AU2022203194A1

AU2022203194A1 - Storage container for a storage and delivery station for drugs

Info

Publication number: AU2022203194A1
Application number: AU2022203194A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hardy Schmidt-Ellinger
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2016-01-29
Filing date: 2022-05-12
Publication date: 2022-06-02
Also published as: BR112018013692B1; KR102650781B1; EP3199141A1; AU2017212691A1; CA3012888A1; CN108697582A; JP2019503235A; EP3407854A1; BR112018013692A2; KR20180108621A; WO2017129775A1; JP7010829B2

Abstract

Storage container for a storage and delivery station for drugs 5 The present invention relates to a storage container for a storage and delivery station for drugs. Corresponding storage containers comprise a retaining means by which a plurality of drug portions is prevented from being delivered simultaneously. Drug portions often remain in 10 this retention means. This is prevented in the storage container according to the invention. The storage container comprises a housing (10) which surrounds a receiving chamber (2) and has a circular cylindrical section (11) and a base surface (20), a separating device (30), which is disposed 15 rotatably in the circular cylindrical section (11) and has a plurality of projections (32) and channels (33) formed between said projections, wherein each projection (32) has a surface (32a), wherein the uppermost points of the surfaces (33a) define an upper receiving means boundary plane (AE), as well 20 as a retaining means (40) with a fastening section (41) and a retaining section (42), wherein the retaining section (42) prevents entry of the drug portions into a channel (33') aligned with a delivery opening (21), at least one cam (35) for removing drug portions from the retaining section (42), 25 wherein the cam (35) is movable above the receiving means boundary plane (AE) over the retaining section. Fig. 2a 2/4 rNN

Description

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Storage container for a storage and delivery station for drugs

[00001 This application is a divisional application of Australian patent application no 2017212691, which is the national phase application of PCT/EP2017/051821 filed on 27 January 2017, which claims the benefit of 16153271.8 filed 29 January 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for drugs and in particular a storage container for a storage and delivery station for drugs.

Background

[0002] Modern automatic blister packaging machines, such as are disclosed for example in WO 2013/034504 Al comprise, depending upon the configuration, several hundred storage and delivery stations. In each of these a plurality of drug portions of a specific drug are stored, and individual drug portions can be delivered on demand. By means of the blister packaging machine the drug portions stored in the storage and delivery station are assembled and blister packed for an individual patient according to the administration times prescribed by a doctor.

[0003] Corresponding storage and delivery stations for delivering one or more individual drug portions are controlled for assembling the drug portions. During control of a storage and delivery station an individual drug portion is separated out by a separating device and is transferred via a delivery opening to a guiding device of the automatic blister packaging machine. By means of the guiding device a delivered drug portion is fed, optionally via a collecting device, to a packaging device, which blister-packs individual or a plurality of drug portions according to the doctor's prescription.

[0004] For separating out the drug portions which are stored in a storage container of a storage and delivery station, the separating device comprises a rotor with a plurality of channels which are usually disposed on the external circumference of the rotor. The channels are usually adapted in terms of their dimensions to the drug portions to be separated out in each case in such a way that in a channel the drug portions can be disposed only one above the other, but not adjacent to one another. As a rule the channels are designed so that only one drug portion is located in this space.

[0005] For delivering a drug portion from a channel, a channel is moved over a delivery opening in the housing of the storage container, and the drug portion disposed in the channel slides or falls into the delivery opening. In order to prevent further drug portions resting above the channel from also being delivered, in the region above the delivery opening a retaining section of a retaining means is guided at least over the channel which is aligned with the delivery opening. In order to ensure that, during delivery of the drug portions, no further drug portions enter the channel, the retaining section is guided only slightly above the plane which is formed by the upper faces of the projections separating the channels.

[0006] In storage containers according to the prior art the retaining section of the retaining means is planar, so that, depending upon the form of the drug portions, it is possible that one or more drug portions remain lying on the retaining section and cannot be delivered. If a number of X drug portions are stored in a storage container, in the storage containers according to the prior art it may happen that only X-Y (Y = number of drug portions lying on the retaining means) can be delivered if care is not taken to ensure that the drug portions resting on the retaining section are removed therefrom.

