System and method for assembling a multiple prescription package

• US 8,931,241 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Baker, Leslie, Luciano, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US12/696,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 533/96, 534/11, 534/20, 534/71, 534/74, 53 53- 55, 53493-505, 531/312, 531/314, 531/315, 531/54, 531/55, 532/37, 532/38, 705/2, 700/216
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0069 Trays for holding or distributing medicines display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2577/2083 in container flange
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/36 one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages , the recess or recesses being preformed B65D73/0057, B65D73/0092 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/527 Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5888 Tear-lines for removing successive sections of a package for separating package into individual packages B65D75/527
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method for assembling a multiple prescription package having a plurality of different medications is described. The system comprises a pharmacy management system, a selected dosing interval, a filling system, a first automated inspection, a second automated inspection, a container, and a label. The pharmacy management system includes a graphical user interface that receives a prescription order that is associated with a particular patient. The prescription order includes medications in which a first medication that is different from a second medication. The selected dosing interval is selected from the dosing interval group that includes a morning interval, a noon interval, an afternoon interval, and a bedtime interval. The container receives the sealed preliminary packages for the selected dosing interval. The label is affixed to the container so that the label indicates the selected dosing interval.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a multiple prescription order having a plurality of different medications, the method comprising:

receiving a prescription order that is associated with a particular patient at a pharmacy management system that includes a graphical user interface, the prescription order comprising a plurality of medications having a first medication that is different from a second medication, wherein the first medication and second medication are configured to be taken at a selected dosing interval selected from the dosing interval group that includes a morning interval, a noon interval, an afternoon interval, and a bedtime interval;

generating a plurality of preliminary packages that combines the first medication and second medication in the same package with a filling system that receives the prescription order from the pharmacy management system, the filling system includes a plurality of preliminary packages, in which each unsealed preliminary package is configured to receive the first medication and the second medication for the selected dosing interval;

identifying with a first automated inspection device the first medication and the second medication before sealing the preliminary package;

identifying with a second automated inspection device the first medication and the second medication after sealing the preliminary package;

receiving the plurality of sealed preliminary packages for the selected dosing interval in a container; and

affixing a label to the container that indicates the selected dosing interval.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling a sensor to count tablets associated with a particular type of medication housed in a refill module.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a color and a shape of each medication in each preliminary package is verified.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a tablet ID is verified.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a color and a shape of each medication in each preliminary package is verified.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first automated inspection device includes a precision weighing device to determine that the first medication and second medication are deposited in the preliminary package.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a tablet ID is verified.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a tablet count corresponding to a refill module from a tablet refill control system, wherein the tablet refill control system is communicatively coupled to an inventory management system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the label further comprises a bar code that is used for tracking the container associated with the selected dosing interval.

10. A system for assembling a multiple prescription package having a plurality of different medications, comprising:

a pharmacy management system that includes a graphical user interface that receives a prescription order that is associated with a particular patient, the prescription order comprising a plurality of medications having a first medication that is different from a second medication,

a selected dosing interval selected from the dosing interval group that includes a morning interval, a noon interval, an afternoon interval, and a bedtime interval;

a filling system that receives the prescription order from the pharmacy management system, the filling system includes a plurality of preliminary packages, in which each unsealed preliminary package receives the first medication and the second medication for the selected dosing interval;

a first automated inspection device that can identify the first medication and the second medication for the selected dosing interval before the preliminary package is sealed;

a second automated inspection device that can identify the first medication and the second medication within a sealed preliminary package for the selected dosing interval;

a container receives the plurality of sealed preliminary packages for the selected dosing interval; and

a label affixed to the container that indicates the selected dosing interval.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a sensor that counts tablets associated with a particular type of medication housed in a refill module.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a tablet refill control system that receives a tablet count corresponding to the refill module, wherein the tablet refill control system is communicatively coupled to an inventory management system.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the first automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a color and a shape of each medication in each preliminary package is verified.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the first automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a tablet ID is verified.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the second automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a color and a shape of each medication in each preliminary package is verified.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the first automated inspection device includes a precision weighing device to determine that the first medication and second medication are deposited in the preliminary package.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the second automated inspection device includes an automated visual inspection, in which a tablet ID is verified.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the label further comprises a bar code that is used for tracking the container associated with the selected dosing interval.