METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A VOLUME-BASED FILL PATTERN OF A MULTI-DOSE MEDICAMENT CONTAINER

• US 20100031611A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pankow, Greg, Biesenthal, Amy C., McGonagle, Sean, Khullar, Rishi, Ali, Syed Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern for a multi-dose medicament container is disclosed. Pill information corresponding to one or more pills for a patient to be packaged together may be obtained, and non-volume fill factors may be obtained. The volume-based fill pattern may be selected and indicated to be a cuboid volume or a packing parameter fill pattern. Pill and multi-dose medicament container data may be obtained and used to determine a fill pattern that is communicated to a filling entity for execution. The present disclosure may operate in accordance with multi-dose blister packs, and systems and methods of filling said blister packs.

Claims

1. A system for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern of at least one multi-dose blister pack (MDBP), the system comprising:

a first pill instruction for a first pill for a patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together based on at least a portion of the intersection;

a computer operable to;

receive the first and second pill instructions,

determine the volume-based fill pattern of the at least one MDBP, and

communicate the determined volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the computer including pill data for the first and the second pills;

wherein the computer is programmed to determine the volume-based fill pattern using the pill data, the volume-based fill pattern including a number of at least one MDBP required to hold a set of first and second pills to be packaged together based on the at least the portion of the intersection of the first and the second dosing regimes, and

wherein at least one first and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same blister cell of one of the number of at least one MDBP.

2. The system of claim 1:

wherein the computer is further operable to obtain at least one non-volume fill factor, the at least one non-volume fill factor selected from a group of non-volume fill factors including a drug interaction fill factor and a user selection fill factor; and

wherein the computer is programmed to determine the volume-based fill pattern using the pill data and based on the obtained at least one non-volume fill factor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein if the volume-based fill pattern is a cuboid volume fill pattern, the computer is further programmed to:

obtain an individual cuboid volume for the first pill by using the pill data for the first pill wherein the individual cuboid volume for the first pill is a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits;

obtain an individual cuboid volume for the second pill by using the pill data for the second pill wherein the individual cuboid volume for the second pill is a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits;

determine, using the first and the second pill instructions, the set of first and second pills to be packaged together and a total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

sum together each individual pill cuboid volume for each member of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together to obtain a total cuboid pill volume for the determined total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtain a cuboid blister volume of a blister cell of the at least one multi-dose blister pack, the cuboid blister volume is a measure of a largest three-dimensional shape that fits into the blister cell;

calculate a total number of blisters by volume by dividing the total cuboid pill volume by the cuboid blister volume and rounding to a whole number;

calculate a total number of at least one MDBP by volume (TNPV) based on the total number of blisters by volume and an indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determine the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using TNPV.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

calculate a total number of blisters by print space by dividing a total number of different pill identifications corresponding to pill identifications of members of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by a maximum number of pill identifications per blister cell based on available printing space for the blister cell and rounding to a second whole number,

calculating a total number of at least one MDBP by print space (TNPP) based on the total number of blisters by print space and the indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determine the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using the greater of TNPV and TNPP.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape is obtained based on a set of volume types comprising:

an exact pill volume, an estimated pill volume, an actual pill volume, a measured pill volume, a determined pill volume, an obtained pill volume, and an approximated pill volume.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits, and wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein if the volume-based fill pattern is a volume packing parameter fill pattern, the computer is further programmed to:

determine, using the first and the second pill instructions, the set of first and second pills to be packaged together and a total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtain an individual pill volume for the first pill and an individual pill volume for the second pill;

sum together each individual pill volume for each member of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together to obtain a total pill volume for the determined total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtain a volume packing parameter and a blister volume of a blister cell of the at least one multi-dose blister pack;

determine a target blister fill volume based upon the blister volume and the volume packing parameter;

calculate a total number of blisters by volume by dividing the total pill volume by the target blister fill volume and rounding to a first whole number;

calculate a total number of at least one MDBP by volume (TNPV) based on the total number of blisters by volume and an indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determine the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using TNPV.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

calculate a total number of blisters by print space by dividing a total number of different pill identifications corresponding to pill identifications of members of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by a maximum number of pill identifications per blister cell based on available printing space for the blister cell and rounding to a second whole number,

calculate a total number of at least one MDBP by print space (TNPP) based on the total number of blisters by print space and the indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determine the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using the greater of TNPV and TNPP.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the volume packing parameter is selectable and comprises a target fill percentage.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the individual pill volume is one from a set of volume types comprising:

