EP2962956B1 - Storage container for a device for the automated dispensing of individual medication portions - Google Patents

Description

The present application relates to a storage container for individual portions of medication, and more particularly to a storage container for a device for the automated dispensing of individual portions of medication.

Devices for the automated dispensing of individual portions of medicaments, for example individual tablets of a medicament, are used in blister machines used in particular in hospitals and blister centers, with which medicament portions are blistered patient-specifically in accordance with the medically prescribed administration times / combinations. Corresponding blister machines contribute to the optimization of drug management and drug logistics. With modern blister machines, the individual medication portions are blistered patient-specifically within a very short time, with a very small number of operators.

The different portions of medication blistered with the blister machines are stored in a variety of devices for automatically dispensing individual portions of medication, and a single blister machine may include several hundred of such devices, depending on the site requirements.

The devices for the automated dispensing of individual medication portions usually comprise two main components, namely a storage container for storing the individual medication portions, wherein this storage container comprises, inter alia, at least part of a separation device necessary for dispensing individual medication portions, and a container receptacle on which the container is mounted. This container receptacle can also be parts of the separating device (for example, the engine and / or a Control device). Usually, the two main components of the device for dispensing individual medication portions are separate components, but it is also conceivable to carry out the device in one piece.

The device for dispensing individual medicament portions is usually attached to the blister machine via the container receptacle. If the reservoir needs to be refilled or the medicines are to be changed in the reservoir usually only the reservoir is removed from the container receptacle and it will be filled at a filling station new drugs.

When filling the medication portions in a receiving space of the reservoir and the separation itself, it happens regularly that the smallest particles peel off of the individual medication portions and, together with other registered or resulting impurities, settle as unwanted contaminant particles in the reservoir or with a delivery be discharged.

On the one hand, the contamination particles impair the mechanics within the reservoir and settle in it. In particular, when changing the nature of the medication portions in a reservoir care must be taken to ensure that it is intensively cleaned, so that it is avoided that drug residues of a previously stored in the reservoir drug in another, subsequently stored drug through the singulator from the Reservoir be discharged, and, in extreme cases, be blistered with.

The emergence of contaminant particles in the reservoir is virtually unavoidable, especially with those drugs that are often in demand. Also, the entry of contaminant particles in the refilling of medication portions in regular operation can not be prevented.

US 2013/0292406 describes a reservoir with a singulator.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a device for the automated dispensing of individual portions of medication, in which the contamination by contaminant particles is reduced.

This object is achieved by a storage container for a device for the automated dispensing of individual medication portions according to claim 1.

The reservoir according to the invention comprises a housing enclosing a receiving space with a bottom surface, wherein the individual medicament portions are mounted in the receiving space. On the bottom surface a separating device is arranged with at least one channel for receiving at least one medication portion, the at least one channel having an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface, wherein the opening facing the bottom surface is associated with a contact area on the bottom plate which the medication portions are guided during a movement of the separating device.

The separating device in the storage container may comprise all components which are necessary for the separation of medicament portions stored in the receiving space. Depending on the exact configuration of the storage container and a container receptacle carrying the reservoir, however, the singulating device of the reservoir according to the invention may also comprise only a part of the components of the singling device, wherein other parts (for example the drive and a control) are arranged in the container receptacle. In the context of this application, the term "separating device" encompasses "complete" separating devices and only partial separating devices, ie those separating devices which do not include all the parts necessary for singling.

The storage container according to the invention further comprises at least one well disposed in the bottom surface outside the contact surface for receiving impurity particles present in the container.

During singulation, the medication portions reach the opening of the channel facing the receiving space in the latter and further through the channel to that of the bottom surface Opening the channel where they rest in the contact area on the floor surface. If a single medication portion is requested, the portion of medication in the channel at the opening facing the opening and resting on the contact area of the bottom surface with the singulator is extended over the contact area to an opening (which may also be part of the singler) in the housing (s) Floor surface out over which the medication portion leaves the reservoir.

Impurity particles arise firstly during filling of the receiving space with individual medication portions and secondly during the separation itself, for example, when a single portion of medication strikes or is guided over the contact area of the bottom surface during the separation.

In the operation of the blister machine, in particular when singulating, the reservoir is constantly exposed to slight vibrations, which ensure that the contaminant particles are constantly moved on the floor surface. In the case of the vibration-induced movements of the contaminant particles, they inevitably get to and into the at least one depression in the bottom surface in which they are held. With the help of the deepening, care is taken to ensure that contamination particles, which inevitably arise during operation, are constantly "captured". The impurity particles trapped in the well can no longer be discharged or disturb the mechanics, effectively reducing the general contamination by contaminant particles.

