CA2129137A1 - Tablet accumulator for automated vial filling system - Google Patents
Tablet accumulator for automated vial filling systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2129137A1 CA2129137A1 CA002129137A CA2129137A CA2129137A1 CA 2129137 A1 CA2129137 A1 CA 2129137A1 CA 002129137 A CA002129137 A CA 002129137A CA 2129137 A CA2129137 A CA 2129137A CA 2129137 A1 CA2129137 A1 CA 2129137A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drugs
- drug
- vial
- gravity
- influence
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/0092—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
- B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
- B65B5/101—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by gravity
- B65B5/103—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by gravity for packaging pills or tablets
Abstract
A method and system for staging drugs dispensed from a drug dispensing apparatus (26) including an accumulator (70) operative to temporarily accumulate drugs for later dispensing into vials. The accumulator (70) includes one or more staging containers (72, 74, 76, 78) positioned to receive dispensed drugs that fall freely under the influence of gravity, each container (72, 74, 76, 78) having an outlet (80, 82, 84, 86) that is selectively openable so that the drugs retained therein can be delivered to a vial (18) at a later time. Several orders can be staged in parallel if several such staging containers (72, 74, 76, 78) are provided. The drugs are staged in the accumulator (70) for dispensing before vials are positioned so that dispensing of all the drugs for each vial (18) may be performed simultaneously.
Description
'VO94/1~3 212 913 7 PCT~S93/10~14 - 8P~IFICATION
TITLE:
5TABl Fr AC:CUMULATOR FOR AUTOMATED VIAL flLLlNG SYSTEM
: a~&RO~D OF ~EE~ N~I~N
The present invention generally relates to m~thods and apparatus for dispensing prescriptions. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for staging medications for dispensing and filling containers, such as vials~
Generally, out-pati~nts from a hospital or medical office have been provided with prescriptions in one of two ways. 9ne way is to provide oral, solid prescriptions that are prefi.lled in vials at a remote location and k pt in inventory at a pharmacy. These pre-filled vials are removed from stock when needed and relabelled with patient specific information. Another method involves filling prescriptions by having a pharmacist hand-count the requir~d drugs from a bulk supply and then place a patient specific label on a vial.
There are disadvantages to both of these prescriptions ~illing methods. If pharmacists elect to use prefilled vials, they must carry an inventory of several hundred druq types. Further, they must manage inventory levels and monitor stock for expiring products.
Generally, a pharmaci~t will pay a premium for having the vials prefilled.
--30On the other hand, filling prescriptions from bulk on an individual basis is very la~or intensi~e and su~ject to human accounting err9rs. Further, ser~icing ~ a larg~ ou~-patient population requires large numbers of W09411~93 PCT~S93/1~514 9~
pharmacists.
Many out-patient facilities use a combination of these two systems, supplying prefilled vials on high volume products and hand-filling vials with products that are less in demand.
A method of direct dispensing drugs into a vial is used in some operations. Direct dispensing is a proc ss whexein tablets are dispensed one at a time and counted during each dispensing stroke. The counting stroke accounts for a high ~ccuracy rate but significantly reduces the speed of drug delivery.
Often, a single order may require the dispensing of as many as 200 different drugs to fill the order.
However, individual canisters on}y store a single drug.
Therefore, if 200 different drugs are reguired to fill an order, the vial must be re-positioned 200 separate instances to fill an individual order. This method of repositioning and dispPnsing is known as serial processing.
Serial processing can be a very accurate method of dispensing drugs to fill a prescription. Using serial processing, the drugs can be either counted by an machine referred to as an "automatic tablet counter" or by hand.
The indi~idual drugs are simultaneously dispensed into a vial and counted. While this method can be very accurate, it also can be quite time-consuming.
~Additionally, after all of the drugs for an order have been dispensed into vials, the vials are capped and la~eled. Each vial generally contains one drug.
Different labels are, therefore, required for identifying the contents of the vials as well as special instructions for ~aking the drugs by the patient. The vials are then sorted so that all Yials ~or one order are grouped `~094/1~93 212 91 3 7 PCT~S93J10514 together.
- S~MNARY OF TXg INV~TION
The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for staging patient orders prior to vial filling. The invention provides for multiple staging of orders in advancs of the actual vial-filling processt yet maintains the accuracy of direct dispensing. To these ends, the invention provides for parallel processing of orders within a vial filling machine with serial dispensing therefrom.
In an embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus ~hat allows for single or multiple staging of patient orders in a tablet counter using a tablet accumulator. The tablet accumulator includes a housing and a solenoid actuated shutter assembly for dispensing drugs from the housing to a positioned vial. The tablet accumulator can be provided at the output of an automatic tabl~t counter as a temporary storage area ,i.e. a staging area, for each drug being dispensed from the tablet counter.
r ~ In an embodiment, the tablet accumulator includes a plurality of storage or staging areas. Multiple staging of patient orders can, therefore, be pro~ided and the accuracy of direct dispensing from the tablet counters can be maintained. The speed of dispensing the ta~léts, however, can be significantly increased.
In an embodiment, the invention provides a system to input a patient order ~ia a computer terminal. The order includes pres~ription and patient identification infsrmation. The system can process thP information and begin counting one or more drugs in parallel into staging areas of a tablet accumulator for dispensing while, at WO94/1~93PCT~S93/1~514 2l29 131 the same time, vials can be positioned to receive the drugs in serial fashion. In this way, more than one vial order can be filled substantially simultaneously.
Additional featurès and advantages of the present inv~ntion are described, and will ~e apparent from, the following detailed description of the presentl~preferr0d embodiments and accompanyi~g the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF T~ DRaWI~ÇB
Figure 1 illustrates an automated prescription vial filling system.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic for the system of Figure l.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a tablet counter~vial filler in which an accumula~or is provided.
15Figure 4 illustrates in perspective view an interior of the tablet ccunterlvial ~iller of Figure 3.
Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of the interior of the tablet counter/vi l filler of Figure 3.
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional ~iew of the 20tablet counter/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally along the line VI-VI.
Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tablet count~r/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally along the line VII-VII.
25Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tablet counter/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally onry~the line VIII-VIII.
Figure 9 illustrates a data flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
30Figure 10 illustrates a prescription fill flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 11 illustrates a prescription sort data flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
~0 94/12393 PCT/US93/10514 DEq!AIl.E:D DEBCRIPTION
OF q~ PP~EBE:~I!I~Y PREFE:RRBD 33~1BODIMBNT~
Pursuant to the present in~ention, a system can be provid~d for dispensing prescription drugs wherein the systam packages an order for one or more prescriptions in view o~ patient prescription information and then presents a Gomplete patient's order to a pharmacist for pick-up or delivery. :
Such a system is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
The details of a system in which the invention can be incorporated are set forth in commonly assigned U.S.
Patent Application Serial N~. 07/662,991, filed December 12, 1990 the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by r~ference.
Briefly, system 10, as shown in Figuxes 1 and 2, includes three lines 12, 14 and 16 of machines that automatically fill, label, cap, and sort vials 18 in accordance with a patient's prescription order under the control o~ an appropriate control system. Preferably, the three lines 12, 14 and 16 are identi~al with the excepti~n of the vial sizes filled. While vial sizes will be determined by prescription quantity, drug mix, and drug volume of an institution.in which the system 10 is used, a typical vial size distribution would be 60 cc, 120 cc, and 250 cc~ While only three lines 12, 14 and 16 are shown in Figures 1 and 2, it can be appreciat~d th~ yet more filler lines can be provided to obtain parallel processing.
For ease of understanding, only one of lines 12, 14, and will be described herein. However, it should be apparent that, with the exception of vial size, the description is applicable to each o~ lines 12, 14, and 16. Therefore, referen~e numerals id~ntifying i~ems in WO94/1~ PCT~S93/10514 2 ~ 3 1 - 6 - -the drawings which have c~unterparts associated with each line will be used generically in this descriptiont but in the drawings will carry addit~onal designations such as a, b, and c to identify those items correspondin~ to the particular lines.
The first machine positioned in each line of the . system is a vial unscrambler 20. In such a machine, vials of one si~e are dumped into a hopper 22 in bulk form. The hopper 22 preferably is large enough to hold approximately llO0 vial~, about a day's supply.
The unscrambler 20 orients the vials upright in a separator 23 and spaces them on a conveyor 24 ready to feed the vials into a vial filler 26. The unscrambler 20 also shoots a blast of hot air into the vial, cleaning debris that might be present. Preferably, the unscrambler 20 comprises a machine similar to an Omoga Model CR or a New England Machinery Model NEHE-50J or NEHB-50AJ.
