PREPARED MEDICATION BAGGING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100107570A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Forhealth Technologies Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Shafer, Jim, Tribble, Dennis, Khan, Abdul Wahid, Lefebre, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/30 Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/027 Packaging in aseptic chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/1277 for dispensing flexible tubular material gathered up in the shape of a ring
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/18 Devices for storing tubular webs

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing prepared medications in enclosures includes a tubular sleeve having an open first end, an open second end, and an outer surface. The first end includes at least one first locking member for securely attaching the tubular sleeve to another member. The apparatus also includes a length of a flexible packaging sleeve that is open at one end and has an open interior space. The packaging sleeve is disposed about the outer surface of the tubular sleeve in a compressed form. The open end of the sleeve is sealingly attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve. A tensioner device is disposed about an outer surface of the packaging sleeve and includes a first section that couples the first end of the packaging sleeve to the tubular sleeve and at least two elongated tensioner arms that extend along a length of the tubular sleeve. The compressed packaging sleeve is disposed underneath the tensioner arms such that the tensioner arms apply tension to the packaging sleeve and control the unfurling thereof from the tubular sleeve. The open first end of the tubular sleeve is in communication with the open interior space of the packaging sleeve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sealing prepared medications in enclosures comprising:

a tubular sleeve having an open first end, an open second end, and an outer surface, the first end including at least one first locking member for securely attaching the tubular sleeve to another member;

a length of a flexible packaging sleeve that is open at one end, closed at an opposite end, and has an open interior space, the packaging sleeve being disposed about the outer surface of the tubular sleeve in a compressed form, the open end of the sleeve being sealingly attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve; and

a tensioner device that is disposed about an outer surface of the packaging sleeve and includes a first section that couples the first end of the packaging sleeve to the tubular sleeve and a second section that overlies the compressed packaging sleeve such that the tensioner device applies tension to the packaging sleeve and controls the unfurling thereof from the tubular sleeve;

wherein the open first end of the tubular sleeve is in communication with the open interior space of the packaging sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises a plurality of locking tabs spaced circumferentially about the first end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging sleeve comprises a plastic bag that is sealed at a distal end opposite the one end, the bag having a bunched up form along the tubular sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bag, when fully extended, has a length greater than a length tubular sleeve.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a robotic gripper that moves along a guide track, the robotic gripper including a pair of grippers that are actuatable and move between an open position in which the packaging sleeve can be received between the grippers and a closed position in which the packaging sleeve can be captured between the grippers and a prescribed movement of the robotic gripper causing a predetermined length of the packaging sleeve to be unfurled from the tubular sleeve.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the guide track is a track and the robotic gripper moves between a first position where the packaging sleeve is captured between the closed grippers and the prepared medication can be inserted into the packaging sleeve and a second position where the packaging sleeve is unfurled the predetermined length to allow sealing of the prepared medication within the packaging sleeve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a controller that calculates a length of the packaging sleeve that has been removed and a length of the packaging sleeve that remains on the tubular sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an automated heat sealer that includes a first part and a second part, wherein at least one of the first and second parts includes a heated element that forms at least one heat seal in the packaging sleeve resulting in the prepared medication being sealed packaging sleeve.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat seal includes two heat seals spaced apart from one another further including an automated cutter that includes a blade for cutting the sealed packaging sleeve between the two heat seals, wherein the first part serves as a back support surface onto which the packaging sleeve is compressed by both the second part that contains the heated element and the blade during a cutting action after the heat seal has been formed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior space of the packaging sleeve is exposed to a negative pressure environment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a sleeve locking member that contains a second locking member that is complementary to the first locking member for releasably locking the sleeve body to the sleeve locking member when the first and second locking members engage one another, the sleeve locking member having a through hole formed therein that is axially aligned with the tubular sleeve and is securely coupled to a substrate that has an opening that receive the first end of the tubular sleeve, wherein in order for the tubular sleeve to be both opened and sealed closed, both the first and second locking members must be in engagement with one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a cap that is releasably attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve for sealing the first end;

and a docking ring cover that selectively attaches to the cap for removal of the cap from the tubular sleeve when the tubular sleeve is securely attached to the sleeve locking member and the cap and docking ring cover are located in a controlled, sealed environment.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the docking ring cover includes a rotatable knob and a button that is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the button is actuated to permit rotation of the knob to a locked position in which the button can be placed in a locked position in order to securely attach the cap to the docking ring cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cap can only be removed when the tubular sleeve is locked with respect to the sleeve locking member.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tubular sleeve can only be disengaged from the sleeve locking member when the cap is securely attached to the tubular sleeve and the cap and docking ring cover are in an unlocked position with respect to one another.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prepared medication is contained in a one of a syringe, an IV bag, a drug vial, and a container for holding drug.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tensioner device includes at least two elongated tensioner arms that extend along a length of the tubular sleeve, the compressed packaging sleeve being disposed underneath the tensioner arms.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first space is operatively connected to a vacuum such that the controlled environment comprises an environment under negative pressure.

