Devices useful in system and method for dispensing prescriptions

• US 20060241807A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Daniels, Matt, Williams, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/235
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Claims

1. A bin for dispensing solid pharmaceutical items, comprising:

an upper half having an upper chamber;

a lower half having a lower chamber, the lower chamber being in fluid communication with the upper chamber;

each of the upper and lower halves having a front portion profile configured to mate with a frame, the frame being configured to supply low and high pressure air to the lower and upper chambers, the front portions of each of the upper and lower halves having substantially identical front profiles such that the bin can be received within the frame, with the exception that the front portion of the upper half is not configured to receive high and low pressure air; and

a dispensing outlet projecting from the front portion of the lower half.

2. The bin defined in claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes a hopper door on a rear portion thereof.

3. The bin defined in claim 1, wherein the front profile of each of the upper and lower halves includes a recessed portion configured to confront a low pressure manifold on the frame.

4. The bin defined in claim 1, wherein a floor underlies the upper chamber, and wherein the floor slopes downwardly from front to rear.

5. The bin defined in claim 4, wherein a passage leads from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, the passage commencing at a rear end of the floor of the upper chamber.

6. A bin for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles, comprising:

a floor, a ceiling, and side walls defining a chamber;

a lower screen positioned in the floor;

an upper screen positioned in the ceiling;

a first partition spanning the side walls, the partition dividing the chamber into four quadrants, wherein a first quadrant is positioned forwardly of the first partition, a second quadrant is positioned above the first quadrant, a third quadrant is positioned rearwardly of the first partition, and a fourth quadrant is positioned below the third quadrant;

the partition being positioned such that, when air is drawn through the chamber from the lower screen to the upper screen, at least some tablets positioned in the first quadrant travel serially from the first quadrant to the second, third and fourth quadrants.

7. The bin defined in claim 6, wherein the first partition is positioned rearwardly of the lower screen.

8. The bin defined in claim 6, further comprising a second partition positioned rearwardly of the third quadrant.

9. The bin defined in claim 8, wherein the second partition depends from the ceiling.

10. A splash guard for a dispensing bin, comprising:

a grasping portion including an annular lip configured to receive and compress an outlet of the dispensing bin, the lip being formed of a first resilient material; and

an annular mating portion mounted to the grasping portion, the mating portion being configured to mate with an open end of a vial.

11. The splash guard defined in claim 10, wherein the mating portion is formed of a second spongy material.

12. An apparatus for dispensing containers, comprising:

a plurality of dispensing tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition and configured to receive a plurality of containers in vertically stacked relationship;

a rotary drive unit associated with the dispensing tubes that rotates the dispensing tubes about a substantially vertical axis of rotation;

a lower plate member positioned below the dispensing tubes, the lower plate member having a cutaway region positioned such that, as the dispensing tubes rotate about the axis of rotation, each dispensing tube passes over the cutaway region;

a receptacle positioned below the cutaway region; and

dislodging structure that is positioned and configured such that, when a lowermost container in a dispensing tube is lodged with a second lowermost container in that dispensing tube, the dislodging structure dislodges the lowermost container from the second lowermost container.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the lower edge of each of the dispensing tubes is beveled, such that a radially outward portion of the lower edge is above a radially inward portion of each lower edge.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the dislodging structure comprises a guide member mounted to the lower plate member that is positioned to force the lowermost container radially outwardly upon contact therewith.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the cutaway area is bounded on one side by a contact edge, the contact edge being positioned such that the lowermost container strikes the contact edge as the dispensing tubes are rotated about the axis of rotation.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the lower plate member includes a ramp leading to the cutaway area upon which the lowermost container travels and descends.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 12, further comprising a guide member that forces the lowermost container radially inwardly so that the lowermost container does not fall into the cutaway area when passing thereover.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 12, further comprising an engagement ledge that projects radially outwardly from a spindle upon which the dispensing tubes are mounted into at least one of the dispensing tubes, the engagement ledge being positioned to support the second lowermost container in a dispensing tube and prevent descending thereof when the lowermost container in that dispensing tube exits the lower end of that dispensing tube.

19. An apparatus for transporting a hollow container, comprising:

a plurality of fingers having an outer surface, each of the fingers being eccentrically mounted on a mounting structure to extend generally parallel to each other in a first direction, each finger being rotatable about an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the first direction; and

a rotary drive unit operatively associated with the fingers that rotates the fingers about their respective axes of rotation;

wherein the fingers are moveable between a retracted position, in which the outermost portions of the outer surfaces of the fingers define a first circle, and an extended position, in which the outermost portions of the outer surfaces of the fingers define a second circle that is larger in diameter than the first circle, the second circle corresponding to the inner perimeter of a container; and

wherein the fingers include prongs extending generally parallel with the axes of rotation, the prongs being configured to grip the exterior of a lid for the container.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein the rotary drive unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases rotation of the fingers when the fingers experience a predetermined torque due to resistance on finger pressure on the container.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the clutch mechanism is coupled to a base such that the base is stationary relative to a mounting arm prior to the predetermined torque being reached, and the base rotates relative to the mounting arm after the predetermined torque is reached.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the mounting arm is pivotable about a pivot axis that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the fingers.

23. An apparatus for dispensing containers,.comprising:

a plurality of dispensing tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition and configured to receive a plurality of containers in vertically stacked relationship;

a rotary drive unit associated with the dispensing tubes that rotates the dispensing tubes about a substantially vertical axis of rotation;

a lower plate member positioned below the dispensing tubes, the lower plate member having a cutaway region with a contact edge, the cutaway region and the contact edge being positioned such that, as the dispensing tubes rotate about the axis of rotation, each dispensing tube passes over the cutaway region; and

a receptacle positioned below the cutaway region.

24. An apparatus for dispensing containers, comprising:

a plurality of dispensing tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition and configured to receive a plurality of containers in vertically stacked relationship;

a rotary drive unit associated with the dispensing tubes that rotates the dispensing tubes about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the rotary drive unit being configured such that the dispensing tubes may be rotated in a first rotative direction and in a second rotative direction opposite the first rotative direction;

a lower plate member positioned below the dispensing tubes, the lower plate member having a cutaway region;

a receptacle positioned below the cutaway region;

wherein the cutaway region is sized and positioned such that, as the dispensing tubes rotate about the axis of rotation in the first rotative direction, each dispensing tube passes over the cutaway region, such that a vial contained therein falls through the cutaway region into the receptacle, but when the dispensing tubes rotate in the second rotative direction, each dispensing tube passes over the cutaway region, but a vial contained therein does not fall through the cutaway region.