System, method and corresponding apparatus for detecting perforations on a unit dose blister card

• US 8,869,663 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Greyshock, Shawn T., Braun, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US13/680,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20130139662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 833/71, 833/65, 834/671
• US Class Current: 83/13
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/00 Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting cutters B26D1/00; arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools B26B29/06; punching tools or dies, cutting-out knives or dies B26F
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0405 With preparatory or simultaneous ancillary treatment of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/543 Sensing means responsive to work indicium or irregularity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7593 Work-stop abutment

Abstract

A method, system and corresponding apparatus are provided for determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication. In particular, a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card may be performed and perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card may be determined based on the data extracted.

Claims

1. A method of determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication, the method comprising:

performing a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card wherein performing the data extraction operation with respect to the surface of the blister card comprises detecting an amount of electrical charge passing through the blister card;

determining perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card based on the data extracted wherein determining perforation location information comprises determining a position of a perforation line based on the amount of electrical charge detected at a respective portion of the blister card;

mating an edge of the blister card with a fence such that the at least one perforation is spaced therefrom; and

utilizing the perforation location information to singulate two unit dose blisters by cutting the blister card substantially along the at least one perforation while the edge of the blister card remains mated with the fence in order to provide a reference from which a distance from the edge of the blister card to the at least one perforation is measured.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the perforation location information to singulate the two unit dose blisters comprises:

setting a cutting instrument position of at least one adjustable cutting instrument based on the perforation location information; and

cutting along the perforation using the at least one adjustable cutting instrument.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the blister card comprises a plurality of unit dose blisters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns with first and second sets of perforations extending orthogonally to one another, wherein determining perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation from the first set of perforations and a location of at least one perforation from the second set of perforations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the blister card in which a distance between the fence and the perforation closest to the fence is different than a distance between adjacent perforations.

5. An apparatus for determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication, the apparatus comprising:

a perforation detector configured to perform a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card and determine perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card based on the data extracted wherein the perforation detector comprises a sensor configured to detect an amount of electrical charge passing through the blister card and wherein the perforation detector is configured to determine a position of a perforation line based on the amount of electrical charge detected at a respective portion of the blister card;

a fence with which an edge of the blister card is mated such that the at least one perforation is spaced therefrom; and

a cutter configured to utilize the perforation location information to singulate two unit dose blisters by cutting the blister card substantially along the at least one perforation while the edge of the blister card remains mated with the fence in order to provide a reference from which a distance from the edge of the blister card to the at least one perforation is measured.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cutter comprises at least one cutting instrument being adjustable based on the perforation location information to cut along the perforation.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the blister card comprises a plurality of unit dose blisters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns with first and second sets of perforations extending orthogonally to one another, wherein the perforation detector is configured to determine perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation from the first set of perforations and a location of at least one perforation from the second set of perforations.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the blister card is configured such that a distance between the fence and the perforation closest to the fence is different than a distance between adjacent perforations.

9. A system for determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication, the system comprising:

a perforation detector configured to perform a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card and determine perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card based on the data extracted wherein the perforation detector comprises a sensor configured to detect an amount of electrical charge passing through the blister card, and wherein the perforation detector is configured to determine a position of a perforation line based on the amount of electrical charge detected at a respective portion;

a fence with which an edge of the blister card is mated such that the at least one perforation is spaced therefrom; and

a cutter configured to utilize the perforation location information to singulate the two unit dose blisters by cutting the blister card substantially along the perforation while the edge of the blister card remains mated with the fence in order to provide a reference from which a distance from the edge of the blister card to the at least one perforation is measured.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cutter comprises at least one cutting instrument being adjustable based on the perforation location information to cut along the perforation.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the blister card comprises a plurality of unit dose blisters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns with first and second sets of perforations extending orthogonally to one another, wherein the perforation detector is configured to determine perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation from the first set of perforations and a location of at least one perforation from the second set of perforations, and wherein the cutter is configured to cut the blister card along the at least one perforation from the first set of perforations and along the at least one perforation from the second set of perforations.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the blister card is configured such that a distance between the fence and the perforation closest to the fence is different than a distance between adjacent perforations.