Apparatus and methods for dispensing pre-filled containers with precisely-applied patient-specific information

• US 20060277269A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bidus, Mark, Dent, Jacob A., Gorman, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0288 Labels or tickets consisting of more than one part, e.g. with address of sender or other reference on separate section to main label; Multi-copy labels
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1702 For plural parts or plural areas of single part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1734 : Means bringing articles into association with web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1744 : Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1768 : Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for fulfillment of patient prescription orders by adapting a standard or stock container pre-filled with medication or the like for use as a patient-specific container through precise application of patient-specific information to the pre-filled container. Precise placement of the patient-specific information to the pre-filled container enables pharmacy management to fully utilize valuable information provided with the pre-filled container, thereby improving the quality of service to the patient while making the process of prescription order fulfillment more efficient. In general, preferred embodiments comprise control apparatus and information-application apparatus. In embodiments, the information-application apparatus is adapted to place a patient-specific label on the container. Preferred forms of the information-application apparatus include a label printer and a positioner. The preferred printer applies patient-specific information on a label. The preferred positioner orients the pre-filled container to receive the label from the printer such that information provided with the container is available for use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for precise application of a patient-specific label to a pre-filled stock container having first indicia representative of the container contents comprising:

control apparatus; and

information-application apparatus operatively connected to the control apparatus and adapted to precisely apply a patient-specific label to the container, said apparatus including;

a printer adapted to print second indicia including patient-specific information on a label; and

a positioner adapted to move the container to a label-receiving position such that, after application of the label, the patient-specific information and a predetermined portion of the first indicia are observable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control apparatus includes a set of instructions adapted to:

operate the positioner to move the container to the label-receiving position;

operate the printer to print the second indicia on the label; and

operate the information-application apparatus to apply the label to the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a database accessible by the control apparatus, said database including, for each container, positioning information enabling the positioner to move the container to the label-receiving position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the positioning information includes instructions for moving the container relative to a reference point associated therewith such that the container is moved to the label-receiving position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the reference point comprises a portion of the first indicia.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a reader operatively connected to the control apparatus, said reader being adapted to detect the reference point and communicate the reference point to the control apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the reader is further adapted to read container-identification information associated with each container and communicate said information to the control apparatus such that the container is identified.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the container-identification information includes a National Drug Code.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the container-identification information is embedded in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder associated with the container and the reader comprises an RFID reader adapted to read the information.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the container-identification information is embedded in an optically-readable code associated with the container and the reader comprises an optical code reader.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein, for each container, the control apparatus instructions are further adapted to:

access the container-identification information;

access the positioning information for the identified pre-filled container;

identify the reference point of a pre-filled container received by the positioner;

operate the positioner to move the container relative to the reference point such that the container is in the label-receiving position; and

operate the information-application apparatus to apply the label.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the positioner further comprises:

a container gripper; and

a drive mechanism operative to precisely orient a gripped container to receive the label.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the positioner is adapted for use with containers each having a generally cylindrical body and the drive mechanism comprises:

a drive roller; and

a motor operatively connected to the control apparatus and in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the gripper comprises a pair of idler rollers spaced apart from the drive roller, said idler rollers being positionable to urge a container against the drive roller such that rotation of the drive roller moves the container to the label-receiving position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the printer comprises:

a label source;

a print element adapted to print the second indicia on a label; and

a feed mechanism adapted to supply label material to the print element and apply a printed label to a container.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the drive roller and container form a nip adjacent the printer;

the feed mechanism feeds the printed label into the nip; and

rotation of the container precisely applies the label to the container.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the gripper is adapted to accommodate containers having different circumferences, said gripper comprising:

a pair of idler roller supports each supporting an idler roller and being movable toward and away from the other to accommodate containers having container circumferences of different sizes;

an actuator in power-transmission relationship with the supports; and

the control apparatus operates the actuators to position a respective idler roller against a container such that the nip is proximate the printer in position to receive the printed label irrespective of the container circumference.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a dispenser operatively connected to the control apparatus and adapted to store and dispense the containers; and

a transport mechanism operatively connected to the control apparatus adapted to deliver a dispensed container to the information-application apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the transport mechanism comprises a conveyor.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising apparatus for collecting and sorting labeled containers such that containers for a common prescription order are grouped together.

