Automated means for removing, parking and replacing a syringe tip cap from a syringe

• US 7,017,622 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Forhealth Technologies Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Osborne, Joel A., Aven, William C., Tribble, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/426,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141 21- 27, 141/94, 141/100, 141/104, 604/407, 604/411, 604/416
• US Class Current: 141/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/161 Sealing filled ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2821 applying plugs or threadless stoppers for bottles or jars B67B1/04

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, an automated syringe preparation mechanism for an automated medication preparation system is provided and the mechanism includes (1) a first automated gripping mechanism having a pair of adjustable gripper arms for removing a tip cap from a barrel of one syringe and placing the removed tip cap at a first location and (2) a second automated gripping mechanism having a pair of adjustable gripper arms for replacing the removed tip cap on the syringe barrel after the medication is injected therein.

Claims

1. An automated device for removing a tip cap from an empty syringe, placing the tip cap at a remote location, and replacing the tip cap on a filled syringe, the device comprising:

a support frame that is movable along at least an x axis and a y axis;

a gripper mechanism including a pair of gripper arms that are positionable between an open position and a closed position in which the tip cap is securely held therebetween;

a programmable controller in communication with a plurality of drive actuators that controllably drive the gripper arms and the support frame to desired positions; and

a sensor for detecting whether the tip cap is disposed between the gripper arms.

2. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of gripper arms comprise:

a first automated gripping device for removing a tip cap from a barrel tip of one syringe and placing the removed tip cap at a first location; and

a second automated gripping device for replacing the removed tip cap on the syringe barrel after medication has been injected therein, wherein each of the first and second automated gripping devices is in communication with the programmable controller and each of the first and second gripping devices moves in at least two directions.

3. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein each of the gripping arms has a platform with a shaped cut out formed at one edge thereof and the two shaped cut outs are aligned with one another so that when the gripper arms are in the closed position, the shaped cut outs define an opening that is sized to receive and hold the tip cap.

4. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second automated gripper arms is movable along an x axis and a y axis.

5. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive actuators has a first control mechanism for controlling opening and closing of gripper arms that grasp and retain the tip cap;

a second control mechanism for controlling up and down movement of the gripper arm and a third control mechanism for controlling inward and outward movement of the gripper arm.

6. The automated device according to claim 5, wherein each of the first, second and third control mechanisms is a pneumatic device that upon actuation causes movement of the device in at least one direction.

7. The automated device according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second automated gripper arms includes a vertical base with the gripper arms being disposed closer to an upper end of the vertical base, the second control mechanism operatively connected to the vertical base to cause controlled up and down movements thereof;

the third control mechanism operatively connected to the vertical base to cause controlled inward and outward movements thereof.

8. The automated device according to claim 7, wherein the second and third control mechanisms are one of pneumatic devices and mechanical motorized devices that each moves the vertical base between two positions.

9. The automated device according to claim 5, wherein the gripper arm is positionable between a starting position, a second position where the tip cap is grasped by the gripper arms for removal from the syringe and a third position where the tip cap is disposed over a feature for retainingly parking the tip cap.

10. The automated device according to claim 9, wherein the feature comprises a post that is formed as part of the support for receiving and holding the removed tip cap.

11. The automated device according to claim 1, further including an automated rotary device that is indexed to advance the syringe from one station to another station, the rotary device having a feature for holding the removed tip cap as the syringe is advanced from one station to the next.

12. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a vertical base that is operatively connected to a first control unit that moves the vertical base in a track along the y axis between inward and outward positions and a second control unit that moves the vertical base along the x axis between raised and lowered positions.

13. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the gripper mechanism is operatively connected to a control unit that positions the gripper arms between the open and closed positions.

14. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a reflecting light emitting diode (LED).

15. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is of a type that emits a light beam and a reflector is provided across from the sensor for reflecting the light beam, the sensor device being mounted relative to gripper arms that grasp and retain the tip cap so that the light beam passes through a space between the gripper arms where the tip cap is received, the sensor device in communication with the programmable controller so that a control signal is delivered to the programmable controller when the tip cap is disposed within the space, thereby impinging the light beam.

16. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive actuators comprises a first pneumatic control device for controllably moving the support frame along the y axis and a second pneumatic control device for controllably moving the support frame along the x axis.

17. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive actuators comprises a first motorized mechanical device mechanism for controllably moving the support frame along the y axis and a second motorized mechanical device mechanism for controllably moving the support frame along the x axis.

18. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a vertical base.

19. The automated device according to claim 1, wherein the controller and sensor are configured such that if the sensor detects that the tip cap is not securely attached to a barrel of the syringe, then the syringe is rejected and is not filled at the filling station;

and if the sensor device detects the presence of a tip cap, then the syringe is subjected to at least one device for automatically removing, parking the tip cap, filling the syringe and replacing the tip cap.

20. An automated device for removing a tip cap from a barrel of an empty syringe, placing the tip cap at a remote location, and replacing the tip cap on a filled syringe, the device comprising:

a support frame that is movable along at least an x axis and a y axis;

a gripper mechanism including a pair of gripper arms that are positionable between an open position and a closed position in which the tip cap is securely held therebetween;

a programmable controller in communication with a plurality of drive actuators that controllably drive the gripper arms and the support frame to desired positions; and

a sensor for detecting whether the tip cap is securely attached to the syringe barrel and if the sensor detects that the tip cap is not securely attached to the syringe barrel, then the programmer rejects the syringe and prevents the syringe barrel from being filled; and

if the sensor device detects the presence of a tip cap, then the syringe is subjected to at least one device for automatically removing, parking the tip cap, filling the syringe and replacing the tip cap.