From the unscrambler 20, a vial will travel via the conveyor 24 to the vial filler 26 (also referred to as the filler). Th~ vial filler 26 preferably comprises in part a modified automatic tablet counter machine sold by Baxter International, Inc. under the design "ATC 212"
machine, or Automatic Tablet Counter, which is capable of holding up to 212 different oral, solid medications.
The canisters can be calibrated specifically for those dr~rgs stored therein. There can be one or more ATC
machines per line depending on drug mix and drug volume required by the institution in which the system lO is installed.
In Figures 3 and 4, a preferred vial filler 26 is illustrated in greater detail. As illustrated, the ~iller 26-includes a drug cabinet or upper enclosure 30 WO94/1~93 212 913 7 PCT~S93110514 wherein are stored a plurality of drug canisters or tablet cases 32 such as those presently employed in the standard 212 systems sold by Baxter International, Inc.
These canisters 32 are positioned to dispense drugs or tablets out of a dispensing end 34 (see Figure 4) positioned interiorly of the enclosure 30. The operation of such canisters 32 is known from the operation of Baxter's ATC 212 system and therefore is not repeated herein in detail.
The vial filler 2~ also includes a lower cabinet 31 having a suitable opening 33 extending therethrough through which passes the conveyor 24. To ensure that the vials 18 remain in an upright position while traveling through the vial filler 26, a pair of rails 35 and 37 are positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor 24. The rails 35 and 37 confine the vials 18 to the conveyor 24.
As illustrated best in Figure 4, it can be seen that, preferably, filler 26 has been configured to include two drug cabinet halves 36 and 38 hingedly connected on one end by hinges 40 so that they can be closed together to form the drug cabinet or upper enclosure 30. Within each half 36 or 38 are stored an array or matrix of drug canisters 32. Thus, the back or dispensing ends 34 of two arrays of drug canisters 32 will face each other within the interior of the cabinst.
As also illustrated in Fig. 4, each o~ the halves 36 and 38 of the cabinet 30 is provided with various vertical channel members. Thess vertical channel members include channel members 42 and 44 disposed on opposite ends o~ each of the halves 36 and 38 of the enclosure 30 as well as two channel members 46 and 48 which are positioned back-to-back along a ~idline o~ each of the halves 36 and 38 of the cabinet 30. It can be .
il~9 1 PCT~S93/10514 appreciated that when the two cabinet halves 36 and 38 are closed, the various like channel members will align in registry.
Attached at bottom ends of the channel members 4 2 and 44 are extensions 43 and 45, respectively, which are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to their respective channel mem~ers 42 and 44. It can be appreciated that while the channel members 42 and 44 provide vertical channeling within the upper enclosure 30, the channel extensions 43 and 45 pr~vided channeling toward a point short of the midline, thus leaving an opening between the channel members 46 and 48 and the extensions 43 and 45 at the bottom of the cabinet 30.
With reference to all of Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, it can be appreciated that when the two halves 36 and 38 of the enclosure 30 are shut, the various channel members abut to form at least two separated enclosed spaces 50 and 52 within the cabinet or upper enclosure 30. In a preferred embodiment, these spaces 50 and 52 are further subdivided into sub-spaces 56, 58, 60, and 62 by means of a curtain 64 that extends between the two closed enclosure halves 36 and 38 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The curtain 64 preferably is suspended from the top of one of the halves 36 or 38 (in the illustrated embodiment the curtain 64 is hung from the top of half 38), and then grasped between the abutting channel mémbérs when the halves 36 and 38 are shut. The abutting channel members thus ser~e to seal about an outer periphery of the curtain 64 within the cabinet 30.
The curtain 64 serves to isslate the facing back ends 34 of the arrays or matrices of canisters 32. As a result, drugs from one array or matrix can be dispensed and allowed to free fal~ within its assoclated space 50 ~094/1~93 21 2 91 3 7 PCT~S93110514 or 52 without intermixing or intermingleling with drugs dispensed from a canister 32 from the facing array.
It can be appreciated that from the foregoingJ that each of the four sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 and 62 is in open communication with the dispensing ends 34 of a particular sub-array of drug cani~ters 32. Accordingly, actuation of a dxug canister 32 within a sub-space 56, 58, 60 or 62 will cause the drugs contained in that canister to free fall within that sub-space. The channel members located on either side of the sub-space will serve to-contain the free falling drugs within the sub-space and to direct same to ~he bottom of the sub-space.
In a preferred embodiment of the vial filler 26, disposed beneath the cabinet 39 and in communication with the four sub-spaces is a funneling device referred to herein as an accumulator 70. The accumulator 70 is positioned between the four sub-spaces 56, 5~, 60 and 62 and the conveyor 24.
As illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 the accumulator 70 includes 2 funnel shaped members 71 and 73 that include interior upstanding walls 75 and 77, respectively, so to ~orm sub-sections 72, 74, 76 and 78, each sub-section associated with one of the open sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 and 62, respectively of the cabinet 30.
It shsuld be appreciated, that the free falling drugs in one of the open sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 or 62, wiil~be directed or channelled into its associated sub-section 72, 74, 76 and 78 by means of gravity and the associat d channel m~mbers. These sub-æections 72, 74, 76 and 78 of the accumulator 70 form the temporary storage areas or staging areas that serve to provide the vial filler 26 with a dispensing speed that is faster than that of an unmodified ATC 212. As such, the staging ~094/1~93 PCT~S93/lQ514 areas 72, 74, 76 and 7B serves as means for temporarily - storing or staging of disRensed drugs prior to vial filling. -`~
~s illustrated best in Figures 5, 6 and 8, disposed at a bottom end of each of the accumulator sub-sections or staging areas 72, 74, 76 and 78, is a respective shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86, that serves to close a r spective opening 88, 9~, 92 or 94 disposed at the bottom of the funneling section; As illustrated, the shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86 is hingedly connected so ~hat it can open and close the opening 88, 90, 92 or 94 thereby allowing drugs captured within the respective staging sub-section 72, 74, 76 or 78 to free fall out of that funneling sub-section. As such, these shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86 serve as means for releasing staged or temporarily stored drugs from the accumulator to a vial to be filled.
As illustrated, each of the shutkars 80, 82, 84 and 86 is actuated by means of a suitable solenoid and piston assembly 95, 96, 97 or 98, respectively, operatively coupled thereto. As is known, the solenoid and piston assembly comprise a spring loaded piston which can be caused to move upon energization of a solenoid.
Energization of the solenoid of an asse~bly g5, 96, 97 or 98 will cause the piston associated therewith to move and then pull the respective shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86 open thereby opening the opening in the bottom of the accumu}ator staging sub-section associated therewith.
As such, the solenoid assemblies comprise means for causing the shutters to release drugs staged for dispensiny. Of course, actuation of these shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86 can be controlled by a suitable controller such as the compu~er that operates the overall vial , . . . . . ..
W094/1~3 212 913 7 PCT~S93/10514 filling system lO.
As illustrated in Figure~ 5 and 6, disposed beneath the bottom end of the accumulator staging sub-sections 72, 74, 76 and 78 is a-further funneling member lO0 that serves to direct drugs fallin~ from the accumulator 70 sections into a bottle or vial filling member 102. It can be appreciatzd that as vials 18 are directed into the vial filler 26, and positioned beneath the vial filling member 102, drugs or tablets ~llowed to free fall from the accumulator 70 by means of actuation of one of the shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86, will be directed by the funneling member lO0 into the vial filling member 102 and thence into the vial positioned for filling.
It can also be appreciated that because there are four accumulator staging sub-sections disposed beneath the cabinet 30, these four staging sub-sections can be filled in parallel and dumped in parallel or serially into one or more vials 18 as the vials pass beneath the vial filling member 102. In this manner, up to four prescriptions can be filled by one vial filler 26 substantially in parallel, this parallel processing of prescriptions allowing for a more efficient use of a vial filler 26 and faster processing of prescriptions.
Because tablet collection can occur in a parallel fashion with other patient orders in the system lO, up to sixteen canister locations can be filled si~ltaneously (i.e., four accumulator staging sub-sections for each of four lines). The process of filling certain drugs can thus be performed more rapidly by using duplicate drug locations in a vial filler 26.
The tablet accumulators allow for tablet dispensing without dependence on printing, conveyor feed, and conveyor exit times. A tablet accumulator, there~ore, ,, :
WO94/1~g3 PCT~S93110514 9 ~3~
.
allows for orders to be staged in advance of the actual - vial-filling process. Multiple patient orders can be processed and dispensed into their tablet accumulator at any time in the overall process with each vial then being sequentially filled at the appr~priate later time by the dumping action of the ta~let accumulators.
Collection volume of a tablet accumulator 70 can be optimi2ed by placing the associated solenoid assemblies outside of the sub-sections as illustrated. In addition t~ the overall system managing computer, or alternatively, each solenoid assembly can be activated by a driver board or controller provided as part of the hardware of the associated vial filler 26.
I~ operation, once an order is received, the orders lS can be dispensed into their respecti~e staging area~ or the tablet accum~lators 70 befcre positioning of a vial.
A control system 180 (illustrated schematically in Figure 9) activates the appropriate drug canister 32 and dispensing of the drugs begins immediately. Once the drugs are dispensed into their staging area of their tablet accumulator 70, a vial 18 will be positioned, and the drugs can then be dispensed. Throughput can be impro~ed by staging of fills before the vial is under a filling position of the vial filling member 102 as positioned by conveyor 24.
Th~ remainder of the system l0 illustrated in Figures l and 2 is similar to that described in the commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
07/662,991 identified above. That part of the system is briefly described herein as are the prescription fill an~ prescription sort flow diagrams of Figures l0 and 11 .
~ After filling, ~he vial l~ travels to a label ~0941123~3 212 913 7 PCT~S93/10514 machine 200 (also referred to as the labeller~, - preferably a Willett Model 2500 with a Model 2600-T
thermal transfer printer/applicatorl manufactured by Kalamazoo Label Company. A signal from the contro' ystem 180 is sent to the label machine 200 at the same time the vial 18 is being filled. The label machine 200 prints human readable information, as well as bar code information on demand. The label information is kept in a database and contains drug description, as well as any warning statements.
After the label is printed, a reader associated with the labeller 200 veri~ies the contents of the label by reading the printed bar code. The label is then automatically applied to the vial.
Once a vial is filled and labelled, it travels d~wn the conveyor 24 to,a capping machine 204 (also referred to as the capper). The capping machine 204 grasps the vial and applies a child-resistant cap 206 to the vial.
As illustrated, just prior to the capper 204, each line includes a bar code reader 202 and a wrap belt 208 disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor 24. The wrap belt 208 serves to spin a vial around so that the bar code thereon can be read by the reader 202.
After the vial is capped, a sensor associated therewith verifies that the cap has been properly applied. The capper 204 pref~rably includes a reservoir 216 that is sufficiently large to store a supply of caps for one full shift. The pre~erred capping machine is one similar to National Instrument Company's Capamatic DLR-I
or a Kalish-CAP Automatic.
Once a vial has ~een capped and the contents are verified by ~he sensor 211, it proceeds to a vial accumulator or vial accumulation station 212 positioned W0~4/1~93 PCT~S93110514 21~9~37 at the end of its respective conveyor 24 ~vial accumulator 212C is illustrat~ed most clearly in Figure l). The vial accumulatipn station 212 serv s two functions: sorting and~eje~ing. Vials are ejected when they have an improper drug count, unreadable labels, or improperly seated caps. A signal sent by the filler 26, labeller 200, or capper 204 causes a defective vial to be ejected into a reject bin 214 by a blast of air from a pneumatic air gun 215 if any of the situations is detec~ed. When a vial is ejected, the control system 180 places a refill request with the fillar 26 on a priority basis so that another attempt is made to complete the prescription order.
A circulating conveyor 218 (also refarred to as a sorting conveyor) carries circulating bins 220 along an elliptical path tha~ ~rings each of the bins under the vial accumulator 212 once per rotation. The bins 22Q are bar coded and the control system 180 assigns at least one circulating bin 220 per patient. If a particular patient has more vials than a single bin can hold, a second or third bin will also be assigned. A bin 220 will circulate on the conveyor 218 until a total order has been collected for a given patient. The bar code on the bin 220 will be read prior to travel under the vial accumulators 212. This will signal the correct time for the vial accumulator 212 to discharge a specific vial of a patient into the bin 220.
All properly bottled vials are assigned to a patient on the ~ial accumulator 212 where they await a circulating bin 220 in which they are to be placed.
These locations are also referred to as the staging output area. The ~ial accumulator 212 preferably has up to 20 }ocations f or temporary vial storage.
~094/1~93 2 ~ 2 ~1 3 7 PCT~S93/10514 The vial accumulators 212 are positioned above the - conveyor 218 so that the ~ials waiting on the Yia accumulator 212 can be placed into a passing bin 220.
To this end, each via`l accumulator 212 has associated therewith a pneumatic gripper 37 on a rodless cylinder for placing upon command, a vial into a bin 220.
One or more of the bins 220 is assigned to a patient by a control system 180. As the assigned circulating bin(s) 220 move(s) under the vial accumulator 212, the vial accumulator 212 ~transfers the vials into the assigned bin(s) 220. Preferably, the vial accumulator 212 is capable of placing its entire contents in one bin if necessary, i.e. the back bin prPferably is capable of holding 20 ~ials. In this manner, all of the vials for one order of a patient can be sorted and placed together in a bin.
When a total order of a patient has been accumulated in one or more bins 220, the sorting con~eyor 218 transfers the bins 220 to one of a plurality of spurs.
Spur 230 is a conveyor referred to as the exception conveyor. An order is placed on spur 230 if, for some reason, it is not designated for mail order or pick-up.
The spur 230 can be used to place medications other than oral solids into a bin 220 of a patient. This spur 230 can carry a bin 220 under a rack that contains, for example, liquids or creams. By reading the bar code on the ~bin 220, the rack automatically discharges the correct medication into the bin 220.
Spur 232 is a conveyor referred to as the mail order conveyor. An order is placed on spur 232 if it is to be mailed to a patient.
Spur 236 is a conYeyor referred to as the pick-up ~ conYeyor. An order is placed on spur 236 if it is to be W094/1~93 PCT~S93110514 2~29~3~ - 16 -picked up by a patient, e.g.- a walk-in.
- As illustrated, a ~àriety of extractors 240 are operatively positioned to move bins onto and off of the conveyors 218, 230, 232, 236, 242 and 244. These extractors are generally designated by the numeral 240.
Extractor 240a, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 218 onto conveyor 230. Extractor 240b, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 218 onto conveyor 232.
Extractor 240c, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 21~ onto conveyor 232. Extractor 240d, upon command, diverts return~d bins from conveyor 244 onto conveyor 60.
Extractor 240e, upon command, diverts return bins from a conveyor 242 onto conveyor 218. Additionally, a scanner 248 is provided that reads bar codes on returned bins.
An empty bin is placsd on return conveyor 242 or 244 which places it back on the circulating conveyor 218.
Return conveyor 242 is used to return bins used for mail orders, while return conveyor 244 is used to return bins used f~r pick-up orders. At the point of return, the bar code on the bin 220 will be read and noted in the control system 180 as an available bin. If the bar code is unreadable, the bin 220 is automatically ejected from the system lO. The return is located just downstream of the take-off on the circulating bin conveyor 218 so the circulating conveyor 218 will always be full.
,Overhead transfer cylinders 250 are used to transfer bins 220 from one straight conveyor 218a to another straight conveyor 218b, which together form the circulating conveyor 2l8.
In Figures 9-ll, the data flow for various aspects o~ the system lO is illustrated. ~s illustrated in Figure 9, a host omputer 170 provides order information ~094/123~3212 9 ~ 3 7 P~T~S93110514 of a patient to a control system 180. In retur~, the -control system 180-advises the host computer 170 as to whet~er an order is valid or invalid.
In the data flow diagrams, several items such as 5data units, smart boxes, registers, etc. are identified.
These are discussed first.
~he Patient Entry ~ist 300 is a collection of patient orders received by the control system 180 via the host computer 170. Generally, the orders are organized l0in a first-in, first-out ~FIFO) manner. However, when orders receive priority status, e.g. during a refill as described above, a latter order can be placed at the head of the list so that it will be processed first. Each entry on the Patient Entry List 300 includes patient 15speci~ic information, for identification purposes, and one or more prescriptions for a patient.
The Bin Wait Queue ~02 is used to temporarily hold an order of a patient pending availability of one of the circulating bins 220. This is a FIFO queue and when a 20bin 220 becomes available, the order held the longest is assigned to that bin 220. The Re-Fill List 304 is a FIFO
list used when~ver a dru(~ canister 32 does not contain a su~ficient quantity to fill an order of a patient.
