FR2894701A1 - Automatic dispenser for liquids and solids e.g. for prescription medication in hospitals, has two carousels for products and container - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic dispenser, which has systems for data storage and transmission, product storage, distribution and dosing, and container presentation, filling and removal, consists of two motorised carousels (3, 10), one with flasks (4) of twenty different medicaments in regular use, and the other with a series of peripheral cells for containers that receive specified mixtures of medicaments and which are then sealed and labelled. The dispenser is computer-controlled, incorporating software with data pertaining to the prescriptions, prescriber and patient identification, the products to be dispensed, available products and quantities.

Description

AUTOMATE FOR DISPENSING LIQUID OR SOLID PRODUCTS

  relates to a dispensing machine for liquid or solid products. In a preferred embodiment, the subject of the invention is a dispensing automaton for drugs intended to be used in a hospital environment. More precisely, the automaton is able to deliver drugs in quantities that meet pre-registered customized prescriptions. In the remainder of the description, the invention is more particularly described in relation to the dispensing of medicaments in liquid form.

  The size of hospitals and clinics is often defined by the number of beds they own. Depending on the level of occupation of the beds and the pathologies treated, these establishments have a variable medication consumption. However, we are currently seeing a significant number of clinics or hospitals coming together, thus constituting structures of growing size. The delivery of drugs thus becomes a real problem that can be answered by human means or by technological means of the automata type.

  Document US Pat. No. 5,337,919 describes, for example, a dispensing automaton for solid drug forms, in particular capsules or tablets. The proposed system comprises a storage area of the different drugs in the form of fixed individual compartments, arranged side by side on a given height like a cabinet with drawers. Attached laterally to the drug storage area is a storage area for empty containers. The empty containers are moved to the compartments by means of a gripping system. The containers are moved via rails arranged in a frontal position relative to the compartments. In practice, the computer system receives the information concerning the doses to be prepared, as well as the characteristics of the patient, verifies the existence of the drugs in the storage area, stores the positioning of the drug (s) and transmits the information to the sampling system. . Once the containers are filled, they are positioned on a carousel and then evacuated. One of the disadvantages of this machine is that it multiplies the movements of the gripping system to the different compartments, thus increasing the duration of treatment prescriptions.

  Dispensing systems for liquid formulations, in particular in the cosmetics field, are known.

  US-A-5 903 465 thus describes an automaton for preparing cosmetic formulations on demand, in which the different base excipients are stored in individual containers each provided with a dispensing device. The set of distribution devices opens into a single chamber called "mixing chamber", in which the container is positioned to contain the final formulation. In this system, the ends of the nozzles are close to, or even in contact with each other, which has a number of disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that the number of nozzles is necessarily limited by the size of the opening of the container. In practice, the device can hardly dispense more than a dozen products. In addition and above all, the proximity of each of the nozzles prohibits the transfer of the proposed technology to the dispensing of drugs. Indeed, one can run the risk of recovering, in the container, traces of active ingredient that are not part of the basic prescription. In addition, even in the trace state, an active ingredient can influence the chemical stability and therefore the effectiveness of the active ingredient voluntarily withdrawn.

  Document US 2005/0087562 A1 describes a device of the same type as the previous one, the mixture not being made directly in the container, but in a premixing chamber.

  In view of the state of the art known to the Applicant, the problem posed is to develop a dispensing machine for products, in particular liquids, in particular medicaments ensuring rapid treatment of prescriptions, by eliminating any risk of undue drug mixtures. , even in traces.

  In the following description and claims, the term "liquid product", any product whose physical state can go from liquid to pasty. One parameter making it possible to measure such behavior is in particular viscosity.

