System and method for pharmacy validation and inspection

• US 20040207842A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malvern Panalytical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Malvern Panalytical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enterline, John, Curtiss, Brian, Faus, Robert J., Rzasa, David M., Goetz, Alexander F. H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,006,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/328
• 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.

55. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the analysis unit further comprises a device adapted to determine the chemical composition of the dispensed pharmaceutical.

56. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a distributed system.

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.

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.