The singulation device can operate according to principles known to the person skilled in the art and can be constructed accordingly. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, that the separating device has only one channel for receiving a single portion of medication, wherein the channel is movable into a receiving position, in which the opening of the channel facing the receiving space, and in a dispensing position, in which the receiving space facing opening of the channel closed and the bottom surface facing opening is open to a discharge opening in the housing / the bottom surface.

Although a correspondingly constructed separating device is structurally kept very simple, with such a separating device but can not be achieved the required speeds in the delivery of individual medication portions. In a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, it is therefore provided that the separating device comprises a rotor arranged on the bottom surface with a plurality of channels, wherein the rotor is arranged such that between the underside of the rotor and the bottom surface, a gap is provided through which impurity particles can pass through. Due to the plurality of channels in the rotor, individual portions of medication are always located in multiple channels and delivery of a single portion of medication can be achieved by rotating the rotor only a certain angle to a dispensing position in which a single portion of medication passes from a corresponding channel a dispensing opening can be dispensed in the housing.

The arrangement of the channels in the rotor is dependent on the exact structural design of the singulator, but it is preferred that the channels are arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor and open to the outside, d. H. the channels are formed by a plurality of webs on the circumference of the rotor. In such a case, the housing is then adapted to the rotor, that a special portion of the housing is adapted to receive the rotor and has a corresponding circular cylindrical portion whose diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rotor. Correspondingly arranged channels are easier to clean. Furthermore, the entry of medication portions into the channels is facilitated by a corresponding formation of the top of the rotor.

As already indicated above, the particles of contamination due to the vibrations of the Reservoir moves to the at least one recess in the bottom surface. In order to assist this movement towards the at least one depression and to ensure that a larger number of contaminant particles are moved more quickly to the at least one depression, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that at least a portion of the floor area funnel-shaped, wherein the rotor of the separating device is arranged in the center of the funnel-shaped portion and the at least one formed in the bottom surface recess between the center of the funnel-shaped portion and the contact region is arranged. In this embodiment, the at least one recess is thus formed within the annular contact area, so that the impurity particles are moved or directed to the at least one depression not only by the vibration of the reservoir, but also by gravity due to the inclination of the funnel-shaped portion.

In order to be able to receive as many impurity particles as possible in a large area of the bottom surface, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the at least one recess is formed as a groove coaxial with the rotor axis. The exact configuration of the depression or the depressions is dependent on the special construction of the separating device. For example, the recess may be annular, ie. H. that a groove formed as a groove surrounds the entire center of the funnel-shaped portion and is ensured so that as many impurity particles are absorbed. In other embodiments of the separating device, it may be necessary that the recess is formed only as a ring portion and a certain angular range remains free, in which no recess is arranged.

In order to further support the movement of the contaminant particles towards the at least one depression, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention, that the rotor at its the Bottom surface facing bottom comprises a plurality of cleaning agents that feed contaminant particles of at least one recess. These cleaning agents may be designed, for example, as small brushes, which are formed as a function of the direction of rotation of the rotor on the underside of the rotor.

If the reservoir according to the invention has a separating device comprising a rotor, the rotor can be mounted, for example, on a rotor axis penetrating the bottom surface. In order to prevent contamination particles from entering the axle region and causing a mechanical disturbance, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that a circular, coaxial to the rotor axis projection is formed on the bottom surface, wherein the at least one recess outside the area enclosed by the projection bottom surface is arranged.

In order to further accelerate the movement of the contaminant particles on the bottom surface towards the depression and to prevent the contamination particles from settling on the bottom surface itself, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention that at least a portion of the bottom surface is coated with a non-stick coating.

As already mentioned, the contaminant particles reach the at least one depression, inter alia, due to the vibrations occurring during operation. In order to actively support the transport, for example when the blister machine is not actively blistering, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the reservoir contains a vibration device which actively exposes the reservoir to vibrations to actively contaminate the contaminant particles formed during operation to the at least one recess to move.

• die Figuren 1A und 1B Schrägansichten der Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Vorratsbehälters zeigen, wobei Figur 1A den Vorratsbehälter von schräg oben und Figur 1B den Vorratsbehälter von schräg unten zeigt,
• Figur 2 eine weitere Schrägansicht der Ausführungsform des Vorratsbehälters mit fortgelassenem Deckel zeigt,
• Figur 3 eine Draufsicht auf das Gehäuse der Ausführungsform zeigt,
• die Figuren 4, 5 und 6 Schnittansichten der Ausführungsform zeigen,
• Figur 7 eine weitere Schnittansicht zeigt, wobei diese gegenüber der Figur 6 um 180° gedreht ist,
• Figur 8 eine Vergrößerung eines Ausschnittes von Figur 7 zeigt, und die
• Figuren 9A und 9B Detailansichten eines Teils der Vereinzelungseinrichtung und mit dieser zusammenwirkende Bauteile zeigen.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the Figures 1A and 1B Oblique views of the embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention show, wherein Figure 1A the reservoir from diagonally above and FIG. 1B showing the reservoir from diagonally down,
• FIG. 2 shows a further oblique view of the embodiment of the reservoir with the cover removed,
• FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the housing of the embodiment,
• the FIGS. 4 . 5 and 6 Show sectional views of the embodiment,
• FIG. 7 shows a further sectional view, which is opposite to the FIG. 6 turned 180 °,
• FIG. 8 an enlargement of a section of FIG. 7 shows, and the
• Figures 9A and 9B Detail views of a part of the singler and show with this cooperating components.