When such is the case, the unfill~d order i~ removed from 25the Patient Entry List 300 and placed at the end of the Re-Fill List until the designated canister 32 is filled.
~The Pa~ient Filling List 306 is a FIFO List used once it has been designated that an order can be filled by the system l0. Once such a determination is made, an 30order o~ a patient is transferred from the Patient Entry List 300 and placed at the end of the Patient Filling List 306.
The Prescription Wait Lists 303 are FIFO lists that wo 94/1~93 ~9~3~ PCT~S93/10514 are used once it has been determined that an order of a -patient can be filled. For ev~y filling line 12, 14 and 16 in the system l0, there`is a dedicated Prescription Wait List 308. When such a deter~ination is made, a prescription and an order of a patient is placed at the tail end of the appropriate Prescription ~ait List 308.
The prescriptions are removed from a Prescription Wait List 308 in the order received.
The Prescription Sort Lists 310 are randomly accessible lists used. once prescriptions have been filled. One Prescription Sort ~ist 310 is provided for each of the lines 12, 14, and 16. once a prescription is filled, the prescription is placed at the end of its respective Prescription Sort List 310. At that time, the associated vial will be sitting in the vial accumulator 212.
The Prescription Sort Lists 310 are used by the control system 180, as discussed below, to place vials in the staging area into the correct bin 220.
Prescriptions are randomly removed from these lists as they are placed into their bins 220.
.The Prescription Wait Queue 312 are generally FIFO
lists containing listings of prescriptions to be filled by the vial filler 26, One Prescription Wait Queue 312 is pro~ided for each vial filler 26. When a prescription is assigned to a line for filling, it is transferred from it-s associated Prescription Wait List 308 to this list.
The Prescription Fill Lists 314 are used when vials are to be filled. One Prescription Fill List 314 is produced for each filler 26. At that time, the tablet canisters 32 begin dispensing tablets into their individual staging areas 72, 74, 76 or 78 of their tablet accumulator 70. This process is occurring while the ~094/1~93PCT~S93110514 2~29137 vials are being positioned on the filling line. As a -rQsult, the counting of tablets has already been performed b~fore the vial is positioned, and all that is required is solenoid àctuation of the appropriate trap 5door shutter to release the tablets from ~heir individual accumulator staging subsection to the vials. After a prescription is filled and left waiting to enter the vial accumulation ~tation ~12, it is removed from khis list.
The Prescription Re-Fill Lists 316 are FIFO lists }Oused whenever a prescription cannot be filled by th~
associated filler 26. One Prescription Re-Fill List 316 is provided for each filler 26.
If it is determined, as discussed bel~w, that a filler 26 cannot fill a prascripti~n, the prescription 15is transferred from its associated Prescription Wait Queue 312 to this list until the filler 26 is restocked.
Then, the prescription is reinserted in a Prescription Wait Queue 312 at the head of the list. The Prescription Filled QuPues 318 are used after vials have passed their 20line scanners. One Prescription Wait Queue 312 is provided for each line scanner. When such is the case, a prescription is placed at the tail end of the Prescription Filled Queues 318. Each entry in a Prescription Filled Queue 318 is flagged to indicate the 25specific accumulation station 212 to which the associated vial is to be sent or if the vial is to be directed to the reject bin. Since the vials pass through the rotary indexes in a FIFO manner, this is a FIFO Queue.
The Prescription Sorted List 320 is used when a vial 30is about to be dropped into its assigned bin 220.
PrescriptiQns are trans~erred to this list from the Prescription Sort Lists 310, as described below, when a determination is made to drop a ~ial into a bin 220.
W09411~93 PCT~S93/10514 3~ ~
Prescriptions are deleted from this list after staging - output processing. ~
The Patient Filled ~ist 322 is used after an order of a patient has been filled. When such is the case, an order of the patient is r~moved from the Patient Filling List 306 and placed at the tail end of the Patient Filled List 322.
The Patient Filled List 32~ is used by the mail order/pickup delivery process to deliver a bin 220 to correct destination handling areas fr~m the sorting conveyor 218. Once a bin 220 has been physically removed from the sorting conveyor 218, the order of a patient is then remo~ed from the list 322.
For further information regarding the foregoing procedures, reference can be made to the aforementioned commonly analyæed United states patant application serial No~ 07/662,9gl, filed December 12, l990, the teachings of which are incporporated by reference.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present in~ention and without diminishing its attendant 2S advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
_
TITLE:
5TABl Fr AC:CUMULATOR FOR AUTOMATED VIAL flLLlNG SYSTEM
: a~&RO~D OF ~EE~ N~I~N
The present invention generally relates to m~thods and apparatus for dispensing prescriptions. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for staging medications for dispensing and filling containers, such as vials~
Generally, out-pati~nts from a hospital or medical office have been provided with prescriptions in one of two ways. 9ne way is to provide oral, solid prescriptions that are prefi.lled in vials at a remote location and k pt in inventory at a pharmacy. These pre-filled vials are removed from stock when needed and relabelled with patient specific information. Another method involves filling prescriptions by having a pharmacist hand-count the requir~d drugs from a bulk supply and then place a patient specific label on a vial.
There are disadvantages to both of these prescriptions ~illing methods. If pharmacists elect to use prefilled vials, they must carry an inventory of several hundred druq types. Further, they must manage inventory levels and monitor stock for expiring products.
Generally, a pharmaci~t will pay a premium for having the vials prefilled.
--30On the other hand, filling prescriptions from bulk on an individual basis is very la~or intensi~e and su~ject to human accounting err9rs. Further, ser~icing ~ a larg~ ou~-patient population requires large numbers of W09411~93 PCT~S93/1~514 9~
pharmacists.
Many out-patient facilities use a combination of these two systems, supplying prefilled vials on high volume products and hand-filling vials with products that are less in demand.
A method of direct dispensing drugs into a vial is used in some operations. Direct dispensing is a proc ss whexein tablets are dispensed one at a time and counted during each dispensing stroke. The counting stroke accounts for a high ~ccuracy rate but significantly reduces the speed of drug delivery.
Often, a single order may require the dispensing of as many as 200 different drugs to fill the order.
However, individual canisters on}y store a single drug.
Therefore, if 200 different drugs are reguired to fill an order, the vial must be re-positioned 200 separate instances to fill an individual order. This method of repositioning and dispPnsing is known as serial processing.
Serial processing can be a very accurate method of dispensing drugs to fill a prescription. Using serial processing, the drugs can be either counted by an machine referred to as an "automatic tablet counter" or by hand.
The indi~idual drugs are simultaneously dispensed into a vial and counted. While this method can be very accurate, it also can be quite time-consuming.
~Additionally, after all of the drugs for an order have been dispensed into vials, the vials are capped and la~eled. Each vial generally contains one drug.
Different labels are, therefore, required for identifying the contents of the vials as well as special instructions for ~aking the drugs by the patient. The vials are then sorted so that all Yials ~or one order are grouped `~094/1~93 212 91 3 7 PCT~S93J10514 together.
- S~MNARY OF TXg INV~TION
The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for staging patient orders prior to vial filling. The invention provides for multiple staging of orders in advancs of the actual vial-filling processt yet maintains the accuracy of direct dispensing. To these ends, the invention provides for parallel processing of orders within a vial filling machine with serial dispensing therefrom.
In an embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus ~hat allows for single or multiple staging of patient orders in a tablet counter using a tablet accumulator. The tablet accumulator includes a housing and a solenoid actuated shutter assembly for dispensing drugs from the housing to a positioned vial. The tablet accumulator can be provided at the output of an automatic tabl~t counter as a temporary storage area ,i.e. a staging area, for each drug being dispensed from the tablet counter.
r ~ In an embodiment, the tablet accumulator includes a plurality of storage or staging areas. Multiple staging of patient orders can, therefore, be pro~ided and the accuracy of direct dispensing from the tablet counters can be maintained. The speed of dispensing the ta~léts, however, can be significantly increased.
In an embodiment, the invention provides a system to input a patient order ~ia a computer terminal. The order includes pres~ription and patient identification infsrmation. The system can process thP information and begin counting one or more drugs in parallel into staging areas of a tablet accumulator for dispensing while, at WO94/1~93PCT~S93/1~514 2l29 131 the same time, vials can be positioned to receive the drugs in serial fashion. In this way, more than one vial order can be filled substantially simultaneously.
Additional featurès and advantages of the present inv~ntion are described, and will ~e apparent from, the following detailed description of the presentl~preferr0d embodiments and accompanyi~g the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF T~ DRaWI~ÇB
Figure 1 illustrates an automated prescription vial filling system.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic for the system of Figure l.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a tablet counter~vial filler in which an accumula~or is provided.
