Method for validating a dispensed pharmaceutical

• US 7,317,525 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Faus, Robert J., Rzasa, David M., Goetz, Alexander F. H., Enterline, John, Curtiss, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/314,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 356/300, 356/301, 356/326, 356/328, 250/339.07, 700/216
• US Class Current: 356/300
• 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 is disclosed, wherein the prescription comprises a pharmaceutical compound and the method includes associating the prescription with identifying information, determining a property of the pharmaceutical, counting tablets of the pharmaceutical and utilizing the determined property in connection with the identifying information to verify the prescription.

Claims

1. A method for verifying that a prescribed pharmaceutical is dispensed in accordance with a prescription, comprising

counting tablets of a dispensed pharmaceutical so as to determine whether a quantity of the tablets is in accord with the prescription;

obtaining spectral data for the dispensed pharmaceutical, the dispensed pharmaceutical being dispensed in a customer container;

scanning the customer container for data that is affixed to the customer container, the data linking the customer container with identifying information stored in a pharmacy information system, wherein the identifying information includes information associated with the prescribed pharmaceutical;

utilizing the spectral data in connection with the identifying information for the prescribed pharmaceutical to determine whether the dispensed pharmaceutical is the prescribed pharmaceutical; and

providing an output indicative of whether the dispensed pharmaceutical is the prescribed pharmaceutical.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the counting includes manually counting the tablets.

3. The method of claim 1 including:

receiving the identifying information from a the pharmacy information system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes the manufacturer of the prescribed pharmaceutical.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes the name and dosage level of the prescribed pharmaceutical.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining spectral data includes obtaining spectral data utilizing spectroscopy techniques selected from the group consisting of:

optical spectroscopy, near infrared optical spectroscopy, infrared optical spectroscopy, ultra violet spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning includes scanning a bar code that is affixed to the customer container.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes a national drug code (NDC) for the prescribed pharmaceutical.

7. A method of filling a prescription, comprising:

receiving a prescription request for a pharmaceutical;

retrieving tablets of a stored pharmaceutical so as to assemble retrieved tablets;

counting the retrieved tablets so as to collect a quantity of tablets that corresponds to the prescription request;

placing the tablets in a customer container;

determining a property of the tablets with an analysis unit;

scanning the customer container for data that is affixed to the customer container, the data linking the customer container with identifying information stored in a pharmacy information system, wherein the identifying information corresponds with the pharmaceutical; and

comparing the property of the tablets with the identifying information that corresponds to the pharmaceutical so as to verify that the tablets include the pharmaceutical; and

providing an output indicative of whether the tablets include the pharmaceutical.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the counting includes manually counting the retrieved tablets.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the property with the analysis unit includes determining the property with an analysis unit selected from the group consisting of:

an optical spectroscopy system, a near infrared optical spectroscopy system, an infrared optical spectroscopy system, an ultra violet spectroscopy system, a visible spectroscopy system and a Raman spectroscopy system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the scanning includes scanning the data from a bar code label.

11. The method of claim 10 including:

affixing the bar code label to the customer container; and

placing the quantity of tablets in the customer container;

wherein the comparing the property of the tablets with identifying information includes comparing the property of the tablets with the identifying information after the bar code label is affixed to the customer container.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying information includes the manufacturer of the prescribed pharmaceutical.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying information includes the name and dosage level of the prescribed pharmaceutical.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining includes determining a physical property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with an imaging device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining the physical property includes determining a size, shape or color.

16. The method of claim 14, including performing optical character recognition with the imaging device.

27. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying information includes a national drug code (NDC) for the pharmaceutical.

17. A method for verifying the contents of a dispensed pharmaceutical, comprising:

determining, with an analysis unit, information corresponding to a property of the dispensed pharmaceutical;

scanning the customer container for data that is affixed to the customer container, the data linking the customer container with predetermined identifying information stored in a pharmacy information system, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponds with the dispensed pharmaceutical;

receiving predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical;

comparing the determined information with the predetermined identifying information so as to verify the dispensed pharmaceutical includes a proper composition;

counting tablets of the dispensed pharmaceutical so as to verify the dispensed pharmaceutical includes a proper quantity of tablets; and

providing an output indicative of whether the pharmaceutical includes the proper composition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting includes manually counting the tablets.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining includes determining the property with an analysis unit selected from the group consisting of:

an optical spectroscopy system, a near infrared optical spectroscopy system, an infrared optical spectroscopy system, an ultra violet spectroscopy system, a visible spectroscopy system and a Raman spectroscopy system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining includes determining a physical property of the dispensed pharmaceutical with an imaging device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining the physical property includes determining a size, shape or color.

22. The method of claim 20, including:

performing optical character recognition with the imaging device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponding to the dispensed pharmaceutical includes information selected from the group consisting of manufacturer information, product name information and dosage level information.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined identifying information corresponds to the same information determined by the analysis unit.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the scanning includes scanning a bar code that is affixed to the customer container.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined identifying information includes a national drug code (NDC) for the prescribed pharmaceutical.