Figure 1A shows an oblique view of the embodiment of the storage container 1 according to the invention for a device for the automated dispensing of individual medication portions. The storage container shown is merely a part of the aforementioned device, which comprises a container receptacle as a further main component. However, the container receptacle is not part of the present application and will not be discussed in detail here.

The storage container 1 according to the invention comprises a housing with a plurality of housing sections, namely with an upper storage section 3a, a central circular cylindrical section 3b for receiving a part of the singulator, a lower floor section 3c and a handle section 3d. In the embodiment shown, the upper portion 3a is closed with a cover 5.

In the oblique view from below according to FIG. 1B It can be seen that in the lower housing portion 3c, an axis 106 is arranged, which is guided through an opening in a bottom surface 4 of the housing. Coaxially to the axis 106, a projection 7 is arranged along a circular arc. Looking at the reservoir from above, this "projection" as a recess 7 in the bottom surface 4 is.

The FIG. 2 shows a further oblique view of the embodiment, wherein in this illustration, the lid for better insight into the reservoir is omitted.
In this illustration, a rotor 101, which is part of a separating device 100, can be seen in the circular-cylindrical section 3b of the housing. The rotor 101 comprises (see in particular FIG. 9B ) a plurality of channels 102 which are arranged outwardly open at the periphery of the rotor by webs 108 separated from each other and having an upper opening 103 and a lower opening 104. The rotor 101 itself is how to do this FIG. 9B stored on a rotor axis 106 which extends through the bottom surface 104 (see FIG. 1B ).

At the in FIG. 2 shown oblique view can also be seen a further housing portion 3e, which is formed obliquely to the rotor 101 out. The housing sections 3a and 3e and the rotor 101 define a receiving space 2, in which individual medication portions are stored in the operating state.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the housing of the first embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, wherein in this embodiment, parts of the singulator 100 are omitted, including the rotor 101 and the rotor axis 106. In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the circular cylindrical section 3b of the housing encloses a bottom surface 4 with a central rotor axis opening and a medicament discharge opening 109. In the bottom surface can also be seen on a circular arc groove-shaped and coaxial with the rotor axis opening formed recess 7.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention. at FIG. 4 the housing section 3e inclined toward the rotor 101 can be seen. The bottom surface 4 adjoins the circular-cylindrical housing section 3b downwards, which in the embodiment shown is funnel-shaped towards the rotor axis opening. The rotor 101 and the rotor axis 106 are arranged such that between the underside of the rotor and the top of the bottom surface 4, a gap 11 is formed through which impurity particles can move to the recess 7, wherein the recess is formed coaxially to the rotor axis opening in the funnel-shaped bottom surface 4 as a circumferential groove ,

On the left side of the rotor 101, a "section" through a channel is shown, on the right side a section through a web 108. In the channel 102, the receiving space 2 facing opening 103 and the bottom surface facing opening 104 can be seen wherein the opening 104 is aligned with an opening 109 in the bottom surface 4. At the in FIG. 4 shown position of the rotor 101, the dispensing position is shown, that is, in this position, a sporadic portion of medication via a correspondingly aligned channel of the opening 109 is supplied, via which it leaves the device for the automated dispensing of individual drug portions.

In the case of the web cut on the right side, it can be seen that the web region covers over a section of the bottom surface 4 which is free in the region of the channels. Relative to any positions of the rotor 101, this results in the embodiment of the rotor shown, an annular area formed at the outer bottom surface 4, which is interrupted only by the opening 109. About this contact area 10 lying in the channels drug portions are moved (when singling) to the opening 109. Among other things, this movement can spew smallest drug particles from the individual portions of medication and contribute to the contamination of the reservoir. These contaminant particles would eventually be moved to the recess 7 and held in place by the constant vibration of the reservoir. In the embodiment shown, however, the bottom surface is funnel-shaped, whereby this formation of the bottom surface contributes to the contamination particles (due to gravity) reaching the depression 7.

On the left side there is further shown a retaining means 105, wherein a portion of this retaining means penetrates an opening 6 in the housing and engages in part in the channel aligned with the opening 109. In this way it is prevented that in the moment where an isolated portion of medication is dispensed through the opening 109, another portion of medication slips from above and also discharged. It follows that, in the event that two portions of medication should be dispensed, two turning steps of the rotor are necessary.