15Figure 4 illustrates in perspective view an interior of the tablet ccunterlvial ~iller of Figure 3.
Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of the interior of the tablet counter/vi l filler of Figure 3.
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional ~iew of the 20tablet counter/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally along the line VI-VI.
Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tablet count~r/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally along the line VII-VII.
25Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tablet counter/vial filler of Figure 5 taken generally onry~the line VIII-VIII.
Figure 9 illustrates a data flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
30Figure 10 illustrates a prescription fill flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 11 illustrates a prescription sort data flow diagram for the system of Figures 1 and 2.
~0 94/12393 PCT/US93/10514 DEq!AIl.E:D DEBCRIPTION
OF q~ PP~EBE:~I!I~Y PREFE:RRBD 33~1BODIMBNT~
Pursuant to the present in~ention, a system can be provid~d for dispensing prescription drugs wherein the systam packages an order for one or more prescriptions in view o~ patient prescription information and then presents a Gomplete patient's order to a pharmacist for pick-up or delivery. :
Such a system is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
The details of a system in which the invention can be incorporated are set forth in commonly assigned U.S.
Patent Application Serial N~. 07/662,991, filed December 12, 1990 the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by r~ference.
Briefly, system 10, as shown in Figuxes 1 and 2, includes three lines 12, 14 and 16 of machines that automatically fill, label, cap, and sort vials 18 in accordance with a patient's prescription order under the control o~ an appropriate control system. Preferably, the three lines 12, 14 and 16 are identi~al with the excepti~n of the vial sizes filled. While vial sizes will be determined by prescription quantity, drug mix, and drug volume of an institution.in which the system 10 is used, a typical vial size distribution would be 60 cc, 120 cc, and 250 cc~ While only three lines 12, 14 and 16 are shown in Figures 1 and 2, it can be appreciat~d th~ yet more filler lines can be provided to obtain parallel processing.
For ease of understanding, only one of lines 12, 14, and will be described herein. However, it should be apparent that, with the exception of vial size, the description is applicable to each o~ lines 12, 14, and 16. Therefore, referen~e numerals id~ntifying i~ems in WO94/1~ PCT~S93/10514 2 ~ 3 1 - 6 - -the drawings which have c~unterparts associated with each line will be used generically in this descriptiont but in the drawings will carry addit~onal designations such as a, b, and c to identify those items correspondin~ to the particular lines.
The first machine positioned in each line of the . system is a vial unscrambler 20. In such a machine, vials of one si~e are dumped into a hopper 22 in bulk form. The hopper 22 preferably is large enough to hold approximately llO0 vial~, about a day's supply.
The unscrambler 20 orients the vials upright in a separator 23 and spaces them on a conveyor 24 ready to feed the vials into a vial filler 26. The unscrambler 20 also shoots a blast of hot air into the vial, cleaning debris that might be present. Preferably, the unscrambler 20 comprises a machine similar to an Omoga Model CR or a New England Machinery Model NEHE-50J or NEHB-50AJ.
From the unscrambler 20, a vial will travel via the conveyor 24 to the vial filler 26 (also referred to as the filler). Th~ vial filler 26 preferably comprises in part a modified automatic tablet counter machine sold by Baxter International, Inc. under the design "ATC 212"
machine, or Automatic Tablet Counter, which is capable of holding up to 212 different oral, solid medications.
The canisters can be calibrated specifically for those dr~rgs stored therein. There can be one or more ATC
machines per line depending on drug mix and drug volume required by the institution in which the system lO is installed.
In Figures 3 and 4, a preferred vial filler 26 is illustrated in greater detail. As illustrated, the ~iller 26-includes a drug cabinet or upper enclosure 30 WO94/1~93 212 913 7 PCT~S93110514 wherein are stored a plurality of drug canisters or tablet cases 32 such as those presently employed in the standard 212 systems sold by Baxter International, Inc.
These canisters 32 are positioned to dispense drugs or tablets out of a dispensing end 34 (see Figure 4) positioned interiorly of the enclosure 30. The operation of such canisters 32 is known from the operation of Baxter's ATC 212 system and therefore is not repeated herein in detail.
The vial filler 2~ also includes a lower cabinet 31 having a suitable opening 33 extending therethrough through which passes the conveyor 24. To ensure that the vials 18 remain in an upright position while traveling through the vial filler 26, a pair of rails 35 and 37 are positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor 24. The rails 35 and 37 confine the vials 18 to the conveyor 24.
As illustrated best in Figure 4, it can be seen that, preferably, filler 26 has been configured to include two drug cabinet halves 36 and 38 hingedly connected on one end by hinges 40 so that they can be closed together to form the drug cabinet or upper enclosure 30. Within each half 36 or 38 are stored an array or matrix of drug canisters 32. Thus, the back or dispensing ends 34 of two arrays of drug canisters 32 will face each other within the interior of the cabinst.
As also illustrated in Fig. 4, each o~ the halves 36 and 38 of the cabinet 30 is provided with various vertical channel members. Thess vertical channel members include channel members 42 and 44 disposed on opposite ends o~ each of the halves 36 and 38 of the enclosure 30 as well as two channel members 46 and 48 which are positioned back-to-back along a ~idline o~ each of the halves 36 and 38 of the cabinet 30. It can be .
il~9 1 PCT~S93/10514 appreciated that when the two cabinet halves 36 and 38 are closed, the various like channel members will align in registry.
Attached at bottom ends of the channel members 4 2 and 44 are extensions 43 and 45, respectively, which are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to their respective channel mem~ers 42 and 44. It can be appreciated that while the channel members 42 and 44 provide vertical channeling within the upper enclosure 30, the channel extensions 43 and 45 pr~vided channeling toward a point short of the midline, thus leaving an opening between the channel members 46 and 48 and the extensions 43 and 45 at the bottom of the cabinet 30.
With reference to all of Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, it can be appreciated that when the two halves 36 and 38 of the enclosure 30 are shut, the various channel members abut to form at least two separated enclosed spaces 50 and 52 within the cabinet or upper enclosure 30. In a preferred embodiment, these spaces 50 and 52 are further subdivided into sub-spaces 56, 58, 60, and 62 by means of a curtain 64 that extends between the two closed enclosure halves 36 and 38 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The curtain 64 preferably is suspended from the top of one of the halves 36 or 38 (in the illustrated embodiment the curtain 64 is hung from the top of half 38), and then grasped between the abutting channel mémbérs when the halves 36 and 38 are shut. The abutting channel members thus ser~e to seal about an outer periphery of the curtain 64 within the cabinet 30.
The curtain 64 serves to isslate the facing back ends 34 of the arrays or matrices of canisters 32. As a result, drugs from one array or matrix can be dispensed and allowed to free fal~ within its assoclated space 50 ~094/1~93 21 2 91 3 7 PCT~S93110514 or 52 without intermixing or intermingleling with drugs dispensed from a canister 32 from the facing array.
It can be appreciated that from the foregoingJ that each of the four sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 and 62 is in open communication with the dispensing ends 34 of a particular sub-array of drug cani~ters 32. Accordingly, actuation of a dxug canister 32 within a sub-space 56, 58, 60 or 62 will cause the drugs contained in that canister to free fall within that sub-space. The channel members located on either side of the sub-space will serve to-contain the free falling drugs within the sub-space and to direct same to ~he bottom of the sub-space.
In a preferred embodiment of the vial filler 26, disposed beneath the cabinet 39 and in communication with the four sub-spaces is a funneling device referred to herein as an accumulator 70. The accumulator 70 is positioned between the four sub-spaces 56, 5~, 60 and 62 and the conveyor 24.
As illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 the accumulator 70 includes 2 funnel shaped members 71 and 73 that include interior upstanding walls 75 and 77, respectively, so to ~orm sub-sections 72, 74, 76 and 78, each sub-section associated with one of the open sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 and 62, respectively of the cabinet 30.
