High throughput inspecting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions each having a surface to be inspected potentially comprising identification features;
providing an inspection device which provides the inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit pharmaceutical compositions potentially comprising identification features;
providing an introducing device which introduces the unit pharmaceutical composition into the inspection zone before inspection, wherein the unit pharmaceutical compositions are positioned and aligned so their surfaces are properly exposed for inspection;
providing a withdrawing device which withdraws the unit pharmaceutical compositions from the inspection zone after inspection;
operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit pharmaceutical compositions is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour.
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Abstract
The various embodiments provide methods and apparatus high-throughput reading and decoding of information-encoding features (especially identification features) on pharmaceutical compositions for the purpose of e.g. counterfeiting detection and inventory tracking/tracing. A preferred embodiment provides high-throughput imaging of regular arrays of pharmaceutical tablets with a scanning electron microscope. Another preferred embodiment provides video-rate scanning probe imaging of pharmaceutical compositions and especially atomic force microscopy imaging thereof.
115 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions each having a surface to be inspected potentially comprising identification features; providing an inspection device which provides the inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit pharmaceutical compositions potentially comprising identification features; providing an introducing device which introduces the unit pharmaceutical composition into the inspection zone before inspection, wherein the unit pharmaceutical compositions are positioned and aligned so their surfaces are properly exposed for inspection; providing a withdrawing device which withdraws the unit pharmaceutical compositions from the inspection zone after inspection; operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit pharmaceutical compositions is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 55)
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20. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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26. (canceled)
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41. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one scanning electron microscope (SEM) comprising a first vacuum chamber for SEM inspection, and at least one second vacuum chamber which can be evacuated and filled separately from the first vacuum chamber, at least one first sample holder in the first vacuum chamber which is adapted to hold a plurality of sites for holding a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions to be inspected with the scanning electron microscope in the first vacuum chamber; at least one second sample holder in the second vacuum chamber which is adapted to hold a plurality of sites for holding a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions to be inspected with the scanning electron microscope in the first vacuum chamber; a sample holder transport device which transports the first sample holder from the first vacuum chamber to the second vacuum chamber; and
the second sample holder from the second vacuum chamber to the first vacuum chamber,wherein the apparatus is adapted for a sample inspection rate of at least about 10 units per hour. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
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a unit pharmaceutical composition comprising surface identification features which are adapted to be imaged by scanning electron microscopy; metallic coating over the identification features adapted to improve the imaging by scanning electron microscopy. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A method for inspecting unit pharmaceutical compositions comprising:
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providing a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions each having a surface to be inspected potentially comprising at least two identification features on each unit pharmaceutical; providing a computer controlled scanning electron microscope inspection device which provides an inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit pharmaceutical compositions potentially comprising identification features; providing an automated introducing device which introduces the unit pharmaceutical composition into the inspection zone before inspection; providing an automated withdrawing device which withdraws the unit pharmaceutical composition from the inspection zone after inspection; operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit pharmaceutical compositions is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A method for inspecting unit pharmaceutical compositions in high throughput mode with scanning electron microscopy comprising the combination of steps:
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providing a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions each having a surface to be inspected potentially comprising at least two identification features on each unit pharmaceutical and adapted for SEM inspection; providing a computer controlled scanning electron microscope inspection device which provides an inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit pharmaceutical compositions potentially comprising identification features; providing an automated, robotic introducing device which introduces the unit pharmaceutical composition into the inspection zone before inspection; providing an automated, robotic withdrawing device which withdraws the unit pharmaceutical composition from the inspection zone after inspection; operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit pharmaceutical compositions is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour; processing inspection data collected from the inspection device to determine whether identification features are present or absent.
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92. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of unit compositions or objects each having a surface to be inspected potentially comprising identification features; providing an inspection device which provides the inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit compositions or objects potentially comprising identification features;
wherein the unit compositions or objects are positioned and aligned so their surfaces are properly exposed for inspection providing an introducing device which introduces the unit composition or object into the inspection zone before inspection;providing a withdrawing device which withdraws the unit composition or object from the inspection zone after inspection; operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit compositions or objects is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour.
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93. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of unit pharmaceutical compositions each having a surface to be inspected comprising identification features; providing an inspection device which provides the inspection zone which allows inspecting the surface of the unit pharmaceutical compositions comprising identification features; providing an introducing device which introduces the unit pharmaceutical composition into the inspection zone before inspection;
wherein the unit pharmaceutical compositions are positioned and aligned so their surfaces are properly exposed for inspection,providing a withdrawing device which withdraws the unit pharmaceutical composition from the inspection zone after inspection; operating the inspection device, the introducing device, and the withdrawing device so that an inspection rate of unit pharmaceutical compositions is achieved of at least about 10 units per hour.
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Specification