ES2764391T3 - Medicine collection system and method to collect medicines - Google Patents

Abstract

Drug collection system (1), comprising: - a wall (2) with at least one dispensing unit (6), said at least one dispensing unit (6) comprising a tank (8) to house solid drugs ( 18), such as pills or tablets, a dispensing opening (9), connected to the reservoir (8), the dispensing aperture (9) comprising dosing means for dispensing a solid drug (18) from the reservoir (8) to the dispensing opening (9); - a collection area, surrounded by the wall (2), the collection area comprising a series of collection columns (12), movable along the wall (2) and said at least one dispensing opening (9) , each collection column (12) comprising at least one receiving opening (13), wherein said at least one receiving opening (13) is aligned with said at least one dispensing opening (9) in at least one position of said collection column (12); and - a data processing unit, to control the movement of the collection columns (12) and of the dosing means; - a means of transport (4) with at least one receptacle, movable by the means of transport (4), wherein the upper part of said at least one receptacle is adjacent to the bottom of one of the collection columns (12) in at least one position of said one collection column (12) and at least one position of said at least one receptacle in the conveying means (4); characterized in that - the wall (2) is cylindrical, in which a carousel (3) rotates; and - the carousel (3) is arranged inside the wall and said carousel has a central axis (10) and several arms (11) at the outer end of which the collection columns (12) are arranged.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Medicine collection system and method to collect medicines

The invention relates to a drug collection system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a drug collection system is known from WO 2013/034504 A1. Due to their health, many people require one or more types of medications. As the number and / or types of drugs required increases, it is preferred to pre-package such drugs, particularly pills, using drug collection systems to collect the drugs, in a drug packaging system, to package the collected pills in a container, and optionally to provide said container with instructions on the use of the medications within the container.

Said medication collection systems may comprise containers, the containers comprising a solid medicine container and an opening in the drawer. These drawers are arranged in a frame. These medication collection systems have a number of disadvantages.

The tablets released from the containers are released into the drawer and then collected at a central location. Due to such construction, many pills can be transferred to the medication collection system along the same path. This can increase the chance of medication damage and clogging of the medication collection system. To resolve the system clog, the system must be temporarily shut down and may have to be disassembled, which is expensive and inefficient.

Furthermore, in such a drug collection system, replacing an empty container is also onerous as it requires the operator to pull out the drawer, search for the container to replace it among the other containers in the drawer, and replace the container, which often requires a temporary closure of the drug collection system.

Furthermore, it is known that, due to the length of the collection route, in many of the currently available drug collection systems, pills may eventually be delivered in the wrong packaging, thus causing further inefficiencies in the first place, and possibly consequences of Serious and perhaps fatal health for the user of the package when taking a medicine by mistake.

Taken together, the currently available drug collection systems are error prone, cumbersome, slow and inefficient.

Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a drug collection system and a method for collecting drugs using said drug collection system in which the above mentioned drawbacks are reduced or even obviated.

This object is achieved by a drug collection system according to claim 1.

The drug collection system comprises at least one dispensing unit with a reservoir from which solid drugs are dispensed into a dispensing opening by the dosing means. The dispensing opening opens into a collecting area, where at least one collecting column is movable along the wall, so that a receiving opening of the collecting column can be placed adjacent to the dispensing opening. of the dispensing unit.

The dosing means may comprise, for example, a plate that covers the dispensing opening in a closed position, but may also have an appearance as described, for example, in one of the preferred embodiments below.

The data processing unit is used to assign at least one collection column to an order for a patient, and accordingly to synchronize the movement of a collection column along the wall with the movement of the dosing means of So that a receiving opening of the assigned collection column is adjacent to the dispensing opening when dispensing the medication on order for the patient. While the medication collection system may have only one collection column, the efficiency of the system is further enhanced if more than one collection column is provided, as it allows simultaneous processing of multiple orders. It can also allow for faster order processing, as order picking time is reduced. When more collection columns are provided this also has the advantage that individual collection columns can be temporarily removed from the system for cleaning without requiring temporary shutdown of the entire system. In such a case, the collection columns are preferably different colors to facilitate scheduling of alternative maintenance to the collection columns. collection.

Preferably, the drug collection system comprises more than one dispensing unit that can be stacked on top of each other. The height of the dispensing units stacked on top of each other is preferably not greater than the height of an average person, so that an operator can maintain all the dispensing units without requiring additional tools such as ladders, thus increasing the speed of maintenance. For the most common dispensing units, this means that the number of dispensing units stacked on top of each other is preferably not more than five.