Below the contact region 10, a vibration device 12 is arranged on the housing, with which impurity particles can be moved to the recess 7 by exposing the housing to vibrations.

FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of the embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, wherein in this figure, the rotor is omitted. at FIG. 5 the annular contact region 10 is illustrated on the bottom surface. at FIG. 5 the opening 6 in the housing section 3b is also illustrated.

At the in FIG. 6 Furthermore, the rotor axis 106 is omitted, and it can be seen that a projection 9 is formed coaxially with the central rotor axis opening in the bottom surface 4, between the rotor axis opening and the recess 7. This projection prevents, should Pollution particles pass over the depression, they pass into the mechanically sensitive area at the rotor axis 106.

FIG. 7 shows the in FIG. 6 shown rotated by 180 °, and in this view, the channel engaging portion 105b of the retaining means 105 is shown. The channel engaging portion 105b is either elastically deformed so as to be deformed by a land (eg, brush-like configuration of the engaging portion 105b), or the retaining means 105 includes an elastic portion such that the channel engaging portion 105b can be pressed out of the channel during a movement of the rotor.

As in FIG. 7 can be seen, the coaxial to the central opening in the bottom surface recess 7 is not completely annular, ie formed without interruption, but a part of the bottom surface 4 has no recess. This is due to the fact that in this area a cooperating with the rotor axis 106 stop mechanism 107 is formed, from the in FIG. 7 only a stop means 107b is shown, which engages in the region where usually the rotor axis is arranged.

FIG. 8 illustrates the aforementioned details in a detail enlargement.

The Figures 9A and 9B show detailed views of a part of the separating device and with this cooperating components. The separating device comprises inter alia the rotor 101 with a plurality of channels 102, which are separated from one another by webs 108. On the underside 111 of the rotor 101, a plurality of cleaning means 110 are arranged, which help to move the resting on the bottom surface between the annular contact portion 10 and the recess 7 on the bottom surface 4 impurity particles to the recess, the orientation of the cleaning agent 110th depends on the direction of rotation of the rotor.

The Figure 9A further shows the stop mechanism 107 which cooperates with the rotor axis 106. For this purpose, the stop mechanism 107 includes, inter alia, an at least partially elastic arm 107c, which in depressions of a toothing 106b formed in the rotor axis 106 (see FIG. 9B ) can intervene. This stop mechanism is used to set the rotor at certain operating conditions, so that unintentional rotation of the rotor is avoided. This can prevent unintentionally dispensing a portion of medication. For example, the stop mechanism may lock the rotor when the reservoir is removed from the container receptacle. This can for example be provided that when placing the reservoir on the container receptacle of the stop mechanism 107 is brought over the at least partially elastic arm 107c out of engagement with the toothing 106b, when removing the reservoir but again takes an engagement in the teeth and the rotor is thus fixed.

Claims (8)

1. A storage container (1) for a device for automated dispensing of individual medication portions, comprising:

   a housing (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e), which has a bottom surface (4) and encloses a receiving space (2),

   a separating device (100), which is arranged on the bottom surface (4) and has at least one channel (102) for receiving at least one medication portion, wherein the at least one channel (102) has an opening (103) facing the receiving space (2) and an opening (104) facing the bottom surface (4),

   wherein a contact area (10) on the bottom surface (4) is assigned to the opening (104) facing the bottom surface (4), through which the medication portions are guided in movement of the separating device (100),

   characterized in that

   at least one recess (7) arranged in the bottom surface (4) outside of the contact surface (10) is provided for receiving particles of contamination present in the container.
2. The storage container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating device comprises a rotor (101), which is arranged on the bottom surface (4) and has a plurality of channels (102), wherein the rotor is arranged in such a way that a gap is provided between the bottom side of the rotor (101) and the bottom surface (4), through which particles of contamination can pass.
3. The storage container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that
   at least one section of the bottom surface (4) is designed in the form of a funnel, wherein the rotor (101) is arranged at the center of the funnel-shaped section, and
   the at least one recess (7) formed in the bottom surface is arranged between the center of the funnel-shaped section and the contact area.
4. The storage container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one recess (7) is formed as a groove that is coaxial with the axis of the rotor.
5. The storage container (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rotor (101) comprises a plurality of cleaning means (110) on its side facing the bottom surface, guiding the particles of contamination to the at least one recess (7).
6. The storage container (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a circular protrusion (9), which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, is formed on the bottom surface (4), wherein the at least one recess (7) is arranged outside of the bottom surface (4) surrounded by the protrusion (9).
7. The storage container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one section of the bottom surface (4) is covered with an anti-stick coating.
8. The storage container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the storage container comprises a vibrating device (12).

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