AU2016247382B2

AU2016247382B2 - Device for packaging individual medicament portions, and method for operating said device

Info

Publication number: AU2016247382B2
Application number: AU2016247382A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christoph Herr Hellenbrand; Minne Herr Jorritsma
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2015-04-17
Filing date: 2016-04-14
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-14
Also published as: CA2983375A1; ES2665279T3; AU2016247382A1; EP3081927B1; EP3081927A1; CA2983375C; CN107531352B; CN107531352A; DK3081927T3; PT3081927T; WO2016166187A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for packaging individual medicament portions in blister packs. In known devices, the number of defective blister packs is still too high. The device according to the invention comprises a plurality of storage and dispensing stations (2), at least one guiding and collecting arrangement (7, 17) for receiving and forwarding the medicament portions to a packaging station (3) which, from packaging material (34), forms a string (50) of connected blister packs (51), a labelling and printing station (20) for applying data (52) to the packaging material (34), an optical detector (40) which optically detects features of the individual blister packs of the string, an evaluation device (90) by means of which the features of an individual blister pack are compared against setpoint features, and a bearing station (60) in which the string (50) of the blister packs (51) is mounted, wherein the optical detector (40) is arranged between the packaging station (3) and the bearing station (60).

Description

Apparatus for packaging individual medication doses and method for its operation

The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging individual medication doses. Corresponding apparatuses are also referred to as automatic blister packaging machines and are known from the state of the art. For example, WO 2013/034504 Al describes an automatic blister packaging machine that can be used in pharmacies and hospitals, or, with appropriate dimensioning, also in blister packaging centers, which machine compiles medication compilations composed of multiple medication doses individually per patient, in accordance with the doctor's prescribed times of administration. The apparatus packages medication compilations (which can comprise merely a single medication dose or a plurality of individual medication doses) corresponding to order data, in bags formed from a web of packaging material, called blister bags, wherein these bags leave the packaging apparatus as a strand of blister bags (also called a "blister tube") for further use. In this connection, a blister bag regularly corresponds to an administration time of a patient, i.e. it contains all the medication doses that a patient must take at a predetermined time of day. The order data themselves can be data derived from prescriptions or the like. The known apparatus for packaging individual medication doses comprises a plurality of storage and dispensing stations for medication doses, which interact with a plurality of circulating guide devices, which pass the medication doses to also circulating collection devices, which pass the medication compilations to a packaging station in which the blister bags are formed and the individual medication doses are introduced into the blister bags as they are formed. Because of the special method of construction of the apparatus described above, a plurality of blister bags is produced per hour, and corresponding marking of the blister bags is therefore of decisive importance.

Marking of the blister bags after introduction of the individual medication doses is not practicable, because the medication doses can be damaged when applying data that identify the content of the blister bag, among other things. Application of the corresponding data therefore takes place before the actual blister packaging, i.e. forming the blister bag and introducing the medication doses during forming. For this purpose, a labeling or printing device is disposed ahead of the actual packaging location, which device applies data corresponding to the order data to the packaging material, where these data clearly identify the blister bag that is subsequently produced and reflect the content of each blister bag. If a (systematic) error occurs during application of the data to the packaging material (printed image blurred or unreadable, offset, only partially applied), this cannot be determined by a user or can only be determined with great difficulty, because of the working speed and the type of applied data (barcode or the like), so that possibly a large number of defective blister bags will be produced before the error is noted by a user. Furthermore, it can happen that a (systematic) error is present with regard to production of the blister bags, for example if a medication dose that is frequently requested is no longer on hand, and if this is not determined by a related storage and dispensing station. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Some embodiments of the present invention aim to provide create an apparatus for packaging individual medication doses, with which apparatus the number of defectively produced blister bags is reduced. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention aim to make a corresponding method available. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for packaging individual medication doses, having a plurality of storage and dispensing stations for dispensing individual medication doses, at least one guide and collection arrangement for picking up the medication doses dispensed by the storage and dispensing stations and passing these medication doses on to a packaging station coupled with a control device, which station forms a strand of connected blister bags from packaging material that is made available, and introduces the dispensed medication portions into the blister bags when forming the blister bags, a station coupled with the control device, for applying data predetermined in the control device to the packaging material in a predetermined arrangement, an optical detection device coupled with the control device, a storage station, in which the strand of the blister bags is stored in an ordered manner, wherein the optical detection device is disposed between the packaging station and the storage station, wherein the station for applying data is a labeling and printing station arranged before the packaging station, and the optical detection device suitable for optically detecting the data of the separate blister bags applied by the labeling and printing station, and further comprising an evaluation device coupled with the control device, which is suitable for comparing the data detected by the optical detection device for an individual blister bag with reference characteristics. According to a further aspect, there is provided a method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein order data are made available to the control device, wherein the order data relate to medication compilations, each having at least one medication dose, medication doses of a medication compilation are dispensed by the storage and dispensing stations based on the order data, the medication compilations are passed to the packaging station, data are applied by the labeling and printing station to the packaging material, at predetermined application locations, a strand of connected blister bags is formed by the packaging station from the packaging material that is made available, with the applied data, wherein data are assigned to each blister bag, and the dispensed medication compilations are introduced into the blister bags while the blister bags are formed, the strand is passed to an optical detection device and data of a blister bag are optically detected, the detected data of a blister bag are compared with reference characteristics, and, if a deviation between the detected characteristics and the reference characteristics is found, a reaction assigned to the deviation is triggered, and the strand of blister bags is placed in storage. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a plurality of storage and dispensing stations for dispensing individual medication doses, at least one guide and collection arrangement for picking up the medication doses dispensed by the storage and dispensing stations and passing these medication doses on to a packaging station coupled with a control device, which station forms a strand of connected blister bags from packaging material that is made available and introduces the dispensed medication doses into the blister bags as the blister bags are being formed. As a function of the precise configuration of the apparatus, one or a plurality of guide and collection arrangements can be used. This arrangement or these arrangements can be structured in one piece, but it is also provided that the guide and collection arrangements comprise separate guide and collection devices.

The apparatus furthermore comprises a labeling or printing station coupled with the control device, for applying data predetermined by the control device to the packaging material of each blister bag to be formed in the packaging station, in a predetermined arrangement. The data to be applied are applied in a predetermined arrangement, i.e. on a predetermined section of the packaging material (and thereby of the subsequent blister bag), and can comprise the date of production of the blister bag, the precise content, and, if applicable, information concerning the expiration date of the content of the blister bag. The method of applying the data is not essential to the present invention. For example, the data can be printed onto the packaging material, for example, but it is also conceivable that pre-printed labels are adhesively attached to the packaging material at a predetermined location. Furthermore, it is not significant what type of data is applied. For example, it is possible that the data are applied so as to be "readable" for a user, i.e. that the patient's name and the content of the blister bag, i.e. the type of individual medication doses, are printed on or adhesively attached, along with other data, if applicable. It is also conceivable, however, that merely a barcode is applied, which is supplemented or replaced with additional data at a later point in time, if necessary. As a function of the respective embodiment, the labeling or printing station can be part of the packaging station, i.e. the two stations are combined in a component group. Alternatively, the labeling or printing station can be a separate component, which might improve accessibility in the event of a problem. Independent of the method of application of the data and of the type of data themselves, it is essential that the applied data can be read by a user or a machine at a later point in time. The apparatus according to the invention furthermore comprises an optical detection device coupled with the control device, which optically detects data applied on the individual blister bags of the strand, and an evaluation device coupled with the control device, which compares the characteristics detected for an individual blister bag with reference characteristics. The evaluation device can be integrated into the control device. It is also conceivable that the function of the two devices is performed by a common component, for example a computer. The detected data can be, for example, merely the location of application of the data on the blister bag. If it is determined, during a comparison with reference characteristics, that the data are applied at a location that is unsuitable for subsequent detection of the data by machine, this can indicate a systematic error in the application of the data (for example if five or more blister bags in a row demonstrate the same defect), and the apparatus is stopped, if necessary, with the precise reactions to the determination of a deviation between detected data and reference characteristics being dependent on the type and frequency of the deviations. In the simplest case, it is therefore merely determined whether or not application of the data as such is functioning without problems. However, the detected characteristics can be any other characteristics of a blister bag. For example, the number of medication doses arranged in a blister bag (more on this below) can be detected as a "characteristic" or the characteristics of the bag as such, for instance welding seams made during production of the bag or the integrity of the blister bag itself. The optical detection device can, however, also comprise detection means that detect the number and size of the individual medication doses introduced into a blister bag. If the reference characteristics are derived from the order data relating to a blister bag, i.e. it is stipulated in the reference data how many medication doses are supposed to be contained in a blister bag, a bag-specific deviation can also be determined in this manner, for example if it is determined that while the data have been applied to the blister bag correctly, the correct number of individual medication doses has not been introduced into a blister bag due to a malfunction of the apparatus.

