EP3199141A1 - Storage container for a storage and dispensing station for medicaments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reservoir for a drug supply and delivery station. Corresponding reservoirs include a retaining means for preventing a plurality of medicament portions from being dispensed simultaneously. Often drug portions remain on this retention agent. This is prevented in the storage container according to the invention. The reservoir comprises a receiving space (2) enclosing housing (10) having a circular cylindrical portion (11) and a bottom surface (20), in the circular cylindrical portion (11) rotatably arranged singulator (30) having a plurality of protrusions (32) and between these formed channels (33), each projection (32) having a surface (32a), the uppermost points of the surfaces (32a) defining an upper receiving boundary plane (AE). The reservoir further comprises a retaining means (40) having a mounting portion (41) and a retaining portion (42), the retaining portion (42) preventing entry of drug portions into a channel (33 ') aligned with a discharge port (21), and at least a driver (35) for removing drug portions of the retaining portion (42), wherein the driver (35) above the receiving boundary plane (AE) over the retaining portion is movable.

Description

The present invention relates to a reservoir for medicaments, and more particularly to a reservoir for a drug delivery and delivery station.

Modern blister machines, such as those in the WO 2013/034504 A1 include, depending on the level of expansion, several hundred storage and dispensing stations. In each of these, a plurality of drug portions of a particular drug are stored, and on request, individual portions of medication can be dispensed. The blister dispensers store the medicament portions stored in the storage and dispensing stations in a patient-specific manner in accordance with the physician-prescribed input times and blistering.

To compile the drug portions corresponding storage and dispensing stations are driven to deliver one or more isolated portions of medication. When activating a supply and delivery station, a single medication portion is separated with a singulator and transferred via a discharge opening of a guide device of the blister machine. By means of the guide device, a dispensed drug portion, possibly with the interposition of a collecting device, a packaging device is supplied, which blisters individual or several portions of medication according to the medical specification.

For separating the medicament portions, which are stored in a storage container of a supply and delivery station, the separating device comprises a rotor with a plurality of channels, which are usually arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor. The channels are usually adapted to the respectively to be separated drug portions in terms of their dimensions such that in a channel, the drug portions only one above the other, but not can be arranged side by side. Regularly, the channels are designed so that only a drug portion finds in this place.

To deliver a drug portion from a channel, a channel is moved via a dispensing opening in the housing of the reservoir, and the drug portion disposed in the channel slips into the dispensing opening. In order to avoid that further medicament portions stored over the channel are also dispensed, in the area above the dispensing opening, a retaining portion of a retaining means is guided at least over the channel which is aligned with the dispensing opening. In order to prevent further drug portions from entering the channel when the medicament portions are dispensed, the retention portion is guided only slightly above the level formed by the tops of the protrusions separating the channels.

The retention portion of the retention means is planarized in prior art reservoirs so that, depending on the shape of the drug portions, one or more portions of drug may remain on the retention portion and not be delivered. If a number of X drug portions are stored in a reservoir, it may occur in reservoirs according to the prior art that only XY (Y = number of lying on the retaining means drug portions) are deliverable, if it is not ensured that on The portion of medication resting on the retention section is removed therefrom.

When topping up portions of medicines, make sure that the reservoir does not contain any more medicament portions as it is essential to avoid mixing different batches of the same type of medicament. In practice, the procedure is such that the reservoir is removed, shaken to remove drug portions of the retaining portion, and then finally put back on. Only in this way can it be ensured that all medicament portions can be specified from the storage container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reservoir in which it is ensured that all stored in the reservoir drug portions can be dispensed.

The storage container according to the invention for a storage and dispensing station comprises a receiving space for drug portions enclosing housing having a circular cylindrical portion and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has a dispensing opening, via which separated drug portions of, for example, a Guide device are issued, wherein between discharge opening and guide means a discharge channel can be arranged.

In the circular-cylindrical portion of the housing, there is rotatably disposed a singulator having a plurality of spaced protrusions and drug-receiving passageways formed therebetween, each protrusion having a surface adjacent to the medicated portion receiving space, the uppermost points of the surfaces of which Projections define an upper containment boundary plane. Above this receiving boundary level is the receiving space for storing the drug portions, and under the receiving boundary level, the channels of the singulator open.