It shsuld be appreciated, that the free falling drugs in one of the open sub-spaces 56, 58, 60 or 62, wiil~be directed or channelled into its associated sub-section 72, 74, 76 and 78 by means of gravity and the associat d channel m~mbers. These sub-æections 72, 74, 76 and 78 of the accumulator 70 form the temporary storage areas or staging areas that serve to provide the vial filler 26 with a dispensing speed that is faster than that of an unmodified ATC 212. As such, the staging ~094/1~93 PCT~S93/lQ514 areas 72, 74, 76 and 7B serves as means for temporarily - storing or staging of disRensed drugs prior to vial filling. -`~
~s illustrated best in Figures 5, 6 and 8, disposed at a bottom end of each of the accumulator sub-sections or staging areas 72, 74, 76 and 78, is a respective shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86, that serves to close a r spective opening 88, 9~, 92 or 94 disposed at the bottom of the funneling section; As illustrated, the shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86 is hingedly connected so ~hat it can open and close the opening 88, 90, 92 or 94 thereby allowing drugs captured within the respective staging sub-section 72, 74, 76 or 78 to free fall out of that funneling sub-section. As such, these shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86 serve as means for releasing staged or temporarily stored drugs from the accumulator to a vial to be filled.
As illustrated, each of the shutkars 80, 82, 84 and 86 is actuated by means of a suitable solenoid and piston assembly 95, 96, 97 or 98, respectively, operatively coupled thereto. As is known, the solenoid and piston assembly comprise a spring loaded piston which can be caused to move upon energization of a solenoid.
Energization of the solenoid of an asse~bly g5, 96, 97 or 98 will cause the piston associated therewith to move and then pull the respective shutter 80, 82, 84 or 86 open thereby opening the opening in the bottom of the accumu}ator staging sub-section associated therewith.
As such, the solenoid assemblies comprise means for causing the shutters to release drugs staged for dispensiny. Of course, actuation of these shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86 can be controlled by a suitable controller such as the compu~er that operates the overall vial , . . . . . ..
W094/1~3 212 913 7 PCT~S93/10514 filling system lO.
As illustrated in Figure~ 5 and 6, disposed beneath the bottom end of the accumulator staging sub-sections 72, 74, 76 and 78 is a-further funneling member lO0 that serves to direct drugs fallin~ from the accumulator 70 sections into a bottle or vial filling member 102. It can be appreciatzd that as vials 18 are directed into the vial filler 26, and positioned beneath the vial filling member 102, drugs or tablets ~llowed to free fall from the accumulator 70 by means of actuation of one of the shutters 80, 82, 84 and 86, will be directed by the funneling member lO0 into the vial filling member 102 and thence into the vial positioned for filling.
It can also be appreciated that because there are four accumulator staging sub-sections disposed beneath the cabinet 30, these four staging sub-sections can be filled in parallel and dumped in parallel or serially into one or more vials 18 as the vials pass beneath the vial filling member 102. In this manner, up to four prescriptions can be filled by one vial filler 26 substantially in parallel, this parallel processing of prescriptions allowing for a more efficient use of a vial filler 26 and faster processing of prescriptions.
Because tablet collection can occur in a parallel fashion with other patient orders in the system lO, up to sixteen canister locations can be filled si~ltaneously (i.e., four accumulator staging sub-sections for each of four lines). The process of filling certain drugs can thus be performed more rapidly by using duplicate drug locations in a vial filler 26.
The tablet accumulators allow for tablet dispensing without dependence on printing, conveyor feed, and conveyor exit times. A tablet accumulator, there~ore, ,, :
WO94/1~g3 PCT~S93110514 9 ~3~
.
allows for orders to be staged in advance of the actual - vial-filling process. Multiple patient orders can be processed and dispensed into their tablet accumulator at any time in the overall process with each vial then being sequentially filled at the appr~priate later time by the dumping action of the ta~let accumulators.
Collection volume of a tablet accumulator 70 can be optimi2ed by placing the associated solenoid assemblies outside of the sub-sections as illustrated. In addition t~ the overall system managing computer, or alternatively, each solenoid assembly can be activated by a driver board or controller provided as part of the hardware of the associated vial filler 26.
I~ operation, once an order is received, the orders lS can be dispensed into their respecti~e staging area~ or the tablet accum~lators 70 befcre positioning of a vial.
A control system 180 (illustrated schematically in Figure 9) activates the appropriate drug canister 32 and dispensing of the drugs begins immediately. Once the drugs are dispensed into their staging area of their tablet accumulator 70, a vial 18 will be positioned, and the drugs can then be dispensed. Throughput can be impro~ed by staging of fills before the vial is under a filling position of the vial filling member 102 as positioned by conveyor 24.
Th~ remainder of the system l0 illustrated in Figures l and 2 is similar to that described in the commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
07/662,991 identified above. That part of the system is briefly described herein as are the prescription fill an~ prescription sort flow diagrams of Figures l0 and 11 .
~ After filling, ~he vial l~ travels to a label ~0941123~3 212 913 7 PCT~S93/10514 machine 200 (also referred to as the labeller~, - preferably a Willett Model 2500 with a Model 2600-T
thermal transfer printer/applicatorl manufactured by Kalamazoo Label Company. A signal from the contro' ystem 180 is sent to the label machine 200 at the same time the vial 18 is being filled. The label machine 200 prints human readable information, as well as bar code information on demand. The label information is kept in a database and contains drug description, as well as any warning statements.
After the label is printed, a reader associated with the labeller 200 veri~ies the contents of the label by reading the printed bar code. The label is then automatically applied to the vial.
Once a vial is filled and labelled, it travels d~wn the conveyor 24 to,a capping machine 204 (also referred to as the capper). The capping machine 204 grasps the vial and applies a child-resistant cap 206 to the vial.
As illustrated, just prior to the capper 204, each line includes a bar code reader 202 and a wrap belt 208 disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor 24. The wrap belt 208 serves to spin a vial around so that the bar code thereon can be read by the reader 202.
After the vial is capped, a sensor associated therewith verifies that the cap has been properly applied. The capper 204 pref~rably includes a reservoir 216 that is sufficiently large to store a supply of caps for one full shift. The pre~erred capping machine is one similar to National Instrument Company's Capamatic DLR-I
or a Kalish-CAP Automatic.
Once a vial has ~een capped and the contents are verified by ~he sensor 211, it proceeds to a vial accumulator or vial accumulation station 212 positioned W0~4/1~93 PCT~S93110514 21~9~37 at the end of its respective conveyor 24 ~vial accumulator 212C is illustrat~ed most clearly in Figure l). The vial accumulatipn station 212 serv s two functions: sorting and~eje~ing. Vials are ejected when they have an improper drug count, unreadable labels, or improperly seated caps. A signal sent by the filler 26, labeller 200, or capper 204 causes a defective vial to be ejected into a reject bin 214 by a blast of air from a pneumatic air gun 215 if any of the situations is detec~ed. When a vial is ejected, the control system 180 places a refill request with the fillar 26 on a priority basis so that another attempt is made to complete the prescription order.
A circulating conveyor 218 (also refarred to as a sorting conveyor) carries circulating bins 220 along an elliptical path tha~ ~rings each of the bins under the vial accumulator 212 once per rotation. The bins 22Q are bar coded and the control system 180 assigns at least one circulating bin 220 per patient. If a particular patient has more vials than a single bin can hold, a second or third bin will also be assigned. A bin 220 will circulate on the conveyor 218 until a total order has been collected for a given patient. The bar code on the bin 220 will be read prior to travel under the vial accumulators 212. This will signal the correct time for the vial accumulator 212 to discharge a specific vial of a patient into the bin 220.
All properly bottled vials are assigned to a patient on the ~ial accumulator 212 where they await a circulating bin 220 in which they are to be placed.
These locations are also referred to as the staging output area. The ~ial accumulator 212 preferably has up to 20 }ocations f or temporary vial storage.
~094/1~93 2 ~ 2 ~1 3 7 PCT~S93/10514 The vial accumulators 212 are positioned above the - conveyor 218 so that the ~ials waiting on the Yia accumulator 212 can be placed into a passing bin 220.
To this end, each via`l accumulator 212 has associated therewith a pneumatic gripper 37 on a rodless cylinder for placing upon command, a vial into a bin 220.
One or more of the bins 220 is assigned to a patient by a control system 180. As the assigned circulating bin(s) 220 move(s) under the vial accumulator 212, the vial accumulator 212 ~transfers the vials into the assigned bin(s) 220. Preferably, the vial accumulator 212 is capable of placing its entire contents in one bin if necessary, i.e. the back bin prPferably is capable of holding 20 ~ials. In this manner, all of the vials for one order of a patient can be sorted and placed together in a bin.
When a total order of a patient has been accumulated in one or more bins 220, the sorting con~eyor 218 transfers the bins 220 to one of a plurality of spurs.
Spur 230 is a conveyor referred to as the exception conveyor. An order is placed on spur 230 if, for some reason, it is not designated for mail order or pick-up.
The spur 230 can be used to place medications other than oral solids into a bin 220 of a patient. This spur 230 can carry a bin 220 under a rack that contains, for example, liquids or creams. By reading the bar code on the ~bin 220, the rack automatically discharges the correct medication into the bin 220.
Spur 232 is a conveyor referred to as the mail order conveyor. An order is placed on spur 232 if it is to be mailed to a patient.
Spur 236 is a conYeyor referred to as the pick-up ~ conYeyor. An order is placed on spur 236 if it is to be W094/1~93 PCT~S93110514 2~29~3~ - 16 -picked up by a patient, e.g.- a walk-in.
- As illustrated, a ~àriety of extractors 240 are operatively positioned to move bins onto and off of the conveyors 218, 230, 232, 236, 242 and 244. These extractors are generally designated by the numeral 240.
Extractor 240a, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 218 onto conveyor 230. Extractor 240b, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 218 onto conveyor 232.
Extractor 240c, upon command, diverts bins from conveyor 21~ onto conveyor 232. Extractor 240d, upon command, diverts return~d bins from conveyor 244 onto conveyor 60.
Extractor 240e, upon command, diverts return bins from a conveyor 242 onto conveyor 218. Additionally, a scanner 248 is provided that reads bar codes on returned bins.
An empty bin is placsd on return conveyor 242 or 244 which places it back on the circulating conveyor 218.
Return conveyor 242 is used to return bins used for mail orders, while return conveyor 244 is used to return bins used f~r pick-up orders. At the point of return, the bar code on the bin 220 will be read and noted in the control system 180 as an available bin. If the bar code is unreadable, the bin 220 is automatically ejected from the system lO. The return is located just downstream of the take-off on the circulating bin conveyor 218 so the circulating conveyor 218 will always be full.
,Overhead transfer cylinders 250 are used to transfer bins 220 from one straight conveyor 218a to another straight conveyor 218b, which together form the circulating conveyor 2l8.
In Figures 9-ll, the data flow for various aspects o~ the system lO is illustrated. ~s illustrated in Figure 9, a host omputer 170 provides order information ~094/123~3212 9 ~ 3 7 P~T~S93110514 of a patient to a control system 180. In retur~, the -control system 180-advises the host computer 170 as to whet~er an order is valid or invalid.
In the data flow diagrams, several items such as 5data units, smart boxes, registers, etc. are identified.
These are discussed first.
~he Patient Entry ~ist 300 is a collection of patient orders received by the control system 180 via the host computer 170. Generally, the orders are organized l0in a first-in, first-out ~FIFO) manner. However, when orders receive priority status, e.g. during a refill as described above, a latter order can be placed at the head of the list so that it will be processed first. Each entry on the Patient Entry List 300 includes patient 15speci~ic information, for identification purposes, and one or more prescriptions for a patient.
The Bin Wait Queue ~02 is used to temporarily hold an order of a patient pending availability of one of the circulating bins 220. This is a FIFO queue and when a 20bin 220 becomes available, the order held the longest is assigned to that bin 220. The Re-Fill List 304 is a FIFO
list used when~ver a dru(~ canister 32 does not contain a su~ficient quantity to fill an order of a patient.
When such is the case, the unfill~d order i~ removed from 25the Patient Entry List 300 and placed at the end of the Re-Fill List until the designated canister 32 is filled.
~The Pa~ient Filling List 306 is a FIFO List used once it has been designated that an order can be filled by the system l0. Once such a determination is made, an 30order o~ a patient is transferred from the Patient Entry List 300 and placed at the end of the Patient Filling List 306.
The Prescription Wait Lists 303 are FIFO lists that wo 94/1~93 ~9~3~ PCT~S93/10514 are used once it has been determined that an order of a -patient can be filled. For ev~y filling line 12, 14 and 16 in the system l0, there`is a dedicated Prescription Wait List 308. When such a deter~ination is made, a prescription and an order of a patient is placed at the tail end of the appropriate Prescription ~ait List 308.
The prescriptions are removed from a Prescription Wait List 308 in the order received.
The Prescription Sort Lists 310 are randomly accessible lists used. once prescriptions have been filled. One Prescription Sort ~ist 310 is provided for each of the lines 12, 14, and 16. once a prescription is filled, the prescription is placed at the end of its respective Prescription Sort List 310. At that time, the associated vial will be sitting in the vial accumulator 212.
The Prescription Sort Lists 310 are used by the control system 180, as discussed below, to place vials in the staging area into the correct bin 220.
Prescriptions are randomly removed from these lists as they are placed into their bins 220.
.The Prescription Wait Queue 312 are generally FIFO
lists containing listings of prescriptions to be filled by the vial filler 26, One Prescription Wait Queue 312 is pro~ided for each vial filler 26. When a prescription is assigned to a line for filling, it is transferred from it-s associated Prescription Wait List 308 to this list.
The Prescription Fill Lists 314 are used when vials are to be filled. One Prescription Fill List 314 is produced for each filler 26. At that time, the tablet canisters 32 begin dispensing tablets into their individual staging areas 72, 74, 76 or 78 of their tablet accumulator 70. This process is occurring while the ~094/1~93PCT~S93110514 2~29137 vials are being positioned on the filling line. As a -rQsult, the counting of tablets has already been performed b~fore the vial is positioned, and all that is required is solenoid àctuation of the appropriate trap 5door shutter to release the tablets from ~heir individual accumulator staging subsection to the vials. After a prescription is filled and left waiting to enter the vial accumulation ~tation ~12, it is removed from khis list.
The Prescription Re-Fill Lists 316 are FIFO lists }Oused whenever a prescription cannot be filled by th~
associated filler 26. One Prescription Re-Fill List 316 is provided for each filler 26.
If it is determined, as discussed bel~w, that a filler 26 cannot fill a prascripti~n, the prescription 15is transferred from its associated Prescription Wait Queue 312 to this list until the filler 26 is restocked.
Then, the prescription is reinserted in a Prescription Wait Queue 312 at the head of the list. The Prescription Filled QuPues 318 are used after vials have passed their 20line scanners. One Prescription Wait Queue 312 is provided for each line scanner. When such is the case, a prescription is placed at the tail end of the Prescription Filled Queues 318. Each entry in a Prescription Filled Queue 318 is flagged to indicate the 25specific accumulation station 212 to which the associated vial is to be sent or if the vial is to be directed to the reject bin. Since the vials pass through the rotary indexes in a FIFO manner, this is a FIFO Queue.
The Prescription Sorted List 320 is used when a vial 30is about to be dropped into its assigned bin 220.
PrescriptiQns are trans~erred to this list from the Prescription Sort Lists 310, as described below, when a determination is made to drop a ~ial into a bin 220.
W09411~93 PCT~S93/10514 3~ ~
Prescriptions are deleted from this list after staging - output processing. ~
The Patient Filled ~ist 322 is used after an order of a patient has been filled. When such is the case, an order of the patient is r~moved from the Patient Filling List 306 and placed at the tail end of the Patient Filled List 322.
The Patient Filled List 32~ is used by the mail order/pickup delivery process to deliver a bin 220 to correct destination handling areas fr~m the sorting conveyor 218. Once a bin 220 has been physically removed from the sorting conveyor 218, the order of a patient is then remo~ed from the list 322.
For further information regarding the foregoing procedures, reference can be made to the aforementioned commonly analyæed United states patant application serial No~ 07/662,9gl, filed December 12, l990, the teachings of which are incporporated by reference.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present in~ention and without diminishing its attendant 2S advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
_
Claims (37)
1. An apparatus for staging drugs prior to dispensing into a container, comprising:
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug comprises a substantially funnel shaped enclosure having a top end that is open and a bottom end that has a closeable opening.
3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining the drug comprises a door.
4. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said door is hingedly attached to said means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug.
5. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said means for releasing said means for releasably retaining comprises a piston and solenoid assembly, the piston being operatively attached to the means for retaining so as to move said means for retaining between opened and closed positions.
6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the means for releasably retaining is biased to its closed position.
7. The apparatus of Claim 1 comprising a plurality of means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug.
8. The apparatus of Claim 7 comprising a like plurality of respective means for releasably retaining the drug.
9. The apparatus of Claim 8 comprising a like plurality of respective means for releasing the means for retaining.
10. A drug staging apparatus, comprising:
a storage container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet operatively positioned to receive drugs falling under the influence of gravity;
a pivoting door operatively positioned at the outlet to open and close the outlet; and a solenoid and piston assembly operatively coupled to the door to open and close the door.
a storage container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet operatively positioned to receive drugs falling under the influence of gravity;
a pivoting door operatively positioned at the outlet to open and close the outlet; and a solenoid and piston assembly operatively coupled to the door to open and close the door.
