Automated dispensing system and associated method of use

• US 20050278066A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Andrew, Wong, David M., Graves, Kevin, Schadt, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/015 for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation units; Radioisotope containers

Abstract

An automated bulk dispensing system and a method of use including selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container, selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a fourth container or directly into the third container depending on whether kits or multi-dose containers of medicine are desired. Preferably, this is for nuclear pharmaceuticals. Displacement mechanisms that are connected to the third container and fourth container are for mixing and dispensing liquid. There is at least one control valve, preferably three control valves, which are each controlled by drive mechanisms. The mixed liquid from the third container can be transferred to a recipient container. There is also a gas vent and bubble detector to eliminate bubbles with a processor that is also utilized to control the displacement mechanisms and the drive mechanisms.

Claims

1. An automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

a first container;

a second container;

a third container;

a first displacement mechanism that is operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid from the third container;

a recipient container;

at least one first control valve, wherein the first container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and the second container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and the third container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve;

at least one first drive mechanism that is operatively attached, in one-to-one correspondence, to the at least one first control valve, wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the first container into the third container, wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the second container into the third container and wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the third container into the recipient container; and

a processor that is electrically connected to the at least one first drive mechanism and the first displacement mechanism for selective activation thereof.

2. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one first control valve includes at least one four-way stopcock.

3. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one first drive mechanism includes at least one first motor that can rotate in controlled increments.

4. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first displacement mechanism includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to an actuator.

5. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the third container includes a syringe, having a longitudinal axis, and the actuator of the first displacement mechanism includes a member that is operatively connected to a plunger, wherein the plunger is located within the syringe, wherein rotation of the second motor provides movement of the member to displace the plunger along the longitudinal axis of the syringe.

6. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the member includes a lead screw and the second motor includes a stepper motor.

7. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a gas vent that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container.

8. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bubble detector that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is electrically connected to the processor.

9. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a gas vent and a bubble detector that are both connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is electrically connected to the processor.

10. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a radiation shield adjacent to the first container, the second container, the at least one first control valve, the third container and the recipient container.

11. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second container includes a vial that is at least partially surrounded by shielding.

12. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas-venting mechanism operatively connected to the recipient container.

13. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas-venting mechanism that can be operatively connected to the recipient container and removed from the recipient container by activation of a first actuating mechanism.

14. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the fluid delivery and gas venting mechanism includes a micro-mini spike and the recipient container includes a vial.

15. An automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

a first container;

a second container;

a third container that includes a syringe;

a first displacement mechanism that includes a stepper motor connected to a lead screw, wherein the lead screw operatively connected to a plunger, located within the syringe, for displacing liquid from the syringe;

a recipient container;

at least one first control valve, wherein the first container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and the second container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and the third container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve;

at least one first drive mechanism that is operatively attached, in one-to-one correspondence, to the at least one first control valve, wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the first container into the third container, wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the second container into the third container and wherein the at least one first drive mechanism by operation of the at least one first control valve can selectively control a flow of liquid from the third container into the recipient container;

a gas vent that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container;

a bubble detector that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is operatively connected to the processor;

a radiation shield adjacent to the first container, the second container, the at least one first control valve, the third container, the recipient container, the gas vent and the bubble detector; and

a processor that is electrically connected to the at least one first drive mechanism and the first displacement mechanism for selective activation thereof.

16. A method for filling containers utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container through at least one first control valve;

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a third container that is operatively connected to the third container through at least one first control valve;

mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container with a first displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid within the third container, wherein the first displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto; and

dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container with the first displacement mechanism through the at least one first control valve and into a recipient container, wherein the first container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve, the second container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and the third container is connected in fluid relationship to the at least one first control valve and there is at least one first drive mechanism that is operatively attached, in one-to-one correspondence, to the at least first control valve to selectively control the flow of liquid into and out of the third container, wherein the first drive mechanism is controlled by the processor and is operatively connected thereto.

17. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 16, further comprising releasing gas through a vent and determining if any bubbles are present in the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid with a bubble detector prior to dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container through the at least one first control valve into the recipient container.

18. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container and dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container to the recipient container with the first displacement mechanism that includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to an actuator.

19. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 18, wherein the actuator includes a lead screw and plunger and the second motor includes a stepper motor and the third container includes a syringe, wherein the plunger is located within the syringe.

20. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the drive mechanism includes a first motor that can rotate in controlled increments and the at least one first control valve includes at least one stopcock.

21. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the radioactive liquid includes technetium and the nonradioactive liquid includes a saline solution.

22. An automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

a first container;

a first control valve connected in fluid relationship to the first container;

a second container;

a second control valve connected in fluid relationship to the second container;

a third container connected in fluid relationship to the second control valve;

a first displacement mechanism that is operatively connected to the third container for dispensing fluid from the third container;

a fourth container connected in fluid relationship to the first control valve;

a second displacement mechanism that is operatively connected to the fourth container for dispensing fluid from the fourth container;

a third control valve that is connected in fluid relationship between the first control valve and the second control valve;

a first drive mechanism operatively attached to the first control valve for selectively controlling liquid flow from the first control valve;

a second drive mechanism operatively attached to the second control valve for selectively controlling liquid flow from the second control valve;

a third drive mechanism operatively attached to the third control valve for selectively controlling fluid flow from the third control valve;

a recipient container that is connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve; and

a processor that is operatively connected to the first displacement mechanism, the second displacement mechanism, the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism and the third drive mechanism.

23. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first control valve includes a first stopcock, the second control valve includes a second stopcock and the third control valve includes a third stopcock, wherein the first stopcock, the second stopcock and the third stopcock are located within a manifold.

24. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first drive mechanism includes a third motor that can rotate in controlled increments, the second drive mechanism includes a fourth motor that can rotate in controlled increments and the third drive mechanism includes a fifth motor that can rotate in controlled increments.

25. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the third motor includes a third stepper motor, the fourth motor includes a fourth stepper motor and the fifth drive mechanism includes a fifth stepper motor.

26. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the third container includes a first syringe and the actuator of the first displacement mechanism is operatively connected to a plunger to move the plunger back and forth within the syringe.

27. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first control valve includes a first three-way stopcock, wherein the at least one second control valve includes a second three-way stopcock and the at least one third control valve includes a third three-way stopcock.

28. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first displacement mechanism includes a first motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a first actuator and the second displacement mechanism includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a second actuator.

29. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 28, wherein the third container includes a first syringe, having a longitudinal axis, and the first actuator of the first displacement mechanism includes a first member that is operatively connected to a first plunger, wherein the first plunger is located within the first syringe, wherein the first motor provides movement of the first member to displace the first plunger along the longitudinal axis of the first syringe and wherein the fourth container includes a second syringe, having a longitudinal axis, and the second actuator of the second displacement mechanism includes a second member that is operatively connected to a second plunger, wherein the second plunger is located within the second syringe, wherein the second motor provides movement of the second member to displace the second plunger along the longitudinal axis of the second syringe.

30. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 29, wherein the first member includes a first lead screw and the first motor includes a first stepper motor and wherein the second member includes a second lead screw and the second motor includes a second stepper motor.

31. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a bubble detector that is connected between the second control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is operatively connected to the processor and a gas vent that is connected between the second control valve and the second container.

32. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas venting mechanism operatively connected to the recipient container.

33. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas-venting mechanism that can be operatively connected to the recipient container and removed from the recipient container by activation of a first actuating mechanism.

34. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 32, wherein the fluid delivery and gas venting mechanism includes a micro-mini spike and the recipient container includes a vial.

35. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a radiation shield adjacent to the first container, the second container, the first control valve, the third container, the fourth container, the second control valve, the third control valve and the recipient container.

36. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the second container includes a vial surrounded by shielding.

37. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 36, wherein the shielding includes a bottom portion, an upper portion that is removedly attached to the bottom portion that is capable of surrounding the vial within the upper portion and the lower portion.

38. The automated bulk dispensing system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising an electronic display connected to the processor and at least one input device connected to the processor.