21. A system for precise application of patient-specific information to a pre-filled stock container having first indicia representative of the container contents comprising:

information-application apparatus operative to precisely apply second indicia including patient-specific information to the container, said apparatus including;

a positioner adapted to move the container to an indicia-receiving position, said position being determined such that the second indicia is observable on the container and a predetermined portion of the first indicia is unaffected; and

an output device adapted to associate the second indicia with the container such that the patient-specific information is observable and the predetermined portion of the first indicia is unaffected; and

control apparatus operatively connected to the information-application apparatus.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a reader adapted to identify machine-readable information associated with the container; and

a database accessible by the control apparatus, said database including positioning information enabling positioning of an identified container at the indicia-receiving position.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the positioner comprises:

a drive roller;

a motor operatively connected to the control apparatus and in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller; and

a gripper, said gripper and drive roller cooperating to clamp a container therebetween such that rotation of the drive roller rotates the container.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the container includes a reference point;

the reader is adapted to detect the reference point; and

the control apparatus is adapted to identify a position of the container based on the detected reference point, access positioning information in the database and operate the motor to rotate the container to the indicia-receiving position relative to the identified position.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the gripper comprises a pair of idler rollers spaced apart from the drive roller, said idler rollers being positionable to urge a container against the drive roller such that rotation of the drive roller moves the pre-filled container to the indicia-receiving position.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the output device comprises:

a label source;

a print element adapted to print the second indicia on a label; and

a feed mechanism adapted to supply label material to the print element and apply a printed label to a container in the indicia-receiving position.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein:

the drive roller and container form a nip adjacent the print element;

the feed mechanism feeds the printed label into the nip; and

rotation of the container precisely applies the label to the container.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the gripper is adapted to accommodate containers having different circumferences, said gripper comprising:

a pair of idler roller supports each supporting an idler roller and being movable toward and away from the other to accommodate containers having container circumferences of different sizes;

an actuator in power-transmission relationship with each support; and

the control apparatus enables actuator operation to position a respective idler roller against a container such that the nip is proximate the print element in position to receive the printed label irrespective of the container circumference.

29. Automatic apparatus for adapting a pre-filled stock container including first indicia representative of the container contents for use as a patient-specific container through precise application of patient-specific information to the container comprising:

means for printing a label with second indicia including patient-specific information;

means for precisely applying the label to the container such that the patient-specific information and a predetermined portion of the first indicia are observable; and

means for controlling the printing means and the applying means.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further including means for automatically identifying a container to the controlling means.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the applying means comprises:

means for gripping a container; and

means for moving the gripped container to a position for receiving the label.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the pre-filled container has a generally cylindrical body and the moving means comprises:

means for rotating the container; and

means for powering the rotating means.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the gripping means comprises means for urging the pre-filled container against the rotating means.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the printing means comprises:

means for supplying a source of label material;

means for printing second indicia on a label; and

means for feeding the printed label toward the container.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the apparatus is adapted to accommodate containers having different circumferences and the urging means comprises:

means for movably supporting a pair of rollers in spaced apart relationship; and

means for moving the supporting means relative to the other such that containers of different circumferences are held proximate the printing means to receive the second indicia.

36. A method for adapting a pre-filled stock container for use as a patient-specific container through precise association of patient-specific information with the container comprising the steps of:

providing a pre-filled stock container to an information-application apparatus, said container including first indicia representative of the container contents;

positioning the container with the information-application apparatus to a position for receiving a label; and

applying second indicia to a label, said second indicia including patient-specific information; and

applying the label to the positioned container such that, after application, the patient-specific information is observable and a predetermined portion of the first indicia is unaffected by the second indicia;

whereby, the container is adapted for use as a patient-specific container.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of:

identifying the container; and

accessing a database including positioning information associated with the identified container, said positioning information including instructions for movement of the container to the position for receiving the label.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the container includes a reference point and the positioning information includes instructions for movement of the container relative to the reference point to the position for receiving the second indicia.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the identifying step comprises reading machine-readable information associated with the container.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the machine-readable information comprises a bar code and the reading step comprises:

moving the bar code relative to a bar code reader; and

reading the bar code with the bar code reader.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the machine-readable information comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and the reading step comprises reading the RFID tag with an RFID reader.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the positioning step comprises:

locating the container reference point;

determining, based on information in the database, movement of the container relative to the reference point such that the container is precisely positioned to receive the label; and

moving the container to the position to receive the label.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the container has a generally cylindrical shape and the positioning step further comprises:

gripping the container between a drive roller and a pair of spaced apart idler rollers;

rotating the gripped proximate a reader to locate the container reference point; and

rotating the container to the position to receive the label.

44. The method of claim 36 wherein the second indicia is selected from the group consisting of a patient name, medication type, medication description, medication quantity, provider information, drug interaction warnings, a representation of the medication in the container and a National Drug Code.

45. The method of claim 36 wherein the label has a leading edge, a first side for receiving the second indicia and a second side including an adhesive for securing the label to the container and the applying step comprises:

urging the label leading edge against a predetermined portion of the positioned container; and

rotating the container to receive the label second side such that the label is affixed to the container.

46. The method of claim 36 wherein the providing step further comprises:

storing a plurality of pre-filled containers in a dispenser;

dispensing, from the dispenser, one of the pre-filled containers responsive to a patient request; and

transporting the dispensed container to the information-application apparatus.