The reservoir further includes a retaining means having a mounting portion and a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is held above the dispensing opening and above the receiving boundary plane and prevents entry of drug portions into a channel aligned with the dispensing opening. In other words, the retaining portion of the retaining means is always located above the protrusions between which the channels extend. According to the invention, the reservoir further comprises a driver for removing drug portions of the retaining portion, said driver is movable above the retaining portion above the receiving boundary plane. With the help of this movable over the retaining section The driver will remove medication portions that are on the retention section. The at least one driver thus ensures that all drug portions filled in the reservoir can be dispensed and it is reliably avoided that an unknown number of drug portions remains on the retention portion and thus delivery of a drug portion is no longer possible, although not all in the reservoir filled drug portions were delivered. The necessary according to the prior art "shaking" is no longer necessary in the reservoir according to the invention, which significantly reduces the cost of operating a blister machine for a user.

The driver is moved by a rotational movement of the separating device in the circular cylindrical portion of the housing above the receiving boundary plane on the retaining portion. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least one driver is arranged on the outer periphery of a central part of the singulator, i. the driver moves simultaneously with the channels and projections and, if only one driver is present, each time the singulator is rotated, it is guided or moved once over the retaining section to remove any medicament portions which may be present thereon. In this embodiment, the at least one driver is thus part of the separating device, wherein the at least one driver can be designed in one piece with the separating device or is attached to this.

In order to avoid that medicament portions remain lying on the driver itself, and if necessary to additionally provide for a "gentle" removal of the medicament portions from the retaining portion of the restraining means, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the at least one driver is a non-planar Surface and / or angled radial end faces, said end faces taper upwards.

In one embodiment, the driver may be part of the separating device. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one driver is not directly connected to the singulation device. In this embodiment, it is provided that the separating device above the channels has a coaxial recess, in which at least one driver designed as a rolling body is arranged. This rolling body is entrained by the rotational movement of the separating device of this and removes in this entrainment on the retaining portion located drug portions, since the rotational movement of the singulator moves the rolling body on the retaining portion itself. Advantageously, the rolling body may be formed in the shape of a ball, barrel or roller, wherein the recess may be adapted to the exact configuration of the rolling body. If the rolling body is, for example, roller-shaped, the recess can be formed as a coaxial annular gap in which the roller-shaped rolling body is guided. The annular gap can be limited to the outside, for example by the circular cylindrical portion of the housing. The inner boundary is provided by a likewise circular cylindrical portion of the singulator.

In order to facilitate the movement of the driver over the retaining portion of the retaining means, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the retaining means is flattened at its radial end faces.

The channels of the separating device are usually dimensioned so that no two medicament portions can be arranged side by side in a channel. Usually, the vertical dimensioning is also sized so that in the channel only a drug portion fits. Depending on the dimensioning of the drug portions, the channels must therefore be adapted.

• Figuren 1a - 1d verschiedene Ansichten einer ersten Ausführungsform des Vorratsbehälters zeigen;
• Figuren 2a - 2c verschiedene Schnittansichten der ersten Ausführungsform zeigen;
• Figuren 3a - 3c verschiedene Ansichten der Vereinzelungseinrichtung und des Rückhaltemittels der ersten Ausführungsform zeigen;
• Figur 4 eine Ansicht der Vereinzelungseinrichtung einer zweiten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figuren 5a - 5d verschiedene Ansichten der Vereinzelungseinrichtung sowie des Rückhaltemittels gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform zeigen; und
• Figuren 6a - 6c Mitnehmer gemäß einer vierten und fünften Ausführungsform zeigen.

In the following, several preferred embodiments of the storage container according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawing, in which

• FIGS. 1a-1d show different views of a first embodiment of the reservoir;
• FIGS. 2a-2c show various sectional views of the first embodiment;
• FIGS. 3a-3c show various views of the singulator and the restraining means of the first embodiment;
• FIG. 4 shows a view of the singulator of a second embodiment;
• FIGS. 5a-5d show different views of the singulator and the restraining means according to a third embodiment; and
• Figures 6a - 6c Driver according to a fourth and fifth embodiment show.

The FIGS. 1a and 1b show two oblique views of a supply and dispensing station with a first embodiment of the storage container 1 according to the invention. Figures 1c and 1d show plan views of the reservoir, wherein at Figure 1d a separating device 30, which in the Figures 1a - 1c is indicated, is omitted. In all representations of the reservoir cover is omitted for clarity.

The storage container 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a housing 10 enclosing a receiving space 2 for medicament portions, which has a circular cylindrical portion 11 in the lower portion. The housing 10 is bounded below by a bottom surface 20 having a discharge opening 21 (see Figure 1d ). The bottom surface 20 has a further central receptacle 22, which cooperates with a singulator 30. Like this Figure 1c can be seen, the singulator 30 is disposed in the circular cylindrical portion 11 of the housing 10 and includes a plurality of channels 33 for receiving a drug portion. The channels 33 are formed by a plurality of projections 32 each having a surface 32 a. The projections 32, together with a central part 31, form a rotor which is moved by a drive (not shown). The projections 32 may be integral with the central part 31 be executed, but it is also conceivable that the projections 32 are attached to the outer periphery of the central part 31 and thus the channels are produced on the outer periphery of the central part 31. As this particular at FIG. 1b can be seen, the circular cylindrical portion 11 of the housing 10 comprises a projection 14 to which a retaining means 40 is fixed via a fixing portion 41. The retaining means further comprises a retaining portion 42, which is guided over a slot in the circular cylindrical portion 11 in the region of the singulator (see more precisely the following figures).

The storage and dispensing station comprises the storage container 1 according to the invention and usually components which regulate or control the delivery or separation of the medicament portions. These are usually a motor for moving the separating device 30 and a sensor for checking the delivery of a drug portion. The aforementioned further components may be arranged in the housing 12. However, the supply and dispensing station is regularly constructed from two main components, a reservoir and a dispenser (not shown), wherein the reservoir is detachably mounted on the dispenser. Only for filling or cleaning the reservoir is removed.

However, the exact design of the storage and dispensing station and the arrangement of the necessary components for controlling and monitoring the reservoir are not essential for the present application; The invention relates to the exact configuration of the reservoir of the supply and dispensing station.

In order to be able to better handle the supply and delivery station (or possibly only the storage container), a handle 13 is provided in the front region.

FIG. 2a shows a partial side sectional view of the first embodiment of the reservoir of the supply and delivery station, wherein the housing 10 and partially the circular cylindrical portion 11 are cut away, whereby the view of the central singler 30th is released. The separating device 30 comprises a central part 31, on whose outer circumference or lateral surface a plurality of projections 32 are provided, each having a surface 32a, whose arrangement and configuration at the periphery of the central part 31, a plurality of channels 33 is defined, in this embodiment, each channel so is designed so that only a drug portion of a channel can be recorded. The surfaces 32a of the projections 32 define an upper receiving boundary plane (which in FIG FIG. 3c and FIG. 4 is indicated graphically), over which a retaining portion 42 of the retaining means 40 is guided. The retaining portion 42 is inserted through a slot in the circular-cylindrical portion 11, such that the retaining portion 42 is disposed above the receiving boundary plane.

On the outer periphery of the central portion 31 of the singulator 30, a driver 35 is further arranged, in such a way that between the underside of the driver 35 and the receiving boundary plane, a horizontal slot or gap is formed. The retaining portion 42 of the retaining means is formed so that it can be guided into and through the slot.

FIGS. 2b and 2c show various views of a partial sectional view in which the housing 10 and a portion of the circular cylindrical portion 11 are cut away, so that the exact implementation of the singulator 30 and their arrangement in the circular cylindrical portion 11 of the housing can be seen. As already with reference to FIG. 2a described, the projections 32 include a surface 32 a, wherein the surfaces define a receiving boundary plane (see FIGS. 3c, 4 ). The projections 32 define the channels 33, wherein the channel 33 'shown in the figures "front" is aligned with the (not visible here) discharge opening 21. The retaining portion 42 of the retaining means 40 covers the channel 33 'from above, so that no further medicament portions can reach into the channel 33' aligned with the dispensing opening. During a rotation of the separating device, the driver 35 moves in Depending on the direction of rotation of the separating device on the retaining portion 42, and possibly lying on this drug portions are removed by the movement of the driver.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show detailed views of the singulator 30 and the retaining means 40, wherein at FIG. 3b the two aforementioned parts are shown separated from each other. As can be seen, the retaining portion 42 of the retaining means 40 is disposed above the receiving boundary plane formed by the surfaces 32a of the projections 30. The driver 35, which in this embodiment is arranged on the outer circumference of the central part 31 of the singulator, is arranged such that it is moved during the movement of the singulator over the upper surface of the retaining portion for the removal of overlying medicament portions.

Figure 3c shows a front view of the singulator, in which the recording boundary plane AE is indicated by two dashed lines. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3d, the receiving boundary plane AE is defined by the surfaces 32a of the projections 32. In the embodiment shown, the surfaces 32a of the projections are planar. It is also conceivable in an alternative embodiment that the surfaces 32a are, for example, spherical or conical, and in this case the uppermost points of the surfaces would define the receiving boundary plane.

The (in Figure 3c not shown) retaining portion of the retaining means is always guided over the receiving boundary plane AE, so that a rotation of the separating device is possible. Above the surface of the retaining portion, and thus also above the receiving boundary plane, the driver 35 is arranged at the outer periphery of the central part of the singulator. The gap 36, the in Figure 3c can be seen, serves to receive the retaining portion of the retaining means. The singulator 30 further includes a lower axial one Lug 38, which cooperates with the receptacle 22 in the bottom surface of the reservoir for rotating the singulator.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the reservoir, which differs in only one detail from the first embodiment, in the configuration of the driver 35. To better illustrate the driver 35 and its arrangement, the mounting portion 41 of the fastener 40 is omitted, only the retaining portion 42 is shown in the gap between driver 35 and recording boundary plane AE.

As in FIG. 4 can be seen, the surface of the driver is conical, so that it is avoided that drug portions remain on the surface of the driver. Due to the rotational movements of the separating device, the probability that a drug portion remains lying on the surface of the driver, although small, in the case of a slowly rotating singling device but can in FIG. 4 illustrated design of the top of the driver be advantageous. The radial end faces of in FIG. 4 Further, the carrier shown are not formed perpendicularly but projecting downwardly to ensure a smooth moving away of the drug portions of the surface of the retaining portion. In alternative embodiments, however, only one design variant can be selected, ie a conical top or beveled end faces.

The FIGS. 5a-5d show a third embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, wherein the FIGS. 5a and 5b Oblique views and the FIGS. 5c and 5d Front views of the singler including retainer section 42 show. Both Figures 5a, 5b and 5d For reasons of clarity, the attachment section of the restraint means has been omitted.

As can be seen in these figures, the driver 35 in this embodiment is not an integral part of the separating device 30 itself, but as a spherical rolling body formed in a recess 37 (see in particular FIGS. 5c, 5d ) above the shooting limit level is arranged, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, the recess is formed as an annular groove. When the separating device 30 is arranged in the circular-cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10, an annular gap is thus formed, in which the driver 35 is arranged, and in which it is moved by movements of the separating device.

In the in the FIGS. 5a-5d shown views of the driver 35 is shown in different positions within the annular groove 37. In FIG. 5c For example, the ball-shaped carrier is arranged in sections in an upper channel opening of the channel 33 '. During a rotational movement of the separating device, the driver 35 is moved with the channel in the direction of the retaining means. The retaining means lifts the dog out of the channel opening, and after the dog is lifted out of the channel opening, it is moved over the surface of the retaining section 42, so that any drug portions resting on the surface of the retaining section are removed.

The Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show two further embodiments of a carrier designed as a rolling body, wherein the driver once a roller-shaped 35 "and once cone-shaped 35 'is formed FIG. 6a the arrangement of the rolling elements is indicated in the recess, the Figures 6b, 6c each show a side and front view of the rolling body.

Claims (6)

Storage container for a supply and delivery station for medicament portions, comprising: a housing (10) enclosing a medicament portion receiving space (2) having a circular cylindrical portion (11) and a bottom surface (20), the bottom surface having a discharge opening (21), a separating means (30) rotatably disposed in said circular cylindrical portion (11) of said housing (10) and having a plurality of spaced apart projections (32) and channels (33) formed therebetween for receiving medication portions, each projection (32) forming a surface (32a) adjacent to the receiving space (2), the uppermost points of the surfaces (32a) of the projections (32) defining an upper receiving boundary plane (AE), a retaining means (40) having a mounting portion (41) and a retaining portion (42), the retaining portion (42) being held above the dispensing opening (21) and above the receiving boundary plane (AE) and entering medication portions into the dispensing opening (41). 21) aligned channel (33 ') prevents, and at least one driver (35) for removing medicament portions from the retaining portion (42), wherein the driver (35) above the receiving boundary plane (AE) via the retaining portion is movable. Reservoir for a storage and dispensing station for drug portions according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one driver (35) on the outer circumference of a central part (31) of the separating device (30) is arranged. Storage container for a storage and dispensing station for medicament portions according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one driver (35) has a non-planar surface and / or angled end surfaces. Storage container for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating device (30) above the channels (33) has a coaxial recess (37) in which at least one carrier designed as a rolling body is arranged. Reservoir for a storage and dispensing station for drug portions according to claim 4, characterized in that the rolling element is spherical, barrel, conical or roller-shaped. Storage container for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the retaining portion (42) of the retaining means (40) at its radial end faces (42a, 42b) is flattened.

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