39. An automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

a first container;

a first control valve connected in fluid relationship to the first container;

a second container;

a second control valve connected in fluid relationship to the second container;

a third container that includes a syringe connected in fluid relationship to the second control valve;

a first displacement mechanism that includes a first stepper motor connected to a first lead screw, wherein the first lead screw is operatively connected to a first plunger, located within the first syringe, for displacing liquid from the first syringe, wherein the first displacement mechanism is operatively connected to the third container for dispensing fluid from the third container;

a fourth container connected in fluid relationship to the first control valve;

a second displacement mechanism that includes a second stepper motor connected to a second lead screw, wherein the second lead screw is operatively connected to a second plunger, located within the second syringe, for displacing liquid from the second syringe, wherein the second displacement mechanism is operatively connected to the fourth container for dispensing fluid from the fourth container;

a third control valve that is connected in fluid relationship between the first control valve and the second control valve;

a first drive mechanism operatively attached to the first control valve for selectively controlling liquid flow from the first control valve;

a second drive mechanism operatively attached to the second control valve for selectively controlling liquid flow from the second control valve;

a third drive mechanism operatively attached to the third control valve for selectively controlling fluid flow from the third control valve;

a recipient container that is connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve;

a gas vent that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container;

a bubble detector that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is operatively connected to the processor;

a radiation shield adjacent to the first container, the second container, the first control valve, the second control valve, the third control valve, the third container, the fourth container, the recipient container, the gas vent and the bubble detector; and

a processor that is operatively connected to the first displacement mechanism, the second displacement mechanism, the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism and the third drive mechanism.

40. A method for filling containers utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container through a second control valve;

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a fourth container through a first control valve;

selectively transferring a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from the fourth container into the third container through a third control valve and the second control valve with a first displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the fourth container for displacing liquid from the fourth container and the first displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto;

mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container with a second displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid from the third container, wherein the second displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto; and

dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container with the second displacement mechanism through the second control valve and the third control valve into a recipient container, wherein the first container and the fourth container are connected in fluid relationship to the first control valve, the second container and the third container are connected in fluid relationship to the second control valve, the first control valve and the second control valve are connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve and the recipient container is connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve, wherein there is a first drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the first control valve, a second drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the second control valve and a third second drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the third control valve, wherein the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the third drive mechanism are all selectively controlled by the processor and are operatively connected thereto.

41. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 40, further comprising a reagent located in the recipient container that prior to the can react with the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid.

42. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 41, wherein the reagent includes a lyophilized reagent.

43. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 40, further comprising releasing gas through a vent and determining if any bubbles are present in the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid with a bubble detector prior to dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container through the second control valve and third control valve into the recipient container.

44. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 40, wherein the mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container and dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container to the recipient container with the first displacement mechanism that includes a first motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a first actuator and wherein the selectively transferring a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from the fourth container into the third container with the second displacement mechanism that includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a second actuator.

45. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 44, wherein the first actuator includes a first lead screw and a first plunger and the first motor includes a first stepper motor and the third container includes a first syringe, wherein the first plunger is located within the first syringe and wherein the second actuator includes a second lead screw and a second plunger and the second motor includes a second stepper motor and the fourth container includes a second syringe, wherein the second plunger is located within the second syringe.

46. The method for filling containers with liquid utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system according to claim 40, wherein the radioactive liquid includes technetium and the nonradioactive liquid includes a saline solution.

47. A method for filling containers utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container through a second control valve;

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a third container that is operatively connected to the third container through a first control valve, a third control valve and the second control valve;

mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container with a first displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid within the third container, wherein the first displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto; and

dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container with the first displacement mechanism through the second control valve and the third control valve and into a recipient container, wherein the first container is connected in fluid relationship to the first control valve, the second container is connected in fluid relationship to the second valve and the third container is connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve, the first control valve and the second control valve are connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve, wherein there is a first drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the first control valve, a second drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the second control valve and a third drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the third control valve, wherein the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the third drive mechanism are all selectively controlled by the processor and are operatively connected thereto.