cellular telephone, and the like.
[0035] After a start operation, the operational flow 200 includes a
selecting operation 220 involving selecting two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may select two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108.
[0036] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 act to
select two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at
least one of the one or more parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units
110 may select one or more first pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to at least one of the one or more parameters 106
associated with an individual 108 and select one or more second
pharmaceutical agents 112 based on the identity of the one or more
first pharmaceutical agents 112 selected. For example, in some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may select the first
and second pharmaceutical agents 112 to act synergistically with
each other when administered to an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may select the first
and second pharmaceutical agents 112 so that they do not
contraindicate each other when administered to an individual 108.
Pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to numerous
parameters 106.
[0037] After a start operation, the operational flow 200 includes a
packaging operation 230 involving packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the
one or more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108.
[0038] Numerous types of packaging units 114 may be used to package
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one
packaging unit 114 is used to package two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114
are used to package two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, two or more packaging units 114 are used to package
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, a first
packaging unit 114 may package one or more first pharmaceutical
agents 112, a second packaging unit 114 may package one or more
second pharmaceutical agents 112, and a third packaging unit 114
may package the one or more first pharmaceutical agents 112 and one
or more second pharmaceutical agents 112 together. In some
embodiments, one packaging unit 114 may package the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may formulate two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 for administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package two or more
preformulated pharmaceutical agents 112 for administration to an
individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may package two or more commercially available
pharmaceutical preparations to provide for single administration to
an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may package two or more preformulated tablets containing the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into a single capsule for
administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or
more packaging units 114 may wrap a second pharmaceutical agent 112
around a first pharmaceutical agent 112 through use of a
biocompatible and dissolvable wrapper to produce an administration
form having the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 in
concentric orientation relative to each other. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 into a compartmentalized capsule.
[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates example
embodiments where the accepting operation 210 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 302, operation 304, operation 306, operation 308,
operation 310, operation 312 and/or operation 314.
[0040] At operation 302, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a human
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more accepting units
102 may accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with a
human individual 108. In some embodiments, the one or more
parameters 106 may include physical characteristics, metabolic
characteristics, financial characteristics, and substantially any
combination thereof. In some embodiments, such parameters 106 may
include, alone or in combination and not limited to, an
individual's height, weight, gender, kidney function, liver
function, level of physical fitness, age, allergic response,
metabolic level (i.e., resting metabolic rate and/or
activity-related metabolic rate), disease state, body fat
percentage, personal habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol consumption,
diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health history,
insurance coverage, food supplement usage, physical activities,
sleep schedule, activity level, occupation, nutraceutical usage,
non-prescription drug use, prescription drug use, pregnancy status,
predisposition toward the development of a malady, genotype,
phenotype, genetic predisposition, administration form of a
pharmaceutical agent, mode of administration, time of
administration, administration schedule, exposure to pathogens,
potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to toxins, potential
exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more parameters 106 associated with a human child may be
input 104. Accordingly, such parameters 106 may provide for
selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be
administered to a human child. In other embodiments, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection against one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that should not be administered to a
human child. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors such as, time, temperature, elevation,
humidity, events, activities and the like. For example, an input
104 may include parameters 106 related to an individual 108 who is
a mountain climber. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected that will not vaporize under lessened
atmospheric pressure, that will not freeze, and/or that will not
break. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input
104 that relate to administration form and mode of administration
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be
input 104 that indicate that the individual 108 prefers to orally
ingest pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that the individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to an
individual 108.
[0041] At operation 304, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a
non-human individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may accept the one or more parameters 106
associated with a non-human individual 108. Examples of such
non-human animals include, but are not limited to, domestic pets
such as dogs, cats, horses, potbelly pigs, ferrets, rodents,
reptiles, amphibians, and the like. Non-human animals may also be
animals that include, but are not limited to, cattle, sheep, goats,
chickens, pigs, and the like. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the
methods and/or systems described herein may be used for veterinary
purposes. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters 106 may
include physical characteristics, metabolic characteristics,
financial characteristics (such as valuation of the non-human
animal), and substantially any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, such parameters 106 may include, alone or in
combination and not limited to, a non-human individual's height,
weight, gender, kidney function, liver function, level of physical
fitness, age, allergic response, metabolic level (i.e., resting
metabolic rate and/or activity-related metabolic rate), disease
state, body fat percentage, health history, insurance coverage,
food supplement usage, physical activities, sleep schedule,
activity level, nutraceutical usage, non-prescription drug use,
prescription drug use, pregnancy status, predisposition toward the
development of a malady, genotype, phenotype, genetic
predisposition, administration form, mode of administration,
exposure to pathogens, potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to
toxins, potential exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in
some embodiments, parameters 106 associated with an infant
non-human individual 108 may be input 104. Accordingly, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be administered to an infant
non-human individual 108. In other embodiments, such parameters 106
may provide for selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that should not be administered to an infant non-human
individual 108. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors surrounding the non-human individual 108 that
include time, temperature, elevation, humidity, events, activities
and the like. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may
be input 104 that relate to administration form and mode of
administration of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the
non-human individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 should be administered to the non-human
individual 108 orally. In some embodiments, one or more parameters
106 may be input 104 that indicate that the non-human individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to a
non-human individual 108.
[0042] At operation 306, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a
physician input 104. In some embodiments, one or more accepting
units 102 may accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with
a physician input 104. In some embodiments, one or more physicians
may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may
be input 104 by one or more physicians and one or more other
sources. Other sources of input 104 include, but are not limited
to, veterinarian input 104, pharmacist input 104, patient input
104, machine input 104, and the like. In some embodiments, one or
more physicians may examine the individual 108 and input 104 one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108 that are
related to the examination. For example, one or more physicians may
input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with an
individual's heart rate, skin condition, allergy status, sleep
status, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more physicians
may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108 without ever seeing the individual 108. For example,
in some embodiments, one or more physicians may review a medical
chart associated with the individual 108 and input 104 parameters
106 based on the information contained in the medical chart. In
some embodiments, one or more physicians may input 104 parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 from the physician's memory.
In some embodiments, one or more physicians may input 104
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 following
consultation with a database and/or other source of information. In
some embodiments, one or more physicians may input 104 parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 directly through use of a
keyboard, a touch-screen and the like. In some embodiments, one or
more physicians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108 remotely through use of numerous technologies that
include, input 104 from a wireless device, the internet, an
intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input 104 from a
personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled cellular
telephone, and the like.
[0043] At operation 308, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a
veterinarian input 104. In some embodiments, one or more accepting
units 102 may accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with
a veterinarian input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
veterinarians may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with a non-human individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 by one or more veterinarians and
one or more other sources. Other sources of input 104 include, but
are not limited to, physician input 104, pharmacist input 104,
patient input 104, machine input 104, and the like. In some
embodiments, one or more veterinarians may examine a non-human
individual 108 and input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with the non-human individual 108 that are related to the
examination. For example, one or more veterinarians may input 104
one or more parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual's
heart rate, skin condition, allergy status, sleep status, and the
like. In some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104
one or more parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual
108 without ever seeing the non-human individual 108. For example,
in some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may review a medical
chart associated with the non-human individual 108 and input 104
parameters 106 based on the information contained in the medical
chart. In some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104
parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual 108 from the
veterinarian's memory. In some embodiments, one or more
veterinarians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with a
non-human individual 108 following consultation with a database
and/or other source of information. In some embodiments, one or
more veterinarians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with a
non-human individual 108 directly through use of a keyboard, a
touch-screen, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more
veterinarians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with a
non-human individual 108 remotely through use of numerous
technologies that include, input 104 from a wireless device, the
internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input
104 from a personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled
cellular telephone, and the like.
[0044] At operation 310, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a
pharmacist input 104. In some embodiments, one or more accepting
units 102 may accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with
a pharmacist input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmacists may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more parameters
106 may be input 104 by one or more pharmacists and one or more
other sources. Other sources of input 104 include, but are not
limited to, physician input 104, veterinarian input 104, patient
input 104, machine input 104, and the like. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmacists may consult with an individual 108 and
input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with the individual
108 that are related to the consultation. For example, one or more
pharmacists may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with an individual's heart rate, skin condition, allergy status,
sleep status, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmacists may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with an individual 108 without ever seeing the individual 108. For
example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may receive
information associated with the individual 108 and input 104
parameters 106 based on the received information. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input 104 parameters 106
associated with an individual 108 from the pharmacist's memory. In
some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input 104 parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 following consultation with a
database and/or other source of information. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmacists may input 104 parameters 106 associated
with an individual 108 directly through use of a keyboard, a
touch-screen, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmacists may input 104 parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108 remotely through use of numerous technologies that
include, input 104 from a wireless device, the internet, an
intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input 104 from a
personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled cellular
telephone, and the like.
[0045] At operation 312, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a patient
input 104. In some embodiments, one or more accepting units 102 may
accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with a patient
input 104. In some embodiments, a patient may input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with the patient. In some embodiments,
one or more parameters 106 may be input 104 by the patient and one
or more other sources. Other sources of input 104 include, but are
not limited to, physician input 104, pharmacist input 104, patient
input 104, machine input 104, and the like. In some embodiments, a
patient may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with
the patient's heart rate, skin condition, allergy status, sleep
status, and the like. In some embodiments, a patient may input 104
parameters 106 associated with the patient following consultation
with a database and/or other source of information. In some
embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
the patient directly through use of a keyboard, a touch-screen, and
the like. In some embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters
106 associated with the patient remotely through use of numerous
technologies that include, input 104 from a wireless device, the
internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input
104 from a personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled
cellular telephone, and the like. In some embodiments, a patient
may input 104 parameters 106 associated with pharmaceutical agents
112 that are being administered to the patient. In some
embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
one or more times of administration of one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112.
[0046] At operation 314, the accepting operation 210 may include
accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated with a machine
input 104. In some embodiments, one or more accepting units 102 may
accept the one or more parameters 106 associated with a machine
input 104. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters 106 may
include physical characteristics, metabolic characteristics,
financial characteristics, and substantially any combination
thereof. In some embodiments, such parameters 106 may include,
alone or in combination and not limited to, an individual's height,
weight, gender, kidney function, liver function, level of physical
fitness, age, allergic response, metabolic level (i.e., resting
metabolic rate and/or activity-related metabolic rate), disease
state, body fat percentage, personal habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health
history, insurance coverage, food supplement usage, physical
activities, sleep schedule, activity level, occupation,
nutraceutical usage, non-prescription drug use, prescription drug
use, pregnancy status, predisposition toward the development of a
malady, genotype, phenotype, genetic predisposition, administration
form of a pharmaceutical agent, mode of administration, time of
administration, administration schedule, exposure to pathogens,
potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to toxins, potential
exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more parameters 106 associated with a human child may be
input 104. Accordingly, such parameters 106 may provide for
selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be
administered to a human child. In other embodiments, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection against one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that should not be administered to a
human child. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 1112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors such as, time, temperature, elevation,
humidity, events, activities and the like. For example, an input
104 may include parameters 106 related to an individual 108 who is
a mountain climber. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected that will not vaporize under lessened
atmospheric pressure, that will not freeze, and/or that will not
break. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input
104 that relate to administration form and mode of administration
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be
input 104 that indicate that the individual 108 prefers to orally
ingest pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that the individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to an
individual 108. In some embodiments, the machine is a diagnostic
machine that has been utilized during examination of the individual
108.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates example
embodiments where the selecting operation 220 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 402, operation 404, operation 406, operation 408 and/or
operation 410.
[0048] At operation 402, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to at least one condition specifically associated with
the individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting
units 110 may select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to at least one condition specifically
associated with the individual 108.
[0049] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be an existing condition. In some
embodiments, an existing condition is a medical condition. Examples
of such medical conditions include, but are not limited to, viral
infection, bacterial infection, fungal infection, diabetes,
arthritis, gastrointestinal maladies, cancer, allergic responses,
psychological disorders, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, asthma,
chronic fatigue syndrome, epilepsy, heart disease, hemochromatosis,
hepatitis, stroke, food intolerance, and the like in substantially
any combination. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected to reduce or ameliorate the symptoms of a condition
and/or to treat the condition directly. Numerous pharmaceutical
agents 112 that may be selected in response to a condition are
known (i.e., The Merck Index, 13.sup.th Edition, An Encyclopedia of
Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse
Station, N.J. 2001; Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
2004; Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20.sup.th
Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa. 2000;
Physicians' Desk Reference, 58.sup.th Edition, Thompson, PDR,
Montvale, N.J. 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,721, herein incorporated
by reference).
[0050] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a past condition. For example, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that a
condition, such as a medical condition, that an individual 108 was
treated for in the past will be disallowed from reoccurring or the
condition, or symptoms of the condition, may be reduced or
minimized if the condition were to reoccur in the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected to prevent or reduce the consequences of a
heart attack that may reoccur in an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to prevent or reduce the consequences of an epileptic seizure in an
individual 108. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to numerous past conditions associated
with the individual 108.
[0051] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a future condition. For example, one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that a
condition, such as a medical condition, that an individual 108 is
predisposed to developing in the future may be disallowed from
occurring or the condition, or symptoms of the condition, may be
reduced or minimized if the condition were to occur in the
individual 108. For example, bisphosphonates (alendronate,
ibandronate and risedronate), calcitonin, estrogens, parathyroid
hormone and raloxifene may be used for the prevention and/or
treatment of osteoporosis. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to numerous future
conditions associated with the individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to prevent
the occurrence of a future condition. For example, in some
embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
vaccines that prevent or reduce infection by one or more infectious
agents. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to conditions that are cyclic. For
example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to a woman's menstrual cycle. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
in response to a psychological malady, such as depression, that
occurs in a cyclic manner. In other embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to hormonal
changes that are expected to occur in the future, such as
menopause.
[0052] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be an event or activity associated with
an individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to a
condition that is an event associated with an individual 108. For
example, in some embodiments, an individual 108 may be expecting to
participate in a sporting event. Accordingly, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to the event
such that the one or more agents will not interfere with the
performance of the individual 108. In other examples, the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to improve
performance of the individual 108 in the event. In some
embodiments, an individual 108 may expect to give a presentation.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
that will not interfere with the performance of the individual 108
or that will improve performance of the individual 108 giving the
presentation.