To store the strand of connected blister bags that has been produced, the apparatus according to the invention furthermore comprises a storage station in which the strand is stored in an ordered manner. "Ordered" storage means that the strand of connected blister bags is rolled up, for example, or folded in accordance with special instructions. The storage station can be disposed within the apparatus, but placement outside of the actual apparatus is also possible, in order to improve accessibility. In order to allow recognition of the occurrence of a systematic error, if applicable, it is essential to the invention that the optical detection device is disposed between the packaging station and the storage station. As has already been explained, systematic errors (application of the data at the wrong location, "unreadable" application of the data) and bag-related errors (wrong number of medication doses, damaged medication doses) can occur during blister packaging or production of the strand. If a systematic error occurs, it can be advisable to stop the apparatus, so that production of a large number of defective blister bags is prevented. If a merely bag-related error is present, however, it is generally not advisable to stop the apparatus. In order to make it easier for a user to recognize a defective blister bag, it is provided, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, that it comprises a marking device disposed between the optical detection device and the storage station and coupled with the control device, with which individual blister bags recognized as being defective can be marked. For example, it is conceivable to simply apply a noticeable color marking to a defective blister bag. The task is furthermore accomplished by means of a method according to claim 3. In the method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses, at first order data are made available to the control device, where these order data relate to medication compilations, each containing at least one medication dose. The storage and dispensing stations dispense medication doses of a medication compilation on the basis of the order data, and pass them to the packaging station by way of at least one guide and collection arrangement. Data are applied to the packaging material by the labeling or printing station at predetermined application locations, and subsequently, the packaging station forms a strand of connected blister bags from the packaging material that is made available, with the data applied to it, with data being assigned to each blister bag, i.e. the blister bags being formed in such a manner that data previously applied are disposed on each bag. During forming of the blister bags, the dispensed medication compilations are introduced into the blister bags. The strand of connected blister bags produced in this manner is passed to an optical detection device, and data applied on the blister bags are optically detected with this device, and the detected data of a blister bag are compared with reference characteristics. If a deviation between the detected characteristics and the reference characteristics is determined, a reaction assigned to the deviation is triggered. Finally, the strand of blister bags that leaves the optical detection device is placed in storage, i.e. stored in an ordered manner (for example on a roller). Using the method according to the invention, it is possible to recognize (systematic) errors during application of the data to the packaging material. The optical detection device, which can comprise a camera, for example, detects predetermined characteristics of the applied data. In the simplest case, this can be merely the application location of the data. If the data are applied precisely in the center of the blister bag, for example (and thereby to a corresponding location of the packaging material) when the labeling or printing station is functioning correctly, and if it is determined, using the optical detection device, that the data are disposed too far "toward the outside" of the blister bags, then the apparatus can be stopped as a reaction to five consecutive defective blister bags, for example. In this manner, production of a large number of defective blister bags is prevented.

