Automated means for storing, dispensing and orienting injectable drug vials for a robotic application
First Claim
1. An automated medication preparation system comprising:
- a medication preparation station where a dosage of medication is prepared in a just-in-time manner;
a holding station for storing multi-use injectable medication vials, the contents of which have been previously accessed for preparing the dosage of medication at the medication preparation station and that are cataloged according to prescribed criteria to permit later use in preparing another dosage of medication at the medication preparation station; and
an automated transfer device for transferring the vial from one station to another station.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated medication preparation system according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a medication preparation station where a dosage of medication is prepared in a just-in-time manner and a holding station for storing multi-use injectable medication vials, the contents of which have been previously accessed for preparing the dosage of medication at the medication preparation station and. The medication vials are cataloged according to prescribed criteria to permit later use in preparing another dosage of medication at the medication preparation station. The system include an automated transfer device for-transferring the vial from one station to another station.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An automated medication preparation system comprising:
- a medication preparation station where a dosage of medication is prepared in a just-in-time manner;
a holding station for storing multi-use injectable medication vials, the contents of which have been previously accessed for preparing the dosage of medication at the medication preparation station and that are cataloged according to prescribed criteria to permit later use in preparing another dosage of medication at the medication preparation station; and an automated transfer device for transferring the vial from one station to another station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a medication preparation station where a dosage of medication is prepared in a just-in-time manner;
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16. A method for handling multi-use medication vials in an automated medication preparation system comprising the steps of:
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retrieving a first multi-use medication vial from a source; transferring from the first medication vial a predetermined amount of its contents and preparing, in a just-in-time manner, a dosage of medication from the predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is less than 100% of its contents; and delivering the first medication vial to a holding station that is configured to store a plurality of multi-use medication vials, the contents of which have been previously accessed for preparing the dosage of medication at the medication preparation station but still contain contents that can be used in preparing another dosage of medication. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An automated medication preparation system comprising:
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a source of medication; a conduit having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being fluidly connected to the source of medication; a syringe having an inlet that is configured to be fluidly connected to the second end of the conduit for receiving a prescribed dosage of medication from the source of medication; an adjustable plunger extension mechanism that includes a movable part that engages a plunger of the syringe such that movement of the movable part is translated into extension of the plunger a predefined distance; and a controller that receives inputted medication preparation information and calculates the predefined distance that the plunger is extended in order to draw the prescribed dosage of medication from the conduit into the syringe, wherein the inputted medication preparation information includes a syringe type, a barrel diameter, and a desired dose volume of medication to be filled in the syringe, wherein the controller calculates the defined distance that the plunger is to be extended based upon the inputted information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An automated medication preparation system comprising:
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a source of medication; a fluid transfer device fluidly connected to the source of medication and having a conduit with a connector at a free end for delivering a prescribed dosage of medication from the source of medication; a syringe that has a barrel opening that is configured to hermetically seal with the connector for receiving the prescribed dosage of medication from the source of medication; an adjustable plunger extension mechanism that includes a movable part that engages a plunger of the syringe such that movement of the movable part is translated into extension of the plunger a predefined distance; an input for inputting syringe information that is used in part to calculate the defined distance the plunger is extended; and a controller that receives the inputted syringe information and calculates the predefined distance that the plunger is extended in order to draw the prescribed dosage of medication from the conduit into the syringe, wherein each syringe is held and retained on a movable transporter that is indexed to advance each syringe from one station to another station where operations, including delivery of the dosage of medication, are performed on the syringe while the syringe remains held by the transporter.
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Specification