Method of taking an image of an object residing in a transparent, colored container

• US 8,477,989 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Bresolin, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GO, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US12/687,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20110170764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/128, 382/142, 382/143, 348/127, 250/223.B
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets

Abstract

A method of acquiring an image of a pharmaceutical in a colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial includes the steps of: providing a generally cylindrical, colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial having a closed lower end, the lower end having a radially outward lower section, a radially inward upper section, and a transition section that merges with the upper and lower sections; identifying the transition section of the vial with a vision system; detecting the color of the transition section; illuminating the vial; acquiring an image of the vial and pharmaceutical; and adjusting the colors of the image based on the color of the transition section. In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of comparing the image to a pre-stored image of an expected pharmaceutical to determine whether the identity of the pharmaceutical in the vial matches the identity of the expected pharmaceutical. This method can improve the reliability and consistency of the images produced.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring an image of a pharmaceutical in a colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial, comprising the steps of:

providing a generally cylindrical, colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial having a closed lower end, the lower end having a radially outward lower section, a radially inward upper section, and a transition section that merges with the upper and lower sections;

identifying the transition section of the vial with a vision system;

detecting the color of the transition section;

illuminating the vial;

acquiring an image of the vial and pharmaceutical; and

adjusting the colors of the image based on the color of the transition section.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical in the vial comprises a plurality of pharmaceutical tablets.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the vial is an amber color, and the illuminating step comprises illuminating the vial with light of a bluish hue.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein nominal wall thicknesses of the lower, upper and transition sections of the vial are substantially the same.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the transition section is substantially annular.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the vial has an outer diameter of between about 1.25 and 1.95 inches.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of illuminating the vial comprises illuminating the vial with light that is substantially the reverse RGB color of the vial.

8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein, in cross-section, the transition section defines an oblique angle to the lower and upper sections.

9. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising comparing the image to a pre-stored image of an expected pharmaceutical to determine whether the identity of the pharmaceutical in the vial matches the identity of the expected pharmaceutical.

10. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the vial has an outer diameter of between about 1.25 and 1.95 inches.

11. A method of acquiring an image of a pharmaceutical in a colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial, comprising the steps of:

providing a generally cylindrical, colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial having a closed lower end, the lower end having a radially outward lower section, a radially inward upper section, and a transition section that merges with the upper and lower sections;

identifying the transition section of the vial with a vision system;

detecting the color of the transition section;

illuminating the vial with colored light, wherein the color of the light is selected responsive to the detecting step; and

acquiring an image of the vial and pharmaceutical.

12. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the pharmaceutical in the vial comprises a plurality of pharmaceutical tablets.

13. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the vial is an amber color, and the illuminating step comprises illuminating the vial with light of a bluish hue.

14. The method defined in claim 11, wherein nominal wall thicknesses of the lower, upper and transition sections of the vial are substantially the same.

15. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the transition section is substantially annular.

16. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the step of illuminating the vial comprises illuminating the vial with light that is substantially the reverse RGB color of the vial.

17. The method defined in claim 11, wherein, in cross-section, the transition section defines an oblique angle to the lower and upper sections.

18. The method defined in claim 11, further comprising comparing the image to a pre-stored image of an expected pharmaceutical to determine whether the identity of the pharmaceutical in the vial matches the identity of the expected pharmaceutical.