Automatic tablet filling method and system
First Claim
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1. A method for automatically filling tablets into tablet containers comprising at least one tablet compartment for receiving tablets, the method comprising:
- receiving a patient order containing a patient identification and at least one prescription comprising prescription data regarding the types of tablets to be taken by the patient and instructions for taking said tablets;
allocating the prescription data and patient identification to respective tablet containers by transmitting the prescription data and patient identification to one of several information carriers and the allocation of a respective information carrier to one tablet container at a time;
automatically filling at least one tablet compartment of a respective tablet container by means of at least one automatic tablet dispenser containing supplies of a plurality of tablet types,wherein the number of tablets of the respective types of tablets to be taken by a patient at certain times is determined from the prescription data and a tablet compartment of a tablet container is allocated to each determined time for taking the tablets and the tablets thus determined are filled in the tablet container for each determined time for taking them into the respective tablet compartment that has been allocated,wherein if errors occur during the implementation of the tablet filling process for the tablet container, an error identification is written onto the information carrier of the tablet container and the tablet filling process is stopped and the tablet container is eliminated centrally at the end of the filling process, wherefore prior to each processing step each tablet container is checked as to whether the information carrier contains an error identification and, upon detection of such an error identification, the respective processing step is not carried out; and
sealing and delivering the filled tablet containers, wherein upon receiving the patient order, a plausibility check of the prescription data regarding a possible overdosage and the mutual compatibility between tablet types is carried out and, in case an overdosage or an incompatibility is detected, the patient order is rejected.
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Abstract
A system for automatically filling tablets into tablet containers comprising at least one tablet compartment for receiving tablets comprises:
- reception means (30) for receiving a patient order containing a patient identification (PAT-ID) and at least one prescription comprising prescription data (REZ) regarding the types of tablets to be taken by the patient and instructions for taking said tablets;
- allocation means (40) for allocating the prescription data (REZ) and patient identification (PAT-ID) to respective tablet containers (1);
- at least one automatic tablet dispenser (50) containing supplies of a plurality of tablet types for automatically filling at least one tablet compartment of a respective tablet container, wherein the allocation means (40) or the automatic tablet dispenser (50) is/are designed for determining, from the prescription data (REZ), the number of tablets of the respective types of tablets to be taken by a patient at certain times and for allocating a tablet compartment (2) of a tablet container (1) to each determined time for taking the tablets, and the automatic tablet dispenser (50) is designed for filling the tablets thus determined for each determined time for taking them into the tablet compartment (2) of the respective tablet container (1), which compartment has been allocated.
31 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for automatically filling tablets into tablet containers comprising at least one tablet compartment for receiving tablets, the method comprising:
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receiving a patient order containing a patient identification and at least one prescription comprising prescription data regarding the types of tablets to be taken by the patient and instructions for taking said tablets; allocating the prescription data and patient identification to respective tablet containers by transmitting the prescription data and patient identification to one of several information carriers and the allocation of a respective information carrier to one tablet container at a time; automatically filling at least one tablet compartment of a respective tablet container by means of at least one automatic tablet dispenser containing supplies of a plurality of tablet types, wherein the number of tablets of the respective types of tablets to be taken by a patient at certain times is determined from the prescription data and a tablet compartment of a tablet container is allocated to each determined time for taking the tablets and the tablets thus determined are filled in the tablet container for each determined time for taking them into the respective tablet compartment that has been allocated, wherein if errors occur during the implementation of the tablet filling process for the tablet container, an error identification is written onto the information carrier of the tablet container and the tablet filling process is stopped and the tablet container is eliminated centrally at the end of the filling process, wherefore prior to each processing step each tablet container is checked as to whether the information carrier contains an error identification and, upon detection of such an error identification, the respective processing step is not carried out; and sealing and delivering the filled tablet containers, wherein upon receiving the patient order, a plausibility check of the prescription data regarding a possible overdosage and the mutual compatibility between tablet types is carried out and, in case an overdosage or an incompatibility is detected, the patient order is rejected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for automatically filling tablets into tablet containers comprising at least one tablet compartment for receiving tablets, the system comprising:
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reception means for receiving a patient order containing a patient identification and at least one prescription comprising prescription data regarding the types of tablets to be taken by the patient and instructions for taking said tablets; allocation means for allocating the prescription data and patient identification to respective tablet containers, which allocation means are designed for transmitting the prescription data and patient identification to one or several information carriers and for allocating a respective information carrier to one tablet container at a time; at least one automatic tablet dispenser containing supplies of a plurality of tablet types for automatically filling at least one tablet compartment of a respective tablet container, wherein the allocation means or the automatic tablet dispenser is/are designed for determining, from the prescription data, the number of tablets of the respective types of tablets to be taken by a patient at certain times and for allocating a tablet compartment of a tablet container to each determined time for taking the tablets, and the automatic tablet dispenser is designed for filling the tablet container with the tablets thus determined for each determined time for taking them into the tablet compartment of the respective tablet container, which compartment has been allocated, wherein if errors occur during the implementation of the tablet filling process for the respective tablet container, the tablet filling process is stopped and the respective tablet container is eliminated, wherein the information carriers are designed for receiving error identifications, and control means are provided which are designed for reading the error identifications from the information carriers and eliminating tablet containers marked with error identifications at the end of the filling process; and decision stations that ensure proper material flow at each point in the tablet filling system based on the read out content of the information carrier; and closing means for sealing the filled tablet containers, wherein the reception means are designed for checking the prescription data for a possible overdosage and the mutual compatibility between tablet types and for rejecting the patient order in case an overdosage or an incompatibility is detected. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification