Medication collecting system

• US 6,625,952 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chudy, Duane S., Sugimoto, Shigeru, Yuyama, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, EUGENE LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/702,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 534/93, 531/68, 532/38, 535/31, 535/44, 534/50, 221/73, 221/123, 221/129, 221/197
• US Class Current: 53/168
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A medication dispensing apparatus of the present invention contains a plurality of different kinds of medication separately, dispenses the medicament to pack them into package belt, and discharges the package belt. The medication dispensing apparatus comprises a cutting device for cutting the package belt into short package belt including at least one medication package for specified period in accordance with prescription data, a stacking device for stacking the short package belts and a bundling device for bundling the stacked short package belts. According to the medication dispensing apparatus, it is possible to cut off medication packages and empty packages from the package belt automatically and rapidly, reducing medication distributing job in a hospital. The medication dispensing apparatus is applicable to a medicament collecting system comprising a tray feed station, a medication dispensing station and a tray recovering station.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing apparatus for storing a plurality of different types of oral solid medication and for dispensing doses of the medication for a patient in packaged, patient-specific medication dosage units in accordance with patient-specific prescription information comprising:

means for storing the different types of oral solid medication;

means for selectively dispensing doses of the oral solid medication from the storing means for the patient;

means for packaging each dispensed dose for the patient as a separate patient-specific medication dosage unit in a package formed in a continuous package belt such that each dosage unit for the patient is arranged in the package belt as (1) a group of dosage units, or (2) a single dosage unit;

means for selectively cutting the package belt containing the patient'"'"'s oral solid medication into discrete sections such that each group of dosage units for the patient is separated into a section and each single dosage unit for the patient is separated into a section;

means for stacking at least each single dosage unit section for the patient; and

means for bundling at least each stacked single dosage unit for the patient.

2. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means separates the package belt into at least one dosage unit section corresponding to the day the at least one dosage unit of medication is to be taken.

3. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means separates the package belt into at least one dosage unit section corresponding to the time of day that the at least one dosage unit of medication is to be taken.

4. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further including:

means for printing prescription information on the package belt; and

each dosage unit is packaged such that each discrete package belt section includes at least one empty package and the printing means prints patient-specific prescription information on the empty package.

5. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein each dosage unit is further packaged such that an empty package is provided between dosage units of different patients and the cutting means separates the empty package from the dosage unit sections.

6. An automated medication dispensing system for dispensing dosage units of oral solid and liquid medication for patients in accordance with patient prescription information, the system comprising:

a medication-receiving tray for each patient;

a conveyor for transporting the tray about the system;

at least one oral solid medication dispenser disposed along the conveyor for dispensing a packaged dosage unit of oral solid medication into the patient'"'"'s tray if required by the patient prescription information, the dispenser including;

a medication feed device having;

a plurality of oral solid medication storage containers, each container adapted to store one of a plurality of medication types and to dispense dosage units of the medication in a predetermined manner;

metering apparatus operatively connected to each storage container and adapted to dispense the dosage units of medication from each storage container; and

at least one passageway forming a guide directing the dispensed medication from the storage containers to a packaging device;

a packaging device having;

a continuous source of package belt material onto which the dispensed medication is directed from the passageway;

an information-adding device positioned adjacent the package belt material for supplying printed information to the package belt material corresponding to the patient prescription information; and

a sealer for sealing the package belt material into separate medication packages, each package enclosing a dosage unit of medication;

a cutting device having a cutter adjacent the sealed package belt for engaging the package belt material and cutting the package belt material in a predetermined manner into discrete sections, each section including at least one medication package containing a dosage unit of medication; and

at least one liquid medication dispenser disposed along the conveyor and spaced from the oral solid medication dispenser for discharging a packaged dosage unit of liquid medication into the patient'"'"'s tray if required by the patient prescription information, the dispenser including storage apparatus adapted to store a plurality of different types of liquid medication in a packaged, dosage unit form and discharge apparatus adapted to discharge the packaged, dosage unit liquid medication into the patient'"'"'s tray.

7. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 further including a tray feed station along a first end of the conveyor upstream of the oral solid and liquid medication dispensers for feeding the tray onto the conveyor.

8. The medication dispensing system of claim 7 wherein the tray feed station includes:

a housing for receiving and storing a plurality of stacked trays, the housing having walls forming a first opening for receiving the trays and a second opening for discharging the trays onto the conveyor;

at least one pivotable feed claw disposed in the housing having a first position for supporting a lowermost stacked tray and a second position for discharging the lowermost tray onto the conveyor; and

a motor coupled to the at least one feed claw for pivoting the at least one feed claw between the first and second positions;

whereby, the trays may be discharged from the tray feed station, one after the other, onto the conveyor.

9. The medication dispensing system of claim 7 further including a tray recovery station for recovering and sorting each tray containing the medication for each patient.

10. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the metering apparatus includes:

a motorized base operatively connected to each storage container for actuating the containers to discharge the medication in a predetermined manner based on the patient prescription information; and

a sensor for detecting the amount of medication dispensed from each storage container.

11. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the passageway further includes at least one hopper having an upper opening positioned to receive the medication from the passageway and a lower opening positioned to direct the dispensed medication toward the packaging device.

12. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the information-adding device is a printer for printing the patient prescription information directly on the package belt material.

13. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the oral solid medication dispenser further includes:

a stacking mechanism downstream of the cutting device for receiving the cut package belt sections and for stacking the cut package belt sections; and

a bundling mechanism for bundling the stacked package belt sections.

14. The medication dispensing system of claim 13 further including a distributing mechanism for discharging the bundled package belt sections to the patient'"'"'s tray.

15. The medication dispensing system of claim 12 further including at least a second printer for printing patient prescription information on a prescription paper and for discharging the printed paper into the patient'"'"'s tray.

16. The medication dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the printed prescription information includes instructions for taking the medication.

17. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the at least one liquid medication dispenser is a random-storage ampoule dispenser which includes:

a plurality of liquid medication random ampoule storage containers each adapted to store an array of ampoules corresponding to one of the plurality of liquid medication types, each storage container having walls forming an opening through which the ampoules are metered out in a controlled manner;

liquid medication ampoule metering apparatus for metering a predetermined quantity of the ampoules from each storage container;

a collector apparatus for receiving ampoules from the metering apparatus and for transporting the ampoules to an ampoule staging device; and

an ampoule staging device having an opening for receiving ampoules from the collector apparatus and walls forming a gated opening through which the ampoules are discharged to the patient'"'"'s tray.

18. The medication dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the storage containers include:

a storage chamber for storage of the ampoules in a random manner;

a conveyor for transporting ampoules from each chamber to a discharge chute; and

a discharge chute for discharging the ampoules from the conveyor to the collector.

19. The medication dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the collector apparatus includes:

a moveable lifter container for receiving the ampoules from the discharge chutes, the lifter having funnel-shaped walls forming a top opening through which the ampoules are received and a shuttered bottom opening through which the ampoules are discharged;

moveable shutters positioned across the lifter bottom opening having a first position covering the opening and a second position away from the opening so that ampoules in the lifter can be discharged into the staging device when the shutters are in the second position; and

lift apparatus for raising and lowering the lifter so that the discharge chutes are substantially aligned with the lifter top opening prior to discharge of an ampoule from a discharge chute and for positioning the lifter adjacent the staging device so that ampoules in the lifter are discharged from the lifter into the staging device.

20. The medication dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the at least one liquid medication dispenser is an array ampoule dispenser which includes:

a plurality of liquid medication ampoule storage containers each adapted to store an array of ampoules corresponding to one of the plurality of liquid medication types, each storage container having walls forming an opening through which the ampoules are metered out in a controlled manner;

liquid medication ampoule metering apparatus for dispensing a predetermined quantity of ampoules from each storage container;

conveyor apparatus for receiving ampoules from the metering apparatus and transporting the ampoules to an ampoule container; and

an ampoule container having at least one wall defining an opening for receiving ampoules from the conveyor apparatus, said container directing the ampoules to the patient'"'"'s tray.

21. The medication dispensing system of claim 20 wherein the conveyor apparatus includes:

at least one loading conveyor for receiving ampoules metered out from the ampoule storage containers; and

a collecting conveyor for receiving ampoules from the at least one loading conveyor and for transporting the ampoules to the ampoule container.

22. The medication dispensing system of claim 20 further including at least a second liquid medication dispenser disposed along the conveyor which is a random-storage ampoule dispenser including:

a plurality of liquid medication random ampoule storage containers each adapted to store an array of ampoules corresponding to one of the plurality of liquid medication types, each storage container having walls forming an opening through which the ampoules are metered out in a controlled manner;

liquid medication ampoule metering apparatus for metering a predetermined quantity of the ampoules from each storage container;

a collector apparatus for receiving ampoules from the metering apparatus and for transporting the ampoules to an ampoule staging device; and

an ampoule staging device having an opening for receiving ampoules from the collector apparatus and walls forming a gated opening through which the ampoules are discharged to the patient'"'"'s tray.

23. The medication dispensing system of claim 22 further including a tray feed station along a first end of the conveyor upstream of the oral solid and liquid medication dispensers for feeding the patient'"'"'s tray onto the conveyor.

24. The medication dispensing system of claim 23 further including a tray recovery station along a second end of the conveyor downstream of the oral solid and liquid medication dispensers for recovering the patient'"'"'s tray containing the medication.

25. The medication dispensing system of claim 24 further including at least one printer for printing patient-specific prescription information on a prescription paper and for discharging the paper including the printed information to the patient'"'"'s tray.

26. A medication dispensing apparatus for storing a plurality of different types of oral solid medication and for dispensing the medication in packaged, patient-specific medication dosage units in accordance with patient prescription information comprising:

a plurality of oral solid medication storage containers, each container adapted to store one type of the plurality of medication types;

a motorized unit associated with each container adapted to direct doses of medication from each storage container to a medication guide;

the medication guide has a first end positioned to receive the medication doses, a second end positioned adjacent a packaging mechanism and a guide therebetween;

the packaging mechanism includes a source of package belt material, said package belt material being positioned to receive the dispensed medication dose from the guide, and a sealer adapted to seal the package belt to form a separate package in the package belt for each dosage unit received by the package belt, each dosage unit being arranged in the package belt as (1) a group of dosage units, or (2) as a single dosage unit,

a cutting mechanism having a cutting member positioned adjacent the sealed package belt, the cutting member adapted to cut the package belt into discrete sections such that each group of dosage units is separated into a section and each single dosage unit is separated into a section;

a stacking mechanism positioned to receive the cut package belt sections and to stack at least the single dosage unit sections;

a bundling mechanism adapted to place a band around at least the stacked single dosage unit sections, thereby joining said dosage unit sections into a bundle; and

a distributing mechanism positioned adjacent the bundling mechanism including a guide having a receiving end, a terminal end and a guide surface therebetween along which the dosage unit sections are directed to a patient receptacle.

27. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 26 wherein the cutting mechanism separates the package belt into at least one dosage unit section corresponding to the day the at least one dosage unit of medication is to be taken.

28. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 26 wherein the cutting mechanism separates the package belt into at least one dosage unit section corresponding to the time of day that the dosage unit of medication is to be taken.

29. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 26 further including:

a printer adjacent the package belt and adapted to print prescription information on the package belt; and

each dosage unit is packaged such that there is an empty package associated with each dosage unit and the printer prints prescription information on the empty package.

30. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 26 wherein:

the packaging mechanism provides an empty package between dosage units for different patients;

the cutting mechanism separates the empty package from between the dosage units;

the distributing mechanism guide surface is a downwardly-sloped surface having an opening in communication with a waste receptacle;

the waste receptacle is positioned below the guide surface;

a distributing plate is movably mounted along the guide surface across the opening, said plate being movable between a first position in which the plate closes the opening so that each dosage unit section is directed along the surface to the patient receptacle and a second position in which the plate is positioned away from the opening so that each empty package is directed to fall through the opening and into the waste receptacle; and

a motor is connected to the plate through a linkage for moving the plate between the first and second positions.

31. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 26 wherein the apparatus further includes:

conveyor apparatus adapted to deliver each dosage unit section corresponding to a patient to the stacking mechanism;

the stacking mechanism includes a stacker mounted for movement between a first position in which the stacker receives the delivered dosage unit section and a second position in which the stacker places said dosage unit section on a stacking surface such that at least one dosage unit section corresponding to a group of dosage units is placed on the stacking surface and the single dosage unit sections are stacked one on top of the other on the stacking surface; and

a transfer member positioned adjacent to the stacking surface and mounted for movement between at least a first position in which stacked dosage unit sections are moved from the stacking surface to the bundling mechanism and a second position in which the unstacked dosage unit sections and bundled dosage unit sections are moved to the distributing mechanism.

32. A medication dispensing apparatus for storing a plurality of different types of oral solid medication and dispensing doses of the medication in packaged, patient-specific medication dosage units in accordance with patient-specific prescription information, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing the oral solid medication;

means for dispensing doses of the oral solid medication from the storing means;

means for packaging each dispensed dose as a separate dosage unit in a package formed in a continuous package belt such that each dosage unit is arranged in the package belt as (1) a group of dosage units, or (2) as a single dosage unit and an empty package is provided between dosage units for different patients;

means for cutting the package belt into discrete sections such that each group of dosage units is separated into a section and each single dosage unit is separated into a section and the empty package is separated from between the dosage units;

means for stacking at least each single dosage unit section;

means for bundling at least each stacked single dosage unit section; and

means for distributing the section corresponding to the group of dosage units and each bundled single dosage unit section to a first receptacle and for distributing the empty package to a second receptacle.

33. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 32 wherein the storing means is a cassette and the dispensing means comprises a motor base associated with each cassette.

34. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 32 further including means for guiding the dispensed doses from the storing means to the packaging means.

35. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 32 wherein the medication dispensing apparatus further includes:

means for moving each dosage unit section for a patient to the stacking means;

the stacking means places said patient'"'"'s dosage unit sections on a stacking surface such that at least one section corresponding to a group of dosage units is placed on the stacking surface and the single dosage unit sections are stacked one on top of the other on the stacking surface; and

means for moving stacked dosage unit sections to the bundling means and unstacked and bundled dosage unit sections to the distributing means.

36. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

the stacking means separately places the empty package on the stacking surface; and

the moving means moves the empty package from the stacking surface to the distributing means.

37. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 32 wherein the distributing means comprises:

a downwardly-sloped guide surface having an upper end adapted to receive each dosage unit section and empty package, a lower end adjacent the first receptacle, an opening in the surface in communication with the second receptacle, said second receptacle being positioned below the guide surface;

a distributing plate movably mounted between a first position in which the plate closes the opening so that each dosage unit section is directed along the guide surface to the first receptacle and a second position in which the plate is positioned away from the opening so that each empty package is directed to fall through the opening and into the second receptacle; and

means for moving the plate between the first and second positions.

38. A medication dispensing apparatus for storing a plurality of different types of oral solid medication and for dispensing the medication in packaged, patient-specific medication dosage units in accordance with patent-specific prescription information comprising:

means for storing oral solid medication;

means for dispensing the oral solid medication from the medication storing means in patient-specific dosage units in accordance with the patient specific prescription information;

means for packaging the oral solid medication in separate medication packages formed in a package belt, each medication package representing a patent-specific medication dosage unit;

cutting means for cutting the package belt into discrete sections, each section including at least one medication package and at least some of the sections having plural medication packages in accordance with the patient-specific prescription information;

stacking means for stacking the cut package belt sections for each patient; and

bundling means for bundling the stacked package belt sections; and

distributing means for separately distributing the package belt sections and empty packages;

wherein empty packages are formed between the medication packages of different patients by the packaging means and wherein the empty packages are cut and separated from other medication packages by the cutting means, passed through both the stacking means and the bundling means without being stacked and bundled and then distributed by the distributing means separately from the other stacked package belt sections.

39. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 38 wherein the distributing means comprises a sloped plate having an opening and a distributing plate which opens and closes the opening, whereby when the distributing plate closes the opening, the stacked package belt sections can be dispensed along the sloped plate, while when the distributing plate opens the opening, the empty packages can be discarded through the opening.