[0053] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be related to the environment in which
the individual 108 resides or expects to reside. For example, if an
individual 108 expects to travel on a boat, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that will not contribute
to, or that will reduce or ameliorate, motion sickness. In some
embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
selected based on the climactic environment in which an individual
108 resides or expects to reside. For example, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on temperature,
humidity, atmospheric pressure, and the like in substantially any
combination. In some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected based on the biological environment in
which an individual 108 resides or expects to reside. For example,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on the
presence of allergens, pathogens, infectious agents, toxins,
organisms and the like in substantially any combination.
[0054] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a condition known to be associated
with the individual 108 or a condition thought to be associated
with an individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that can be used to
treat an individual 108 with a diagnosed condition. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
that can be administered to an individual 108 with an undiagnosed
condition with which the individual 108 was believed to be affected
in the in the past, present or future.
[0055] At operation 404, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to at least one dosage specifically associated with the
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units
110 may select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to at least one dosage specifically
associated with the individual 108.
[0056] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to a
volume of one or more of the pharmaceutical agents 112. For
example, one or more selecting units 110 may select a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical agent 112
occupies less volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112. In
other examples, one or more selecting units 110 may select a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical agent 112
occupies more volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to increase or decrease the volume of the administration form of
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to promote administration
to an individual 108.
[0057] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to the
compatibility of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with each other or
with the individual 108 at the dosage associated with the
individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that are compatible with
each other in response to dosage of at least one of the
pharmaceutical agents 112 (i.e., see Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 2004). In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to act synergistically
with each other when administered to an individual 108 at a given
dosage. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected to avoid synergistic interactions with each other
when administered to an individual 108 at a given dosage. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to counteract or reduce any negative side-effects of the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 when they are administered to an
individual 108 at a given dosage. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected with regard to dosage so
that they do not contraindicate additional components, such as
nutraceuticals and/or food supplements, ingested by an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be selected with regard to the price of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to one or more dosages
associated with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially
available at two or more dosages that are priced differently.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected to achieve a desired dosage when
administered to an individual 108 while reducing or minimizing the
price associated with the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112.
[0058] At operation 406, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to
dosage of at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to
dosage of at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112.
[0059] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be commercially available in preformulated administration
forms. Accordingly, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to administration forms that
are commercially available. For example, in some embodiments, a
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially available in 100
milligram, 250 milligram, 500 milligram, 750 milligram, and 1000
milligram preformulated administration forms. In some instances, an
individual 108 may be prescribed to ingest 750 milligram of a
pharmaceutical agent 112. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a 750
milligram administration form of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. In other embodiments, a 250 milligram and a 500
milligram administration form of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. In other embodiments, a 250 milligram and five 100
milligram administration forms of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. Numerous combinations of administration forms may be
selected. In some embodiments, administration forms may be selected
with regard to price associated with the administration form. For
example, in some embodiments, it may be less expensive to achieve a
750 milligram dosage of a pharmaceutical agent 112 by combining one
250 milligram administration form with five 100 milligram
administration forms than selecting a single 750 milligram
administration form.
[0060] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected with regard to administration forms for
administration to an individual 108 over one or more periods of
time. For example, it may be desirable to administer 1000
milligrams of a pharmaceutical agent 112 to an individual 108 over
a ten hour time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a single
1000 milligram controlled release administration form may be
selected. In other embodiments, ten 100 milligram administration
forms may be selected and then packaged to be released at a rate of
one 100 milligram administration form per hour over the ten hour
period. Accordingly, numerous combinations of administration forms
and timed release may be selected.
[0061] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to one or
more volumes of one or more of the pharmaceutical agents 112 in the
available administration forms. For example, one or more selecting
units 110 may select a first pharmaceutical agent 112
preferentially over a second pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 occupies less volume than the second
pharmaceutical agent 112 with regard to available administration
forms. In other examples, one or more selecting units 110 may
select a first pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a
second pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical-agent
112 occupies more volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112
with regard to available administration forms. Accordingly, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to increase or
decrease the volume of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to
promote administration to an individual 108.
[0062] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to
compatibility of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with each other
and/or with the individual 108 when administered to the individual
108 at dosages corresponding to available administration forms of
the pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response
to administration forms available for the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 (i.e., see Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 2004). In some embodiments, two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to act synergistically
with each other when administered to an individual 108 at available
administration forms. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to avoid synergistic
interactions with each other when administered to an individual 108
as available administration forms. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to counteract or reduce
any negative side-effects of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 when they are administered to an individual 108 at an available
dosage. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected with regard to available dosage so that they do not
contraindicate additional components, such as nutraceuticals and/or
food supplements, ingested by an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
with regard to the price of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 with regard to one or more available dosages associated with
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially
available at two or more dosages that are priced differently.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected to achieve a desired dosage when
administered to an individual 108 while reducing or minimizing the
price associated with the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112.
[0063] At operation 408, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to at least one time of administration. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may select at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at
least one time of administration
[0064] In some embodiments, the at least one time of administration
is a time when the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be
administered to an individual 108 to provide for release of the one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form at a
specified time following administration. For example, in some
embodiments, at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected such that it is released from an administration
form about one hour after being administered to an individual 108.
In other embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
selected such that it is released from an administration form about
one hour after being administered to an individual 108 and a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be selected such that it is released
from an administration form about two hours after being
administered to the individual 108. Accordingly, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that are released from an
administration form at a specified time following administration to
an individual 108 and thereupon become functionally available to
the individual 108. In some embodiments, two or more incompatible
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered to an individual 108
at the same time without adverse consequences by providing for
release of the incompatible pharmaceutical agents 112 at different
times such that they do not contraindicate each other. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that act
synergistically may be coadministered to an individual 108 such
that they are released at substantially the same time to provide
for synergistic action of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
with regard to the individual 108. Substantially any combination of
pharmaceutical agents 112, dosages and release times may be
selected.
[0065] In some embodiments, the at least one time of administration
is relative to a time or event preceding or following
administration of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to an
individual 108. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected that are released from an administration form at a
relative time following administration to an individual 108 and
thereupon become functionally available to the individual 108. For
example, in some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be coadministered to an individual 108 such that a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 is released from the administration form
and a second pharmaceutical agent 112 is released from the
administration form at a second time that is relative to the time
of release of the first pharmaceutical agent 112. Accordingly, in
some embodiments, two or more incompatible pharmaceutical agents
112 may be administered to an individual 108 at the same time
without adverse consequences by providing for release of the
incompatible pharmaceutical agents 112 at different times such that
they do not contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 that act synergistically may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that they are released at
substantially the same time to provide for synergistic action of
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to the
individual 108. In some embodiments, dosages of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be altered in a relative manner. For
example, in some embodiments, the dosage of two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be calibrated relative to time of
day. In other embodiments, the dosage of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be calibrated relative to hormonal cycles. In other
embodiments, the dosage of two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be calibrated relative to circadian rhythms. Substantially any
combination of pharmaceutical agents 112, dosages and release times
may be selected relative to a time, event and/or the like.
[0066] At operation 410, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to two or more times of administration within a time
period. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to two or more times of administration within a time
period. In some embodiments, a time period is defined as being a
discrete amount of time. For example, in some embodiments, a time
period may be defined in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months,
years and substantially any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, a time period may be defined as being an amount of
time that is relative to a measurable quantity and/or event. For
example, in some embodiments, a time period may be determined based
on the concentration of a pharmaceutical agent 112 that was
previously administered to an individual 108. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may be administered
to an individual 108 and a second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
administered to the same individual 108 when the concentration of
the first pharmaceutical agent 112 associated with the individual
108 either reaches a certain level or decreases to a certain level.
Numerous combinations of discrete and/or relative amounts of time
may be used during the selection of at least one of two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, at least one of the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on the
identity of a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that is to be
administered to an individual 108 within a time period in which the
first pharmaceutical agent 112 is still present and/or functionally
active in association with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 is selected such that
it does not contraindicate a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that
is to be administered to the individual 108 within a time period
when the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 are both
present and/or functionally active in association with the
individual 108. In some embodiments, the second pharmaceutical
agent 112 is selected such that it does not contraindicate a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 that is present and/or functionally active
in association with the individual 108. In some embodiments, a
first pharmaceutical agent 112 is selected such that it will act in
a synergistic manner with a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that is
to be administered to the individual 108 within a time period when
the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 are both present
and/or functionally active in association with the individual 108.
In some embodiments, the second pharmaceutical agent 112 is
selected such that it will act in a synergistic manner with a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 that is present and/or functionally active
in association with the individual 108.
[0067] FIG. 5 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 illustrates example
embodiments where the selecting operation 220 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 502, operation 504, operation 506, operation 508 and/or
operation 510.
[0068] At operation 502, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to one or more sites of administration associated with
the individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting
units 110 may select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to one or more sites of administration
associated with the individual 108. One or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be administered at numerous sites associated with an
individual 108. Examples of such sites include, but are not limited
to, the eyes, ears, nose, skin, mouth, stomach, intestine, rectum,
vagina, vascular system, pulmonary system, gastrointestinal system,
urinary system and lymphatic system. In some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered at a first site
associated with an individual 108 in preference to a second site
associated with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, it may be desirable to administer a pharmaceutical
agent 112 that is acid labile by injection into the vascular system
in preference to oral administration which may expose the
pharmaceutical agent 112 to acidic conditions. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 and where the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 will be administered to an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be selected in response to the site of action of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 on an individual 108. For example, in
some embodiments, an adhesive patch may be used to administer one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 for the treatment of a malady
associated with the skin. In some embodiments, one or more first
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected for administration to a
first site associated with an individual 108 and one or more second
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that the second
pharmaceutical agents 112 facilitate administration of the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, do not contraindicate the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, act synergistically with the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, are administered to a second site
associated with the individual 108, and/or substantially any
combination thereof.
[0069] At operation 504, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to one or more sites of release associated with the
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units
110 may select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to one or more sites of release associated
with the individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered to an individual 108
at a first site and then released from the administration form in
which the pharmaceutical agents 112 were administered at a second
site associated with the individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
administered to an individual 108 in an oral administration form
which can be released in the small intestine of the individual 108.
In examples of other embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be released into the vascular system of an individual 108
following transdermal administration of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that they are released
from their administration forms at two or more separate sites
associated with the individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a first and second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 is substantially released from the
administration form in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the
second pharmaceutical agent 112 is substantially released from the
administration form in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that are incompatible or that would contraindicate each may be
coadministered to an individual 108 for release at different sites
associated with the individual 108 and/or at different times.
[0070] At operation 506, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to one or more physiological characteristics associated
with the individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting
units 110 may select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to one or more physiological characteristics
associated with the individual 108. Numerous physiological
characteristics may be associated with an individual 108. Examples
of such characteristics include, but are not limited to, age,
gender, disease state, allergic responses, activity-related
metabolic rate, resting metabolic rate, liver function, kidney
function, weight, body fat percentage, epithelial cell function,
lung function, skin function, gastrointestinal tract function, and
substantially any combination thereof. Methods to predict drug
response and to assess and correlate metabolism to drug dosage are
known (i.e., International Publication Numbers: WO 03/084395 and WO
2005/041105; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,317,719 and 6,087,090, herein
incorporated by reference). Numerous assays may be used to assess
the ability of an individual 108 to metabolize one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, enzyme activities
may be assessed to determine the ability of an individual 108 to
metabolize one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. Examples of such
enzyme systems and activities that may be assessed include, but are
not limited to, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system, the
flavin-containing monooxygenase system, alcohol dehydrogenase,
aldehyde dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, cooxidation by
peroxidases, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, the presence of
reduced (ferrous) cytochrome P450, esterases, amidases, epoxide
hydrolase, glutathione S-transferases, mercapturic acid
biosynthesis, UDP-Glucoron(os)yltransferases, N-Acetyltransferases,
amino acid N-acyl transferases and sulfotransferases. In some
embodiments, first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
effective to treat the same condition associated with an individual
108. However, an individual 108 may be able to metabolize the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 very quickly but metabolize a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 more slowly. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, the second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be selected
for administration to the individual 108 to avoid higher relative
metabolism of the first pharmaceutical agent 112 by the individual
108. In some embodiments, an individual 108 may mount an adverse
allergic response to one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to avoid or minimize allergic response to administration of the one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108. One or
more pharmaceutical agents 112, and combinations of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, may be selected in response to numerous
physiological characteristics associated with an individual
108.
[0071] At operation 508, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to cost associated with at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
selecting units 110 may select at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to cost associated with at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, two or more different pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
used to treat the same or a similar condition associated with an
individual 108. In some embodiments, it may preferable to select a
first pharmaceutical agent 112 having a lower associated cost over
a second pharmaceutical agent 112 having a higher associated cost
for administration to an individual 108. In other embodiments, it
may be preferable to select a first pharmaceutical agent 112 having
a higher associated cost over a second pharmaceutical agent 112
having a lower associated cost for administration to an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be selected in response to cost associated with the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 and numerous additional considerations.
Such additional considerations include, but are not limited to,
allergic response, dosage, effectiveness, interaction with other
pharmaceutical agents 112 and substantially any combination
thereof.
[0072] At operation 510, the selecting operation 220 may include
selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to compatibility of at least one of the pharmaceutical
agents 112 with another of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to compatibility of at least one of the pharmaceutical
agents 112 with another of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. In some embodiments, at least one of the pharmaceutical agents
112 is selected that does not interact with another of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, at least one
of the pharmaceutical agents 112 is selected to act in a
synergistic manner with another of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. In some embodiments, at least one of the pharmaceutical
agents 112 is selected to not contraindicate at least one of the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
[0073] FIG. 6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 illustrates example
embodiments where the packaging operation 230 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 602, operation 604, operation 606, operation 608 and/or
operation 610.
[0074] At operation 602, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or
excipients. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114
may package at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or
excipients.
[0075] Pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged through use of
numerous known methods, such as conventional mixing, dissolving,
granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating,
entrapping or lyophilizing processes. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in a manner that depends
on the route that the pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be
administered to an individual 108.
[0076] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged with one or more solid or gel phase carriers or
excipients. Examples of such carriers or excipients include, but
are not limited to, croscarmellose sodium, povidone,
microcrystalline cellulose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate,
various sugars, starches, cellulose derivatives, gelatin,
pregelatinized starch, polymers such as polyethylene glycols,
lactose, lactose monohydrate, sucrose, talc, gelatin, agar, pectin,
acacia, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and substantially any
combination thereof. If a solid carrier is used, the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be tableted, placed in a hard gelatin
capsule in powder or pellet form, packaged in the form of a troche
or lozenge, and the like.