11. A method for staging a drug as a part of a prescription filling process, comprising the steps of:
dispensing the drug from a dispensing apparatus;
allowing the drug to fall under the influence of gravity into a temporary storage container;
releasably retaining the drug in the temporary storage container;
positioning a container to collect the drug; and releasing the drug from the temporary storage container and allowing the drug to fall under the influence of gravity from the temporary storage container.
dispensing the drug from a dispensing apparatus;
allowing the drug to fall under the influence of gravity into a temporary storage container;
releasably retaining the drug in the temporary storage container;
positioning a container to collect the drug; and releasing the drug from the temporary storage container and allowing the drug to fall under the influence of gravity from the temporary storage container.
12. The method of Claim 11 wherein the step of releasing the drug from the temporary storage container comprises opening a pivoting door.
13. The method of Claim 11 wherein the step of releasing the drug from the temporary storage container comprises actuating a solenoid and piston assembly and causing a pivoting door attached to the piston to move to an open position.
14. A system for automatically filling prescriptions, comprising:
means for receiving at least one patient's order, the at least one order comprising patient identification information and one or more prescriptions;
at least one prescription filling line including means for automatically filling a vial with drugs, means for labeling the vial, and means for capping the vial with the drugs;
means for temporarily accumulating drugs prior to vial filling operatively associated with the means for automatically filling vials;
means for channeling drugs from the means for temporarily accumulating drugs to a vial operatively associated with the means for temporarily accumulating drugs;
means for assigning one of the prescriptions to the at least one prescription filling line for processing; means for receiving vials from the at least one filling line and for sorting the vials according to the at least one order; and means for collecting vials pertaining to each of the at least one order.
means for receiving at least one patient's order, the at least one order comprising patient identification information and one or more prescriptions;
at least one prescription filling line including means for automatically filling a vial with drugs, means for labeling the vial, and means for capping the vial with the drugs;
means for temporarily accumulating drugs prior to vial filling operatively associated with the means for automatically filling vials;
means for channeling drugs from the means for temporarily accumulating drugs to a vial operatively associated with the means for temporarily accumulating drugs;
means for assigning one of the prescriptions to the at least one prescription filling line for processing; means for receiving vials from the at least one filling line and for sorting the vials according to the at least one order; and means for collecting vials pertaining to each of the at least one order.
15. The system of Claim 14 wherein the means for temporarily accumulating the drugs further comprises:
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
16. The system of Claim 15 wherein said means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug comprises a substantially funnel shaped enclosure having a top end that is open and a bottom end that has a closeable opening.
17. The system of Claim 15 wherein said means for releasably retaining the drug comprises a door.
18. The system of Claim 17 wherein said door is hingedly attached to said means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug.
19. The system of Claim 15 wherein said means for releasing said means for releasably retaining comprises a piston and solenoid assembly, the piston being operatively attached to the means for retaining so as to move said means for retaining between opened and closed positions.
20. The system of Claim 15 wherein the means for releasably retaining is biased to its closed position.
21. The system of Claim 15 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a plurality of means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug.
22. The system of Claim 21 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a like plurality of respective means for releasably retaining the drug.
23. The system of Claim 22 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a like plurality of respective means for releasing the means for retaining.
24. A system for automatically filling prescriptions, comprising:
a controller operative to receive patient orders, the orders comprising patient identification information and at least one prescription;
at least one filling line conveyor; a device storing the at least one empty vial associated with said filling line conveyor; an unscrambler disposed along the filling line conveyor operative to retrieve the at least one vial and to position the at least one vial on the filling line conveyor; and a filler positioned along the filling line conveyor downstream of the unscrambler and operative to dispense said drugs into said tablet accumulator in accordance with said at least one prescription, said filler including a plurality of canisters from which the drugs are dispensed and a tablet accumulator positioned for receiving the drugs from the canisters and to stage part of at least one prescription prior to positioning of at least one vial for collecting said drug;
a controller operative to receive patient orders, the orders comprising patient identification information and at least one prescription;
at least one filling line conveyor; a device storing the at least one empty vial associated with said filling line conveyor; an unscrambler disposed along the filling line conveyor operative to retrieve the at least one vial and to position the at least one vial on the filling line conveyor; and a filler positioned along the filling line conveyor downstream of the unscrambler and operative to dispense said drugs into said tablet accumulator in accordance with said at least one prescription, said filler including a plurality of canisters from which the drugs are dispensed and a tablet accumulator positioned for receiving the drugs from the canisters and to stage part of at least one prescription prior to positioning of at least one vial for collecting said drug;
25. The system of Claim 24 wherein the tablet accumulator comprises:
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
means for releasably retaining the drug within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
26. The system of Claim 25 wherein said means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drug comprises a substantially funnel shaped enclosure having a top end that is open and a bottom end that has a closeable opening.
27. An apparatus for dispensing drugs into vials, comprising:
a plurality of canisters in which are stored drugs to be dispensed, the canisters so constructed that the drugs are dispensed therefrom by dropping the drugs therefrom and allowing the drugs to fall freely under the influence of gravity;
channels members positioned to contain the free falling drugs within the apparatus; and a tablet accumulator positioned for receiving the free falling drugs from the canisters and for temporarily staging the drugs prior to vial filling.
a plurality of canisters in which are stored drugs to be dispensed, the canisters so constructed that the drugs are dispensed therefrom by dropping the drugs therefrom and allowing the drugs to fall freely under the influence of gravity;
channels members positioned to contain the free falling drugs within the apparatus; and a tablet accumulator positioned for receiving the free falling drugs from the canisters and for temporarily staging the drugs prior to vial filling.
28. The apparatus of Claim 27 wherein said tablet accumulator comprises:
means for receiving the drugs falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drugs;
means for releasably retaining the drugs within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drugs to again fall under the influence of gravity.
means for receiving the drugs falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drugs;
means for releasably retaining the drugs within the means for storing; and means for releasing said means for retaining and allowing the drugs to again fall under the influence of gravity.
29. The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein said means for receiving the drugs falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drugs comprises a substantially funnel shaped enclosure having a top end that is open and a bottom end that has a closeable opening.
30. The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein said means for releasably retaining the drugs comprises a door.
31. The apparatus of Claim 30 wherein said door is hingedly attached to said means for receiving the drugs falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drugs.
32. The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein said means ?O 94/12393 PCT/US93/10514 for releasing said means for releasably retaining comprises a piston and solenoid assembly, the piston being operatively attached to the means for retaining so as to move said means for retaining between opened and closed positions.
33. The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein the means for releasably retaining is biased to its closed position.
34. The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a plurality of means for receiving the drugs falling under the influence of gravity and storing the drugs.
35. The apparatus of Claim 34 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a like plurality of respective means for releasably retaining the drugs.
36. The apparatus of Claim 35 wherein said means for temporarily accumulating the drugs comprises a like plurality of respective means for releasing the means for retaining.
37. The apparatus of Claim 27 further comprising a member disposed beneath the tablet accumulator for receiving the drugs when they are released therefrom and for directing the drugs into the vial.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US7/984,048 | 1992-12-01 | ||
| US07984048 US5348061B1 (en) | 1992-12-01 | 1992-12-01 | Tablet accumulator for an automated prescription vial filling system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2129137A1 true CA2129137A1 (en) | 1994-06-09 |
Family
ID=25530260
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002129137A Abandoned CA2129137A1 (en) | 1992-12-01 | 1993-11-03 | Tablet accumulator for automated vial filling system |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5348061B1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0623085A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH07503442A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU671877B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2129137A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994012393A1 (en) |
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- 1993-11-03 JP JP6513141A patent/JPH07503442A/en active Pending
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Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| USRE46835E1 (en) | 2009-02-10 | 2018-05-08 | Timothy Chambers | Automatic pill dispensing device and method of use thereof |
| US11735304B2 (en) | 2017-09-26 | 2023-08-22 | Mckesson Corporation | Robotic dispensary system and methods |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5348061A (en) | 1994-09-20 |
| AU671877B2 (en) | 1996-09-12 |
| AU5456694A (en) | 1994-06-22 |
| JPH07503442A (en) | 1995-04-13 |
| EP0623085A4 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
| US5348061B1 (en) | 1999-10-12 |
| WO1994012393A1 (en) | 1994-06-09 |
| EP0623085A1 (en) | 1994-11-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |