Unit Dose Packaging And Associated Robotic Dispensing System And Method

• US 20110077771A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Thompson, Bruce, Greyshock, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/566 Hand holes or suspension apertures

Abstract

A unit dose package is provided that facilitates the automated picking of the package. The unit dose package includes a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications separated by perforations. The unit dose package also defines a hole that may be located along at least one perforation, such as at an intersection of at least two perforations, to permit the package to be stored by being suspended by a rod. A robotic dispensing system and method are also provided that facilitate the selective dispensation of unit dose packages having different numbers of individually packaged unit dose medications. The system includes first and second storage locations for storing first and second unit dose packages which have different numbers of individually packaged unit dose medication(s). The system also includes a controller to direct picking of the first or second unit dose packages dependant upon a requested number of individually packaged unit dose medication(s).

Claims

1. A robotic dispensing system comprising:

a first storage location for storing at least one first unit dose package having a first predetermined number of individually packaged unit dose medication(s);

a second storage location for storing at least one second unit dose package having a second predetermined number of individually packaged unit dose medications, wherein the second predetermined number is different than the first predetermined number, and wherein at least one of the first and second unit dose packages has a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications that are configured such that each individually packaged unit dose medication is connected to at least one other individually packaged unit dose medication such that the plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications are interconnected; and

a controller configured to direct picking of the first unit dose package or the second unit dose package dependent upon a requested number of unit dose medication(s).

2. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second storage locations comprise first and second rods, respectively, wherein the first and second unit dose packages each define a hole configured to receive a respective rod, and wherein the second rods are spaced apart from neighboring rods by a greater distance than a distance by which the first rods are spaced apart from neighboring rods.

3. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein each individually packaged unit dose medication comprises indicia for identifying the medication.

4. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein the indicia comprises a barcode.

5. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein each individually packaged unit dose medication of a second unit dose package comprises different indicia for individually identifying the respective individually packaged unit dose medications.

6. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein the indicia associated with the at least one second unit dose package is different than the indicia associated with the at least one first unit dose package.

7. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the first unit dose package comprises only a single individually packaged unit dose medication, and wherein the second unit dose package comprises a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications.

8. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second storage locations comprise first and second rods, respectively, and wherein the first and second unit dose packages each include at least one of a hook or hanger configured to receive a respective rod.

9. An automated method of dispensing medication comprising:

storing at least one first unit dose package having a first predetermined number of individually packaged unit dose medication(s) at a first storage location;

storing at least one second unit dose package having a second predetermined number of individually packaged unit dose medications at a second storage location, wherein the second predetermined number is different than the first predetermined number, and wherein at least one of the first and second unit dose packages has a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications that are configured such that each individually packaged unit dose medication is connected to at least one other individually packaged unit dose medication such that the plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications are interconnected; and

directing picking of the first unit dose package or the second unit dose package dependent upon a requested number of individually packaged unit dose medication(s).

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and second storage locations comprise first and second rods, respectively, wherein the first and second unit dose packages each define a hole configured to receive a respective rod, and wherein the method further comprises spacing the second rods apart from neighboring rods by a greater distance than a distance by which the first rods are spaced apart from neighboring rods.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising identifying the medication of each individually packaged unit dose medication based upon indicia carried by the individually packaged unit dose medication.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the indicia comprises a barcode.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein identifying the medication comprises individually identifying the respective individually packaged unit dose medications of a second unit dose package based upon the different indicia of each individually packaged unit dose medication of the second unit dose package.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the indicia associated with the at least one second unit dose package is different than the indicia associated with the at least one first unit dose package.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first unit dose package comprises only a single individually packaged unit dose medication, and wherein the second unit dose package comprises a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications.

16. A unit dose blister card comprising:

a plurality of unit dose blister packs, each unit dose blister pack comprising a backing member and a blister defining a cavity for storing a medication, wherein each of the plurality of unit dose blister packs is connected to at least one other unit dose blister pack such that the plurality of unit dose blister packs are interconnected, and

plurality of perforations defined between neighboring unit dose blister packs to facilitate separation of the unit dose blister packs,

wherein a hole is defined along at least one perforation such that the at least one perforation is aligned with the hole.

17. A unit dose blister card according to claim 16 wherein the hole is defined at an intersection of at least two perforations.

18. A unit dose blister card according to claim 16 which extends lengthwise between opposed ends and widthwise between opposed sides, wherein the hole is defined closer to one end than another end and is centered between the opposed sides.

19. A unit dose blister card according to claim 16 further comprising indicia carried by each unit dose blister pack for identifying the medication.

20. A unit dose blister card according to claim 19 wherein the indicia comprises a barcode.

21. A unit dose blister card according to claim 19 wherein the hole is positioned to be spaced from the indicia carried by each unit dose blister pack.

22. A robotic dispensing system comprising:

a unit dose package comprising a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications, wherein each of the plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications is separably connected to at least one other individually packaged unit dose medication such that the plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications are separably interconnected;

a storage location for storing at least one unit dose package having a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications;

a controller configured to direct picking of the first unit dose package or the second unit dose package dependent upon a requested number of unit dose medication(s).

23. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 22 wherein each individually packaged unit dose medication comprises indicia for identifying the medication.

24. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 23 wherein the indicia comprises a barcode.

25. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 23 wherein each individually packaged unit dose medication of the unit dose package comprises different indicia for individually identifying the respective individually packaged unit dose medications.

26. A robotic dispensing system according to claim 22 wherein the storage location comprises a rod, and wherein the unit dose package includes at least one of a hook or hanger configured to receive the rod.