Device for automatically filling product containers with a liquid comprising one or more medicines

• US 8,276,623 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius KABI Deutschland GmbH (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Medical Dispensing Systems B.V.
• Inventors: Van Vreeland, Sander Godfried, Dorpema, Jan Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US11/911,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 141/21, 141/25, 141/27, 141/100, 141102-104, 141/114, 141/250, 141/251, 141/266, 141/267, 141/269, 141/270, 141/275, 141/284, 141/329, 141/330
• US Class Current: 141/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/201 Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for filling one or more product containers with a liquid comprising one or more medicines. The device comprises a housing at least provided in a position of use with an array of medicine containers, at least some of which are provided with concentrated liquid components of the one or more medicines. The housing is also provided with an automatic machine which is adapted to manipulate a syringe for measured take-up of liquid from a medicine container. The automatic machine is adapted to rotate the medicine container transversely of its longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. Device for filling one or more product containers with a liquid comprising one or more medicines, comprising a housing at least provided in a position of use with an array of medicine containers, at least some of which are provided with concentrated liquid components of the one or more medicines, which housing is provided with an automatic machine which is adapted to manipulate a syringe for measured take-up of liquid from a medicine container, characterized in that the automatic machine is adapted to rotate the medicine container substantially transversely of its longitudinal axis, and wherein the automatic machine is adapted to rotate the syringe substantially transversely of its longitudinal axis substantially simultaneously with the medicine container, wherein the automatic machine is provided with a syringe holder with clamping means and with a preferably remotely controllable drive for moving the clamping means toward each other in order to clamp a syringe, wherein the automatic machine is provided with gripping means with a mutual distance preferably adjustable by means of a remote-control for the purpose of gripping a medicine container, wherein the gripping means are mounted slidably on the syringe holder.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is also provided in a position of use with an array of additional containers with diluent liquids, and wherein the automatic machine is further adapted to manipulate the syringe for measured take-up of liquid out of or measured delivery of liquid to, as well as transport of liquid between, an additional container and a medicine container, wherein the automatic machine is adapted to rotate both the additional container and the medicine container substantially transversely on their longitudinal axis and wherein the automatic machine is adapted to rotate the syringe substantially transversely of its longitudinal axis substantially simultaneously with the medicine container or the additional container.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the array of medicine containers are provided with solid components of the one or more medicines, and at least some of the array of additional containers are provided with dissolving liquids.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the syringe holder is provided with means for engaging on the plunger of the syringe, wherein the mutual distance between the means is adjustable, preferably by means of a remote-control.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the syringe holder and the gripping clamping means is adjustable, for instance by means of a remote-control.

6. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are accommodated in the housing for weighing the additional and/or the medicine container prior to take-up of liquid from and delivery of liquid to the container by a syringe.

7. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the automatic machine is adapted to shake the additional container and/or the medicine container.

8. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein medicine containers and/or additional containers and/or product containers are provided with identification labels, and wherein the automatic machine is provided with a read device for reading an identification label of a container, and with means for comparing the data of the identification label with a list of data made available beforehand prior to take-up of liquid from and delivery of liquid to the container by a syringe.

9. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the automatic machine is provided with a write device for writing an identification label of a product container filled with a liquid comprising one or more medicines.

10. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is provided with an input means for inputting a list of components for a product container.

11. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product containers are infusion bags or syringes.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the medicines comprises cytotoxic substances.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is ventilated.

14. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a position of use the housing is provided with an array of product containers at least partially filled with a liquid.