EP3616675A1 - Storage container for a storage and dispensing station for medicaments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage container for a supply and dispensing station for pharmaceuticals. In known supply and delivery stations, the drug dust that forms during the separation causes an increased friction between the separation device and the wall of the supply and delivery station. In order to avoid this, the supply and delivery station comprises a housing (10) surrounding a receiving space (2) with a guide section (11), an inner wall (3) of the guide section (11) defining a circular-cylindrical guide space and one in the guide section (11) of the housing (10) arranged separating device (40) with a central axis of rotation (DA), the separating device (40) having a main section (48) and a plurality of projections (42), each projection (42) having two end sections (45) and a middle section (46) and between two end sections (45) of adjacent projections a drug channel (41) is formed, the middle sections (46) of the projections (42) being withdrawn and the end section (45) of each projection ( 42) abuts the wall (3) of the guide section (11).

Description

The present invention relates to a storage container for a supply and dispensing station for pharmaceuticals.

Modern blister machines, such as those in the WO 2013/034504 A1 are disclosed, depending on the stage of expansion, several hundred supply and delivery stations for medicines. A plurality of medicament portions of a certain type of medicament are stored in each of these, and one or more medicament portions can be delivered on request. With the blister machines, the medicinal products stored in the supply and delivery stations are put together and blistered individually for the patient according to the medically prescribed times of intake.

Corresponding supply and dispensing stations for dispensing one or more individual medicament portions are controlled to compile the medicament portions. When a supply and delivery station is controlled, a single medicament portion is separated with a separating device and transferred to a guide device of the blister machine via a delivery opening. By means of the guiding device, a dispensed medication portion, possibly with the interposition of a collecting device, is fed to a packaging device, which blisters individual or several medicament portions in accordance with the medical requirements.

The separating device used for separating medicament portions is usually designed in the shape of a circular cylinder and is formed in a corresponding guide space of the storage container. A plurality of drug channels are provided on the periphery of the separating device, via which drug portions of the dispensing opening in a bottom surface of the Storage container are fed. Protrusions are formed between the individual drug channels, which are formed in one piece with a main body of the separating device or can be detachably attached to it. In the case of storage containers according to the state of the art, the projections regularly have an arcuate circumferential surface which bears against an inner wall of the guide space in which the separating device is arranged (in the context of this application, the term "concern" does not mean that a Full area touches another, but that a small (ring) gap may be formed at least in sections). If one places a surrounding end around the outer lateral surfaces of the projections, a circle results, the radius of which is only slightly smaller than the radius of the receiving space. In the prior art (when the drug channels are neglected), the separating devices therefore have a circular base area.

A large number of medicament portions are arranged in the storage containers for the storage and delivery stations. When a medicament portion is separated, the separating device is rotated through a certain angle in order to feed a medicament portion arranged in a medicament channel to the delivery opening. Depending on the shape of the drug portions and the number of drug portions arranged in the storage container, they rub against each other as well as against the components of the storage container during the separation. This leads to flaking of the drug portions and a kind of drug dust forms. This settles on all components of the storage container, including the wall of the guide section in which the separating device is arranged.

Due to the deposition of the drug dust, in particular on the wall of the guide section, the friction between the lateral surfaces of the projections and the wall increases, so that the separation device rotates with increasing drug dust deposition an increased force has to be applied. Due to the uneven force to be used to rotate the separating device, it is difficult to control the separating device precisely, so that incorrect dispensing can occur, which can lead to incorrect combinations of medicament portions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container for supply and delivery stations, in which such incorrect deliveries are avoided.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a storage container according to claim 1. The storage container according to the invention for a storage and dispensing station for pharmaceutical portions comprises a housing enclosing a receiving space for pharmaceutical portions with a guide section and a bottom surface, an inner wall of the guide section defining a circular cylindrical guide space and wherein the bottom surface has a discharge opening. In the storage container according to the invention, a separating device with a central axis of rotation is arranged in the guide section of the housing. The separating device comprises a central main section and a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion having two end sections and a central section and wherein a medicament channel is formed in each case between two end sections of adjacent projections.

Relative to the axis of rotation, the projections can be flatter than the main body of the guide device, which supports the supply of the drug portions to the drug channels. According to the prior art, the outer lateral surface is regularly formed in a circular arc (based on a central axis of rotation) and the projections therefore form (if the drug channels are neglected) a type of hollow cylinder, the outer lateral surface of which rests on the inner wall of the guide section.

In the storage container according to the invention, the projections are designed differently. It is provided according to the invention that the central sections of the projections are recessed with respect to at least one of the end sections and the at least one end section of each projection is designed in such a way that its outer surface rests on the wall of the guide section (in the context of this application the term " It is not expressed that a surface completely touches another, but that a narrow or small (ring) gap that enables rotation of the separating device is formed at least in sections, if necessary.

In contrast to known storage containers, it is therefore provided according to the invention that the projections rest against the wall only with a small section (or are slightly spaced apart from it) and, if appropriate, are guided from or on the wall, it being provided according to the invention that it this section is an end section to which a drug channel connects. In the storage container according to the invention, therefore, only a small part of the lateral surface of the projections bears against the wall of the guide section, namely the sum of the aforementioned end sections. It is essential that the central sections of the projections are "withdrawn" with respect to the end sections, that is, viewed radially, do not extend as far to the wall as at least one of the end sections of each projection. In the middle sections, a (wider) gap is therefore provided between the wall and the middle section compared to the aforementioned end sections.

How this "gap" is geometrically accurate depends on the outer surface of the central section. In the context of this invention, the term “gap” in the middle sections merely means that the distance wall / lateral surface of the central section is greater than the distance wall / lateral surface of the end section. If the middle sections are arcuate, this means that the gap between the wall and the central section is designed like a segment of a hollow cylinder. Alternatively, the middle section can also be designed like a kind of secant with respect to the wall, as a result of which the gap would then have the shape of a circular segment.

A corresponding design of the protrusions has the result that pharmaceutical dust which arises during the separation can trickle down through the gap in the area of the central sections and is thus quickly led to the floor surface, where it can be guided to a receiving opening in the floor surface if the floor surface is designed accordingly.

The fact that the drug dust can fall "unhindered" through the gap between the wall and the central section of the projection means that less drug dust settles and adheres to the wall. In sum, the configuration of the projections according to the invention results in a reduced friction surface wall / separating device, the force to be used to rotate the separating device is lower. It is essential here that the force required to rotate the separating device in the guide section changes only slightly, even with increased drug dust formation, since less drug dust adheres to the wall. Since the force to be rotated changes only slightly when dust is formed, the separating device can be controlled or rotated more precisely. The likelihood of incorrect dispensing (for example due to poor alignment of a medicament channel at the dispensing opening) is reduced in the storage container according to the invention.

The design of the projections according to the invention has a further considerable advantage. Although it is also unavoidable according to the invention that drug dust falls down in the area of the drug channels, the proportion of drug dust falling down in the channels is reduced in relation to the total amount of drug dust, so that less drug dust goes to (and through) the discharge opening in the Floor area. According to the invention, the entry of drug dust in the blister machines is thus avoided, which extends the time intervals between drug-dust-related cleaning and thus reduces the downtime of the blister machine.

Due to the shape of the projections, these always have two end sections, each of these end sections bordering a drug channel. At least one of these end sections bears against the wall of the guide section, that is to say it has a larger "radius" than the recessed central section. How exactly the second end section is formed is not essential for the functioning of the invention. Rather, it is essential that end sections lying against the wall allow a uniform and impact-free, low-friction rotation of the separating device in the guide section, which is regularly the case with three corresponding end sections (possibly also with two end sections if these are correspondingly wide).

As stated above, drug dust is also deposited in the storage container according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment it is therefore provided that the end sections, the outer surfaces of which bear against the wall of the guide section, are uniformly distributed in all the projections. If only one such end section is provided per projection, this means that these end sections (viewed from the axis of rotation) are always arranged on the right or left of the projection. Depending on the direction of rotation, the end sections lying against the wall (hereinafter briefly “projecting” end sections; “projecting” with respect to the central section) are then arranged “at the rear” or “at the front” on the projection. In "normal" separating operation, the direction of rotation is regularly selected so that the projecting end sections are "behind", ie a drug channel follows an end section. If you turn the direction of rotation, the end sections are at the projections "in front", follow a drug channel in the direction of rotation.

This opens up the possibility of using the embodiment according to the invention to clean the wall of the guide section, namely by briefly rotating the separating device in such a way that the projecting end sections are “in front”. If the end sections are designed appropriately, drug dust adhering to the front edge of the end sections can then be removed from the wall. This then falls through the channels onto the floor surface.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, it is provided that both end sections of a projection are designed such that they abut the wall of the guide section. Appropriate training improves the delivery of a drug portion into the drug channel. The cleaning described above is then no longer possible, but a low-friction rotation of the separating device and a reduction in the entry of drug dust into the drug channels are still guaranteed.

In order to ensure a particularly smooth rotation of the separating device, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the end sections of the projections resting on the wall of the guide section, regardless of whether one or both projections are designed accordingly, are distributed symmetrically over the separating device. If three drug channels and thus three projections are provided, this means that the drug channels are each offset by a central angle of 120 ° with respect to the axis of rotation.

In order to prevent drug dust from adhering to the wall of the central section of the projections, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the projections have a non-stick coating at least in the area of the central section on a lateral surface facing the wall.

In order to avoid that drug portions remain on the main body of the separating device and to support the supply of drug portions into the drug channels, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the separating device has a conical surface with a plurality of recesses aligned with the drug channels.

To further support the delivery, it is also preferred that the main section has recesses above the drug channels.

• Figuren 1a und 1b verschiedene Schrägansichten einer ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Vorratsbehälters zeigen;
• Figuren 2a und 2b Draufsichten der ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform zeigen;
• Figuren 3a und 3b zwei Schnittansichten der ersten Ausführungsform zeigen;
• Figuren 4a und 4b ebenfalls zwei Schnittansichten, orthogonal zu den in den Figuren 3a und 3b dargestellten Schnittansichten, zeigen;
• Figuren 5a - 5f verschiedene Ansichten einer Vereinzelungseinrichtung der ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorratsbehälter zeigen;
• Figuren 6a und 6b Draufsichten auf die Vereinzelungseinrichtung der ersten Ausführungsform zeigen;
• Figur 7 eine Detailansicht der Vereinzelungseinrichtung zeigt;
• Figur 8 eine Draufsicht einer Vereinzelungseinrichtung einer zweiten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figur 9 eine Draufsicht einer Vereinzelungseinrichtung einer dritten Ausführungsform zeigt; und
• Figur 10 eine Draufsicht einer Vereinzelungseinrichtung einer vierten Ausführungsform zeigt.

Preferred embodiments of the storage container according to the invention for supply and delivery stations are described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

• Figures 1a and 1b show different oblique views of a first preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention;
• Figures 2a and 2b Top views of the first embodiment of the invention show;
• Figures 3a and 3b show two sectional views of the first embodiment;
• Figures 4a and 4b also two sectional views, orthogonal to the in the Figures 3a and 3b shown sectional views;
• Figures 5a - 5f show different views of a separating device of the first embodiment of the storage container according to the invention;
• Figures 6a and 6b Top views of the separating device of the first embodiment show;
• Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the separating device;
• Figure 8 shows a plan view of a separating device of a second embodiment;
• Figure 9 shows a plan view of a separating device of a third embodiment; and
• Figure 10 shows a plan view of a separating device of a fourth embodiment.

Figures 1a and 1b show two oblique views of a preferred first embodiment of the storage container 1 for a supply and dispensing station for pharmaceuticals. The storage container 1 according to the invention is part of the aforementioned storage and delivery station, the storage container usually being detachably arranged on a delivery station (not shown). Depending on the exact design of the storage container according to the invention and the delivery station, components can be arranged in the storage container or the delivery station. Like it in Figure 1b can be seen, which shows the storage container from below, in the embodiment shown it does not comprise a motor, but only a coupling piece 31, via which a separating device (shown in more detail in the following figures) can be coupled to a motor in the delivery station.

The storage container 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a housing 10 with a circular cylindrical section 11, to which a bottom section 12 is connected at the bottom. The bottom section 12 is connected to the upper part of the housing via a handle 13 with which the storage container 1 can be removed from a corresponding delivery station. Like this in Figure 1b is indicated, a circular recess 22 is arranged around the coupling piece 31, which is described in more detail in the following figures.

The Figures 2a and 2b show top views according to the first embodiment, wherein in both figures a cover 4 is omitted to illustrate the interior of the storage container. Like this in Figure 2a a separating device 40 is arranged in a receiving space defined by the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing. This comprises a central main section 48 and a plurality of projections 42 arranged on the main section 48. These can be formed in one piece with the main section, but it is also possible that these are as releasable components can be fastened to the main section 48. A drug channel 41 is formed between each of two projections 42, via which drug portions arranged in the storage container Figure 2a shown) delivery channel 21 can be fed. The main section 48 of the separating device 40 comprises a conical surface 43 with four depressions 44, which are formed radially on the channels 41 and are intended to support the supply of drug portions to the drug channels. As is already the case with Figure 2a can be guessed, the projections are not designed as sections of a circular hollow cylinder, but are withdrawn or flattened in the central section (with respect to the axis of rotation), i.e. in these areas there is a gap between the projections and the inner wall of the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing (the exact configuration of the projections in relation to the circular cylindrical section is described in more detail below).

At the in Figure 2b The plan view shown has also been omitted and the bottom surface 20 with a delivery opening 21 and a circular recess 22 can be seen. Through the delivery opening, drug portions arranged in the drug channels 41 are delivered when a delivery channel is aligned with the delivery opening. The circular depression 22 is provided for receiving medicinal product dust that is produced when individualizing medicament portions. In the middle of the bottom surface 20 there is a circular opening in which a coupling device 30 is arranged, via which the separating device can be coupled to a drive, which in the embodiment shown is not arranged in the storage container. The coupling device itself can be made in one piece with the separating device, but usually the separating device and the coupling device are detachably connected to one another, to enable the rapid replacement of the separating device without a coupling device.

Figures 3a and 3b show an oblique view and a side view of a section through the first embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, whereby, as in particular Figure 3a it can be seen that the cut is carried out in such a way that it cuts through the separating device 40 between the drug channels 41. Like this Figures 3a and 3b can be seen, a gap is provided between an inner wall 3 of the circular cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10 and an outer circumferential surface 461 of a central section 46 of a projection 42, through which drug dust can trickle down onto the bottom surface 20 (the exact structure of the projections is given with reference described in the following figures).

Both Figures 3a and 3b and all of the following figures, the gap between the wall 3 and the outer circumferential surface of a central portion of a projection 42 is shown in an exaggerated manner to illustrate the invention. In reality, such a gap will be made narrower, the exact dimensioning depending in particular on the shape of the drug portions to be separated. In the case of larger portions of medicament, in which larger amounts of medicament dust can still be expected, the gap can of course be kept wider than in the case of very small portions of medicament. It is essential that a corresponding gap is provided, via which drug dust can pass the separating device and reach the bottom surface.

As with Figure 3a It can be seen that a slot is made in the area of the bottom opening 21 in the circular cylindrical section, through which a retaining section 51 of a retaining means 50 is inserted. The retention section prevents drug portions arranged above the drug channel when a drug channel is aligned at the delivery opening; only the drug portion contained in the channel when aligned is indicated.

Figures 4a and 4b also show two sectional views, the section being orthogonal to that of FIGS Figures 3a and 3b is led. Also based on the Figures 4a and 4b it can be seen that a gap is formed between the inner wall 3 of the circular-cylindrical section 11 and a lateral surface 461 of the central section of a projection. Like it Figures 3a and 3b 4a and 4b can also be seen, the bottom surface 20 is designed to slope down towards the center and comprises a depression 22, so that drug dust trickling down the gap can get into the depression 22 via the falling bottom surface. Furthermore, the Figures 4a and 4b It can be seen that the lower surface 49 of the separating device is also formed obliquely, so that a gap is formed between the bottom surface 20 and the separating device, through which drug dust can reach the recess 22.

The Figures 5a - 5f show different views of the separating device of the first embodiment, the coupling piece 31 of the coupling device being shown together with the separating device 40. Based on Figures 5a - 5d the general structure of the separating device is first described, details of the design of the projections according to the invention are described with reference to the following figures. In the first embodiment, the separating device comprises four channels 41, which are defined by four projections 42. The main body 48 extends beyond the projections 42, ie a circumferential recess is formed in the region of the projections, which supports the supply of the drug portions into the channels 41. The separating device 40 comprises a conical upper surface 43 with four recesses 44 which are aligned with the drug channels. Recesses 44a are formed in the main body 48 and are aligned with the depressions 44 and the drug channels 41 Wells 44 support the delivery of drug portions into the drug channels 41.

Like it Figures 5e and 5f can be seen, the projections 42 each comprise two end sections 45 with lateral surfaces 451 and central sections 46 with lateral surfaces 461. In the Figures 5e and 5f it can already be seen that the projections are not designed in the form of a circular arc with respect to the central axis of rotation, but that the central sections are withdrawn in this regard, ie the radius in the central sections is smaller than the radius in the end sections. This is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

Figures 6a and 6b show the arrangement of the separating device 40 in the circular cylindrical guide space provided by the guide section 11 with the inner wall 3. In the first embodiment shown, the separating device comprises four channels 41 and four projections 42. As shown in FIGS Figures 6a and 6b It can be seen that the projections lie in the region of the end sections 45 with jacket surfaces 451 on the wall of the guide section 11, whereas a jacket surface 461 of a central section 46 of a projection does not abut the wall, but rather a gap is formed between the jacket surface and the wall. Via this gap, the drug dust produced during the separation can pass the separation device and onto the bottom surface of the storage container. As with Figure 6b is illustrated, the radius RMA (that is to say the distance from the lateral surface to the central axis of rotation DA) at the end sections 45 is greater than the radius RMI at the middle sections 46.

This is shown in detail in Figure 7 , where it can be clearly seen that the projections in the region of the end sections 45 lie against the wall of the guide section, then go back and leave a gap through which the medicament dust can reach the bottom surface.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a separating device, which is essentially designed in accordance with the first embodiment, with the exception that only three drug channels 41 are provided. The remaining versions correspond to the first embodiment.

Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of the separating device, wherein also in this embodiment both end sections of a projection protrude from the central section, ie the radius RMA at the end sections 45 is greater than the radius RMI at the central sections 46. In the embodiment shown, the central section is based on the central axis of rotation formed in a circular arc and rises gently in the transition area to the end sections. In alternative embodiments, the middle section can also be formed by not being arch-shaped, but simply by forming a straight line between the end sections, which would lead to a gap with a different shape.

Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the separating device. In contrast to the aforementioned embodiments, in this embodiment only one of the end sections of a projection protrudes with respect to the central section, ie only in one of the end sections is the radius RMA greater than the radius RMI of the central section. In the embodiment shown, the “other” end section 47 is configured in exactly the same way as the central section, ie the lateral surface 471 is formed in the region corresponding to the lateral surface 461 of the central section.

When separating drug portions, the separating device is rotated clockwise regularly in accordance with the embodiment shown, ie the projecting end sections run "in front" of a drug channel to the dispensing opening (that in the embodiment shown below the right drug channel is arranged). When rotating counterclockwise, the projecting end portions 45 run after the drug channels. The edges of the projecting end sections 45 formed in the illustrated embodiment are suitable at the transition from the end section / drug channel to detach drug dust adhering to the wall therefrom. With a suitably designed separating device, it is therefore possible, by briefly rotating counterclockwise, to detach at least part of the pharmaceutical dust adhering to the wall and to feed it to the bottom surface and, if appropriate, to a depression present in the wall. In this way, excessive deposition of drug dust on the wall can be avoided, a constant increase in the friction between the separating device and the wall is avoided.

The design of the projections according to the invention also ensures in all four embodiments that the friction between the separating device and the wall is reduced due to the reduced contact surface wall / lateral surface compared to storage containers according to the prior art.

Claims (7)

Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for pharmaceutical portions, comprising: a housing (10) enclosing a receiving space (2) for medicament portions with a guide section (11) and a bottom surface (14), an inner wall (3) of the guide section (11) defining a circular cylindrical guide space and the bottom surface (14) being a Dispensing opening (15), a separating device (40) arranged in the guide section (11) of the housing (10) with a central axis of rotation (DA), the separating device (40) having a main section (48) and a plurality of projections (42), each projection ( 42) has two end sections (45) and a middle section (46) and a drug channel (41) is formed in each case between two end sections (45) of adjacent projections, characterized in that the central sections (46) of the projections (42) are withdrawn with respect to at least one of the end sections (45) and the at least one end section (45) of each projection (42) is designed such that its outer surface (451) is in contact the wall (3) of the guide section (11) abuts. Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to claim 1, characterized in that the end sections (45), the lateral surfaces (451) of which lie against the wall (3) of the guide section (11), for all the projections (42) are distributed uniformly. Storage container (1) for a supply and delivery station for pharmaceutical portions according to claim 1, characterized in that both end portions (45) of a projection (42) are designed such that they rest on the wall (3) of the guide section. Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end sections (45) of the projections (42) abutting the wall (3) of the guide section (11) symmetrically about the separating device (40) are distributed. Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for pharmaceutical portions according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the projections (42) at least in the region of the central section (46) with a lateral surface (461) facing the wall (3) Have non-stick coating. Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the separating device (40) has a conical surface (43) with a plurality of recesses (44) aligned with the medicament channels (41) having. Storage container (1) for a supply and dispensing station for medicament portions according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the main section (48) above the medicament channels (41) has recesses (44a).

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