Integrated automated drug dispenser method and apparatus

• US 20010027634A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hebron, Terrance J., Vandy Bogurt, Douglas L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,449,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/501
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A system is provided for automatically dispensing prescriptions according to a patient'"'"'s order. The system includes at least one line of machines that can automatically fill a patient'"'"'s prescription order with countable oral solid medication under the control of an appropriate control system. The system includes containers provided to store the oral solid medication. One or more medication-containing containers are detachably coupled to a vibratory dispenser according to a patient'"'"'s order. The vibratory dispenser automatically vibrates the container to dispense a predetermined amount of medication from the container into the vial according to the patient'"'"'s order. Labeling and capping apparatus may be provided to apply a patient-specific label to the vial and to apply a cap or closure to the vial. Vials containing medication according to the patient'"'"'s order may be collected in accumulation receptacles prior to delivery to a patient.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically filling prescription orders for oral solid medication in accordance with patient-specific prescription order information comprising:

a controller for receiving the patient-specific prescription information and for controlling prescription filling apparatus for filing the prescription order;

a plurality of oral solid medication containers for containing oral solid medication therein;

at least one vibratory dispenser operatively controlled by the controller and including a coupling for attachment of an oral solid medication container in a detachable relationship, the dispenser providing vibration to a coupled container in response to the prescription information so that medication is dispensed from the container into a vial;

at least one container transport assembly operatively controlled by the controller for automatic transport of an oral solid medication container between a container storage location and the vibratory dispenser in response to the prescription information; and

a vial transport assembly operatively controlled by the controller for automatic transport of empty vials to the vibratory dispenser and filled vials to at least one predetermined location in response to the prescription information;

whereby the filled prescription order is collected in at least one predetermined location.

2. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the predetermined location is an accumulator and the filled vials according to a patient-specific prescription order are transported to the accumulator for collection.

3. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

further including a vial labeler positioned with respect to a vial for applying a label to the vial.

4. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 3

further including a vial capper positioned with respect to a filled vial for capping the vial.

5. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the oral solid medication containers are canisters comprising:

a canister body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall and inner and outer canister surfaces, at least one wall defining a discharge opening through which the oral solid medication is discharged from the canister and the at least one sidewall defining an opening through which medication is loaded into the canister;

medication separation structure positioned with respect to the canister inner surface, the separation structure having a first end for receiving oral solid medication from the canister, a second end in communication with the discharge opening and a separation surface therebetween on which the medication is transported along the surface to the discharge opening; and

a coupling mechanism attached to the canister for detachably coupling the canister to the vibratory dispenser.

6. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 5

, wherein the separation surface is of a predetermined width so as to cause the medication to be arranged in a substantially single row.

7. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 5

further including:

a frame positioned with respect to the container transport assembly; and

a plurality of canister storage shelves along the frame, each shelf for storing at least one canister.

8. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the container is a canister and the coupling is a quick coupling mechanism attaching the canister to the vibratory dispenser and permitting rapid coupling and decoupling of the canister from the dispenser.

9. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the quick coupling mechanism comprises:

a magnet attached to the vibratory dispenser; and

a magnetically-attractive member attached to the canister;

whereby, the canister is detachably coupled to the vibratory dispenser by the action of the magnet and the magnetically-attractive member.

10. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the vibratory dispenser includes:

at least one drive unit for vibrating an oral solid medication container mounted thereon;

a coupling mechanism attached to the vibratory dispenser for detachably coupling the oral solid medication container to the drive unit; and

a sensor positioned in an oral solid medication dispensing path, the sensor registering a count when the dispensed oral solid medication passes the sensor.

11. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein the coupling mechanism is a magnet secured with respect to the drive unit designed for mating with a magnetically-attractive member positioned on the oral solid medication container.

12. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 10

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the oral solid medication container by varying an amplitude component of the vibration.

13. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 10

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the oral solid medication container by varying a frequency component of the vibration.

14. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 10

further including:

a comparator for comparing the amount of dispensed medication to the amount of medication to be dispensed including a comparison at a vial filling cycle end period; and

if the comparison at the vial filling cycle end period shows that less than all of the medication has been dispensed, the controller causes the vibratory dispenser to provide at least one vibratory pulse to dispense any remaining medication from the oral solid medication container.

15. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 10

wherein the container transport assembly comprises:

a drive mechanism for positioning the assembly to grip an oral solid medication container; and

a gripper assembly coupled to the drive mechanism for gripping an oral solid medication container.

16. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 15

wherein the drive mechanism comprises:

a plurality of guides arranged in an orthogonal coordinate system; and

a motor for moving the assembly along the guides.

17. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 16

wherein the gripper assembly comprises:

at least two generally opposed fingers moveable between an open, release position and a closed, gripping position;

a rotatable cam operatively connected to the fingers for opening and closing the fingers; and

at least one limit switch for sensing whether the fingers are in the opened or closed positions.

18. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 17

further including a motor for rotating the cam.

19. The prescription filling apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the vial transport assembly is the container transport assembly.

20. A system for dispensing oral solid medication from a canister containing the medication comprising:

means for detachably coupling the canister to a vibrating means;

means for vibrating a canister detachably coupled to the vibrating means, said vibration causing oral solid medication to be dispensed from the detachably coupled canister; and

means for controlling vibration frequency of the vibrating means to cause the medication to be dispensed from the detachably coupled canister in a predetermined manner.

21. The system of

claim 20

further comprising means for controlling vibration amplitude of the vibrating means to cause the medication to be dispensed from the canister in a predetermined manner.

22. The system of

claim 20

further comprising means for comparing the amount of dispensed medication to a total amount of oral solid medication to be dispensed.

23. The system of

claim 22

wherein the vibration frequency provided by the vibrating means is changed as the numerical difference between the amount of medication to be dispensed and the amount of medication actually dispensed changes.

24. The system of

claim 23

wherein the vibration amplitude provided by the vibrating means is changed as the numerical difference between the amount of medication to be dispensed and the amount of medication actually dispensed changes.

25. A system for dispensing prescription oral solid medication from a bulk storage canister containing the medication comprising:

a vibratory dispenser for vibrating a medication-containing canister detachably coupled to the vibratory dispenser during dispensing of the oral solid medication;

a coupling mechanism for rapid coupling and decoupling of the canister from the vibratory dispenser; and

a controller for controlling the vibratory dispenser so that the vibratory dispenser vibrates the canister at a predetermined frequency.

26. The system of

claim 25

wherein the vibratory dispenser further comprises a mechanism for counting dispensed oral solid medication.

27. The system of

claim 26

wherein the counting mechanism further comprises a sensor that registers a count when the dispensed oral solid medication passes the sensor.

28. The system of

claim 27

wherein the count is cumulative.

29. The system of

claim 28

wherein the count is compared to a total count to be dispensed thereby providing an instantaneous count of the total amount of dispensed medication.

30. The system of

claim 25

wherein the controller further includes a shutter positioned along a medication dispensing path, the shutter interposing a light source, and a photodetector spaced from the shutter for receiving the light.

31. The system of

claim 25

wherein the vibratory dispenser further comprises at least one drive unit.

32. The system of

claim 31

wherein the coupling device comprises:

a magnet attached to the drive unit; and

a magnetically-attractive member attached to the canister;

whereby, the canister is detachably coupled to the drive unit by the action of the magnet and the magnetically-attractive member.

33. The system of

claim 25

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the canister by varying an amplitude component of the vibration.

34. The system of

claim 25

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the canister by varying the frequency component of the vibration and the vibration of the canister is correlated to a medication count and to a total count which represents the total amount of the medication to be dispensed.

35. The system of

claim 34

wherein the vibration frequency is changed as the medication count nears the total count.

36. The system of

claim 34

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the canister based on a preset frequency selected from a table of frequencies.

37. The system of

claim 34

wherein the drive unit vibrates the canister based on a feedback control that measures the frequency of vibration and adjusts the frequency based on the count.

38. The system of

claim 33

wherein the vibratory dispenser vibrates the canister by varying the amplitude component of the vibration and the vibration of the canister is correlated to a medication count and to a total count which represents the total amount of medication that is to be dispensed.

39. The system of

claim 38

wherein the vibration amplitude is changed as the medication count nears the total count.

40. The system of

claim 38

wherein the drive unit vibrates the canister based on a preset amplitude selected from a table of amplitudes.

41. The system of

claim 38

wherein the drive unit vibrates the canister based on a feedback control that measures the amplitude of vibration and adjusts the amplitude based on the count.

42. The system of

claim 25

wherein the canister comprises:

a canister body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall and inner and outer canister surfaces, at least one wall defining a discharge opening through which the oral solid medication is discharged from the canister and the at least one sidewall defining an opening through which medication is loaded into the canister;

medication separation structure positioned with respect to the canister inner surface, the separation structure having a first end for receiving oral solid medication from the canister, a second end in communication with the discharge opening and a separation surface therebetween on which the medication is transported along the surface to the discharge opening; and

a coupling mechanism attached to the canister for detachably coupling the canister to the vibratory dispenser.

43. The system of

claim 42

wherein the medication separation structure comprises:

an upwardly sloping helical ramp positioned about the canister inner surface;

the first end is a ramp first end along a bottom surface of the canister; and

accelerator structure having one end in communication with a ramp upper end another end in communication with the discharge opening and a surface therebetween, the surface including a downwardly sloping portion facilitating separation of medication within the canister.

44. The system of

claim 42

wherein the canister further comprises a stop positioned with respect to the discharge opening, the stop having a first position preventing medication from being dispensed and a second position allowing medication to be dispensed through the opening.