Automated drug vial safety cap removal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
- an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal device being located at the first station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system. The mechanism includes an automated gripping device for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station and a cap removal device for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner. The cap removal device being located at the first station. By providing a just-in-time for use safety cap removal mechanism, the labor intensive task of removing safety caps can be incorporated into an automated medication preparation system.
77 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
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an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal device being located at the first station.
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2. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
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an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal means including a support member and a pivotable member coupled to the support member, the pivotable member being biased in a first direction such that when the automated gripping means delivers the vial to the first station, the pivotable member engages the safety cap which is then removed from the vial by moving the vial in a second direction as it is held by the automated gripping means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
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an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal device including a wedge element for reception between the safety cap and a body of the vial such that when the automated gripping means delivers the vial to the first station, the wedge element is received between the safety cap and the vial body, the safety cap is then removed from the vial by moving the vial in a second direction as it is held by the automated gripping means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
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an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal device including a rotatable member having first and second gripping sections, each of the first and second gripping sections having openable and closeable decapper elements that are controlled by a control unit, the safety cap being removed by disposing the safety cap between the opened decapper elements which are then closed prior to moving the vial in a second direction as the safety cap is gripped by the decapper elements. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An automated safety cap removal mechanism for an automated medication preparation system, the mechanism comprising:
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an automated gripping means for securely holding and transporting a vial containing the medication to and from a first station; and
a cap removal means for removing a safety cap of the vial in a just-in-time for use manner, the cap removal device including first and second fingers that are biased relative to one another, the safety cap being removed by disposing the safety cap between the first and second biased fingers such that a flange of each finger engages the safety cap and then moving the vial in a second direction as the safety cap is gripped by the first and second biased fingers resulting in the safety cap being removed.
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39. A method for just-in-time removal of a safety cap from a drug vial, comprising the steps of:
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moving the drug vial onto a deck of an automated medication preparation system, the drug vial having the safety cap affixed over an opening thereof;
gripping the drug vial against movement; and
performing a step for removing the safety cap while gripping the drug vial. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
permitting the safety cap to fall into a chute; and
registering the passage of the safety cap through the chute.
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45. The method of claim 44, wherein the registering step is tested to occur in accordance with instructions from a control unit.
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46. The method of claim 43, including the additional step of withdrawing medication from the drug vial if the detecting step detects the removal of the safety cap.
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47. The method of claim 43, including the additional step of discarding the drug vial if the detecting step fails to detect the removal of the safety cap after a predetermined number of attempts to perform the performing step.
Specification