Increasing the number of dispensing units will also, in general, provide the ability to provide backup units of a dispensing unit in the drug collection system with a type of pill for use when the main dispensing unit is of the same type. Pill is empty, although the system may also issue timely warnings to an operator to maintain the dispensing unit when the number of pills in a dispensing unit is low.

The drug collection system according to the invention is more preferably connected to one or more other drug collection systems, which may be a drug collection system according to the invention. Preferably, the data processing units of the individual systems may be connected to each other to allow coordination in the processing of an order. Even more preferably, the drug collection system or the set of drug collection systems is connected to a drug packaging system, such as, for example, the drug packaging system disclosed in the application filed by the applicant in the same date as the current application. It has been shown that the connection of at least one drug collection system according to the invention to said drug packaging system can allow packaging rates of up to 0.5 seconds per package. Most preferably, the arrangement of the drug collection systems is such that an operator can easily walk around all parts of the arrangement to increase ease of maintenance. By attaching closure means at the bottom of the collection column, the medicine dispensing system can at least temporarily keep the collected medicines in a closed state. When the transfer of the medications to a secondary system, such as a transport system to further process the order, is required, the closing means is moved to an open state.

The secondary system preferably comprises transport means with at least one receptacle, in which the at least one receptacle can be aligned with the bottom of the collection column. This allows for easy transfer of the contents of a collection column assigned to a receptacle on transport media that process the same order, and allows the contents of the collection column to merge with the content of other collection columns, which can be in another medication collection system, or may allow transfer to a packaging system.

In a preferred embodiment of the drug collection system according to the invention, the reservoir comprises a reservoir opening connected to a first end of the dosing means, in which the dispensing opening is connected to the other end of the dosing means, and wherein the dosing means comprise a rotor with at least one cavity for a medicament, wherein the rotor is at least rotatable between a position with the cavity aligned with the opening of the reservoir and a position with the cavity aligned with the dispensing opening.

In this embodiment, the dosing means, comprising a rotor, are arranged between the reservoir and the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, to control the dispensing process by the rotor. The rotor can be controlled by the data processing unit of the medication collection system to ensure that an order pill is in the cavity aligned with the dispensing opening when the order column receiving opening assigned to the order is adjacent to the dispensing opening. The dimensions of the cavity are adequate to transfer the medicine in the reservoir to the dispensing opening in the collection column.

Preferably, the rotor is provided with more than one rotating cavity between a position with the cavity aligned with the reservoir opening and a position with the cavity aligned with the dispensing opening. A larger number of such cavities increases the release rate, since the rotor may not require complete rotation to dispense a tablet in the collection column.

The cavity may comprise a channel that is aligned with the reservoir opening at all rotor positions, but is only aligned with the dispensing opening at a reduced number of rotor positions. In another preferred embodiment of the drug collection system according to the invention, the dispensing units are arranged next to each other along the circumference of the collection area.

The at least partial arrangement of the dispensing units next to each other increases the amount of dispensing units arranged in the drug collection system and therefore increases the types of pills dispensed from the system.

In the medicine collection system according to the invention, the collection area is cylindrical and in which the at least one collection column is arranged on a rotary axis arranged axially in the cylindrical collection area.

The arrangement of the wall of the dispensing units around a cylindrical collecting area with the at least one collecting column moving along the circumference of the cylindrical collecting area along the wall of the dispensing units, the At least one collection column arranged on a rotary axis arranged axially in the collection area allows easy movement of the collection columns in the collection process, since the movement is carried out simply by rotating the rotary axis. As a consequence, chains or rails along the circumference of the collection area are therefore only optional. Using a rotating shaft to drive the collection columns can also reduce the amount of maintenance required for the medicine collection system and can also reduce energy consumption.

Preferably, the closure means is a diaphragm plug.

A diaphragm shutter is a closing means comprising a series of blades connected to each other, closing an opening at the bottom of the collection column in its closed state, and which can be established in its open state by rotation of the individual blades along individual blade axes, the blade axes of which are preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the collection column. Such a closing means can be easily and reliably switched between the closed and open state and thus avoids misalignments of the collecting column and the secondary system.

More preferably, the closing means is controlled by the data processing unit.