[0077] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged with a liquid carrier or excipient. Examples of
such liquid carriers include syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, water,
physiologically compatible buffers (i.e., Hanks solution and
Ringers solution), physiological saline buffer, and the like. If a
liquid carrier is used, the administration form may be in the form
of a syrup, emulsion, drop, soft gelatin capsule, sterile
injectable solution, suspension in an ampoule or vial, non-aqueous
liquid suspension, and the like.
[0078] One or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in
stable water-soluble administration forms. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be dissolved in an aqueous solution
of an organic or inorganic acid, such as 0.3M solution of succinic
acid or citric acid. If a soluble salt form is not available, a
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be dissolved in a suitable cosolvent
or combination of cosolvents. Examples of suitable cosolvents
include, but are not limited to, alcohol, propylene glycol,
polyethylene glycol 300, polysorbate 80, glycerin and the like in
concentrations ranging from 0-60% of the total volume. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be dissolved
in DMSO and diluted with water. The administration form may also be
in the form of a solution of a salt form of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in an appropriate aqueous vehicle such as
water or isotonic saline or dextrose solution.
[0079] In some embodiments, pharmaceutical agents 112 that are
hydrophobic may be packaged through use of a cosolvent system
comprising benzyl alcohol, a nonpolar surfactant, a water-miscible
organic polymer, and an aqueous phase. The cosolvent system may be
the VPD co-solvent system. VPD is a solution of 3 percent
weight/volume benzyl alcohol, 8 percent weight/volume of the
nonpolar surfactant polysorbate 80, and 65 percent weight/volumen
polyethylene glycol 300, made up to volume in absolute ethanol. The
VPD co-solvent system (VPD:5W) consists of VPD diluted 1:1 with a 5
percent dextrose in water solution. This co-solvent system
dissolves hydrophobic pharmaceutical agents 112 well, and itself
produces low toxicity upon systemic administration. The proportions
of a co-solvent system may be varied considerably without
destroying its solubility and toxicity characteristics.
Furthermore, the identity of the co-solvent components may be
varied: for example, other low-toxicity nonpolar surfactants may be
used instead of polysorbate 80; the fraction size of polyethylene
glycol may be varied; other biocompatible polymers may replace
polyethylene glycol (i.e., polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and other sugars
or polysaccharides may substitute for dextrose). Many other
delivery systems may be used to administer hydrophobic
pharmaceutical agents 112 as well. For example, liposomes and
emulsions are well known examples of delivery vehicles or carriers
for hydrophobic drugs. Certain organic solvents such as
dimethysulfoxide also may be employed, although usually at the cost
of greater toxicity.
[0080] Some pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged as salts with
pharmaceutically compatible counter ions. Pharmaceutically
compatible salts may be formed with many acids, including
hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, lactic, tartaric, malic, succinic,
etc. Salts of pharmaceutical agents 112 tend to be more soluble in
aqueous or other protonic solvents than are the corresponding
free-base forms.
[0081] Numerous carriers and excipients are known and are
commercially available (i.e., The Merck Index, 13.sup.th Edition,
An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, Merck &
Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J. 2001; Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo. 2004; Remington: The Science and Practice of
Pharmacy, 20.sup.th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
Philadelphia, Pa. 2000; Physicians' Desk Reference, 58.sup.th
Edition, Thompson, PDR, Montvale, N.J. 2004; U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,773,721; 7,053,107; 7,049,312 and Published U.S. Patent
Application No. 20040224916; herein incorporated by reference).
[0082] At operation 604, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or
more wrappers for administration to the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or more wrappers for
administration to the individual 108. In some embodiments, two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged by wrapping the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into a single administration form
for administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments, the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be preformulated prior to
being wrapped in one or more wrappers. For example, two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are in prescription form may be
wrapped into a single administration form. In other embodiments,
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined together
and then wrapped in one or more wrappers. In other embodiments, two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined together with a
suitable carrier and then wrapped in one or more wrappers. Numerous
materials may be used to wrap the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to,
polymers that include esters of cellulose and its derivatives
(cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate),
polyvinyl acetate phthalate, pH-sensitive methacrylic
acid-methamethacrylate copolymers, shellac, and the like. Numerous
water insoluble polymers may be used that include cellulose
derivatives (i.e., ethylcellulose), polyvinyl acetate, neutral
copolymers based on ethyl acrylate and methylmethacrylate,
copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acid esters with quaternary
ammonium groups, and the like. In some embodiments, polymers used
in forming the wrappers may be plasticized. Examples of
plasticizers that may be used to plasticize the wrappers include,
but are not limited to, triacetin, tributyl citrate, triethyl
citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate diethyl phthalate, castor oil,
dibutyl sebacate, acetylated monoglycerides, and the like and/or
substantially any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the
plasticizer may be present at about 3 to 30 weight percent and more
typically about 10 to 25 weight percent based on the polymer to
which the plasticizer is added. The type of plasticizer and its
content depends on the polymer or polymers, nature of the coating
system. In some embodiments, water-soluble nonionic polysaccharide
derivatives may be used to wrap one or more pharmaceutical agents
112. For example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,
hydroxypropylcellulose, and/or sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be
used. Such polymers form coatings that quickly dissolve in water
and have a high permeability. Accordingly, in some embodiments,
such polymers may be used for rapid release of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are wrapped in such a wrapper
following administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be wrapped in a wrapper
that provides for sustained release of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be released continuously over twelve hours through
use of wrappers constructed from ethyl cellulose and an ethyl
acrylate-methyl methacrylate-ethyl trimethylammoniumchloride
methacrylate copolymer as the release controlling wrapper. Methods
and materials that may be used to prepare wrappers are known in the
art and are commercially available (i.e., Rohm Pharma, Piscataway,
N.J.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,656,507; 7,048,945; 7,056,951; hereby
incorporated by reference).
[0083] In some embodiments, one wrapper may be used to wrap two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 into an administration form. For
example, the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined
together and then wrapped into an administration form in one
wrapper for release at the same time following administration to an
individual 108. In other embodiments, one continuous wrapper may be
used to wrap the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into an
administration form in which the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 are separated from each other. For example, in some
embodiments, one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be covered with a continuous wrapper to form a core and then a
second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be wrapped around the core with
the continuous wrapper to form an administration form. This process
may be repeated with multiple pharmaceutical agents 112 to form a
multilayered administration form in which the multiple
pharmaceutical agents 112 are separated from each other. In some
embodiments, such a configuration provides for the release of
pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form at different
times and/or at different sites associated with an individual 108
to which the administration form is administered. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are wrapped into
an administration form together and additional pharmaceutical
agents 112 are wrapped into the administration form in separate
layers. Accordingly, pharmaceutical agents 112 may be oriented in
the administration form to be released from the administration form
at the same time and/or site or such that they are released at
different times and/or sites. Examples of such sites include, but
are not limited to, the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small
intestine, large intestine, and the rectum.
[0084] At operation 606, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or
more concentric wrappers for administration to the individual 108.
In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or more
concentric wrappers for administration to the individual 108. In
some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
packaged by wrapping the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
within two or more wrappers to form an administration form. In some
embodiments, the same type of material is used to form the two or
more wrappers in the administration form. In some embodiments,
different types of material are used as wrappers to form the
administration form. For example, an outer wrapper may be selected
to dissolve rapidly and release one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 soon after administration of the administration form to the
individual 108 while an inner wrapper may be selected to release
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 at a later time and/or at a
different site associated with an individual 108. Accordingly, in
some embodiments, multiple pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
packaged into the same administration form for release at different
times and at different sites following administration of the
administration form to an individual 108. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be the same to provide for continuous
dosing of an individual 108. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be different to provide for dosing of
an individual 108 with different pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, some of the pharmaceutical agents 112 may be the same
to provide for continuous dosing of an individual 108 and others
may be different to provide for dosing of an individual 108 with
different pharmaceutical agents 112. Accordingly, numerous
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112 and wrappers may be
assembled into an administration form.
[0085] At operation 608, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or
more nested capsules for administration to the individual 108. In
some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or more nested
capsules for administration to the individual 108.
[0086] In some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged into an administration form through use of nested
capsules. In some embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be packaged in a first capsule and a second pharmaceutical agent
112 may be packaged in a second capsule in which the first capsule
is included to create an administration form having nested
capsules. Accordingly, administration forms may be constructed that
include two or more nested capsules. In some embodiments, such
administration forms may include two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. In other embodiments, such administration forms may include
one type of pharmaceutical agent 112 that is contained within
multiple capsules of the administration form and one or more types
of different pharmaceutical agents 112 that are also contained
within the capsules included within the administration form. In
some embodiments, the material used to construct the individual
capsules of a single administration form is the same. In some
embodiments, the material used to construct the individual capsules
of a single administration form is different. In some embodiments,
the material used to construct some of the individual capsules of a
single administration form may be the same while the material used
to construct other individual capsules of the single administration
form may be different. Accordingly, through selection of materials
used to construct the individual capsules contained in an
administration form, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
released from one administration form at one or more times and/or
at one or more sites associated with the individual 108. For
example, as with wrapping materials described herein, materials may
be selected for constructing capsules that release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at a site associated with an individual
108. Examples of such sites include, but are not limited to, the
mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large
intestine, and the rectum.
[0087] At operation 610, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within at least
one tablet for administration to the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 within at least one tablet for
administration to the individual 108. In some embodiments, two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to one
or more parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 and
packaged into at least one table. Methods to package two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 into at least one tablet for
administration to an individual 108 are known (i.e., Published U.S.
Patent Application Nos. 20040224916 and 20050013863; and U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,490,962; 6,280,771; herein incorporated by reference).
Accordingly, in some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be packaged into a tablet such that the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 are released at the same or different
times following administration of the tablet to an individual 108.
In other embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
packaged into a tablet such that the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 are released at the same or different sites associated
with an individual 108 following administration of the tablet to an
individual 108. In other embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be packaged into a tablet such that the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 are released at the same or different
times and at the same or different sites associated with an
individual 108 following administration of the tablet to the
individual 108.
[0088] FIG. 7 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 illustrates example
embodiments where the packaging operation 230 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 702, operation 704, operation 706, operation 708 and/or
operation 710.
[0089] At operation 702, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or
more pharmaceutically acceptable poloxamers, humectants, binders,
disintegrants, fillers, diluents, lubricants, glidants, flow
enhancers, compression aids, coloring agents, sweeteners,
preservatives, suspending agents, dispersing agents, film formers,
coatings, flavoring agents or printing inks. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package at least one of the
pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or more pharmaceutically
acceptable poloxamers, humectants, binders, disintegrants, fillers,
diluents, lubricants, glidants, flow enhancers, compression aids,
coloring agents, sweeteners, preservatives, suspending agents,
dispersing agents, film formers, coatings, flavoring agents or
printing inks.
[0090] At operation 704, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in unit dosage form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in unit dosage form. The term "unit
dosage form" refers to one or more amounts of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are suitable as unitary dosages for
individuals, such as human and non-human individuals, with each
unit containing a predetermined quantity of at least one
pharmaceutical agent 112 calculated to produce a desired effect,
such as a therapeutic effect, in association with one or more
suitable pharmaceutical carriers. Such unit dosage forms may be
packaged in numerous configurations that include, but are not
limited to, tablets, capsules, ampoules, and other administration
forms known in the art and described herein. In some embodiments,
two or more unit dosage forms of one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be packaged into an administration form. For example, in
some embodiments, two unit dosage forms may be wrapped into an
administration form through use of a continuous wrapper such that
they are released at different times following administration to an
individual 108. In such an example, two unit dosage forms are
included within one administration form. Accordingly, numerous
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112 and unit dosage forms may
be included within an administration form.
[0091] At operation 706, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in oral
administration form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
oral administration form.
[0092] For oral administration, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be packaged into an oral administration form by combining
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers that are well known in the art. Such carriers
allow the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to be formulated as
tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries,
suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by an individual 108.
Oral administration forms can be obtained by combining the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 with a solid excipient, optionally
grinding the resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of
granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain
tablets or dragee cores. Suitable excipients are, in particular,
fillers such as sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or
sorbitol; cellulose preparations such as, for example, maize
starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, gum
tragacanth, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium
carboxymethylcellulose, and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone. If desired,
disintegrating agents may be added, such as the cross-linked
polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, or alginic acid or a salt thereof such
as sodium alginate.
[0093] Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this
purpose, concentrated sugar solutions may be used, which may
optionally contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,
carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer
solutions, and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures.
Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to the tablets or dragee
coatings for identification or to characterize different
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112.
[0094] Oral administration forms may include push-fit capsules made
of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a
plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fit capsules
can contain one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in admixture with
a filler such as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or
lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally,
stabilizers. In soft capsules, the pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils,
liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycols. In addition,
stabilizers may be added. All oral dosage forms may be prepared in
dosages suitable for such administration. For buccal
administration, the pharmaceutical agents 112 may take the form of
tablets or lozenges formulated in a conventional manner.
[0095] At operation 708, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in parenteral
administration form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
parenteral administration form.
[0096] The one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be formulated
for parenteral administration by injection (i.e., bolus injection
or continuous infusion). Formulations for injection may be
presented in unit dosage form (i.e., in ampoules or in multi-dose
containers) with an added preservative. The administration forms
may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily
or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as
suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents.
[0097] Administration forms for parenteral administration may
include aqueous solutions of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 in water-soluble form. In some embodiments, the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be formulated in physiologically
compatible buffers that include Hanks solution, Ringers solution,
physiological saline buffer, and the like. Additionally,
suspensions of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable
lipophilic solvents include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or
synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides,
or liposomes. Aqueous injection suspensions may include substances
which increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium
carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, the
suspension may also contain suitable stabilizers or agents which
increase the solubility of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated
solutions.
