Dispensing canisters for packaging oral solid pharmaceuticals via robotic technology according to patient prescription data
First Claim
1. A dispensing container for robotic pick-and-place packaging of solid oral pharmaceuticals comprising:
- a continuous interior bottom surface forming a base of a solid pharmaceutical reservoir portion and a pick-and-place staging area, wherein;
the solid pharmaceutical reservoir portion has a volume that is sufficient to hold a plurality of solid pharmaceuticals; and
the pick-and-place staging area is adjacent the reservoir portion and provides a flat surface; and
a hinged lid comprising a fixed portion which covers the reservoir portion and a movable portion which covers the staging area when the hinged lid is in a closed position, the movable portion comprising a barrier that extends downward from the hinged lid and separates the reservoir portion from the staging area when the hinged lid is in the closed position to prevent transfer of solid pharmaceuticals from the reservoir portion to the staging area, wherein;
when the hinged lid is in an open position the movable portion moves to;
expose the staging area while the reservoir portion remains covered by the fixed portion; and
move the barrier such that the reservoir portion and the staging area form a single volume; and
the dispensing container is configured to be tilted while the hinged lid is in an open position, thereby allowing solid pharmaceuticals to be transferred from the reservoir portion to the staging area.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Robotic pick-and-place automation is used to transfer oral solid pharmaceuticals from moveable trays or canisters. Sensors are used to verify that the pharmaceuticals have been properly placed in the desired pharmaceutical locations precisely according to the patient prescription data. A pharmacist places pharmaceutical products within dispensing trays or canisters to present the pharmaceutical products for picking and placing via the robotic pick-and-place machinery. Once the canister or tray is located adjacent the pick-and-place device, a sensor or imaging unit associated with the pick-and-place device verifies that the pharmaceutical product the size, shape, and/or color of an expected pharmaceutical product that is to be placed within the packaging material in accordance with patient prescription data stored by a computer associated with the system. Sensors verify that each individual pharmaceutical specified by a patient prescription have been deposited into each specified location strictly in accordance with the patient prescription data.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A dispensing container for robotic pick-and-place packaging of solid oral pharmaceuticals comprising:
a continuous interior bottom surface forming a base of a solid pharmaceutical reservoir portion and a pick-and-place staging area, wherein; the solid pharmaceutical reservoir portion has a volume that is sufficient to hold a plurality of solid pharmaceuticals; and the pick-and-place staging area is adjacent the reservoir portion and provides a flat surface; and a hinged lid comprising a fixed portion which covers the reservoir portion and a movable portion which covers the staging area when the hinged lid is in a closed position, the movable portion comprising a barrier that extends downward from the hinged lid and separates the reservoir portion from the staging area when the hinged lid is in the closed position to prevent transfer of solid pharmaceuticals from the reservoir portion to the staging area, wherein; when the hinged lid is in an open position the movable portion moves to; expose the staging area while the reservoir portion remains covered by the fixed portion; and move the barrier such that the reservoir portion and the staging area form a single volume; and the dispensing container is configured to be tilted while the hinged lid is in an open position, thereby allowing solid pharmaceuticals to be transferred from the reservoir portion to the staging area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A dispensing container for robotic pick-and-place packaging of solid oral pharmaceuticals, comprising:
a continuous interior bottom surface forming a base of a solid pharmaceutical storage region and a vision region, wherein; the solid pharmaceutical storage region has a volume that is sufficient to hold a plurality of solid pharmaceuticals; and the vision region is adjacent the storage region and provides a flat surface; and a hinged lid comprising a fixed portion which covers the storage region and a movable portion which covers the vision region when the hinged lid is in a closed position, the movable portion comprising a barrier that extends downward from the hinged lid and separates the storage region from the vision region when the hinged lid is in the closed position to prevent transfer of solid pharmaceuticals from the storage region to the vision region, wherein; when the hinged lid is in an open position the movable portion moves to; expose the vision region while the storage region remains covered by the fixed portion; and move the barrier such that the storage region and the vision region form a single volume. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Specification