The data processing unit preferably synchronizes the movement of the secondary system and the collection column assigned to an order. The control of the means of closing the collection column by the data processing unit allows the assigned collection column and the assigned location in a secondary system in said process to come close to each other in a closed position of the column. Pickup, and the quick release of content from the Pickup Column in the secondary system when the assigned position of the secondary system is adjacent to the bottom of the Collection Column. This reduces the possibility of a wrong dose, such as the dose in the wrong position in the secondary system.

In a preferred embodiment of the drug collection system according to the invention, the dispensing units are detachably attached to the wall.

The detachable fixing of the dispensing units to the wall allows more complete maintenance of the dispensing units and the system, and also increases the ease of refilling the dispensing units when they are empty.

In another preferred embodiment of the drug collection system according to the invention, the dispensing units comprise a label, and a sensor for reading the label of the dispensing unit is arranged on the wall, the sensor being connected to the processing unit. data.

The labels on the dispensing units, such as, for example, RFID tags, can provide information on the type and number of tablets in the dispensing units. Such information can be read by a sensor in the medication collection system and allows the data processing unit to determine the type and quantity of pills available at each position on the wall of the dispensing units, and therefore allows easy processing of an order to the system. It also allows the data processing unit to issue a warning to an operator when a dispensing unit is almost or completely empty.

The operator can overwrite the label with the type and quantity of tablets in the dispenser unit reservoir, or the number of tablets added during filling. When the operator is instructed to completely fill the reservoir when removing it with the same type of tablet as before removing it from the wall, the number of tablets can also be calculated with a reasonable margin of safety and the label can automatically reset to the number calculated when removed from the wall.

The object of the invention is further achieved with a method for collecting medicines, which comprises the steps of:

- moving the at least one collection column of a medicine collection system according to the invention along the circumference of the collection area and,

- while moving, collecting drugs in the at least one collection column from the dispensing opening of the dispensing units adjacent to the collection column.

Movement of the at least one collection column of the drug collection system allows drugs on the wall to be collected in a central location prior to further processing, such as in a secondary system. Medications are released from the dispensing unit when the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit is aligned with the receiving opening of the collection column.

In a preferred embodiment of the method for collecting drugs, the method comprises the steps of:

- providing the data processing unit with at least one order comprising the number and type of pills requested for a patient;

- assign a collection column to the order provided by the data processing unit;

- determining at least one dispensing unit provided with pills in the medicine collection system from the information in a memory by the data processing unit; and

- moving the collecting column assigned by the data processing unit along at least one determined dispensing unit to align the receiving opening of the assigned collecting column with the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit; and

- controlling the dosing means by the data processing unit for dosing a medicine through the dispensing opening.

The data processing unit is provided with at least one order comprising the number and type of pills required in the order and the data processing unit is used to coordinate the movement of the elements of the drug collection system, such such as the collection column or columns assigned to the order, the dosing means of a dispensing unit and possibly the closing means or the links to secondary systems, to increase the collection efficiency.

The data processing unit can, for example, determine the shortest path along the dispensing units, depending on the content of the order, and can accordingly synchronize the collection process with the secondary system, and consequently can release collected medications when appropriate.

These and other elements of the invention will be clarified further in the following figures.

Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of an embodiment of a drug collection system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another detail in cross-sectional view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of an embodiment 1 of a drug collection system according to the invention.

The medicine collection system 1 has a cylindrical wall 2, in turn a carousel 3. A transport system 4 is provided for transporting medicines, collected by the collection system 1 to, for example, a packaging station 5, in The medicines are packed in plastic bags and labeled.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of a detail of the embodiment 1 of figure 1. On the outside of the wall 2, several dispensing units 6 are arranged one below the other. Each dispensing unit has a drive mechanism 7 in which a container or reservoir 8 is arranged. The drive mechanism 7 is coupled to the container 8. By driving the container 8, an article of the drug is dispensed through a dispensing opening. dispensing 9, which empties through wall 2.

Inside the wall 2, a carousel 3 is arranged with a central axis 10 and a series of arms 11 on which the outer end collection columns 12 are arranged. Preferably, the collection columns 12 are arranged side by side the other along the entire periphery of carousel 3.

Each collecting column 12 has several receiving openings or funnels 13 corresponding to the dispensing openings 9 of a column of dispensing units 6. A closure 14 is provided at the bottom of each collecting column 12, through which the Collected medicines can be unloaded into a receptacle, which is then transported through the transport system 4.

Figure 3 shows another detail in cross-sectional view of Figure 2.

