System for emptying pharmaceutical containers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of emptying pharmaceutical contents of first pharmaceutical containers including medications into a bulk container storing a first quantity of the pharmaceutical for subsequent dispensing responsive to a patient specific order including a second quantity of the pharmaceutical into a second pharmaceutical container, comprising:
- transporting the first pharmaceutical container;
determining information provided on the first pharmaceutical container identifying the first pharmaceuticals contained therein;
determining whether the first pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied from the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container responsive to the determined information;
determining an orientation of the first pharmaceutical container;
orientating the first pharmaceutical container responsive to said determined orientation;
cutting the first pharmaceutical container on at least one of the sidewall and bottom of the pharmaceutical container responsive to said orientating;
rotating the cut first pharmaceutical container to empty the first quantity of the contents of the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container after the first pharmaceutical container is cut by said cutting;
determining when the first contents of the first pharmaceutical container are no longer being emptied into the bulk container;
controlling said cutting and rotating of the first pharmaceutical container for emptying the first contents into the bulk container; and
periodically emptying the contents of the bulk container into an automated pharmaceutical dispensing system for subsequent automated dispensing of the pharmaceutical in the second quantity into the second pharmaceutical container responsive to a patient specific prescription order.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system and method for emptying the contents of pharmaceutical containers. In an embodiment, a gripper unit receives and holds a pharmaceutical container. A cutter cuts the pharmaceutical container, and a rotating unit, operable with the gripper, rotates at least a portion of the gripper unit to empty the contents of the pharmaceutical container.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of emptying pharmaceutical contents of first pharmaceutical containers including medications into a bulk container storing a first quantity of the pharmaceutical for subsequent dispensing responsive to a patient specific order including a second quantity of the pharmaceutical into a second pharmaceutical container, comprising:
-
transporting the first pharmaceutical container; determining information provided on the first pharmaceutical container identifying the first pharmaceuticals contained therein; determining whether the first pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied from the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container responsive to the determined information; determining an orientation of the first pharmaceutical container; orientating the first pharmaceutical container responsive to said determined orientation; cutting the first pharmaceutical container on at least one of the sidewall and bottom of the pharmaceutical container responsive to said orientating; rotating the cut first pharmaceutical container to empty the first quantity of the contents of the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container after the first pharmaceutical container is cut by said cutting; determining when the first contents of the first pharmaceutical container are no longer being emptied into the bulk container; controlling said cutting and rotating of the first pharmaceutical container for emptying the first contents into the bulk container; and periodically emptying the contents of the bulk container into an automated pharmaceutical dispensing system for subsequent automated dispensing of the pharmaceutical in the second quantity into the second pharmaceutical container responsive to a patient specific prescription order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification