System and method for pharmacy validation and inspection

• US 6,771,369 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Malvern Panalytical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Malvern Panalytical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enterline, John, Rzasa, David M., Goetz, Alexander F. H., Curtiss, Brian, Faus, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US10/097,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 356/326, 356/328, 250/339.07
• US Class Current: 356/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

An apparatus for verifying the identity of a dispensed pharmaceutical comprises an analysis unit adapted to determine a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical, an input device adapted to receive predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical, and a comparison unit adapted to compare the determined property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with the predetermined identifying information. In addition, a method of verifying a prescription, wherein the prescription comprises a pharmaceutical compound, comprises associating the prescription with a unique identifier, storing the unique identifier, determining the identity of the pharmaceutical compound, and comparing the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with the unique identifier.

Claims

1. A method of verifying a prescription, wherein the prescription comprises a pharmaceutical compound, the method comprising:

associating the prescription with a unique identifier;

storing the unique identifier;

determining the identity of the pharmaceutical compound; and

comparing the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with the unique identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the identity of the pharmaceutical compound with a unique chemical signature;

determining whether the chemical signature corresponds to the unique identifier;

displaying a first signal if the chemical signature corresponds to the unique identifier; and

displaying a second signal if the chemical signature does not correspond to the unique identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the prescription with a unique identifier comprises:

receiving the unique identifier from a pharmacy information system, wherein the unique identifier is in the form of a bar code; and

associating the bar code with the prescription.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein storing the unique identifier comprises reading the bar code with a hand-held scanner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier includes the manufacturer of the prescription pharmaceutical.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier includes the name and dosage level of the prescription pharmaceutical.

7. A inspection system for verifying the contents of a filled prescription, comprising:

a spectrometer adapted to determine the spectral signature of the contents of the filled prescription;

a scanner adapted to receive identifying information corresponding to the filled prescription;

a data storage device coupled to the scanner and adapted to store the identifying information corresponding to the filled prescription;

wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of data items, each of the plurality of data items corresponding to a known prescription pharmaceutical spectral signature.

8. The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the spectrometer operates in the ultra-violet, visible, and near infrared wavelengths.

9. The inspection system of claim 7, further comprising a telescope assembly coupled to the spectrometer.

10. The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the spectrometer is operative to focus the telescope assembly.

11. The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the telescope is adapted for confocal viewing and illumination.

12. The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the telescope further comprises a rotating beam steering element adapted to obtain multiple readings.