Plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system
First Claim
1. A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system for making patient-specific compliance packages consisting of pouch packages or blister packages loaded with different types of medicaments in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient, the system comprising:
- a controller operable to control the system to make the patient-specific compliance packages in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order,an automatic medicament dispensing unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller, the dispensing unit including a plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units collectively holding quantities of different types of medicaments, the storage and dispensing units being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to dispense the type and quantity of each different type of medicament required to load pouch packages of a series of pouch packages or to load cells of a blister Package in the sequence in which the medicaments are to be taken by the patient;
a pouch packaging unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller which receives the medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units, the pouch packaging unit being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to package the medicaments in the pouch packages of the series of pouch packages such that the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments are arranged in successive pouch packages in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient;
a blister package packaging unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller which receives the medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units, the blister packaging unit being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to package the medicaments in the cells of the blister package such that the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments are arranged in successive cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient, the blister package packaging unit including;
a robotic pick-and-place device which loads any of the medicaments into any cell of the blister package to arrange the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments in the cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient; and
a scaler unit which seals the blister package after loading; and
a plural-position medicament diverter apart from the storage and dispensing units and in data-transmission relationship with the controller, the diverter being controlled by the controller and having first and second mode positions such that, in the first-mode position, the medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the pouch packaging unit and, in the second-mode position, the diverter is controlled such that medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the diverter and the diverter delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit enabling the robotic pick-and-place device to load and arrange the different types of medicaments into the blister package cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system. In embodiments, the system may include an automatic dispensing machine including an automatic medicament dispensing unit and may further include pouch packaging and blister package packaging units. The medicament dispensing unit may include one or more storage and dispensing units which store and dispense medicaments. Medicaments output from the medicament dispensing unit may be packaged in a pouch package by the pouch packaging unit. Alternatively, a diverter may direct medicaments output from the medicament dispensing unit to the pouch package packaging unit for packaging in a blister package. A single automatic medicament packaging system can package medicaments in different types of packaging providing a pharmacy with the opportunity to package medicaments in the form of packaging most appropriate to meet patient needs.
182 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system for making patient-specific compliance packages consisting of pouch packages or blister packages loaded with different types of medicaments in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient, the system comprising:
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a controller operable to control the system to make the patient-specific compliance packages in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order, an automatic medicament dispensing unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller, the dispensing unit including a plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units collectively holding quantities of different types of medicaments, the storage and dispensing units being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to dispense the type and quantity of each different type of medicament required to load pouch packages of a series of pouch packages or to load cells of a blister Package in the sequence in which the medicaments are to be taken by the patient; a pouch packaging unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller which receives the medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units, the pouch packaging unit being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to package the medicaments in the pouch packages of the series of pouch packages such that the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments are arranged in successive pouch packages in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient; a blister package packaging unit in data-transmission relationship with the controller which receives the medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units, the blister packaging unit being controlled by the controller in accordance with each patient'"'"'s prescription order to package the medicaments in the cells of the blister package such that the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments are arranged in successive cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient, the blister package packaging unit including; a robotic pick-and-place device which loads any of the medicaments into any cell of the blister package to arrange the type and quantity of the different types of medicaments in the cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient; and a scaler unit which seals the blister package after loading; and a plural-position medicament diverter apart from the storage and dispensing units and in data-transmission relationship with the controller, the diverter being controlled by the controller and having first and second mode positions such that, in the first-mode position, the medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the pouch packaging unit and, in the second-mode position, the diverter is controlled such that medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the diverter and the diverter delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit enabling the robotic pick-and-place device to load and arrange the different types of medicaments into the blister package cells in the sequence in which they are to be taken by the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification