System for identifying solid dosage units

Abstract

A system is described for identifying solid dosage units, such as tablets or capsules, of drugs or other medicaments which may be found beside a patient or which may have been handed in at a hospital. The system comprises a sizing member having a substantially straightsided channel which tapers towards one end to define a V-shaped channel in which a dosage unit can be placed, markings being associated with the channel for indicating a dimension parameter of the unit when so placed. The system also comprises a color region having a plurality of colored areas for indicating a color parameter of the dosage unit, a shape region bearing a series of shape parameters and an information storage and retrieval system which may be in the form of a punched card system or a computer. Parameters of the dosage unit obtained from said V-shaped channel, from said color region and from said shape region, and, optionally, from other physical characteristics of the dosage unit are fed into the information storage and retrieval system to provide an identification of the unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.