[0007] When refilling drug portions it should be ensured that the storage container no longer contains drug portions, since even mixing different batches of the same type of drug must be avoided. Purely practically, the procedure is such that the storage container is taken off, shaken for removal of drug portions from the retaining section, and then finally it is replaced. Only in this way can it be ensured that all the drug portions from the storage container can be delivered.

[0007A] 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.

Summary

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide a storage container, wherein it is ensured that all the drug portions stored in the storage container can be delivered.

[0009] This object is achieved by a storage container according to claim 1. The storage container according to the invention for a storage and delivery station comprises a housing surrounding a receiving chamber for drug portions with a circular cylindrical section and a base surface, wherein the base surface has a delivery opening through which separated drug portions are delivered for example to a guiding device, wherein a delivery channel can be disposed between the delivery opening and the guiding device.

[0010] A separating device, which has a plurality of spaced projections and channels formed between said projections to receive drug portions, is disposed rotatably in the circular cylindrical section of the housing. The orientation or arrangement and the width of the projections define the dimensions of the channels between the projections. In order that a defined number of drug portions is received per channel, the dimensions of the channels are adapted (by the arrangement and configuration of the channels) to the dimensions of the drug portions to be separated.

[0011] Each projection has a surface adjacent to the receiving chamber for drug portions, the uppermost points of the surfaces of the projections define an upper receiving means boundary plane. The receiving chamber for storing the drug portions is located above this receiving means boundary plane, and the channels of the separating device open below the receiving means boundary plane.

[0012] The storage container further comprises a retaining means with a fastening section and a retaining section, wherein the retaining section is held above the delivery opening and above the receiving means boundary plane and entry of the drug portions into a channel aligned with the delivery opening is prevented. In other words, the retaining section of the retaining means is always disposed above the projections between which the channels extend. According to the invention the storage container further comprises a cam for removing drug portions from the retaining section, wherein this cam is movable above the receiving means boundary plane over the retaining section. With the aid of this cam which is movable over the retaining section drug portions lying on the retaining section are removed. Thus the at least one cam ensures that all the drug portions introduced into the storage container can be delivered, and a situation is reliably avoided in which an unknown number of drug portions remains on the retaining section and thus delivery of a drug portion is no longer possible, although not all of the drug portions in the storage container have been delivered. The "shaking" which is necessary according to the prior art is no longer necessary in the storage container according to the invention, which considerably reduces the cost of operating an automatic blister packaging machine for a user.

[0013] The cam is moved over the retaining section by a rotary movement of the separating device in the circular cylindrical section of the housing above the receiving means boundary plane. In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the at least one cam is disposed on the external circumference of a central part of the separating device, i.e. the cam moves simultaneously with the channels and projections and, if only one cam is provided, is guided or moved with each revolution the separating device in one pass over the retaining section for removal of any drug portions lying thereon. Thus in this embodiment the at least one cam is a component of the separating device, wherein the at least a cam can be designed in one piece with the separating device or can be attached thereto.

[0014] In order to prevent drug portions from remaining on the cam itself, and in order additionally to ensure a "smooth" removal of the drug portions from the retaining section of the retaining means, in a preferred embodiment it is provided that the at least one cam has a non-planar surface and/or angled radial end faces, wherein these end faces converge conically upwards.

[0015] In one embodiment the cam may be a component of the separating device. In an alternative embodiment the at least one cam is not directly connected to the separating device. In this embodiment it is provided that above the channels the separating device has a coaxial recess and the at least one cam is designed as a rolling element which is disposed in the recess. This rolling element is also guided by the rotary movement of the separating device and during this guiding it removes, in the recess, drug portions located on the retaining section, since the rotary movement of the separating device moves the rolling element over the stationary retaining section itself. Although in this second embodiment the cam is no longer connected to the separating device, it fulfils the same function, namely removing ("entraining") drug portions from the upper face of the retaining section.