[0098] At operation 710, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in transdermal
administration form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
transdermal administration form. For transdermal, including
transmucosal, administration of the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112, penetrants appropriate to the barrier or barriers to be
permeated may be used in the formulation. Briefly, in some
embodiments, a transdermal administration form may include an
ethoxylated lipid, an alcohol mixed with the ethoxylated lipid to
form a penetration enhancer, an aqueous adjuvant mixed with the
penetration enhancer, and a delivered pharmaceutical agent 112
mixed with the aqueous adjuvant and the penetration enhancer. In
some embodiments, the aqueous adjuvant is a plant extract from the
family of Liliaceae Liliaceae. In some embodiments, the ethoxylated
lipid is a vegetable oil or animal oil having at least 20
ethoxylations per molecule. In other embodiments, about 0.1 percent
to 40.0 percent by weight or volume is ethoxylated lipid. Other
embodiments may include a transdermal delivery system that includes
about 0.1 percent to 15 percent by weight or volume of alcohol or
where about 0.1 percent to 85 percent by weight or volume is Aloe
Vera. Numerous transdermal administration forms are known and have
been described (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,820,876; 7,045,145;
6,946,144; incorporated herein by reference).
[0099] FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 illustrates example
embodiments where the packaging operation 230 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 802, operation 804, operation 806, operation 808 and/or
operation 810.
[0100] At operation 802, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in pulmonary
administration form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
pulmonary administration form. For pulmonary administration, the
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be delivered in the form
of an aerosol spray from pressurized packs or a nebuliser, with the
use of a suitable propellant (i.e., dichlorodifluoromethane,
trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide
or other suitable gas). In the case of a pressurized aerosol, the
dosage unit may be determined by providing a valve to deliver a
metered amount of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
Capsules and cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator may be
formulated to contain a powder mix of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 and a suitable powder base such as
lactose or starch. Methods and materials that may be used to
package one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in pulmonary
administration form are known and have been described (i.e., U.S.
Pat. Nos. 6,921,527; 6,838,0763; 6,565,841; 6,451,286; 6,169,068;
5,993,783; 5,780,014; 5,719,123; 5,354,934; 5,284,656; 5,006,343;
hereby incorporated by reference).
[0101] At operation 804, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in depot
administration form. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
depot administration form. In some embodiments, depot
administration forms may be administered by implantation (i.e.,
subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intramuscular injection, subtenon,
intravitreal injection). Accordingly, for example, the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged with suitable polymeric
or hydrophobic materials, ion exchange resins, and the like.
Methods and materials that may be used to package pharmaceutical
agents 112 in depot administration form are known and are
commercially available (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,773,714; 6,630,155;
6,565,874; 5,945,115; herein incorporated by reference).
[0102] At operation 806, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to a rapid release profile. In some embodiments, one or
more packaging units 114 may package at least one of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a rapid release
profile. In some embodiments, water-soluble nonionic polysaccharide
derivatives may be used to package one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. For example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,
hydroxypropylcellulose, and/or sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be
used. Such polymers form coatings that quickly dissolve in water
and have a high permeability. Accordingly, in some embodiments,
such polymers may be used for rapid release of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are packaged in such materials
following administration to an individual 108. Numerous rapid
release formulations are known and have been described (i.e., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,979,463; herein incorporated by reference).
[0103] At operation 808, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to specified release at one or more times. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to
specified release at one or more times. In some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged so that they are
released from an administration form at one or more times following
administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be released at one or more times
following administration to maintain the dosage of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at or above a certain concentration.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the concentration of one
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be maintained over a period of time in
association with an individual 108. In other embodiments, the
concentration of more than one pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
maintained over a period of time in association with an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be packaged to be released in anticipation of an event, such as a
long airplane flight. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that induce sleep may be packaged into an
administration form so that an individual 108 to whom the
administration form is administered will fall asleep at a
precalculated time on an airplane during a long flight. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceuticals may be packaged into an
administration form such that an individual 108 to whom the
administration form is administered will not fall asleep during a
long meeting or presentation. For example, an administration form
may be prepared with non-drowsy versions of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. Numerous methods may be used to package
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 for release at one or more
times. For example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be wrapped into an administration form through
methods described herein. In such examples, the time of release of
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration
form may be controlled through selection of wrappers used to
formulate the administration form. For example, a thick wrapper may
be used to delay release while a thin wrapper may be used to
expedite release of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from
the administration form. In other embodiments, one or more wrappers
may be selected that are made of material that is more or less
resistant to degradation when administered to an individual 108.
Accordingly, materials having various chemical and physical
properties may be selected to produce administration forms that
release one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 at one or more
times.
[0104] At operation 810, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to release over one or more time intervals. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may package at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to
release over one or more time intervals. In some embodiments, one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged so that they are
released from an administration form over one or more time
intervals following administration to an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be released
over one or more times following administration to maintain the
dosage of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 at or above a
certain concentration. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the
concentration of one pharmaceutical agent 112 may be maintained
over a period of time in association with an individual 108. In
other embodiments, the concentration of more than one
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be maintained over a period of time in
association with an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged to be released over
one or more time intervals in anticipation of an event, such as a
long airplane flight, that may occur during the one or more time
intervals. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that induce sleep may be packaged into an
administration form so that they are released during the time
interval in which an individual 108 to whom the administration form
is administered is on an airplane. Numerous methods may be used to
package one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 for release over one
or more time intervals. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be wrapped into an
administration form through methods described herein. In such
examples, the time of release of the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 from the administration form may be controlled through
selection of wrappers used to prepare the administration form. For
example, a thick wrapper may be used to delay release while a thin
wrapper may be used to expedite release of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form. In other
embodiments, one or more wrappers may be selected that are made of
material that is more or less resistant to degradation when
administered to an individual 108. In other embodiments,
controlled-release formulations may be acquired and then packaged
for release over one or more time intervals.
[0105] FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 9 illustrates example
embodiments where the packaging operation 230 may include at least
one additional operation. Additional operations may include an
operation 902, operation 904, operation 906, operation 908 and/or
operation 910.
[0106] At operation 902, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to release at one or more sites associated with an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may package at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in response to release at one or more sites associated
with an individual 108. One or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be packaged for administration to numerous sites that are
associated with an individual 108. Examples of such sites include,
but are not limited to, the eyes, ears, nose, skin, mouth, stomach,
intestine, rectum, vagina, vascular system, pulmonary system,
gastrointestinal system, urinary system and lymphatic system.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, release of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 from an administration form at one or
more sites associated with an individual 108 may be controlled
through selection of materials that degrade under conditions
present at the desired site of release. For example, for release in
the stomach, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged
into an administration form that degrades when exposed to acidic
conditions. In other examples, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be released in the gastrointestinal tract by preparing an
administration form that is acid resistant but that degrades under
basic conditions. Numerous methods are known that may be used to
release one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 at one or more sites
associated with an individual 108.
[0107] At operation 904, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to a sustained release profile. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package at least one of the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a sustained
release profile. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be packaged with a carrier that may include a
time-delay or time-release material known in the art, such as
glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax,
ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylmethacrylate
and the like. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered using a
sustained-release system, such as semipermeable matrices of solid
hydrophobic polymers containing the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. Various sustained-release materials are known and have
been described. For example, sustained-release capsules may,
depending on their chemical composition, release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 for a few weeks up to over 100 days.
Numerous additional sustained-release formulations are known and
have been described (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,041,670; 7,041,317;
6,709,676; herein incorporated by reference).
[0108] At operation 906, the packaging operation 230 may include
packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in storage
material. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may
package the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in storage
material. Two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in
numerous types of storage material. Examples of storage material
include, but are not limited to, containers, boxes, ampoules,
vials, syringes, and the like. In some embodiments, storage
material includes advertising. In some embodiments, storage
material includes instructions for administration. Such
instructions may include time for administration, route of
administration, the name of the individual 108 to whom the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be administered, the identity
of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the dosage of the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112, appropriate buffers for
suspension of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the source
of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the name of a
physician or physicians who prescribed the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the date when the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 were prescribed, the date when the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 were packaged, the date when the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were manufactured, the expiration
date of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, and the
like.
[0109] At operation 908, the packaging operation 230 may include
labeling at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may label at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may place a label
directly on at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. Numerous methods may be used to label at least one of the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some
embodiments, one or more labeling units may stamp an indented label
into at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In
some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may stamp a label
onto at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
through use of one or more edible dyes. Such labels may include
numerous types of information. For example, such labels may
indicate the manufacturer of at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the date of manufacture, the date of
packaging, the dosage, the route of administration, and the like.
Such labels may be in substantially any language. In some
embodiments, at least one label may be a bar code.
[0110] At operation 910, the packaging operation 230 may include
labeling storage material containing the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114
may label storage material containing the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, storage material
may be labeled with advertising. In some embodiments, storage
material may be labeled with instructions for administration. Such
instructions may include time for administration, route of
administration, the name of the individual 108 to whom the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be administered, the identity
of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the dosage of the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112, appropriate buffers for
suspension of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the source
of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the name of a
physician or physicians who prescribed the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the date when the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 were prescribed, the date when the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 were packaged, the date when the two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were manufactured, the expiration
date of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, and the
like.
[0111] FIG. 10 illustrates an operational flow 1000 representing
examples of circuitry that is related to systems for individualized
pharmaceutical selection and packaging. In FIG. 10 and in following
figures that include various examples of circuitry that is related
to operations used during performance of a method, discussion and
explanation may be provided with respect to the above-described
example of FIG. 1, and/or with respect to other examples and
contexts. However, it should be understood that the operations may
be executed in a number of other environments and contexts, and/or
modified versions of FIG. 1. Also, although the various operations
are presented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should be
understood that the various operations may be performed in other
orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed
concurrently.
[0112] After a start operation, the operational flow 1000 includes
an accepting operation 1010 involving circuitry for accepting input
of one or more parameters associated with an individual. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be used to accept input 104 of one
or more parameters 106 associated with an individual 108. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be included within one or more
accepting units 102 that accept input 104 of one or more parameters
106 associated with an individual 108.
[0113] In some embodiments, an individual 108 may be a human. In
some embodiments, an individual 108 may be a non-human animal.
Examples of such non-human animals include, but are not limited to,
domestic pets such as dogs, cats, horses, potbelly pigs, ferrets,
rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and the like. Non-human animals also
include animals that include, but are not limited to, cattle,
sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, and the like. Accordingly, the
systems and methods described herein may be used in association
with substantially any human and/or non-human animal.
[0114] Numerous parameters 106 may be associated with an individual
108. Such parameters 106 may include, but are not limited to,
physical characteristics, metabolic characteristics, financial
characteristics, and the like. Examples of parameters 106 include,
an individual's height, weight, gender, kidney function, liver
function, level of physical fitness, age, allergic response,
metabolic level (i.e., resting metabolic rate and/or
activity-related metabolic rate), disease state, body fat
percentage, personal health habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health
history, insurance coverage, food supplement usage, nutraceutical
usage, non-prescription drug use, prescription drug use, pregnancy
status, and the like.
[0115] Numerous technologies may be used to provide input 104 that
include one or more parameters 106 associated with an individual
108. Examples of such technologies include, but are not limited to,
hardwired input 104, wireless input 104, computer input 104,
telephonic input 104, internet based input 104, intranet based
input 104, digital input 104, analog input 104, input 104 from a
human, input 104 from a palm held organizer, input 104 from a
personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled cellular
telephone, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more accepting
units 102 accept input 104 from one source. In some embodiments,
one or more accepting units 102 accept input 104 from more than one
source. For example, in some embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may
accept input 104 from an insurance company, a physician, a
pharmacist, a clinical laboratory and a pharmaceutical company. In
some embodiments, input 104 may be associated with a physician
input 104, a pharmacist input 104, a patient input 104, a machine
input 104 and/or substantially any combination thereof.
[0116] In some embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may include an
input device. For example, in some embodiments, an accepting unit
102 may include an interface, such as a keyboard, touch-screen
and/or the like, where parameters 106 associated with an individual
108 may be input 104 directly into the accepting unit 102. In some
embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may lack an interface where
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 may be directly
input 104 into the accepting unit 102. In some embodiments, an
accepting unit 102 may accept input 104 of one or more parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 from one or more locations
that are remote from the accepting unit 102. For example, in some
embodiments, an accepting unit 102 may accept input 104 from a
wireless device, the internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm
held organizer, input 104 from a personal digital assistant, input
104 from a web enabled cellular telephone, and the like.
[0117] After a start operation, the operational flow 1000 includes
a selecting operation 1020 involving circuitry for selecting two or
more pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one
or more parameters associated with the individual. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be used to select two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be included within one or more
selecting units 110 that can be used to select two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may select one or more
first pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the
one or more parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 and
select one or more second pharmaceutical agents 112 based on the
identity of the one or more first pharmaceutical agents 112
selected. For example, in some embodiments, one or more selecting
units 110 may select the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112
to act synergistically with each other when administered to an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units
110 may select the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 so
that they do not contraindicate each other when administered to an
individual 108. Pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in
response to numerous parameters 106.
[0118] After a start operation, the operational flow 1000 includes
a packaging operation 1030 involving circuitry for packaging the
two or more pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of
the one or more parameters associated with the individual. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be used to package the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, the circuitry may be included within one or more
packaging units 114 that can be used to package the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters 106 associated with the individual 108.
[0119] Numerous types of packaging units 114 may be used to package
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one
packaging unit 114 is used to package two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114
are used to package two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, two or more packaging units 114 are used to package
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, a first
packaging unit 114 may package one or more first pharmaceutical
agents 112, a second packaging unit 114 may package one or more
second pharmaceutical agents 112, and a third packaging unit 114
may package the one or more first pharmaceutical agents 112 and one
or more second pharmaceutical agents 112 together. In some
embodiments, one packaging unit 114 may package the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may formulate two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 for administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package two or more
preformulated pharmaceutical agents 112 for administration to an
individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may package two or more commercially available
pharmaceutical preparations to provide for single administration to
an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may package two or more preformulated tablets containing the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into a single capsule for
administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or
more packaging units 114 may wrap a second pharmaceutical agent 112
around a first pharmaceutical agent 112 through use of a
biocompatible and dissolvable wrapper to produce an administration
form having the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 in
concentric orientation relative to each other. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may package two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 into a compartmentalized capsule.
[0120] FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for accepting operation 1010 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1102, operation 1104, operation 1106,
operation 1108, operation 1110, operation 1112 and/or operation
1114.
