System and Method for Preparing a Pharmaceutical Compound

• US 20160072985A1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Sandmann, Christian, Tannen, Robert, Turpault, Mathieu, Witt, Erik Kurt, Thomas, Matt, Murray, Chris, Hanke, Christian, Hoerner, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 10,692,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/37 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4155 characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31313 Measure weight, dimension and contents of box, tray
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35113 Generation of compound, composite surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof

Abstract

A system for preparing a pharmaceutical compound comprises: a computing device comprising a user interface providing an operator with instructions for preparing the pharmaceutical compound and at least one processor operatively connected to the user interface; a scale operatively connected to the at least one processor; and an image capture device operatively connected to the at least one processor and the scale and positioned to capture an image of at least one of a component used in preparing the pharmaceutical compound and the pharmaceutical compound.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a pharmaceutical compound comprising:

a computing device comprising a user interface providing an operator with instructions for preparing the pharmaceutical compound and at least one processor operatively connected to the user interface;

a scale operatively connected to the at least one processor; and

an image capture device operatively connected to the at least one processor and the scale and positioned to capture an image of at least one of a component used in preparing the pharmaceutical compound and the pharmaceutical compound.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the scale transmits a signal to the at least one processor indicating that a weight detected thereby has changed when the at least one component is placed thereon and, based on the signal, the at least one processor triggers the image capture device to capture the image of the at least one component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scale transmits a signal to the at least one processor to verify that a correct amount of at least one component used in preparing the pharmaceutical compound has been drawn by the operator based on a weight of the at least one component and the at least one processor triggers the image capture device to capture the image of the at least one component when the at least one processor verifies the correct amount of the at least one component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is triggered to capture the image of the at least one component once the weight of the at least one component on the scale has stabilized.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image of the at least one component is displayed on the user interface for review by the operator.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a removal of the at least one component from the scale causes the at least one processor to accept the image, associate the image with a data record, and provide instruction on the user interface to allow the operator to move to a next step of the instructions for preparing the pharmaceutical compound.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data record and images are provided to a pharmacist for verification.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein, if the image is deemed to be unacceptable by the operator, the user interface is configured to provide the operator with the capability to recapture the image.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scanner operatively coupled to the user interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the scanner is configured to scan a barcode provided on the at least one component and provide the at least one processor with information regarding the at least one component.

11. A system for preparing a pharmaceutical compound, comprising:

a computing device comprising a user interface providing an operator with instructions for preparing the pharmaceutical compound and at least one processor operatively connected to the user interface;

a scale operatively connected to the at least one processor; and

an enclosure comprising an image capture device having a field of view positioned to capture an image of an object positioned on the scale during the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound, the image capture device operatively connected to the at least one processor,

wherein the scale transmits a signal to the at least one processor to verify a correct amount of at least one component of the pharmaceutical compound based on a weight of the at least one component, and

wherein the image capture device captures an image of the object positioned on the scale when the at least one processor verifies the correct amount of the at least one component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the enclosure is positioned above the scale.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the enclosure further comprises a barcode scanner.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the barcode scanner is angled with respect to the scale.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the barcode scanner has a sensor that is offset with respect to the scale.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the enclosure has a streamlined shape to minimize flow disturbance within a flow hood.

17. A system for reviewing a verifying preparation of a pharmaceutical compound comprising:

a processor configured to receive information regarding the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound, the information comprising at least one image of at least one step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound and gravimetric measurement information provided by a scale during at least one step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound; and

a user interface operatively connected to the processor and configured to display, based on instructions from the processor, the at least one image of the at least one step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound and an indication of whether a concentration of the pharmaceutical compound is within an acceptable tolerance range based on the gravimetric measurement information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one image of the at least one step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound includes an image of each step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound, and that the user interface includes an area that displays thumbnail images of each step.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a graphical indication is overlaid onto each of the thumbnail images to identify whether the concentration of the pharmaceutical compound is within the acceptable tolerance range for the step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound illustrated in each of the thumbnail images.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes an area that displays the instructions for the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound that corresponds to the at least one image of the at least one step of the preparation of the pharmaceutical compound that is displayed.