[0016] The rolling element may advantageously be spherical, barrel-shaped or roller-shaped, wherein the recess can optionally be adapted to the precise configuration of the rolling element. If the rolling element is configured for example as a roller, the recess can be designed as a coaxial annular gap in which the rolling element formed as a roller is guided. The annular gap may be delimited towards the exterior for example by the circular cylindrical section of the housing. The internal delimitation is provided by a likewise circular cylindrical section of the separating device.

[0017] In order to simplify the movement of the cam over the retaining section of the retaining means, in a preferred embodiment it is provided that the retaining means is flattened on its radial end faces. This flattening also protects the drug portions in the housing, since during a rotary movement the drug portions may be pressed against the end faces of the cam. In particular, smaller drug portions can be damaged in this situation. The flattening ensures that the drug portions can be moved more simply by means of the cam.

[0017A] 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.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] Several preferred embodiments of the storage container according to the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which

[0019] Figures la - 1d show different views of a first embodiment of the storage container;

[0020] Figures 2a - 2c show different sectional views of the first embodiment;

[0021] Figures 3a - 3c show different views of the separating device and the retaining means of the first embodiment;

[0022] Figure 4 shows a view of the separating device of a second embodiment;

[0023] Figures 5a - 5d show different views of the separating device as well as the retaining means according to the third embodiment; and

[0024] Figures 6a - 6c show cams according to a fourth and fifth embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[0025] Figures la and lb show two oblique views of a storage and delivery station with a first embodiment of the storage container 1 according to the invention. Figures 1c and ld show plan views of the storage container, wherein in Figure 1d a separating device 30, which is indicated in drawings la - 1c, is omitted. In all the representations of the storage container a cover is omitted for a better overall view.

[0026] The storage container 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a housing 10 which surrounds a receiving chamber 2 for drug portions and which has a circular cylindrical section 11 in the lower section. The housing 10 is delimited towards the bottom by a base surface 20 which has a delivery opening 21 (in this connection see Figure 1d). The base surface 20 has a further central receptacle 22 which co-operates with a separating device 30. As can be seen from Figure 1c, the separating device 30 is disposed in the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10 and comprises a plurality of channels 33 to receive a drug portion. The channels 33 are formed by a plurality of projections 32 each having a surface 32a.

[0027] The orientation or arrangement and the width of the projections 32 define the dimensions of the channels 33 between the projections. In order to achieve the objective of "separation", care must be taken to ensure that a defined number of drug portions (regularly one) is delivered. For this it is necessary for the dimensions of the channels to be adapted to the dimensions of the drug portions to be separated. Thus with a separating device it is not possible for arbitrarily all types of drug portions to be separated, but only those which "match" the dimensions of the channels.

[0028] The projections 32 form together with a central part 31 a rotor which is moved by a drive (not shown). The projections 32 may be designed in one piece with the central part 31, but it is also conceivable that the projections 32 are attached to the external circumference of the central part 31 and thus the channels are produced on the external circumference of the central part 31. As can be seen in particular in Figure lb, the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10 comprises a projection 14, to which a retaining means 40 is fixed by means of a fastening portion 41. The retaining means further comprises a retaining section 42 which is guided via a slot in the circular cylindrical section 11 into the region of the separating device (see in this connection more precisely the following drawings).

[0029] The storage and delivery station comprise the storage container 1 according to the invention and usually components which adjust or control the delivery or separation of the drug portions. These are usually a motor for moving the separating device 30 as well as a sensor for verifying the delivery of a drug portion. The aforementioned further components can be disposed in the housing 12. However, the storage and dispensing station is regularly constructed from two main components, a storage container and a delivery device (not shown), wherein the storage container can be fitted detachably onto the delivery device. The storage container is only removed for filling or cleaning.