[0121] At operation 1102, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a human individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a human individual 108. In some
embodiments, the one or more parameters 106 may include physical
characteristics, metabolic characteristics, financial
characteristics, and substantially any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, such parameters 106 may include, alone or in
combination and not limited to, an individual's height, weight,
gender, kidney function, liver function, level of physical fitness,
age, allergic response, metabolic level (i.e., resting metabolic
rate and/or activity-related metabolic rate), disease state, body
fat percentage, personal habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health
history, insurance coverage, food supplement usage, physical
activities, sleep schedule, activity level, occupation,
nutraceutical usage, non-prescription drug use, prescription drug
use, pregnancy status, predisposition toward the development of a
malady, genotype, phenotype, genetic predisposition, administration
form of a pharmaceutical agent, mode of administration, time of
administration, administration schedule, exposure to pathogens,
potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to toxins, potential
exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more parameters 106 associated with a human child may be
input 104. Accordingly, such parameters 106 may provide for
selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be
administered to a human child. In other embodiments, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection against one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that should not be administered to a
human child. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors such as, time, temperature, elevation,
humidity, events, activities and the like. For example, an input
104 may include parameters 106 related to an individual 108 who is
a mountain climber. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected that will not vaporize under lessened
atmospheric pressure, that will not freeze, and/or that will not
break. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input
104 that relate to administration form and mode of administration
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be
input 104 that indicate that the individual 108 prefers to orally
ingest pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that the individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to an
individual 108.
[0122] At operation 1104, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a non-human individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual 108.
Examples of such non-human animals include, but are not limited to,
domestic pets such as dogs, cats, horses, potbelly pigs, ferrets,
rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and the like. Non-human animals may
also be animals that include, but are not limited to, cattle,
sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, and the like. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, the methods and/or systems described herein may be
used for veterinary purposes. In some embodiments, the one or more
parameters 106 may include physical characteristics, metabolic
characteristics, financial characteristics (such as valuation of
the non-human animal), and substantially any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, such parameters 106 may include, alone or in
combination and not limited to, a non-human individual's height,
weight, gender, kidney function, liver function, level of physical
fitness, age, allergic response, metabolic level (i.e., resting
metabolic rate and/or activity-related metabolic rate), disease
state, body fat percentage, health history, insurance coverage,
food supplement usage, physical activities, sleep schedule,
activity level, nutraceutical usage, non-prescription drug use,
prescription drug use, pregnancy status, predisposition toward the
development of a malady, genotype, phenotype, genetic
predisposition, administration form, mode of administration,
exposure to pathogens, potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to
toxins, potential exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in
some embodiments, parameters 106 associated with an infant
non-human individual 108 may be input 104. Accordingly, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be administered to an infant
non-human individual 108. In other embodiments, such parameters 106
may provide for selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that should not be administered to an infant non-human
individual 108. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors surrounding the non-human individual 108 that
include time, temperature, elevation, humidity, events, activities
and the like. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may
be input 104 that relate to administration form and mode of
administration of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the
non-human individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 should be administered to the non-human
individual 108 orally. In some embodiments, one or more parameters
106 may be input 104 that indicate that the non-human individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to a
non-human individual 108.
[0123] At operation 1106, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a physician input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a physician input 104. In some
embodiments, one or more physicians may input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input 104 by one or
more physicians and one or more other sources. Other sources of
input 104 include, but are not limited to, veterinarian input 104,
pharmacist input 104, patient input 104, machine input 104, and the
like. In some embodiments, one or more physicians may examine the
individual 108 and input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with the individual 108 that are related to the examination. For
example, one or more physicians may input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with an individual's heart rate, skin
condition, allergy status, sleep status, and the like. In some
embodiments, one or more physicians may input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 without ever
seeing the individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more physicians may review a medical chart associated with the
individual 108 and input 104 parameters 106 based on the
information contained in the medical chart. In some embodiments,
one or more physicians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
an individual 108 from the physician's memory. In some embodiments,
one or more physicians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
an individual 108 following consultation with a database and/or
other source of information. In some embodiments, one or more
physicians may input 104 parameters 106 associated with an
individual 108 directly through use of a keyboard, a touch-screen,
and the like. In some embodiments, one or more physicians may input
104 parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 remotely
through use of numerous technologies that include, input 104 from a
wireless device, the internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm
held organizer, input 104 from a personal digital assistant, input
104 from a web enabled cellular telephone, and the like.
[0124] At operation 1108, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a veterinarian input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a veterinarian input 104. In
some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104 one or
more parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual 108. In
some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input 104 by
one or more veterinarians and one or more other sources. Other
sources of input 104 include, but are not limited to, physician
input 104, pharmacist input 104, patient input 104, machine input
104, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more veterinarians
may examine a non-human individual 108 and input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with the non-human individual 108 that
are related to the examination. For example, one or more
veterinarians may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated
with a non-human individual's heart rate, skin condition, allergy
status, sleep status, and the like. In some embodiments, one or
more veterinarians may input 104 one or more parameters 106
associated with a non-human individual 108 without ever seeing the
non-human individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more veterinarians may review a medical chart associated with the
non-human individual 108 and input 104 parameters 106 based on the
information contained in the medical chart. In some embodiments,
one or more veterinarians may input 104 parameters 106 associated
with a non-human individual 108 from the veterinarian's memory. In
some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104
parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual 108 following
consultation with a database and/or other source of information. In
some embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104
parameters 106 associated with a non-human individual 108 directly
through use of a keyboard, a touch-screen, and the like. In some
embodiments, one or more veterinarians may input 104 parameters 106
associated with a non-human individual 108 remotely through use of
numerous technologies that include, input 104 from a wireless
device, the internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm held
organizer, input 104 from a personal digital assistant, input 104
from a web enabled cellular telephone, and the like.
[0125] At operation 1110, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a pharmacist input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a pharmacist input 104. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input 104 one or more
parameters 106 associated with an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input 104 by one or
more pharmacists and one or more other sources. Other sources of
input 104 include, but are not limited to, physician input 104,
veterinarian input 104, patient input 104, machine input 104, and
the like. In some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may consult
with an individual 108 and input 104 one or more parameters 106
associated with the individual 108 that are related to the
consultation. For example, one or more pharmacists may input 104
one or more parameters 106 associated with an individual's heart
rate, skin condition, allergy status, sleep status, and the like.
In some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input 104 one or
more parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 without ever
seeing the individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more pharmacists may receive information associated with the
individual 108 and input 104 parameters 106 based on the received
information. In some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input
104 parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 from the
pharmacist's memory. In some embodiments, one or more pharmacists
may input 104 parameters 106 associated with an individual 108
following consultation with a database and/or other source of
information. In some embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input
104 parameters 106 associated with an individual 108 directly
through use of a keyboard, a touch-screen, and the like. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmacists may input 104 parameters 106
associated with an individual 108 remotely through use of numerous
technologies that include, input 104 from a wireless device, the
internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input
104 from a personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled
cellular telephone, and the like.
[0126] At operation 1112, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a patient input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a patient input 104. In some
embodiments, a patient may input 104 one or more parameters 106
associated with the patient. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 by the patient and one or more
other sources. Other sources of input 104 include, but are not
limited to, physician input 104, pharmacist input 104, patient
input 104, machine input 104, and the like. In some embodiments, a
patient may input 104 one or more parameters 106 associated with
the patient's heart rate, skin condition, allergy status, sleep
status, and the like. In some embodiments, a patient may input 104
parameters 106 associated with the patient following consultation
with a database and/or other source of information. In some
embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
the patient directly through use of a keyboard, a touch-screen, and
the like. In some embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters
106 associated with the patient remotely through use of numerous
technologies that include, input 104 from a wireless device, the
internet, an intranet, a telephone, a palm held organizer, input
104 from a personal digital assistant, input 104 from a web enabled
cellular telephone, and the like. In some embodiments, a patient
may input 104 parameters 106 associated with pharmaceutical agents
112 that are being administered to the patient. In some
embodiments, a patient may input 104 parameters 106 associated with
one or more times of administration of one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112.
[0127] At operation 1114, the accepting operation 1010 may include
circuitry for accepting the one or more parameters 106 associated
with a machine input 104. In some embodiments, one or more
accepting units 102 may include circuitry for accepting the one or
more parameters 106 associated with a machine input 104. In some
embodiments, the one or more parameters 106 may include physical
characteristics, metabolic characteristics, financial
characteristics, and substantially any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, such parameters 106 may include, alone or in
combination and not limited to, an individual's height, weight,
gender, kidney function, liver function, level of physical fitness,
age, allergic response, metabolic level (i.e., resting metabolic
rate and/or activity-related metabolic rate), disease state, body
fat percentage, personal habits (i.e., smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, illegal drug use, and the like), family health
history, insurance coverage, food supplement usage, physical
activities, sleep schedule, activity level, occupation,
nutraceutical usage, non-prescription drug use, prescription drug
use, pregnancy status, predisposition toward the development of a
malady, genotype, phenotype, genetic predisposition, administration
form of a pharmaceutical agent, mode of administration, time of
administration, administration schedule, exposure to pathogens,
potential exposure to pathogens, exposure to toxins, potential
exposure to toxins, and the like. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more parameters 106 associated with a human child may be
input 104. Accordingly, such parameters 106 may provide for
selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that may be
administered to a human child. In other embodiments, such
parameters 106 may provide for selection against one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that should not be administered to a
human child. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104 may
provide for the selection of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
However, in other embodiments, an input 104 may provide for
selection against one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, parameters 106 may be input 104 that relate to
environmental factors such as, time, temperature, elevation,
humidity, events, activities and the like. For example, an input
104 may include parameters 106 related to an individual 108 who is
a mountain climber. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected that will not vaporize under lessened
atmospheric pressure, that will not freeze, and/or that will not
break. In some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be input
104 that relate to administration form and mode of administration
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more parameters 106 may be
input 104 that indicate that the individual 108 prefers to orally
ingest pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
parameters 106 may be input 104 that indicate that the individual
108 is to ingest two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within a
given time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input 104
may be associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 that are compatible with each other and/or that do not
contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, an input 104 may be
associated with the selection of two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that act in a synergistic manner when administered to an
individual 108. In some embodiments, the machine is a diagnostic
machine that has been utilized during examination of the individual
108.
[0128] FIG. 12 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for selecting operation 1020 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1202, operation 1204, operation 1206,
operation 1208 and/or operation 1210.
[0129] At operation 1202, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one condition
specifically associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may include circuitry
for selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 in response to at least one condition specifically associated
with the individual 108.
[0130] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be an existing condition. In some
embodiments, an existing condition is a medical condition. Examples
of such medical conditions include, but are not limited to, viral
infection, bacterial infection, fungal infection, diabetes,
arthritis, gastrointestinal maladies, cancer, allergic responses,
psychological disorders, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, asthma,
chronic fatigue syndrome, epilepsy, heart disease, hemochromatosis,
hepatitis, stroke, food intolerance, and the like in substantially
any combination. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected to reduce or ameliorate the symptoms of a condition
or to treat the condition directly. Numerous pharmaceutical agents
112 that may be selected in response to a condition are known
(i.e., The Merck Index, 13.sup.th Edition, An Encyclopedia of
Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse
Station, N.J. 2001; Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
2004; Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20.sup.th
Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa. 2000;
Physicians' Desk Reference, 58.sup.th Edition, Thompson, PDR,
Montvale, N.J. 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,721, herein incorporated
by reference).
[0131] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a past condition. For example, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that a
condition, such as a medical condition, that an individual 108 was
treated for in the past will be disallowed from reoccurring or the
condition, or symptoms of the condition, may be reduced or
minimized if the condition were to reoccur in the individual 108.
For example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected to prevent or reduce the consequences of a
heart attack that may reoccur in an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to prevent or reduce the consequences of an epileptic seizure in an
individual 108. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to numerous past conditions associated
with the individual 108.
[0132] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a future condition. For example, one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that a
condition, such as a medical condition, that an individual 108 is
predisposed to developing in the future may be disallowed from
occurring or the condition, or symptoms of the condition, may be
reduced or minimized if the condition were to occur in the
individual 108. For example, bisphosphonates (alendronate,
ibandronate and risedronate), calcitonin, estrogens, parathyroid
hormone and raloxifene may be used for the prevention and/or
treatment of osteoporosis. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to numerous future
conditions associated with the individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to prevent
the occurrence of a future condition. For example, in some
embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
vaccines that prevent or reduce infection by one or more infectious
agents. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to conditions that are cyclic. For
example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected in response to a woman's menstrual cycle. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
in response to a psychological malady, such as depression, that
occurs in a cyclic manner. In other embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to hormonal
changes that are expected to occur in the future, such as
menopause.
[0133] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be an event or activity associated with
an individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to a
condition that is an event associated with an individual 108. For
example, in some embodiments, an individual 108 may be expecting to
participate in a sporting event. Accordingly, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response to the event
such that the one or more agents will not interfere with the
performance of the individual 108. In other examples, the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to improve
performance of the individual 108 in the event. In some
embodiments, an individual 108 may expect to give a presentation.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
that will not interfere with the performance of the individual 108
or that will improve performance of the individual 108 giving the
presentation.
[0134] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be related to the environment in which
the individual 108 resides or expects to reside. For example, if an
individual 108 expects to travel on a boat, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that will not contribute
to, or that will reduce or ameliorate, motion sickness. In some
embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
selected based on the climactic environment in which an individual
108 resides or expects to reside. For example, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on temperature,
humidity, atmospheric pressure, and the like in substantially any
combination. In some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected based on the biological environment in
which an individual 108 resides or expects to reside. For example,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on the
presence of allergens, pathogens, infectious agents, toxins,
organisms and the like in substantially any combination.
[0135] In some embodiments, a condition specifically associated
with an individual 108 may be a condition known to be associated
with the individual 108 or a condition thought to be associated
with an individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that can be used to
treat an individual 108 with a diagnosed condition. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
that can be administered to an individual 108 with an undiagnosed
condition with which the individual 108 was believed to be affected
in the in the past, present or future.
[0136] At operation 1204, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one dosage
specifically associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may include circuitry
for selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 in response to at least one dosage specifically associated with
the individual 108.
[0137] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to a
volume of one or more of the pharmaceutical agents 112. For
example, one or more selecting units 110 may select a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical agent 112
occupies less volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112. In
other examples, one or more selecting units 110 may select a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical agent 112
occupies more volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to increase or decrease the volume of the administration form of
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to promote administration
to an individual 108.