  To solve the problem, the Applicant has developed a dispensing machine for products, in particular liquids in which the dosage unit is stationary while the products to be dosed are in relative movement with respect to the containers in which the dosages are carried out, allowing thus to shorten the information processing time. More specifically, the subject of the invention is an automated dispensing machine for predetermined quantities of liquid or solid products, whether or not in a mixture, comprising: a means for storing and transmitting data concerning the assays to be performed; for storing and dispensing the products, at least one means for dosing the products, means for storing the receptacles intended to receive the metered product, means for making the empty receptacles available, means for feeding said empty containers at a filling station, opposite the dosing means, a means of evacuation of the filled containers.

  This automaton is characterized in that it comprises: a first means making it possible to ensure the movement of the storage and dispensing means of the products with respect to the dosing means, the metering means being in a fixed position, a second means allowing to move the container from the storage means of said container to the discharge means, through the filling station, the container storage and evacuation means being in a fixed position.

  According to a first characteristic, the means for storing and transmitting data relating to the assays to be performed are in the form of a computer incorporating appropriate software, the data being transmitted to the PLC itself. The software is developed to be able to establish a list of dosages to be performed, to check the presence of products in the PLC, and if necessary, to check if the remaining quantities are sufficient. In the event that the remaining quantity is insufficient, the software transmits a fault signal.

  According to the invention, the automaton contains at least one dosing means. In an advantageous embodiment, the automaton is equipped with a single metering means. According to another feature, the first means for ensuring the movement of the means for storing and dispensing the products relative to the dosing means. , itself fixed, is in the form of a carousel rotated by a motor, all of the storage and distribution means of the products being positioned on all or part of the periphery of said carousel.

  In other words, for each assay to be performed, the product to be delivered is positioned automatically according to the information received by the control PC, at the level of the dosing means. The automaton of the invention is shaped to ensure the distribution of different products, the number of which depends on the size of both the storage means and the carousel.

  When the automaton is intended to dispense liquid products, the means 15 for storing and dispensing the products are in the form of flasks equipped with a dispensing pump, the pump being secured to a pusher intended to come into contact with of the dosing means. Of course, the volume of the bottles can vary. Similarly, bottles of different sizes may be positioned on the carousel although generally it is preferred to use uniformly sized vials distributed over the entire periphery of the carousel. In addition, each bottle is identified by a bar code to verify that it is indeed the product to be dosed. The bar code is read by a reader positioned at the dosing device thus making it possible to deliver the desired product.

  As already stated, the automaton advantageously comprises a single dosing means. In an advantageous embodiment, this metering means is in the form of a column comprising a ball screw driven vertically by a motor, the screw coming to bear on the pusher of the bottle and moving on the height necessary for the obtaining the desired dosage. The distance traveled by the ball screw depends essentially, for a given dosage, the flow rate of the pump and the viscosity of the product to be assayed, when it is liquid products. Other parameters are also likely to influence the dosage, such as in particular the diameter of the pusher, the volume of the meniscus. In other words, it is necessary to calibrate the dosing means for each product, prior to its distribution. To do this, the control computer has a dosage learning program based on derivative proportional type correction.

  According to another feature, the second means for moving the container from the storage means of said container to the discharge means through the filling station, is also in the form of a carousel, mu in rotation by means of a motor, and whose periphery comprises at least one cell for receiving the container.

  In practice, the two carousels are arranged side by side, so that the container intended to be filled reaches the filling station, that is to say the right of the assembly formed by the dosing means and the means of storage and distribution of the chosen product.

  To ensure a completely autonomous distribution of products, the automaton further comprises, in a fixed position at the periphery of the carousel ensuring the supply of empty containers, upstream of the evacuation means, a sealing means, a heat-sealing means operculum and means for labeling the filled container.

  In other words, the carousel animated with a rotational movement step by step ensures the transfer of the container from the storage means to the various stations, respectively: empty container delivery station - filling station, lidding of the container, - container labeling station, - container evacuation station.