[0030] However, the precise design of the storage and delivery station as well as the arrangement of the components necessary for controlling and monitoring the storage container are not significant for the present application; the invention relates to the precise configuration of the storage container of the storage and delivery station.

[0031] In order to be able to manipulate the storage and delivery station (or optionally only the storage container) better, a handle 13 is provided in the front region.

[0032] Figure 2a shows a lateral partial sectional view of the first embodiment of the storage container of the storage and dispensing station, wherein the housing 10 as well as part of the circular cylindrical section 11 are cut away, so that the view of the central separating device 30 is freed. The separating device 30 comprises a central part 31, on the outer circumference or generated surface of which a plurality of projections 32 in each case with a surface 32a are provided, and by the arrangement and configuration of these projections on the circumference of the central part 31 a plurality of channels 33 are defined, wherein in this embodiment each channel is designed so that only one drug portion can be received from a channel. The surfaces 32a of the projections 32 define an upper receiving means boundary plane (which is indicated graphically in Figure 3c and Figure 4), via which a retaining section 42 of the retaining means 40 is guided. The retaining section 42 is introduced via a slot in the circular cylindrical section 11, namely in such a way that the retaining section 42 is disposed above the receiving means boundary plane.

[0033] Furthermore, a cam 35 is disposed on the external circumference of the central part 31 of the separating device 30 in such a way that a horizontal slot or gap is formed between the underside of the cam 35 and the receiving means boundary plane. The retaining section 42 of the retaining means is designed in such a way that it can be guided in and through the slot.

[0034] Figures 2b and 2c show different views of a partial sectional view, in which the housing 10 and a part of the circular cylindrical section 11 are cut away, so that the precise design of the separating device 30 as well as the arrangement thereof in the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing can be seen. As already described with reference to Figure 2a, the projections 32 comprise a surface 32a, wherein the surfaces define a receiving means boundary plane (see Figures 3c, 4). The projections 32 define the channels 33, wherein the channel 33' illustrated

"at the front" in the drawings is aligned with the delivery opening 21 (not shown here). The retaining section 42 of the retaining means 40 covers the channel 33' from above, so that no further drug portions can enter the channel 33' aligned with the delivery opening. During rotation of the separating device the cam 35 moves as a function of the direction of rotation of the separating device over the retaining section 42, and optionally drug portions lying thereon are removed by the movement of the cam.

[0035] Figures 3a and 3b show details of the separating device 30 as well as the retaining means 40, wherein in Figure 3b the two aforementioned parts are shown separately from one another. As can be seen, the retaining section 42 of the retaining means 40 is disposed above the receiving means boundary plane formed by the surfaces 32a of the projections 30. The cam 35, which in this embodiment is disposed on the external circumference of the central part 31 of the separating device, is disposed in such a way that during a movement of the separating device it is moved over the upper surface of the retaining section for removal of drug portions lying thereon.

[0036] Figure 3c shows a front view of the separating device, in which the receiving means boundary plane AE is indicated by two broken lines. As can be seen in Figure 3d, the receiving means boundary plane AE is defined by the surfaces 32a of the projections 32. In the illustrated embodiment the surfaces 32a of the projections are planar. In an alternative embodiment it is also conceivable that the surfaces 32a are for example spherical or conical, and in this case the uppermost points of the surfaces would define the receiving means boundary plane.

[0037] The retaining section (not shown in Figure 3c) of the retaining means is always guided over the receiving means boundary plane AE, so that rotation of the separating device is possible. Above the surface of the retaining section, and thus also above the receiving means boundary plane, the cam 35 is disposed at the external circumference of the central part of the separating device. The intermediate space 36 which can be seen in Figure 3c serves to receive the retaining section of the retaining means. The separating device 30 further comprises a lower axial projection 38 which co-operates with the receptacle 22 in the base surface of the storage container for rotating the separating device.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the storage container, which differs from the first embodiment only in a detail, namely in the configuration of the cam 35. For better illustration of the cam 35 and the arrangement thereof the fastening section 41 of the fastening means 40 is omitted, only the retaining section 42 being shown in the gap between the cam 35 and the receiving means boundary plane AE.