an exact pill volume, an estimated pill volume, an actual pill volume, a measured pill volume, a determined pill volume, an obtained pill volume, and a cuboid pill volume,

the cuboid pill volume being a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which an individual pill fits.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the individual pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the individual pill fits.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

a type of the at least one MDBP is selectable, or a size relating to the at least one MDBP is selectable.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a size of the same blister cell of the at least one MDBP is selectable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first pill is one of a first prescribed medication, a first nutraceutical, or a first over-the-counter medication, and wherein the second pill is one of a second prescribed medication, a second nutraceutical or a second over-the-counter medication.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein one of:

the first pill instruction and the second pill instruction are from a same prescription, or

the first pill instruction and the second pill instruction are from different prescriptions.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is programmed to communicate via a network with at least one of:

the storage device, the filling entity, a sender of the first pill instruction, or a sender of the second pill instruction.

17. A method of determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern of at least one multi-dose blister pack (MDBP), the method comprising:

obtaining a first pill instruction for a first pill for a patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

obtaining a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together for the patient based on at least a portion of the intersection;

obtaining pill data for the first and the second pill and MDBP data for the at least one MDBP;

determining the volume-based fill pattern by using the pill data and the MDBP data, the volume-based fill pattern including a number of at least one MDBP required to hold a set of first and second pills indicated by the first and the second dosing regimes, wherein at least one first and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same blister cell of one of the number of at least one MDBP; and

communicating the determined volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

obtaining at least one non-volume fill factor, the at least one non-volume fill factor selected from a group of non-volume fill factors including a drug interaction fill factor and a user selection fill factor; and

selecting the at least one MDBP based on the obtained at least one non-volume fill factor;

wherein determining the volume-based fill pattern by using the pill data and the MDBP data comprises determining the volume-based fill pattern by using the pill data, the MDBP data, and the obtained at least one non-volume fill factor.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting the volume-based fill pattern from one of a cuboid volume fill pattern or a volume packing parameter fill pattern.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the selected volume-based fill pattern is the cuboid volume fill pattern, determining the volume-based fill pattern comprises:

obtaining an individual cuboid volume for the first pill by using the pill data for the first pill wherein the individual cuboid volume for the first pill is a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits;

obtaining an individual cuboid volume for the second pill by using the pill data for the second pill wherein the individual cuboid volume for the second pill is a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits;

determining, using the first and the second pill instructions, the set of first and second pills to be packaged together and a total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

summing together each individual pill cuboid volume for each member of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together to obtain a total cuboid pill volume for the determined total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtaining a cuboid blister volume of a blister cell of the at least one multi-dose blister pack, the cuboid blister volume is a measure of a largest three-dimensional shape that fits into the blister cell;

calculating a total number of blisters by volume by dividing the total cuboid pill volume by the cuboid blister volume and rounding to a first whole number;

calculating a total number of at least one MDBP by volume (TNPV) based on the total number of blisters by volume and an indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determining the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using TNPV.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

calculating a total number of blisters by print space by dividing a total number of different pill identifications corresponding to pill identifications of members of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by a maximum number of pill identifications per blister cell based on available printing space for the blister cell and rounding to a second whole number,

calculating a total number of at least one MDBP by print space (TNPP) based on the total number of blisters by print space and the indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determining the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using the greater of TNPV and TNPP.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape is based on one from a set of volume types comprising:

an exact pill volume, an estimated pill volume, an actual pill volume, a measured pill volume, a determined pill volume, an obtained pill volume, and an approximated pill volume.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the first pill fits, and wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the second pill fits.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein if the selected volume-based fill pattern is the volume packing parameter fill pattern, determining the volume-based fill pattern comprises:

determining, using the first and the second pill instructions, the set of first and second pills to be packaged together and a total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtaining an individual pill volume for the first pill and an individual pill volume for the second pill;

summing together each individual pill volume for each member of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together to obtain a total pill volume for the determined total number of pills in the set of first and second pills to be packaged together;

obtaining a volume packing parameter and a blister volume of a blister cell of the at least one multi-dose blister pack;

determining a target blister fill volume based upon the blister volume and the volume packing parameter;

calculating a total number of blisters by volume by dividing the total pill volume by the target blister fill volume and rounding to a first whole number;