It depends on the type and frequency of the deviations determined precisely what reaction is triggered. If, for example, more than five blister bags printed without errors follow one another again after a misprint of data, operation of the apparatus can be maintained in spite of the misprint. Using the method according to the invention in its form as explained above, systematic errors can be recognized during application of the data, and the apparatus can be stopped, if necessary, so that production of a large number of defective blister bags, which would have to be produced once again, can be prevented. In order to also be able to react to errors in the medication compilation in a blister bag, the reference characteristics can be derived from the order data, and thereby the reference characteristics also contain information about the number of individual medication doses in a blister bag, for example. In the optical detection of the characteristics of a blister bag, not only the application location of the data on the blister bag, for example, is then determined, but rather the number of individual medication doses, for example, is also determined. If it is determined, in this connection, that although the application of the data to the blister bag is error-free, a number of medication doses that does not agree with the reference characteristics was introduced into the blister bag, the blister bag can be marked as being defective in the case of such a bag-related deviation. In a preferred embodiment, the order data assigned to the defective blister bag are furthermore marked as being defective, in order to thereby simplify finding the defective blister bag in the strand of connected blister bags subsequently, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the order data of a defective blister bag are scheduled for renewed processing, so that it is possible, without the intervention of a user, to produce a blister bag with a medication compilation that corresponds to the order data, in spite of an initial defective compilation.

In the following, two preferred embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention as well as a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention are described, making reference to the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention; and Figure 3 shows a detail view of the section of the apparatus ahead of the actual production of the blister bags. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the apparatus 1 according to the invention, where in this representation, only the characteristics that are essential to the invention are shown. Insignificant structural characteristics, such as, for example, the outer walls, display and input means, etc., are left out for the sake of simplicity. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a support structure or frame 4, on which a plurality of storage and dispensing stations 2 are releasably attached, where a specific type of medication doses can be disposed in each storage and dispensing station 2. Usually, different medication doses are disposed in each storage and dispensing station 2. However, in the case of those medication doses that are in frequent demand, it is also possible that the same medication doses are stored in multiple storage and dispensing stations 2. The storage and dispensing stations 2 are disposed, in the embodiment shown, in two matrix structures 5 that lie opposite one another (of which only one matrix structure is shown), where the matrix structures 5 enclose two first horizontal conveyor belts 6a, 6b, on which guide devices 7 are attached. The guide devices are releasably attached by way of attachment elements 8 that are part of the two first conveyor belts 6a, 6b. In the embodiment shown, only some guide devices 7 are shown; in practice, a guide device 7 is regularly attached to each attachment element 8, so that the two first conveyor belts 6a, 6b are completely provided with conveying devices.

