Method and system for determining a volume-based fill pattern of a multi-dose medicament container

• US 8,200,366 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ali, Syed Y., Biesenthal, Amy C., Khullar, Rishi, McGonagle, Sean, Pankow, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/187,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 700/242, 700/233, 700/239, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern for a multi-dose medicament container is disclosed. Pill information corresponding to one or more pills for a patient to be packaged together may be obtained, and non-volume fill factors may be obtained. The volume-based fill pattern may be selected and indicated to be a cuboid volume or a packing parameter fill pattern. Pill and multi-dose medicament container data may be obtained and used to determine a fill pattern that is communicated to a filling entity for execution. The present disclosure may operate in accordance with multi-dose blister packs, and systems and methods of filling said blister packs.

Claims

1. A method for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern of at least one multi-dose medicament container, comprising:

obtaining a first pill instruction for a first pill for patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

obtaining a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together based on at least a portion of the intersection;

obtaining pill data for the first and the second pills and container data for the at least one multi-dose medicament container, the pill data including a physical dimension of the first pill and a physical dimension of the second pill;

determining the volume-based fill pattern using the pill data and the container data by selecting one from a group of volume-based fill pattern types, the group of volume-based fill pattern types including;

a cuboid volume-based fill pattern, where each receptacle of each at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total cuboid volume less than a cuboid volume of the each receptacle, the total cuboid volume of the maximum quantity of pills determined based on the pill data, and

a volume packing parameter volume-based fill pattern, where the each receptacle of the each at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total pill volume less than a target fill volume of the each receptacle, the target fill volume based on a volume packing parameter, the total pill volume of the maximum quantity of pills determined based on the pill data;

the volume-based fill pattern including a number of at least one multi-dose medicament containers required to hold a set of first and second pills indicated by the first and the second dosing regimes, wherein at least one first pill and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container; and

communicating the volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting at least one of:

a type of the at least one multi-dose medicament container from a group of multi-dose medicament container types including a blister pack, a pouch and a lidded container,

a size of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, or

a size of a receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the volume-based fill pattern using patient input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume packing parameter comprises a target fill percentage, and the method further comprising selecting the volume packing parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pill is one of a first prescribed medication, a first nutraceutical or a first over-the-counter medication, and wherein the second pill is one of a second medication, a second nutraceutical or a second over-the-counter medication.

6. A method for determining and communicating a fill pattern for at least one multi-dose medicament container, comprising:

obtaining a first pill instruction for a first pill for patient, including a first pill identification and a first dosing regime;

obtaining a second pill instruction for a second pill for the patient, including a second pill identification and a second dosing regime, the first and the second dosing regimes intersecting so that the first and the second pill may be packaged together based on at least a portion of the intersection;

obtaining at least one non-volume fill factor, the at least one non-volume fill factor selected from a group of non-volume fill factors including a drug interaction fill factor and a user selection fill factor;

selecting the at least one multi-dose medicament container based on the obtained at least one non-volume fill factor;

obtaining pill data for the first and the second pills and container data for the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container, the pill data including a physical dimension of the first pill and a physical dimension of the second pill;

determining a volume-based fill pattern using the pill data, the at least one non-volume fill factor and the container data by selecting one from a group of volume-based fill pattern types, the group of volume-based fill pattern types including;

a cuboid volume-based fill pattern, where each receptacle of each selected at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total cuboid volume less than a cuboid volume of the each receptacle, the total cuboid volume of the maximum quantity of pills determined based on the pill data, and

a volume packing parameter volume-based fill pattern, where the each receptacle of the each selected at least one multi-dose medicament container is limited to a maximum quantity of pills with a total pill volume less than a target fill volume of the each receptacle, the target fill volume based on a volume packing parameter, the total pill volume of the maximum quantity of pills determined based on the pill data;

the volume-based fill pattern including a number of selected at least one multi-dose medicament containers required to hold a set of first and second pills indicated by the first and the second dosing regimes, wherein at least one first pill and at least one second pill are mapped for distribution into a same receptacle of the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container; and

communicating the volume-based fill pattern to a filling entity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the drug interaction fill factor comprises at least one from a group of drug interaction fill factors including:

an indication of a chemical interaction between the first and the second pills and an indication of a physical interaction between the first and the second pills.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user selection fill factor comprises an indication of a user preference for at least one of:

a type of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, a size of the at least one multi-dose medicament container, a size of the same receptacle of the selected at least one multi-dose medicament container, or a combination of a number of first pills and a number of second pills to be packaged into the same receptacle of the at least one multi-dose medicament container.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the volume packing parameter comprises a target fill percentage, and the method further comprising selecting the volume packing parameter.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first pill is one of a first prescribed medication, a first nutraceutical or a first over-the-counter medication, and wherein the second pill is one of a second medication, a second nutraceutical or a second over-the-counter medication.