  The automaton of the invention is more particularly adapted for use in a hospital environment for dispensing liquid medicaments. In this hypothesis, the automaton also contains a dilution means, in particular by filling excipients of the emulsifying type, positioned at the periphery of the second carousel, between the filling station of active ingredient and the sealing means. a use in hospital, the automaton is equipped with a software allowing to memorize the prescription of a given patient entered manually or coming from the software of the hospital, to verify the existence of the drugs to prescribe, to check if the quantity available is sufficient. The software memory also contains data on the expiry dates of the drugs, thus avoiding any risk of delivering expired drugs. The software then establishes a list of the dosages to be performed, which it sends to the PLC. Once the assays are completed, the software sends the end of cycle information to the hospital software.

  The invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments, in support of the appended figures.

  Figure 1 is a block diagram of the controller. Figure 2 is a side view of all storage and dosing means.

  The invention is more particularly described in connection with the dispensing of liquid medicaments. In this example, the automaton is configured to dispense 20 different drugs, these drugs being representative of the majority of drugs used regularly. Of course, it is conceivable to dispense a larger number of drugs depending on the size of the equipment.

  In Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram of the controller.

  First of all, the automaton is equipped with a computer system designated PC receiving the prescriptions and establishing a list of the dosages to be performed. The link between the computer system and the PLC itself is based on an industrial link protocol. The software part is described in more detail later.

  As shown in this diagram, the automaton has two distinct zones that are the storage area, dosing and dispensing of drugs (1) and the area of provision, filling and evacuation containers containing the prescribed dose (2). The zones are organized around two separate carousels.

  The first carousel (3) supports at its periphery vials (4) containing the drugs to be dosed. The carousel is rotated about a motorized central axis (not shown). As shown in Figure 2, each bottle (4) is provided with a pump (5) surmounted by a pusher (6). In the center of the carousel, in a fixed position, is arranged a column called "metering column" (7) comprising a motorized ball screw (8) causing the vertical movement of an arm (9) intended to bear on the pushers (6). The end of the arm (9) in contact with the pusher is further provided with a bearing probe (9 ') for precisely determining when the arm comes into contact with the pusher. In practice, the distance traveled by the ball screw determines the volume of liquid to be dispensed and is calculated in particular according to the viscosity of the product to be delivered and the diameter of the pump. As already said, before any distribution of new products, the dosing device is calibrated by means of software integrated in the control computer.

  The area of provision, filling and discharge of the container containing the prescribed dose is organized around a second carousel (10) rotated by means of a motor not shown. The carousel (10) has at its periphery a number of cells (11) for receiving the containers in which the drugs are dispensed. The number of locations depends essentially on the number of operations to be performed on the container. In this example, the carousel contains eight locations for receiving the containers. More precisely, the carousel animated with a step-by-step movement leads the receptacles to seven different stations.

  The first station is the delivery station of the container arranged to the right of the storage means (12) empty containers. In practice, the storage means is in the form of a column in which the various containers are nested. The provision of each container, that is to say its insertion into the corresponding cell of the carousel is obtained by a de-stacker not shown.

  Once the empty container positioned on the carousel, it is directed towards the said filling station (13). To allow filling, the two carousels are arranged side by side at a distance such that the pumps (6) are able to pour the contents of the bottles (4) into the empty container at the filling area.

  Once the container filled with the drug, it is led to a dilution means (14) of the type for example emulsifiers. This step is optional depending on the dosing list.

  The container then advances to the lidding area. The lidding of the container is effected by means of a device (15) lidding and consists of affixing a lid on the rim of the container. The thus sealed container then moves to the heat sealing device (16), then to the labeling device (17).

  Finally, the container filled with the prescribed dose sealed, sealed and labeled is evacuated by the device (18).

  The operation of the controller will now be described in detail.

  The computer system integrated in the automaton receives all the prescriptions 15 established by the doctors according to two possible modes. In a first mode, the prescriptions are entered manually by the user. In a second mode, the computer system is directly interfaced with the hospital software.

  In all cases, the following data are stored in the computer system: prescription to be made, identification of the prescriber, identification of the patient, exhaustive list of products that can be assayed, list of products actually on carousel, expiry date of products, list of available quantities.