In the embodiment shown, the guide devices can be moved along the storage and dispensing stations 2 by way of the first conveyor belts. As a result, parallel processing of order data becomes possible, because a guide device moves past each available medication dose, and thereby a medication compilation can be processed with each guide device. A corresponding configuration of the guide devices is not essential for the present invention, however. Only a single guide device can also be made available, for example, which device can pick up medication doses from all the available storage and dispensing stations. The conveyor belts 6a, 6b are driven by way of drive rollers 12, which are coupled with a motor 11 by way of a vertical shaft 10. In order to prevent the first conveyor belts 6a, 6b from slipping through at the drive rollers 12, the belts are advantageously provided with surface contouring. In order to be able to pick up medication doses from all the storage and dispensing stations 2, the guide devices 7 have multiple openings (not shown). In order to reduce the drop height of the individual medication doses in the guide devices 7, these have a plurality of undercuts 14 in the embodiment shown, which are assigned to a horizontal row of storage and dispensing stations, in each instance. The apparatus furthermore comprises a second conveyor belt 15, which is disposed underneath the two first conveyor belts, and which also has a plurality of attachment elements 16. A collection device 17 is attached to the attachment elements, in each instance, in which device medication compilations are temporarily stored before being passed over to a packaging station 3. The second conveyor belt 15 is also coupled with the motor 11 by way of a gear wheel and the vertical shaft 10, so that the guide devices 7 and the collection devices 17 are moved at the same circulation speed. As can particularly be seen in Figure 1, however, the matrix of the storage and dispensing stations as well as the two first conveyor belts 6a, 6b do not extend over the entire length of the conveyor belt 15, but rather are kept shorter with regard to the "length" of the apparatus, so that at a specific point within the apparatus, a separation takes place between the guide devices and the collection devices. In the embodiment shown, the guide and collection devices (which together form the guide and collection arrangement) move synchronously together in the region of the storage and dispensing stations; separation takes place at the end of the matrix structure of the storage and dispensing stations. However, such an embodiment is not essential to the invention. In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, which is clearly kept more simple, it is conceivable that the apparatus has multiple (or even just one) combined guide and collection arrangement, by means of which medication compilations are guided to the packaging station 3. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the collected medication compilations are passed to the packaging station 3 by means of the plurality of movable collection devices 17. Making reference to Figure 3, in the following the packaging station as well as the components of the two embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention that are placed ahead of the packaging station will be described. The packaging station 3 has a supply roller 32 with packaging material 34 assigned to it. The supply roller 32 itself is moved by means of a drive 33. The packaging material 34 is guided to or through a labeling or printing station 20 (which cannot be seen in Figure 3), coupled with the control device 80, to apply data predetermined by the control device to the packaging material 34 in a predetermined arrangement. Precisely how the predetermined data are applied to the packaging material is dependent on the respective embodiment. For example, it is conceivable that the data are printed onto the packaging material 34, or that a label with the predetermined data is adhesively attached to the packaging material. The packaging material 34 leaves the labeling or printing station 40 with the applied data 52, where the data are applied to the packaging material 34 in such a manner that for every subsequent blister bag to be formed, the data are disposed in an also predetermined position on the blister bag. By means of two guide rollers 35, the packaging material provided with data is passed to a shaping region of the packaging station 3, in which the packaging material is folded in the center into a V shape, into which the medication compilations can be introduced when the collection devices 17 are opened. The packaging material 34 is provided with one seal that runs longitudinally and two seals that run transverse to the transport direction, with sealed blister bags being formed by these seals. These bags are not separated from one another after being completed, but rather a strand 50 of connected blister bags 51 is formed. For production of the longitudinal seal, two heating means 37 are provided, of which only one is shown in Figure 3. These two heating means press the two upper ends of the packaging material, folded in V shape, together, and seal them with regard to one another. The transverse seals of the blister bags are produced by means of two rotating heating means 39; they are coordinated to rotate with one another. On the basis of the advancing speed of the packaging material 34 and of the rotational speed of the heating means 39, it is possible to precisely control the length and thereby the accommodation capacity of the blister bags. When the blister bags are sealed or produced using heating means, a corresponding packaging material 34 must be chosen. In alternative embodiments, it is possible to produce the individual blister bags in some other way, and then the packaging material must be adapted accordingly. For example, it is also possible to apply a sealing material or an adhesive during production of the blister bags, with the blister bags being produced by way of their adhesion effect. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the strand 50 with the connected blister bags 51 is guided out of the packaging station 3 to an optical detection device 40 disposed downstream from the packaging station 3 and coupled with the control device 80. This optical detection device 40 comprises, as can be seen in Figure 2, at least one detection means 41, which can be a camera, for example. Using this detection means 41, characteristics of the blister bags passing through the detection device are detected. In the simplest case, it is merely detected at what application location the data previously applied with the labeling or printing device are disposed, or whether there are any (readable) data at all disposed on the blister bags. These "data" of a blister bag that passes through the optical detection device are compared with reference characteristics by an evaluation device 90 coupled with the control device 80 (the two aforementioned devices are only shown in Figure 1, but are also present in the embodiment according to Figure 2). Making reference to the simplest embodiment case described above, it is compared or determined, for example, whether the applied data have been applied to the blister bags at the correct or predetermined location. Because the data are usually applied in a machine-readable form (for example in the form of a barcode), it is essential that they are applied in such a manner that they can be read by a machine. For this purpose, it is necessary that the data are disposed on the blister bag in a specific detection region of a machine that reads these data. If it is now determined, during the aforementioned comparison, that this is not the case, a bag specific defect is present, at first, at the first blister bag for which this defect was determined. In order to also make this optically visible on the blister bag, the embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention shown in Figure 2 comprises a marking device 70, by means of which the blister bag recognized as being defective is optically marked by means of at least one marking means 71, 72, for example in that the bag is marked with an optically noticeable color. If the same or a similar defect is determined for the blister bag(s) that follow the first defective blister bag, operation of the apparatus is stopped as a reaction to the deviation determined, in order to keep the number of defective blister bags low. It depends on parameters that can be set for the control device or the evaluation device after how many deviations and after precisely what deviations stopping of the apparatus is initiated. In the event that the reference characteristics are derived from order data, these data also comprise "characteristics" with regard to the medication compilation contained in a blister bag. For example, the reference characteristics contain information as to how many medication doses a medication compilation comprises. In such a case, it is determined, using the optical detection device, if necessary also using an additional detection means 42, how many medication doses are contained in a blister bag, and this number is compared with a corresponding reference characteristic. If it is determined that there is a deviation with regard to the number of medication doses, this blister bag is marked as being defective. As has already been explained, for this purpose the blister bag can be optically marked, but it is also (additionally) possible to mark the order data as being defective or to schedule these order data for renewed processing, so that it is guaranteed that after all the order data have passed through, those order data in which an error might have occurred during the first compilation were also processed. After the strand 50 has passed through the optical detection device, it is stored on a roller 62 that is driven by a motor 61. In alternative embodiments, the strand can also be stored by being folded in an ordered manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for packaging individual medication doses, having a plurality of storage and dispensing stations for dispensing individual medication doses, at least one guide and collection arrangement for picking up the medication doses dispensed by the storage and dispensing stations and passing these medication doses on to a packaging station coupled with a control device, which station forms a strand of connected blister bags from packaging material that is made available, and introduces the dispensed medication portions into the blister bags when forming the blister bags, a station coupled with the control device, for applying data predetermined in the control device to the packaging material in a predetermined arrangement, an optical detection device coupled with the control device, a storage station, in which the strand of the blister bags is stored in an ordered manner, wherein the optical detection device is disposed between the packaging station and the storage station, wherein the station for applying data is a labeling and printing station arranged before the packaging station, and the optical detection device suitable for optically detecting the data of the separate blister bags applied by the labeling and printing station, and further comprising an evaluation device coupled with the control device, which is suitable for comparing the data detected by the optical detection device for an individual blister bag with reference characteristics.

2. An apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a marking device disposed between the optical detection device and the storage station and coupled with the control device, with which individual blister bags can be marked.

3. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein order data are made available to the control device, wherein the order data relate to medication compilations, each having at least one medication dose, medication doses of a medication compilation are dispensed by the storage and dispensing stations based on the order data, the medication compilations are passed to the packaging station, data are applied by the labeling and printing station to the packaging material, at predetermined application locations, a strand of connected blister bags is formed by the packaging station from the packaging material that is made available, with the applied data, wherein data are assigned to each blister bag, and the dispensed medication compilations are introduced into the blister bags while the blister bags are formed, the strand is passed to an optical detection device and data of a blister bag are optically detected, the detected data of a blister bag are compared with reference characteristics, and, if a deviation between the detected characteristics and the reference characteristics is found, a reaction assigned to the deviation is triggered, and the strand of blister bags is placed in storage.

4. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 3, wherein the reference characteristics are derived from the order data.

5. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the operation of the apparatus is stopped if a systematic deviation between reference characteristics and detected data is determined.

6. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a blister bag is marked as being defective if a bag-related deviation between reference characteristics and detected data is found.

7. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to any one of claims 3 - 6, wherein the order data assigned to a blister bag are indicated as being defective if a deviation between reference characteristics and detected characteristics is determined.

8. A method for operating the apparatus for packaging individual medication doses according to any one of claims 3 - 7, wherein if a deviation between reference characteristics and detected data is determined, the order data are provided for renewed processing.