[0138] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to the
compatibility of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with each other or
with the individual 108 at the dosage associated with the
individual 108. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that are compatible with
each other in response to dosage of at least one of the
pharmaceutical agents 112 (i.e., see Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 2004). In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to act synergistically
with each other when administered to an individual 108 at a given
dosage. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected to avoid synergistic interactions with each other
when administered to an individual 108 at a given dosage. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to counteract or reduce any negative side-effects of the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 when they are administered to an
individual 108 at a given dosage. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected with regard to dosage so
that they do not contraindicate additional components, such as
nutraceuticals and/or food supplements, ingested by an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be selected with regard to the price of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to one or more dosages
associated with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially
available at two or more dosages that are priced differently.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected to achieve a desired dosage when
administered to an individual 108 while reducing or minimizing the
price associated with the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112.
[0139] At operation 1206, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to dosage of at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
selecting units 110 may include circuitry for selecting the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to dosage of at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
[0140] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be commercially available in preformulated administration
forms. Accordingly, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to administration forms that
are commercially available. For example, in some embodiments, a
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially available in 100
milligram, 250 milligram, 500 milligram, 750 milligram and 1000
milligram preformulated administration forms. In some instances, an
individual 108 may be prescribed to ingest 750 milligrams of a
pharmaceutical agent 112. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a 750
milligram administration form of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. In other embodiments, a 250 milligram and a 500
milligram administration form of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. In other embodiments, a 250 milligram and five 100
milligram administration forms of the pharmaceutical agent 112 may
be selected. Numerous combinations of administration forms may be
selected. In some embodiments, administration forms may be selected
with regard to price associated with the administration form. For
example, in some embodiments, it may be less expensive to achieve a
750 milligram dosage of a pharmaceutical agent 112 by combining one
250 milligram administration form with five 100 milligram
administration forms than selecting a single 750 milligram
administration form.
[0141] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected with regard to administration forms for
administration to an individual 108 over one or more periods of
time. For example, it may be desirable to administer 1000
milligrams of a pharmaceutical agent 112 to an individual 108 over
a ten hour time period. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a single
1000 milligram controlled release administration form may be
selected. In other embodiments, ten 100 milligram administration
forms may be selected and then packaged to be released at a rate of
one 100 milligram administration form per hour over the ten hour
period. Accordingly, numerous combinations of administration forms
and timed release may be selected.
[0142] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to one or
more volumes of one or more of the pharmaceutical agents 112 in the
available administration forms. For example, one or more selecting
units 110 may select a first pharmaceutical agent 112
preferentially over a second pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 occupies less volume than the second
pharmaceutical agent 112 with regard to available administration
forms. In other examples, one or more selecting units 110 may
select a first pharmaceutical agent 112 preferentially over a
second pharmaceutical agent 112 if the first pharmaceutical agent
112 occupies more volume than the second pharmaceutical agent 112
with regard to available administration forms. Accordingly, one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to increase or
decrease the volume of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to
promote administration to an individual 108.
[0143] In some embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may
select one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to
compatibility of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with each other
and/or with the individual 108 when administered to the individual
108 at dosages corresponding to available administration forms of
the pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected in response
to administration forms available for the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 (i.e., see Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 2004). In some embodiments, two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to act synergistically
with each other when administered to an individual 108 at available
administration forms. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to avoid synergistic
interactions with each other when administered to an individual 108
as available administration forms. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected to counteract or reduce
any negative side-effects of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 when they are administered to an individual 108 at an available
dosage. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected with regard to available dosage so that they do not
contraindicate additional components, such as nutraceuticals and/or
food supplements, ingested by an individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
with regard to the price of the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 with regard to one or more available dosages associated with
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutical agent 112 may be commercially
available at two or more dosages that are priced differently.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected to achieve a desired dosage when
administered to an individual 108 while reducing or minimizing the
price associated with the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112.
[0144] At operation 1208, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one time of
administration. In some embodiments, one or more selecting units
110 may include circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to at least one time of
administration.
[0145] In some embodiments, the at least one time of administration
is a time when the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be
administered to an individual 108 to provide for release of the one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form at a
specified time following administration. For example, in some
embodiments, at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be selected such that it is released from an administration
form about one hour after being administered to an individual 108.
In other embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
selected such that it is released from an administration form about
one hour after being administered to an individual 108 and a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be selected such that it is released
from an administration form about two hours after being
administered to the individual 108. Accordingly, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected that are released from an
administration form at a specified time following administration to
an individual 108 and thereupon become functionally available to
the individual 108. In some embodiments, two or more incompatible
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered to an individual 108
at the same time without adverse consequences by providing for
release of the incompatible pharmaceutical agents 112 at different
times such that they do not contraindicate each other. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that act
synergistically may be coadministered to an individual 108 such
that they are released at substantially the same time to provide
for synergistic action of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
with regard to the individual 108. Substantially any combination of
pharmaceutical agents 112, dosages and release times may be
selected.
[0146] In some embodiments, the at least one time of administration
is relative to a time or event preceding or following
administration of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to an
individual 108. Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be selected that are released from an administration form at a
relative time following administration to an individual 108 and
thereupon become functionally available to the individual 108. For
example, in some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be coadministered to an individual 108 such that a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 is released from the administration form
and a second pharmaceutical agent 112 is released from the
administration form at a second time that is relative to the time
of release of the first pharmaceutical agent 112. Accordingly, in
some embodiments, two or more incompatible pharmaceutical agents
112 may be administered to an individual 108 at the same time
without adverse consequences by providing for release of the
incompatible pharmaceutical agents 112 at different times such that
they do not contraindicate each other. In some embodiments, two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 that act synergistically may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that they are released at
substantially the same time to provide for synergistic action of
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with regard to the
individual 108. In some embodiments, dosages of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be altered in a relative manner. For
example, in some embodiments, the dosage of two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be calibrated relative to time of
day. In other embodiments, the dosage of two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be calibrated relative to hormonal cycles. In other
embodiments, the dosage of two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be calibrated relative to circadian rhythms. Substantially any
combination of pharmaceutical agents, dosages and release times may
be selected relative to a time, event and/or the like.
[0147] At operation 1210, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to two or more times of
administration within a time period. In some embodiments, one or
more selecting units 110 may include circuitry for selecting at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response
to two or more times of administration within a time period. In
some embodiments, a time period is defined as being a discrete
amount of time. For example, in some embodiments, a time period may
be defined in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years and
substantially any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a time
period may be defined as being an amount of time that is relative
to a measurable quantity and/or event. For example, in some
embodiments, a time period may be determined based on the
concentration of a pharmaceutical agent 112 that was previously
administered to an individual 108. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may be administered
to an individual 108 and a second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
administered to the same individual 108 when the concentration of
the first pharmaceutical agent 112 associated with the individual
108 either reaches a certain level or decreases to a certain level.
Numerous combinations of discrete and/or relative amounts of time
may be used during the selection of at least one of two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, at least one of the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected based on the
identity of a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that is to be
administered to an individual 108 within a time period in which the
first pharmaceutical agent 112 is still present and/or functionally
active in association with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 is selected such that
it does not contraindicate a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that
is to be administered to the individual 108 within a time period
when the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 are both
present and/or functionally active in association with the
individual 108. In some embodiments, the second pharmaceutical
agent 112 is selected such that it does not contraindicate a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 that is present and/or functionally active
in association with the individual 108. In some embodiments, a
first pharmaceutical agent 112 is selected such that it will act in
a synergistic manner with a second pharmaceutical agent 112 that is
to be administered to the individual 108 within a time period when
the first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 are both present
and/or functionally active in association with the individual 108.
In some embodiments, the second pharmaceutical agent 112 is
selected such that it will act in a synergistic manner with a first
pharmaceutical agent 112 that is present and/or functionally active
in association with the individual 108.
[0148] FIG. 13 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 13 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for selecting operation 1020 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1302, operation 1304, operation 1306,
operation 1308, and/or operation 1310.
[0149] At operation 1302, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to one or more sites of
administration associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may include circuitry
for selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 in response to one or more sites of administration associated
with the individual 108. One or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be administered at numerous sites associated with an individual
108. Examples of such sites include, but are not limited to, the
eyes, ears, nose, skin, mouth, stomach, intestine, rectum, vagina,
vascular system, pulmonary system, gastrointestinal system, urinary
system and lymphatic system. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered at a first site
associated with an individual 108 in preference to a second site
associated with an individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, it may be desirable to administer a pharmaceutical
agent 112 that is acid labile by injection into the vascular system
in preference to oral administration which may expose the
pharmaceutical agent 112 to acidic conditions. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 and where the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 will be administered to an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be selected in response to the site of action of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 on an individual 108. For example, in
some embodiments, an adhesive patch may be used to administer one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 for the treatment of a malady
associated with the skin. In some embodiments, one or more first
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected for administration to a
first site associated with an individual 108 and one or more second
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected such that the second
pharmaceutical agents 112 facilitate administration of the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, do not contraindicate the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, act synergistically with the first
pharmaceutical agents 112, are administered to a second site
associated with the individual 108, and/or substantially any
combination thereof.
[0150] At operation 1304, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to one or more sites of
release associated with the individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more selecting units 110 may include circuitry for selecting
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in
response to one or more sites of release associated with the
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be administered to an individual 108 at a first site
and then released from the administration form in which the
pharmaceutical agents 112 were administered at a second site
associated with the individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
administered to an individual 108 in an oral administration form
which can be released in the small intestine of the individual 108.
In examples of other embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be released into the vascular system of an individual 108
following transdermal administration of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that they are released
from their administration forms at two or more separate sites
associated with the individual 108. For example, in some
embodiments, a first and second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
coadministered to an individual 108 such that the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 is substantially released from the
administration form in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the
second pharmaceutical agent 112 is substantially released from the
administration form in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 that are incompatible or that would contraindicate each may be
coadministered to an individual 108 for release at different sites
associated with the individual 108 and/or at different times.
[0151] At operation 1306, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to one or more physiological
characteristics associated with the individual 108. In some
embodiments, one or more selecting units 110 may include circuitry
for selecting at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 in response to one or more physiological characteristics
associated with the individual 108. Numerous physiological
characteristics may be associated with an individual 108. Examples
of such characteristics include, but are not limited to, age,
gender, disease state, allergic responses, activity-related
metabolic rate, resting metabolic rate, liver function, kidney
function, weight, body fat percentage, epithelial cell function,
lung function, skin function, gastrointestinal tract function, and
substantially any combination thereof. Methods to predict drug
response and to assess and correlate metabolism to drug dosage are
known (i.e., International Publication Numbers: WO 03/084395 and WO
2005/041105; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,317,719 and 6,087,090, herein
incorporated by reference). Numerous assays may be used to assess
the ability of an individual 108 to metabolize one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, enzyme activities
may be assessed to determine the ability of an individual 108 to
metabolize one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. Examples of such
enzyme systems and activities that may be assessed include, but are
not limited to, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system, the
flavin-containing monooxygenase system, alcohol dehydrogenase,
aldehyde dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, cooxidation by
peroxidases, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, the presence of
reduced (ferrous) cytochrome P450, esterases, amidases, epoxide
hydrolase, glutathione S-transferases, mercapturic acid
biosynthesis, UDP-Glucoron(os)yltransferases, N-Acetyltransferases,
amino acid N-acyl transferases and sulfotransferases. In some
embodiments, first and second pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
effective to treat the same condition associated with an individual
108. However, an individual 108 may be able to metabolize the first
pharmaceutical agent 112 very quickly but metabolize a second
pharmaceutical agent 112 more slowly. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, the second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be selected
for administration to the individual 108 to avoid higher relative
metabolism of the first pharmaceutical agent 112 by the individual
108. In some embodiments, an individual 108 may mount an adverse
allergic response to one or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
Accordingly, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be selected
to avoid or minimize allergic response to administration of the one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to the individual 108. One or
more pharmaceutical agents, and combinations of one or more
pharmaceutical agents, may be selected in response to numerous
physiological characteristics associated with an individual
108.
[0152] At operation 1308, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in response to cost associated with at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
selecting units 110 may include circuitry for selecting the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to cost associated with
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, two or more different pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
used to treat the same or a similar condition associated with an
individual 108. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to select
a first pharmaceutical agent 112 having a lower associated cost
over a second pharmaceutical agent 112 having a higher associated
cost for administration to an individual 108. In other embodiments,
it may be preferable to select a first pharmaceutical agent 112
having a higher associated cost over a second pharmaceutical agent
112 having a lower associated cost for administration to an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to cost associated with the
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 and numerous additional
considerations. Such additional considerations include, but are not
limited to, allergic response, dosage, effectiveness, interaction
with other pharmaceutical agents 112 and substantially any
combination thereof.
[0153] At operation 1310, the selecting operation 1020 may include
circuitry for selecting at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to compatibility of at least
one of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with another of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
selecting units 110 may include circuitry for selecting at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to
compatibility of at least one of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with
another of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, at least one of the pharmaceutical agents 112 is
selected that does not interact with another of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, at least one of the
pharmaceutical agents 112 is selected to act in a synergistic
manner with another of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112.
In some embodiments, at least one of the pharmaceutical agents 112
is selected to not contraindicate at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112.
[0154] FIG. 14 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 14 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for packaging operation 1030 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1402, operation 1404, operation 1406,
operation 1408 and/or operation 1410.
[0155] At operation 1402, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or more pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers or excipients. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with one or more
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.
[0156] Pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged through use of
numerous known methods, such as conventional mixing, dissolving,
granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating,
entrapping or lyophilizing processes. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in a manner that depends
on the route that the pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be
administered to an individual 108.
[0157] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged with one or more solid or gel phase carriers or
excipients. Examples of such carriers or excipients include, but
are not limited to, croscarmellose sodium, povidone,
microcrystalline cellulose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate,
various sugars, starches, cellulose derivatives, gelatin,
pregelatinized starch, polymers such as polyethylene glycols,
lactose, lactose monohydrate, sucrose, talc, gelatin, agar, pectin,
acacia, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and substantially any
combination thereof. If a solid carrier is used, the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be tableted, placed in a hard gelatin
capsule in powder or pellet form, packaged in the form of a troche
or lozenge, and the like.
[0158] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged with a liquid carrier or excipient. Examples of
such liquid carriers include syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, water,
physiologically compatible buffers (i.e., Hanks solution and
Ringers solution), physiological saline buffer, and the like. If a
liquid carrier is used, the administration form may be in the form
of a syrup, emulsion, drop, soft gelatin capsule, sterile
injectable solution, suspension in an ampoule or vial, non-aqueous
liquid suspension, and the like.
[0159] One or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in
stable water-soluble dosage forms. For example, in some
embodiments, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be dissolved in an aqueous solution
of an organic or inorganic acid, such as 0.3M solution of succinic
acid or citric acid. If a soluble salt form is not available, a
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be dissolved in a suitable cosolvent
or combination of cosolvents. Examples of suitable cosolvents
include, but are not limited to, alcohol, propylene glycol,
polyethylene glycol 300, polysorbate 80, glycerin and the like in
concentrations ranging from 0-60% of the total volume. In some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be dissolved
in DMSO and diluted with water. The administration form may also be
in the form of a solution of a salt form of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in an appropriate aqueous vehicle such as
water or isotonic saline or dextrose solution.
[0160] In some embodiments, pharmaceutical agents 112 that are
hydrophobic may be packaged through use of a cosolvent system
comprising benzyl alcohol, a nonpolar surfactant, a water-miscible
organic polymer, and an aqueous phase. The cosolvent system may be
the VPD co-solvent system. VPD is a solution of 3 percent
weight/volume benzyl alcohol, 8 percent weight/volume of the
nonpolar surfactant polysorbate 80, and 65 percent weight/volume
polyethylene glycol 300, made up to volume in absolute ethanol. The
VPD co-solvent system (VPD:5W) consists of VPD diluted 1:1 with a 5
percent dextrose in water solution. This co-solvent system
dissolves hydrophobic pharmaceutical agents 112 well, and itself
produces low toxicity upon systemic administration. The proportions
of a co-solvent system may be varied considerably without
destroying its solubility and toxicity characteristics.
Furthermore, the identity of the co-solvent components may be
varied: for example, other low-toxicity nonpolar surfactants may be
used instead of polysorbate 80; the fraction size of polyethylene
glycol may be varied; other biocompatible polymers may replace
polyethylene glycol (i.e., polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and other sugars
or polysaccharides may substitute for dextrose). Many other
delivery systems may be used to administer hydrophobic
pharmaceutical agents 112 as well. For example, liposomes and
emulsions are well known examples of delivery vehicles or carriers
for hydrophobic drugs. Certain organic solvents such as
dimethysulfoxide also may be employed, although usually at the cost
of greater toxicity.
[0161] Some pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged as salts with
pharmaceutically compatible counter ions. Pharmaceutically
compatible salts may be formed with many acids, including
hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, lactic, tartaric, malic, succinic,
etc. Salts of pharmaceutical agents 112 tend to be more soluble in
aqueous or other protonic solvents than are the corresponding
free-base forms.
[0162] Numerous carriers and excipients are known and are
commercially available (i.e., The Merck Index, 13.sup.th Edition,
An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, Merck &
Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J. 2001; Mosby's Drug Guide, Mosby,
Inc., St. Louis, Mo. 2004; Remington: The Science and Practice of
Pharmacy, 20.sup.th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
Philadelphia, Pa. 2000; Physicians' Desk Reference, 58.sup.th
Edition, Thompson, PDR, Montvale, N.J. 2004; U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,773,721; 7,053,107; 7,049,312 and Published U.S. Patent
Application No. 20040224916; herein incorporated by reference).
[0163] At operation 1404, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
with one or more wrappers for administration to the individual 108.
In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
with one or more wrappers for administration to the individual 108.
In some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
packaged by wrapping the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into
a single administration form for administration to an individual
108. In some embodiments, the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be preformulated prior to being wrapped in one or more
wrappers. For example, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that
are in prescription form may be wrapped into a single
administration form. In other embodiments, the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined together and then wrapped
in one or more wrappers. In other embodiments, two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined together with a suitable
carrier and then wrapped in one or more wrappers. Numerous
materials may be used to wrap the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to,
polymers that include esters of cellulose and its derivatives
(cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate),
polyvinyl acetate phthalate, pH-sensitive methacrylic
acid-methamethacrylate copolymers, shellac, and the like. Numerous
water insoluble polymers may be used that include cellulose
derivatives (i.e., ethylcellulose), polyvinyl acetate, neutral
copolymers based on ethyl acrylate and methylmethacrylate,
copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acid esters with quaternary
ammonium groups, and the like. In some embodiments, polymers used
in forming the wrappers may be plasticized. Examples of
plasticizers that may be used to plasticize the wrappers include,
but are not limited to, triacetin, tributyl citrate, triethyl
citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate diethyl phthalate, castor oil,
dibutyl sebacate, acetylated monoglycerides, and the like and/or
substantially any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the
plasticizer may be present at about 3 to 30 weight percent and more
typically about 10 to 25 weight percent based on the polymer to
which the plasticizer is added. The type of plasticizer and its
content depends on the polymer or polymers, nature of the coating
system. In some embodiments, water-soluble nonionic polysaccharide
derivatives may be used to wrap one or more pharmaceutical agents
112. For example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,
hydroxypropylcellulose, and/or sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be
used. Such polymers form coatings that quickly dissolve in water
and have a high permeability. Accordingly, in some embodiments,
such polymers may be used for rapid release of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are wrapped in such a wrapper
following administration to an individual 108. In some embodiments,
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be wrapped in a wrapper
that provides for sustained release of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be released continuously over twelve hours through
use of wrappers constructed from ethyl cellulose and an ethyl
acrylate-methyl methacrylate-ethyl trimethylammoniumchloride
methacrylate copolymer as the release controlling wrapper. Methods
and materials that may be used to prepare wrappers are known in the
art and are commercially available (i.e., Rohm Pharma, Piscataway,
N.J.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,656,507; 7,048,945; 7,056,951; hereby
incorporated by reference).
[0164] In some embodiments, one wrapper may be used to wrap two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 into an administration form. For
example, the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be combined
together and then wrapped into an administration form in one
wrapper for release at the same time following administration to an
individual 108. In other embodiments, one continuous wrapper may be
used to wrap the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 into an
administration form in which the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 are separated from each other. For example, in some
embodiments, one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be covered with a continuous wrapper to form a core and then a
second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be wrapped around the core with
the continuous wrapper to form an administration form. This process
may be repeated with multiple pharmaceutical agents 112 to form a
multilayered administration form in which the multiple
pharmaceutical agents 112 are separated from each other. In some
embodiments, such a configuration provides for the release of
pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form at different
times and/or at different sites associated with an individual 108
to which the administration form is administered. In some
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are wrapped into
an administration form together and additional pharmaceutical
agents 112 are wrapped into the administration form in separate
layers. Accordingly, pharmaceutical agents 112 may be oriented in
the administration form to be released from the administration form
at the same time and/or site or such that they are released at
different times and/or sites. Examples of such sites include, but
are not limited to, the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small
intestine, large intestine, and the rectum.
[0165] At operation 1406, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
within two or more concentric wrappers for administration to the
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or more concentric wrappers
for administration to the individual 108. In some embodiments, two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged by wrapping the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or more wrappers
to form an administration form. In some embodiments, the same type
of material is used to form the two or more wrappers in the
administration form. In some embodiments, different types of
material are used as wrappers to form the administration form. For
example, an outer wrapper may be selected to dissolve rapidly and
release one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 soon after
administration of the administration form to the individual 108
while an inner wrapper may be selected to release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at a later time and/or at a different
site associated with an individual 108. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, multiple pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged
into the same administration form for release at different times
and at different sites following administration of the
administration form to an individual 108. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be the same to provide for continuous
dosing of an individual 108. In some embodiments, the
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be different to provide for dosing of
an individual 108 with different pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, some of the pharmaceutical agents 112 may be the same
to provide for continuous dosing of an individual 108 and others
may be different to provide for dosing of an individual 108 with
different pharmaceutical agents 112. Accordingly, numerous
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112 and wrappers may be
assembled into an administration form.
[0166] At operation 1408, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
within two or more nested capsules for administration to the
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 within two or more nested capsules for
administration to the individual 108. In some embodiments, two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged into an
administration form through use of nested capsules. In some
embodiments, a first pharmaceutical agent 112 may be packaged in a
first capsule and a second pharmaceutical agent 112 may be packaged
in a second capsule in which the first capsule is included to
create an administration form having nested capsules. Accordingly,
administration forms may be constructed that include two or more
nested capsules. In some embodiments, such administration forms may
include two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In other
embodiments, such administration forms may include one type of
pharmaceutical agent 112 that is contained within multiple capsules
of the administration form and one or more types of different
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are also contained within the
capsules included within the administration form. In some
embodiments, the material used to construct the individual capsules
of a single administration form is the same. In some embodiments,
the material used to construct the individual capsules of a single
administration form is different. In some embodiments, the material
used to construct some of the individual capsules of a single
administration form may be the same while the material used to
construct other individual capsules of the single administration
form may be different. Accordingly, through selection of materials
used to construct the individual capsules contained in an
administration form, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
released from one administration form at one or more times and/or
at one or more sites associated with the individual 108. For
example, as with wrapping materials described herein, materials may
be selected for constructing capsules that release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at a site associated with an individual
108. Examples of such sites include, but are not limited to, the
mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large
intestine, and the rectum.
[0167] At operation 1410, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
within at least one tablet for administration to the individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may
include circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 within at least one tablet for administration to the
individual 108. In some embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be selected in response to one or more parameters
106 associated with an individual 108 and packaged into at least
one table. Methods to package two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
into at least one tablet for administration to an individual 108
are known (i.e., Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 20040224916
and 20050013863; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,962; 6,280,771; herein
incorporated by reference). Accordingly, in some embodiments, two
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged into a tablet
such that the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are released at
the same or different times following administration of the tablet
to an individual 108. In other embodiments, two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged into a tablet such that
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are released at the same
or different sites associated with an individual 108 following
administration of the tablet to an individual 108. In other
embodiments, two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged
into a tablet such that the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
are released at the same or different times and at the same or
different sites associated with an individual 108 following
administration of the tablet to the individual 108.
[0168] FIG. 15 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 15 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for packaging operation 1030 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1502, operation 1504, operation 1506,
operation 1508 and/or operation 1510.
[0169] At operation 1502, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the pharmaceutical agents
112 with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable poloxamers,
humectants, binders, disintegrants, fillers, diluents, lubricants,
glidants, flow enhancers, compression aids, coloring agents,
sweeteners, preservatives, suspending agents, dispersing agents,
film formers, coatings, flavoring agents or printing inks. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may include circuitry
for packaging at least one of the pharmaceutical agents 112 with
one or more pharmaceutically acceptable poloxamers, humectants,
binders, disintegrants, fillers, diluents, lubricants, glidants,
flow enhancers, compression aids, coloring agents, sweeteners,
preservatives, suspending agents, dispersing agents, film formers,
coatings, flavoring agents or printing inks.
[0170] At operation 1504, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in unit dosage form. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in unit
dosage form.
[0171] The term "unit dosage form" refers to one or more amounts of
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that are suitable as unitary
dosages for individuals, such as human and non-human individuals,
with each unit containing a predetermined quantity of at least one
pharmaceutical agent 112 calculated to produce a desired effect,
such as a therapeutic effect, in association with one or more
suitable pharmaceutical carriers. Such unit dosage forms may be
packaged in numerous configurations that include, but are not
limited to, tablets, capsules, ampoules, and other administration
forms known in the art and described herein. In some embodiments,
two or more unit dosage forms of one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be packaged into an administration form. For example, in
some embodiments, two unit dosage forms may be wrapped into an
administration form through use of a continuous wrapper such that
they are released at different times following administration to an
individual 108. In such an example, two unit dosage forms are
included within one administration form. Accordingly, numerous
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112 and unit dosage forms may
be included within an administration form.
[0172] At operation 1506, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in oral administration form. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in oral administration form.
[0173] For oral administration, one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be packaged into an oral administration form by combining
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 with pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers that are well known in the art. Such carriers
allow the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 to be formulated as
tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries,
suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by an individual 108.
Oral administration forms can be obtained by combining the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 with a solid excipient, optionally
grinding the resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of
granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain
tablets or dragee cores. Suitable excipients are, in particular,
fillers such as sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or
sorbitol; cellulose preparations such as, for example, maize
starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, gum
tragacanth, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium
carboxymethylcellulose, and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone. If desired,
disintegrating agents may be added, such as the cross-linked
polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, or alginic acid or a salt thereof such
as sodium alginate.
[0174] Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this
purpose, concentrated sugar solutions may be used, which may
optionally contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,
carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer
solutions, and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures.
Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to the tablets or dragee
coatings for identification or to characterize different
combinations of pharmaceutical agents 112.
[0175] Oral administration forms may include push-fit capsules made
of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a
plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fit capsules
can contain one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in admixture with
a filler such as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or
lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally,
stabilizers. In soft capsules, the pharmaceutical agents 112 may be
dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils,
liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycols. In addition,
stabilizers may be added. All oral dosage forms may be prepared in
dosages suitable for such administration. For buccal
administration, the pharmaceutical agents 112 may take the form of
tablets or lozenges formulated in a conventional manner.
[0176] At operation 1508, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in parenteral administration form. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in parenteral administration
form.
[0177] The one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be formulated
for parenteral administration by injection (i.e., bolus injection
or continuous infusion). Formulations for injection may be
presented in unit dosage form (i.e., in ampoules or in multi-dose
containers) with an added preservative. The administration forms
may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily
or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as
suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Administration
forms for parenteral administration may include aqueous solutions
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in water-soluble form.
In some embodiments, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be formulated in physiologically compatible buffers that include
Hanks solution, Ringers solution, physiological saline buffer, and
the like. Additionally, suspensions of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be prepared as appropriate oily
injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents include fatty
oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as
ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Aqueous injection
suspensions may include substances which increase the viscosity of
the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol,
or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also contain suitable
stabilizers or agents which increase the solubility of the one or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 to allow for the preparation of
highly concentrated solutions.
