System and method for pharmacy validation and inspection

• US 20030174326A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Goetz, Alexander F.H., Enterline, John, Curtiss, Brian, Faus, Robert J., Rzasa, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,771,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

An apparatus for verifying the identity of a dispensed pharmaceutical comprises an analysis unit adapted to determine a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical, an input device adapted to receive predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical, and a comparison unit adapted to compare the determined property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with the predetermined identifying information. In addition, a method of verifying a prescription, wherein the prescription comprises a pharmaceutical compound, comprises associating the prescription with a unique identifier, storing the unique identifier, determining the identity of the pharmaceutical compound, and comparing the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with the unique identifier.

Claims

1. An apparatus for verifying the identity of a dispensed pharmaceutical, comprising:

an analysis unit adapted to determine a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical;

an input device adapted to receive predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical; and

a comparison unit adapted to compare the determined property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with the predetermined identifying information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is an optical spectroscopy system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is a near-infrared optical spectroscopy system.

4. The apparatus if claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is a visible and near-infrared optical spectroscopy system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is an infrared optical spectroscopy system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is an ultra violet and visible spectroscopy system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is an ultra violet, visible, and infrared spectroscopy system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is a Raman spectroscopy system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit further comprises an imaging device adapted to determine a physical property of the dispensed pharmaceutical.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the physical property is size, shape, or color.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the imaging device is adapted to perform optical character recognition (OCR).

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit comprises a spectrometer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the analysis unit further comprises

a processor;

a telescope assembly coupled to the spectrometer; and

a light source.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is a scanner adapted to read a bar code symbol and wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical comprises a bar code symbol.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical includes manufacturer information.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical includes product name information.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical includes dosage level information.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponds to the same properties measured by the analysis unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the scanner is a hand-held device.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the scanner is a table top mounted device.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the comparison unit is integral with the analysis unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use in a retail pharmacy.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use in a central filling facility.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use in automated filling systems.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use as a stand alone unit.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for integration with an existing pharmacy information system.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensed pharmaceutical is a solid dosage pharmaceutical.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensed pharmaceutical is a liquid pharmaceutical.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the comparison unit comprises a microprocessor capable of being programmed with an algorithm.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the comparison unit comprises:

a network database adapted to store the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to identify unknown drugs.

33. A method of verifying a prescription, wherein the prescription comprises a pharmaceutical compound, the method comprising:

associating the prescription with a unique identifier;

storing the unique identifier;

determining the identity of the pharmaceutical compound; and

comparing the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with the unique identifier.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

associating the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with a unique chemical signature;

determining whether the chemical signature corresponds to the unique identifier;

displaying a first signal if the chemical signature corresponds to the unique identifier; and

displaying a second signal if the chemical signature does not correspond to the unique identifier.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein associating the prescription with a unique identifier comprises:

receiving the unique identifier from a pharmacy information system, wherein the unique identification number is in the form of a bar code; and

associating the bar code with the prescription.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein storing the unique identifier comprises reading the bar code with a hand-held scanner.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the unique identifier includes the manufacturer of the prescription pharmaceutical.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the unique identifier includes the name and dosage level of the prescription pharmaceutical.

39. A method of adapting an existing pharmacy information system to perform verification of a dispensed pharmaceutical, comprising:

providing an analysis unit adapted to measure a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical;

providing an input device adapted to receive predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical; and

providing a comparison unit adapted to compare the measured property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with the predetermined identifying information.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the existing pharmacy information system includes a data storage device and wherein the comparison unit is incorporated into the data storage device.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the existing pharmacy information system comprises an automated filling system.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the existing pharmacy information system comprises a visual verification system.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the analysis unit comprises a near-infrared spectroscopy system.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the analysis unit further comprises an optical imaging system.

45. A inspection system for verifying the contents of a filled prescription, comprising:

a spectrometer adapted to determine the spectral signature of the contents of the filled prescription;

a scanner adapted to receive identifying information corresponding to the filled prescription;

a data storage device coupled to the scanner and adapted to store the identifying information corresponding to the filled prescription;

wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of data items, each of the plurality of data items corresponding to a known prescription pharmaceutical spectral signature.

46. The inspection system of claim 45, wherein the spectrometer operates in the ultra-violet, visible, and near infrared wavelengths.

47. The inspection system of claim 45, further comprising a telescope assembly coupled to the spectrometer.

48. The inspection system of claim 47, wherein the spectrometer is operative to focus the telescope assembly.

49. The inspection system of claim 47, wherein the telescope is adapted for confocal viewing and illumination.

50. The inspection system of claim 47, wherein the telescope further comprises a rotating beam steering element adapted to obtain multiple readings.

51. A method of filling a prescription, comprising:

receiving a prescription request;

entering the prescription request into an information system;

dispensing the prescription from a supply source into a customer container;

applying an identification label on the customer container, wherein the identification label contains identifying information corresponding to the prescription;

storing the identifying information corresponding to the prescription;

determining the identity of the prescription; and

comparing the identity of the prescription to the identifying information.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the method is implemented in a pharmacy.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the method is implemented in an automated prescription filling station.

54. An apparatus for verifying the contents of a dispensed pharmaceutical, comprising:

means for determining information corresponding to a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical;

means for receiving predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical; and

means for comparing the determined property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with the predetermined identifying information.