The dispensing unit 6 has a reservoir 8 with a sloping bottom wall 15. At the bottom 15 a metering rotor 16 is provided, which is driven by a motor 17 of the drive mechanism. By rotating the dosing rotor 16, the pellets 18 separate and can be fed into the dispensing opening 9 one by one.

A counter can be provided to count the number of tablets dispensed through the dispensing opening 9, to ensure that the correct number of tablets is dispensed.

A dispensed wafer 18 will drop through the dispensing opening, through wall 2, into funnel 13 in take-up column 12.

Typically, carousel 3 will rotate at a constant speed and a controller will control dispensing units 6 so that the correct medications for a batch are dispensed into the correct collection column. This ensures that after a complete revolution of a collection column in the carousel, all the medications required for a specific order are collected in the collection column and the collected medications can be discharged through the lock 14 into a receptacle in the system Transport 4.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the closure 14. The closure 14 is a diaphragm plug with a series of blades 19, which can be rotated radially outwards by actuating a cam 20 of a plug mechanism, so that a opening in the center. This has the advantage that the collected drugs fall directly and are not damaged by the closure 14.

Claims (10)

1. Medicine collection system (1), which includes: - a wall (2) with at least one dispensing unit (6), said at least one dispensing unit (6) comprising a reservoir (8) for housing solid medicines (18), such as tablets or tablets, an opening for dispensing (9), connected to the tank (8), the dispensing opening (9) comprising dosing means for dosing a solid medicine (18) from the tank (8) to the dispensing opening (9); - a collection area, surrounded by the wall (2), the collection area comprising a series of collection columns (12), movable along the wall (2) and said at least one dispensing opening (9) , each collection column (12) comprising at least one receiving opening (13), wherein said at least one receiving opening (13) is aligned with said at least one dispensing opening (9) in at least one position of said collection column (12); and - a data processing unit, to control the movement of the collection columns (12) and the dosing means; - transport means (4) with at least one receptacle, movable by the transport means (4), wherein the upper part of said at least one receptacle is adjacent to the bottom of one of the collection columns (12) in at least one position of said a collecting column (12) and at least one position of said at least one receptacle in the transport means (4); characterized by that - the wall (2) is cylindrical, in which a carousel (3) rotates; and - the carousel (3) is arranged inside the wall and said carousel has a central axis (10) and several arms (11) on whose outer end the collection columns (12) are arranged. 2. A drug collection system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir (8) comprises a reservoir opening connected to a first end of the dosing means, wherein the dispensing opening (9) is connected to the another end of the dosing means, and wherein the dosing means comprise a rotor (16) with at least one cavity for a medicament, where the rotor (16) is at least rotatable between a position in which the cavity is aligned with the reservoir opening and a position where the cavity is aligned with the dispensing opening (9). 3. Medicine collection system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing units (6) are arranged next to each other along the circumference of the collection area. 4. Medicine collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said collection columns comprises closing means (14) arranged in its lower part. 5. Medicine collection system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the closure means (14) are a diaphragm closure. 6. Medicine collection system (1) according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the closing means (14) are controlled by the data processing unit. 7. Medicine collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing units (6) are detachably attached to the wall (2). 8. Medicine collection system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one dispensing unit (6) comprises a label, and wherein a sensor for reading the label is arranged on the wall (2) , the sensor being connected to the data processing unit. 9. Method for collecting medications (18), comprising the steps of: - moving the collection columns (12) of a medicine collection system (1) according to any of the previous claims along the circumference of the collection area and, - while moving, collect medications (18) in at least one of the collection columns (12) from the dispensing openings (9) of the dispensing units (6) adjacent to said at least one collection column (12) . 10. Method for collecting drugs (18) according to claim 9, comprising the steps of: - providing the data processing unit with at least one order, comprising the number and type of pills (18) requested for a patient; - assigning one of the collection columns (12) to the order provided to the data processing unit; - determining with the data processing unit at least one dispensing unit (6) provided with tablets (18) from said at least one dispensing unit of the medicine collection system (1) using the information from a memory; and - moving the collection column (12) assigned by the data processing unit along said at least one determined dispensing unit (6) to align at least one of the reception openings (13) of the collection column (12) assigned with the dispensing opening (9) of said at least one determined dispensing unit (6); and - controlling the dosing means by the data processing unit for dosing a medicine (18) through the dispensing opening (9).