[0039] As can be seen in Figure 4, the surface of the cam is conical, so that drug portions are prevented from remaining on the surface of the cam. Because of the rotary movements of the separating device the probability that a drug portion remains lying on the surface of the cam is in fact limited, but in the case of a slowly rotating separating device the configuration of the upper face of the cam illustrated in Figure 4 may be advantageous. Furthermore, the radial end faces of the cam shown in Figure 4 are not vertical, but protrude obliquely downwards, in order to ensure a smooth moving away of the drug portions from the surface of the retaining section. However, in alternative embodiments only one design variant can be selected, i.e. a conical upper face or chamfered end faces.

[0040] Figures 5a - 5d show a third embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, wherein Figures 5a and 5b show oblique views and Figures 5c and 5d show front views of the separating device together with the retaining section 42. In Figures 5a, 5b and 5d for the sake of clarity the fastening section of the retaining means is again omitted.

[0041] As can be seen in these drawings, in this embodiment the cam 35 is not an integral part of the separating device

30 itself, but is configured as a spherical rolling element which is disposed in a recess 37 (see in particular Figures 5c, 5d) above the receiving means boundary plane, wherein in the illustrated embodiment the recess is configured as an annular channel. Thus when the separating device 30 is disposed in the circular cylindrical portion 11 of the housing 10 an annular gap is formed in which the cam 35 is disposed and in which it is moved by movements of the separating device.

[0042] A cam configured as a rolling element should be adapted, like the channels 33 of the separating device, to the dimensions of the channels and drug portions and, if applicable, the weight of the drug portions so that it does not penetrate too deep into the channels and thereby hinder raising of the rolling element by the retaining section.

[0043] In the views illustrated in Figures 5a - 5d the cam 35 is shown in different positions inside the annular groove 37. In Figure 5c for example the spherical cam is disposed in part in an upper channel opening of the channel 33'. In a rotary movement of the separating device the cam 35 is moved with the channel in the direction of the retaining means. The retaining means lifts the cam from the channel opening and after the cam has been lifted out of the channel opening it is moved over the surface of the retaining section 42, so that any drug portions lying on the surface of the retaining section are removed.

[0044] Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show two further embodiments of a cam configured as a rolling element, wherein the cam is designed in one case as a roller 35" and in one case conically 35'. In Figure 6a the arrangement of the rolling elements in the recess is indicated, and Figures 6b, 6c show respectively a side view and a front view of the rolling element.

Claims

1. A storage container for a storage and delivery station for drug portions, comprising: a housing which surrounds a receiving chamber for drug portions and which has a circular cylindrical section and a base surface, the base surface having a delivery opening, a separating device, which has a plurality of projections spaced apart from one another and channels formed between said projections to receive drug portions, is disposed rotatably in the circular cylindrical section of the housing, wherein, in order for a defined number of drug portions to be received, the dimensions of the channels are adapted to the dimensions of the drug portions to be separated, and wherein each projection has a surface adjacent to the receiving chamber for drug portions, the uppermost points of the surfaces of the projections define an upper receiving means boundary plane, a retaining means with a fastening section and a retaining section, wherein the retaining section is held above the delivery opening and above the receiving means boundary plane and entry of the drug portions into a channel aligned with the delivery opening is prevented, and at least one cam detached from the separating device and for removing drug portions from the retaining section, wherein the at least one cam is designed as a rolling element movable above the receiving means boundary plane over the retaining section.

2. The storage container for a storage and delivery station for drug portions according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cam is disposed on the external circumference of a central part of the separating device.

3. The storage container for a storage and delivery station for drug portions according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein above the channels the separating device has a coaxial recess.

4. The storage container for a storage and delivery station for drug portions according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rolling element is spherical, barrel-shaped or roller-shaped.

5. The storage container for a storage and delivery station for drug portions according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining section of the retaining means is flattened in its radial end faces.

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