Devices useful in system and method for dispensing prescriptions

• US 7,703,637 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Michelli, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/935,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 221/200, 221/202, 221/96
• US Class Current: 221/200
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Claims

1. A bin for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles, comprising:

a floor, a ceiling, and side walls defining a chamber to hold the pharmaceutical articles;

a lower screen positioned in the floor;

an upper screen positioned in the ceiling;

a first partition spanning the side walls, the first partition dividing the chamber into four quadrants, wherein a first quadrant is positioned forwardly of the first partition, a second quadrant is positioned above the first quadrant, a third quadrant is positioned rearwardly of the first partition, and a fourth quadrant is positioned below the third quadrant; and

a second partition positioned rearwardly of the third quadrant;

the first partition being positioned such that, when air is drawn through the chamber from the lower screen to the upper screen, at least some pharmaceutical articles positioned in the first quadrant travel serially from the first quadrant to the second, third and fourth quadrants.

2. The bin defined in claim 1, wherein the first partition is positioned rearwardly of the lower screen.

3. The bin defined in claim 1, wherein the second partition depends from the ceiling.

4. The bin defined in claim 1, defining a dispensing channel to dispense the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber, wherein the first partition is positioned such that, when air is drawn through the chamber from the lower screen to the upper screen, at least some pharmaceutical articles positioned in the first quadrant travel serially from the first quadrant to the second, third and fourth quadrants while at least some of the pharmaceutical articles are being dispensed from the chamber through the dispensing channel.

5. The bin defined in claim 4, wherein the dispensing channel is configured to draw the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber and through the dispensing channel to dispense the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber when a suction is generated in the dispensing channel.

6. A bin for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles, comprising:

a floor, a ceiling, and side walls defining a chamber to hold the pharmaceutical articles;

a lower screen positioned in the floor;

an upper screen positioned in the ceiling;

a first partition spanning the side walls, the first partition dividing the chamber into four quadrants, wherein a first quadrant is positioned forwardly of the first partition, a second quadrant is positioned above the first quadrant, a third quadrant is positioned rearwardly of the first partition, and a fourth quadrant is positioned below the third quadrant;

the bin defining a dispensing channel to dispense the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber;

the first partition being positioned such that, when air is drawn through the chamber from the lower screen to the upper screen, at least some pharmaceutical articles positioned in the first quadrant travel serially from the first quadrant to the second, third and fourth quadrants while at least some of the pharmaceutical articles are being dispensed from the chamber through the dispensing channel.

7. The bin defined in claim 6, wherein the first partition is positioned rearwardly of the lower screen and the dispensing channel is located forwardly of the lower screen.

8. The bin defined in claim 6, wherein the dispensing channel is configured to draw the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber and through the dispensing channel to dispense the pharmaceutical articles from the chamber when a suction is generated in the dispensing channel.