20. The method of claim 17, further including the step of:

gripping the sealed end of the packaging sleeve with an automated robotic gripper; and

driving the robotic gripper along a guide track to a second position to cause the predetermined length of the packaging sleeve to be unfurled from tubular sleeve.

21. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

cutting the packaging sleeve at a location relative to the seal when the robotic gripper is in the second position resulting in the sealed packaging sleeve being separated from remaining packaging sleeve.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of sealing the packaging sleeve comprises the steps of:

positioning a first seal member against one face of the packaging sleeve;

positioning a second seal member against an opposite face of the packaging sleeve, the second seal member having a heated element that creates a pair of spaced heat seals as the second seal member applies a force against the opposite face, wherein a space between the heat seals is unsealed.

23. The method of claim 21, further including the step of:

cutting the packaging sleeve between the pair of heat seals by maintaining the first seal member against the one face of the packaging sleeve to provide a back support surface and directing a cutter against the opposite face, after the second seal member has been retracted, to cause the packaging sleeve to be cut, wherein the step of cutting the sleeve seals a top of one packaging sleeve and forms a bottom seal of a packaging sleeve that is next to be filled.

24. The method of claim 17, further including the step of:

locking the first end of the tubular sleeve with a cap that can not be removed until the tubular sleeve is properly locked in place and sealed relative to the first space.

25. The method of claim 23, further including the step of:

selectively locking a docking ring cover to the cap by moving a part of the docking ring cover to cause a locking between the docking ring cover and the cap and an unlocking between the cap and the tubular sleeve resulting in the docking ring cover and cap being attached to one another and removable from the tubular sleeve.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further including a robotic gripper that moves along a guide track, the robotic gripper including a pair of grippers that are actuatable and move between an open position in which the packaging sleeve can be received between the grippers and a closed position in which the packaging sleeve can be captured between the grippers and a prescribed liner movement of the robotic gripper causing a predetermined length of the packaging sleeve to be unfurled from the tubular sleeve.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further including a controller that calculates a length of the packaging sleeve that has been removed and a length of the packaging sleeve that remains on the tubular sleeve.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further including an automated heat sealer that includes a first part and a second part, wherein at least one of the first and second parts includes a heated element that forms a heat seal in the packaging sleeve resulting in the prepared medication being sealed in the packaging sleeve.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further including an automated cutter that includes a blade for cutting the sealed packaging sleeve within and along the heat seal, wherein the first part serves as a back support surface onto which the packaging sleeve is compressed by both the second part that contains the heated element and the blade during a cutting action after the heat seal has been formed.

18. A method for sealing a prepared medication in an enclosure comprising the steps of:

maintaining a first space as a controlled, sealed environment;

inserting the prepared medication into an open end of a tubular sleeve that has an outer surface, the open end being exposed to the first space, wherein a length of a flexible packaging sleeve that is open at one end and sealed at an opposite end and has an open interior space is disposed about the outer surface of the tubular sleeve in a compressed form, the open end of the sleeve being sealingly attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve such that the prepared medication is inserted into the open interior space;

unfurling a predetermined length of the packaging sleeve from the tubular sleeve, the unfurling of the packaging sleeve being metered and controlled by a tensioner device that is disposed about an outer surface of the packaging sleeve and located exterior to the compressed packaging sleeve and applies tension to the packaging sleeve; and

sealing the packaging sleeve along a seal.

26. An apparatus for sealing prepared medications in enclosures comprising:

a frame defining a first scaled space;

a tubular sleeve having an open first end that is in selective communication with the first sealed space, an open second end, and an outer surface;

a length of a flexible packaging sleeve that is open at one end and has an open interior space, the packaging sleeve being disposed about the outer surface of the tubular sleeve in a compressed form, the open end of the sleeve being scalingly attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve; and

a tensioner device that is disposed about an outer surface of the packaging and applies tension to the packaging sleeve to control the unfurling thereof from the tubular sleeve;

a sleeve locking member that is coupled to the frame for releasably locking the tubular sleeve thereto the sleeve locking member when the first and second locking members engage one another, the sleeve locking member being constructed to permit the open first end of the tubular sleeve to be exposed to the sealed space; and

a cap that is releasably attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve for sealing the first end, wherein the cap is constructed such that it cannot be removed until the tubular sleeve and the sleeve locking member are in a locked position where the tubular sleeve is sealed relative to the first space.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the packaging sleeve is constructed to be hung on a support without removing a protective outer wrap and is formed of a material that is non permeable to the medication.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, farther including a controller which is configured to calculate a length of the packaging sleeve that has been unfurled and send an alert when only a prescribed length of packaging sleeve remains unfurled.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, further including a dose collection bin for receiving the enclosed medications and a controller that is configured to send an alert signal when a predetermined quantity of enclosed medications are contained in the dose collection bin.