Method and apparatus for controlling the strategy of compounding pharmaceutical admixtures

• US 7,620,479 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, Robert E., Kircher, Joseph J., Czarny, Ronald W., Miller, Joe A., Nitzki-George, Diane M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon; Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US11/131,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 439/174, 439/180, 439/43, 700/266, 422/100, 422/105, 422/108, 141/100, 141/104, 141/10, 73/614.3, 73/614.4
• US Class Current: 700/266
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8442 using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/846 using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/848 using data, i.e. barcodes, 3D codes or similar type of tagging information, as instruction or identification codes for controlling the dispensing and mixing operations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/8222 Bipolar technology
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/485 consisting of layered constructions comprising conductive layers and insulating layers, e.g. planar contacts H01L23/4821, H01L23/4822, H01L23/4824, H01L23/4825 take precedence; materials H01L23/532, bond pads H01L24/02, bump connectors H01L24/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0823 including vertical bipolar transistors only
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the compounding of pharmaceutical parenteral admixtures is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a computer that contains a memory for storing instructions for operating the apparatus and for controlling compounders that prepare a prescription admixture, with the memory including data relating to a plurality of the pharmaceutical components that may be transferred to prepare the prescription admixture, and data concerning the operating characteristics of the compounders that the apparatus is adapted to control. The apparatus determines the order of admixing by general rules of admixing and by categorized compatibility groups of components, so that the number of rinses that must be done are minimized.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one pharmaceutical compounder to prepare a plurality of prescription admixtures, the method utilizing a controller having a memory for storing instructions for controlling the at least one compounder to prepare the plurality of prescription admixtures, the method comprising:

receiving data in the controller via a communication interface, the data being indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures;

examining the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures in the controller to determine a subset of prescription admixtures that contain lipids;

determining a preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures in the controller that groups the subset of prescription admixtures together;

generating instructions in the controller for preparing the plurality of prescription admixtures, the instructions being indicative of the preparation order; and

communicating the instructions for preparing the plurality of prescription admixtures from the controller to the at least one pharmaceutical compounder.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures includes receiving the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures via a communication port.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein examining the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures to determine the subset of prescription admixtures that contain lipids includes examining data indicative of components of each prescription admixture in a data queue.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures includes determining the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures that minimizes a number of lipid hazing events.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures is associated with a first number of lipid hazing events, and a received order associated with receiving the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures is associated with a second number of lipid hazing events, the first number of lipid hazing events being less than the second number of lipid hazing events.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures includes determining the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures that minimizes a number of compounder flushes associated with lipid hazing.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the preparation order for the plurality of prescription admixtures is associated with a first number of compounder flushes, and a received order associated with receiving the data indicative of the plurality of prescription admixtures is associated with a second number of compounder flushes, the first number of compounder flushes being less than the second number of compounder flushes.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein communication the instructions for preparing the plurality of prescription admixtures to the at least one pharmaceutical compounder includes communicating the instructions for preparing the plurality of prescription admixtures to the at least one pharmaceutical compounder via a communication port.