[0178] At operation 1510, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in transdermal administration form. In some embodiments, one or
more packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the
two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in transdermal administration
form. For transdermal, including transmucosal, administration of
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112, penetrants appropriate
to the barrier or barriers to be permeated may be used in the
formulation. Briefly, in some embodiments, a transdermal
administration form may include an ethoxylated lipid, an alcohol
mixed with the ethoxylated lipid to form a penetration enhancer, an
aqueous adjuvant mixed with the penetration enhancer, and a
delivered pharmaceutical agent 112 mixed with the aqueous adjuvant
and the penetration enhancer. In some embodiments, the aqueous
adjuvant is a plant extract from the family of Liliaceae Liliaceae.
In some embodiments, the ethoxylated lipid is a vegetable oil or
animal oil having at least 20 ethoxylations per molecule. In other
embodiments, about 0.1 percent to 40.0 percent by weight or volume
is ethoxylated lipid. Other embodiments may include a transdermal
delivery system that includes about 0.1 percent to 15 percent by
weight or volume of alcohol or where about 0.1 percent to 85
percent by weight or volume is Aloe Vera. Numerous transdermal
administration forms are known and have been described (i.e., U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,820,876; 7,045,145; 6,946,144; incorporated herein by
reference).
[0179] FIG. 16 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 16 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for packaging operation 1030 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1602, operation 1604, operation 1606,
operation 1608 and/or operation 1610.
[0180] At operation 1602, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in pulmonary administration form. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in pulmonary administration form.
For pulmonary administration, the one or more pharmaceutical agents
112 may be delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from
pressurized packs or a nebuliser, with the use of a suitable
propellant (i.e., dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane,
dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas).
In the case of a pressurized aerosol, the dosage unit may be
determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount of the
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112. Capsules and cartridges for
use in an inhaler or insufflator may be formulated to contain a
powder mix of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 and a
suitable powder base such as lactose or starch. Methods and
materials that may be used to package one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 in pulmonary administration form are known and have been
described (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,921,527; 6,838,0763; 6,565,841;
6,451,286; 6,169,068; 5,993,783; 5,780,014; 5,719,123; 5,354,934;
5,284,656; 5,006,343; hereby incorporated by reference).
[0181] At operation 1604, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in depot administration form. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in depot administration form. In
some embodiments, depot administration forms may be administered by
implantation (i.e., subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intramuscular
injection, subtenon, intravitreal injection). Accordingly, for
example, the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged
with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials, ion exchange
resins, and the like. Methods and materials that may be used to
package pharmaceutical agents 112 in depot administration form are
known and are commercially available (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,773,714; 6,630,155; 6,565,874; 5,945,115; herein incorporated by
reference).
[0182] At operation 1606, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a rapid release profile.
In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a rapid release profile.
In some embodiments, water-soluble nonionic polysaccharide
derivatives may be used to package one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. For example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,
hydroxypropylcellulose, and/or sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be
used. Such polymers form coatings that quickly dissolve in water
and have a high permeability. Accordingly, in some embodiments,
such polymers may be used for rapid release of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that are packaged in such materials
following administration to an individual 108. Numerous rapid
release formulations are known and have been described (i.e., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,979,463; herein incorporated by reference).
[0183] At operation 1608, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to specified release at one
or more times. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114
may include circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to specified release at one
or more times. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be packaged so that they are released from an
administration form at one or more times following administration
to an individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be released at one or more times
following administration to maintain the dosage of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at or above a certain concentration.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the concentration of one
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be maintained over a period of time in
association with an individual 108. In other embodiments, the
concentration of more than one pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
maintained over a period of time in association with an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be packaged to be released in anticipation of an event, such as a
long airplane flight. For example, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 that induce sleep may be packaged into an
administration form so that an individual 108 to whom the
administration form is administered will fall asleep at a
precalculated time on an airplane during a long flight. In other
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged
into an administration form such that an individual 108 to whom the
administration form is administered will not fall asleep during a
long meeting or presentation. For example, an administration form
may be prepared with non-drowsy versions of one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. Numerous methods may be used to package
one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 for release at one or more
times. For example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be wrapped into an administration form through
methods described herein. In such examples, the time of release of
the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration
form may be controlled through selection of wrappers used to
formulate the administration form. For example, a thick wrapper may
be used to delay release while a thin wrapper may be used to
expedite release of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from
the administration form. In other embodiments, one or more wrappers
may be selected that are made of material that is more or less
resistant to degradation when administered to an individual 108.
Accordingly, materials having various chemical and physical
properties may be selected to produce administration forms that
release one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 at one or more
times.
[0184] At operation 1610, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to release over one or more
time intervals. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units
114 may include circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to release over one or
more time intervals.
[0185] In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged so that they are released from an administration
form over one or more time intervals following administration to an
individual 108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 may be released over one or more times following
administration to maintain the dosage of the one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at or above a certain concentration.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the concentration of one
pharmaceutical agent 112 may be maintained over a period of time in
association with an individual 108. In other embodiments, the
concentration of more than one pharmaceutical agent 112 may be
maintained over a period of time in association with an individual
108. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may
be packaged to be released over one or more time intervals in
anticipation of an event, such as a long airplane flight, that may
occur during the one or more time intervals. For example, in some
embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 that induce
sleep may be packaged into an administration form so that they are
released during the time interval in which an individual 108 to
whom the administration form is administered is on an airplane.
Numerous methods may be used to package one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112 for release over one or more time intervals. For
example, in some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be wrapped into an administration form through methods
described herein. In such examples, the time of release of the one
or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the administration form may
be controlled through selection of wrappers used to formulate the
administration form. For example, a thick wrapper may be used to
delay release while a thin wrapper may be used to expedite release
of the one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from the
administration form. In other embodiments, one or more wrappers may
be selected that are made of material that is more or less
resistant to degradation when administered to an individual 108. In
other embodiments, controlled-release formulations may be acquired
and then packaged for release over one or more time intervals.
[0186] FIG. 17 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example
operational flow 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 17 illustrates example
embodiments where the circuitry for packaging operation 1030 may
include at least one additional operation. Additional operations
may include an operation 1702, operation 1704, operation 1706,
operation 1708, and/or operation 1710.
[0187] At operation 1702, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to release at one or more
sites associated with an individual 108. In some embodiments, one
or more packaging units 114 may include circuitry for packaging at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 in response
to release at one or more sites associated with an individual 108.
One or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged for
administration to numerous sites that are associated with an
individual 108. Examples of such sites include, but are not limited
to, the eyes, ears, nose, skin, mouth, stomach, intestine, rectum,
vagina, vascular system, pulmonary system, gastrointestinal system,
urinary system and lymphatic system. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, release of one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 from
an administration form at one or more sites associated with an
individual 108 may be controlled through selection of materials
that degrade under conditions present at the desired site of
release. For example, for release in the stomach, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged into an administration
form that degrades when exposed to acidic conditions. In other
examples, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112 may be released in
the gastrointestinal tract by preparing an administration form that
is acid resistant but that degrades under basic conditions.
Numerous methods are known that may be used to release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 at one or more sites associated with an
individual 108.
[0188] At operation 1704, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a sustained release
profile. In some embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may
include circuitry for packaging at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in response to a sustained release
profile. In some embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical agents 112
may be packaged with a carrier that may include a time-delay or
time-release material known in the art, such as glyceryl
monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax,
ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylmethacrylate
and the like. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be administered using a
sustained-release system, such as semipermeable matrices of solid
hydrophobic polymers containing the one or more pharmaceutical
agents 112. Various sustained-release materials are known and have
been described. For example, sustained-release capsules may,
depending on their chemical composition, release one or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 for a few weeks up to over 100 days.
Numerous additional sustained-release formulations are known and
have been described (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,041,670; 7,041,317;
6,709,676; herein incorporated by reference).
[0189] At operation 1706, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for packaging the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
in storage material. In some embodiments, one or more packaging
units 114 may include circuitry for packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 in storage material. Two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112 may be packaged in numerous types of
storage material. Examples of storage material include, but are not
limited to, containers, boxes, ampoules, vials, syringes, and the
like. In some embodiments, storage material includes advertising.
In some embodiments, storage material includes instructions for
administration. Such instructions may include time for
administration, route of administration, the name of the individual
108 to whom the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 are to be
administered, the identity of the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112, the dosage of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112,
appropriate buffers for suspension of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the source of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the name of a physician or physicians
who prescribed the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the date
when the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were prescribed, the
date when the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were packaged,
the date when the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were
manufactured, the expiration date of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112, and the like.
[0190] At operation 1708, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for labeling at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for labeling at least one
of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments,
one or more packaging units 114 may place a label directly on at
least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. Numerous
methods may be used to label at least one of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. For example, in some embodiments, one or
more packaging units 114 may stamp an indented label into at least
one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In some
embodiments, one or more packaging units 114 may stamp a label onto
at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 through
use of one or more edible dyes. Such labels may include numerous
types of information. For example, such labels may indicate the
manufacturer of at least one of the two or more pharmaceutical
agents 112, the date of manufacture, the date of packaging, the
dosage, the route of administration, and the like. Such labels may
be in any substantially any language. In some embodiments, at least
one label may be a bar code.
[0191] At operation 1710, the packaging operation 1030 may include
circuitry for labeling storage material containing the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112. In some embodiments, one or more
packaging units 114 may include circuitry for labeling storage
material containing the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112. In
some embodiments, storage material may be labeled with advertising.
In some embodiments, storage material may be labeled with
instructions for administration. Such instructions may include time
for administration, route of administration, the name of the
individual 108 to whom the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
are to be administered, the identity of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, the dosage of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, appropriate buffers for suspension of
the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112, the source of the two or
more pharmaceutical agents 112, the name of a physician or
physicians who prescribed the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112, the date when the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112 were
prescribed, the date when the two or more pharmaceutical agents 112
were packaged, the date when the two or more pharmaceutical agents
112 were manufactured, the expiration date of the two or more
pharmaceutical agents 112, and the like.
[0192] FIG. 18 illustrates a partial view of a system 1800 that
includes a computer program 1804 for executing a computer process
on a computing device. An embodiment of the system 1800 is provided
using a signal-bearing medium 1802 bearing at least one of one or
more instructions for accepting input of one or more parameters
associated with an individual, one or more instructions for
selecting two or more pharmaceutical agents in response to at least
one of the one or more parameters associated with the individual;
and one or more instructions for packaging the two or more
pharmaceutical agents in response to at least one of the one or
more parameters associated with the individual. The one or more
instructions may be, for example, computer executable and/or
logic-implemented instructions. In some embodiments, the
signal-bearing medium 1802 may include a computer-readable medium
1806. In some embodiments, the signal bearing medium 1802 may
include a recordable medium 1808. In some embodiments, the signal
bearing medium 1802 may include a communications medium 1810.
[0193] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or
singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate
from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the
plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The
various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth
herein for sake of clarity.
[0194] While particular aspects of the present subject matter
described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein,
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and,
therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope
all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit
and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it
is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended
claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in
general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims
(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one
or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles
used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a
specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the
recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where
a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one
having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a
system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be
limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to
"at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a
construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art
would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least
one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that
have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that virtually any
disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative
terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be
understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the
terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase
"A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or
"B" or "A and B."
[0195] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state
of the art has progressed to the point where there is little
distinction left between hardware and software implementations of
aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally
(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between
hardware and software can become significant) a design choice
representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in
the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein
can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and
that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed.
For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy
are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or
firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the
implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet
again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination
of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several
possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or
other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which
is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be
utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the
vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed,
flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which
may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical
aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented
hardware, software, and or firmware.
[0196] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various
embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions
and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art
that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,
flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several
portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented
via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs),
or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in
whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated
circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more
computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more
processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination
thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code
for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of
one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the
subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as
a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies
regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to
actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing
medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable
type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact
Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer
memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital
and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a
waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication
link, etc.).
[0197] In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the various embodiments described herein can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by various types of
electro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electrical
components such as hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any
combination thereof; and a wide range of components that may impart
mechanical force or motion such as rigid bodies, spring or
torsional bodies, hydraulics, and electro-magnetically actuated
devices, or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as
used herein "electro-mechanical system" includes, but is not
limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer
(e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, etc.),
electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical
circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated
circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application
specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general
purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a
general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at
least partially carries out processes and/or devices described
herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which
at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described
herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms
of random access memory), electrical circuitry forming a
communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or
optical-electrical equipment), and any non-electrical analog
thereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art
will also appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems
include but are not limited to a variety of consumer electronics
systems, as well as other systems such as motorized transport
systems, factory automation systems, security systems, and
communication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily
limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanical
actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.
[0198] In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware,
software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewed as
being composed of various types of "electrical circuitry."
Consequently, as used herein "electrical circuitry" includes, but
is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one
discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least
one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one
application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry
forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer
program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer
program which at least partially carries out processes and/or
devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a
computer program which at least partially carries out processes
and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a
memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or
electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a
modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical equipment).
Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject
matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital
fashion or some combination thereof.
[0199] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems
in the fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering
and/or business practices to integrate such implemented devices
and/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices
and/or processes and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the
devices and/or processes and/or systems described herein can be
integrated into other devices and/or processes and/or systems via a
reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art
will recognize that examples of such other devices and/or processes
and/or systems might include--as appropriate to context and
application--all or part of devices and/or processes and/or systems
of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., an airplane, rocket, hovercraft,
helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground conveyance (e.g., a car, truck,
locomotive, tank, armored personnel carrier, etc.), (c) a building
(e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.), (d) an appliance (e.g., a
refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer, etc.), (e) a
communications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone
system, a voice-over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g.,
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable,
Quest, Southwestern Bell, etc), or (g) a wired/wireless services
entity such as Sprint, Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.
[0200] Although user 120 is shown/described herein as a single
illustrated figure, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a
user 120 may be representative of a human user, a robotic user 120
(e.g., computational entity), and/or substantially any combination
thereof (e.g., a user 120 may be assisted by one or more robotic
agents). In addition, a user 120 as set forth herein, although
shown as a single entity may in fact be composed of two or more
entities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in
general, the same may be said of "sender" and/or other
entity-oriented terms as such terms are used herein.
[0201] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably
coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0202] All publications, patents and patent applications cited
herein are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing
specification has been described in relation to certain embodiments
thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of
illustration, however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and
that certain of the details described herein may be varied
considerably without departing from the basic principles of the
invention.
* * * * *