calculating a total number of at least one MDBP by volume (TNPV) based on the total number of blisters by volume and an indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP; and

determining the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using TNPV.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

calculating a total number of blisters by print space by dividing a total number of different pill identifications corresponding to pill identifications of members of the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by a maximum number of pill identifications per blister cell based on available printing space for the blister cell, and rounding to a second whole number;

calculating a total number of at least one MDBP by print space (TNPP) based on the total number of blisters by print space and the indicated number of multi-dose filled blisters per MDBP, and

determining the number of at least one MDBP required to hold the set of first and second pills to be packaged together by using the greater of TNPV and TNPP.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the volume packing parameter comprises a target fill percentage and the method further comprises selecting the volume packing parameter.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the individual pill volume is one from a set of volume types comprising:

an exact pill volume, an estimated pill volume, an actual pill volume, a measured pill volume, a determined pill volume, an obtained pill volume, and a cuboid pill volume,

the cuboid pill volume being a measure of a selected three-dimensional shape into which an individual pill fits.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the selected three-dimensional shape into which the individual pill fits is a smallest three-dimensional shape into which the individual pill fits.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one multi-dose blister pack has differently-sized blister cells.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining at least one portion of the volume-based fill pattern using patient input.

31. A method for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern of at least one multi-dose medicament container, comprising:

obtaining a first pill instruction for a first pill for patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

obtaining a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together based on at least a portion of the intersection;

obtaining pill data for the first and the second pills and container data for the at least one multi-dose medicament container;

determining the volume-based fill pattern using the pill data and the container data by selecting one from a group of volume-based fill pattern types including;

a cuboid volume-based fill pattern, where each receptacle of each at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total cuboid volume less than a cuboid volume of the each receptacle, and

a volume packing parameter volume-based fill pattern, where the each receptacle of the each at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total pill volume less than a target fill volume of the each receptacle, the target fill volume based on a volume packing parameter;

the volume-based fill pattern including a number of at least one multi-dose medicament containers required to hold a set of first and second pills indicated by the first and the second dosing regimes, wherein at least one first pill and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container; and

communicating the volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising selecting at least one of:

a type of the at least one multi-dose medicament container from a group of multi-dose medicament container types including a blister pack, a pouch and a lidded container,

a size of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, or

a size of a receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining the volume-based fill pattern using patient input.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the volume packing parameter comprises a target fill percentage, and the method further comprising selecting the volume packing parameter.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the first pill is one of a first prescribed medication, a first nutraceutical or a first over-the-counter medication, and wherein the second pill is one of a second medication, a second nutraceutical or a second over-the-counter medication.

36. A method for determining and communicating a fill pattern for at least one multi-dose medicament container, comprising:

obtaining a first pill instruction for a first pill for patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

obtaining a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together based on at least a portion of the intersection;

obtaining at least one non-volume fill factor, the at least one non-volume fill factor selected from a group of non-volume fill factors including a drug interaction fill factor and a user selection fill factor;

selecting the at least one multi-dose medicament container based on the obtained at least one non-volume fill factor;

obtaining pill data for the first and the second pills and container data for the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container;

determining a volume-based fill pattern using the pill data, the at least one non-volume fill factor and the container data by selecting one from a group of volume-based fill pattern types including;

a cuboid volume-based fill pattern, where each receptacle of each selected at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total cuboid volume less than a cuboid volume of the each receptacle, and

a volume packing parameter volume-based fill pattern, where the each receptacle of the each selected at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total pill volume less than a target fill volume of the each receptacle, the target fill volume based on a volume packing parameter;

the volume-based fill pattern including a number of selected at least one multi-dose medicament containers required to hold a set of first and second pills indicated by the first and the second dosing regimes, wherein at least one first pill and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same receptacle of the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container; and

communicating the volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the drug interaction fill factor comprises at least one from a group of drug interaction fill factors including:

an indication of a chemical interaction between the first and the second pills and an indication of a physical interaction between the first and the second pills.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the user selection fill factor comprises an indication of a user preference for at least one of:

a type of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, a size of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, a size of the same receptacle of the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container, or a combination of a number of first pills and a number of second pills to be packaged into the same receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the volume packing parameter comprises a target fill percentage, and the method further comprising selecting the volume packing parameter.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the first pill is one of a first prescribed medication, a first nutraceutical or a first over-the-counter medication, and wherein the second pill is one of a second medication, a second nutraceutical or a second over-the-counter medication.