  In practice, the inventory of the products available in the automaton is subtracted at each dosage. When a product is set up by the user, it is necessary to insert in the computer system the quantity of product put in place. Similarly, when the level of a product reaches a certain threshold below which it is no longer possible to collect, the product is marked as unavailable. The computer system also contains data relating to the date of entry of the prescriptions and the expiry date of the products. In fact, the automaton can not issue prescriptions for a date earlier than the date on which the prescription was entered, just as it can not deliver a medicine whose expiry date has passed.

  Once all these checks have been made, the computer system establishes a list of the dosages to be performed that it transmits to the PLC. The dosage is then launched.

  Prior to performing the assays, the controller initiates an initialization cycle consisting in recognizing the products available on the carousel. The carousel on which are arranged the different drug vials and rotates step by step so as to allow the reading of each bar code by the reader positioned at the filling station.

  The dosing cycle then starts. In a first step, the bottle containing the drug to be dosed is positioned at the right of the metering column, that is to say at the filling station. The barcode reader reads the barcode on the bottle containing the drug being dosed to verify that it is indeed the desired drug. At the same time, the unstacker of containers takes an empty container at the empty container storage means, and then inserts it into the corresponding cell of the carousel. The carousel animated with a rotary movement step by step then advances the empty container to the filling station. Once the container is in position, the dosage is made by pressing the arm of the dosing column on the pusher for a suitable vertical distance. Once the dosage has been carried out, the container can be taken to the next station or remain in place if the list of dosages to be performed provides a mixture of two or more active ingredients in the same container. Once dosing is complete, the carousel rotates to drive the pot to the dilution device. In the next step, rotation of the carousel drives the container to a sealing station. At the next station, the cover is heat sealed. Then, with a new rotation of the carousel, the sealed and heat-sealed container reaches a labeling station. A label comprising all the characteristics relating to the contents of the container and to the identity of the patient is then affixed to the container to be completed. In the last step, the container is evacuated and taken directly by the user.

  For any new drug, the controller initiates a learning cycle. As already mentioned, the learning cycle is used to calibrate a new product to be dispensed. An abacus according to each drug is stored in a learning table of the database. The learning is based on a proportional type correction derived with the characteristics of the selected drug (density of the drug, weight of the empty pot). The automatism establishes the theoretical curve of dosage using four series of additional dosages. The automatism corrects the ribs, to reach the theoretical dosage with the tolerance close. Proportional and derivative factors make it possible to act on the correction. The calibration itself consists of four parts (zones A, B, C and D).

  Calibration of zone A: The automation puts pressure on the metering device by a known distance. The operator then measures the quantity dosed and informs the computer system. The whole height of the column is filled in this way. When the zone is validated, the computer system performs a correction of the ribs and stores its values.

  Calibration of zone B: The same principle is applied as in zone A, with correction n 1 as pressure gradient on the metering device.

  Calibration of the zone C: Same principle as the zone A with the correction n 2 as pressure coast on the doser.

  Calibration of zone D: Same principle as zone A with correction n 3 as pressure rating on the metering unit.

  The data set is then processed by the computer system which derives an abacus from it. The invention and the advantages which ensue therefrom stand out from the foregoing description. In particular, we note the ability of the controller to deliver products at a fast processing speed. The PLC is particularly flexible since it allows the selection of a large number of active principles and incorporates a computer system pointed, including a learning phase dosing of new drugs.

Claims (4)

  1 / Automate for dispensing pre-determined quantities of liquid or solid products, mixed or not, comprising: - means for storing and transmitting data relating to the assays to be performed, - means for storing and dispensing the products, at least one means for dosing the products, means for storing the receptacles intended to receive the metered product, means for making the empty receptacles available, means for feeding said empty receptacles to a filling station, facing the dosing means, a means of evacuation of the filled containers. characterized in that it comprises: a first means for ensuring the movement of the storage and dispensing means of the products relative to the dosing means, the metering means being in a fixed position, a second means for to move the container from the storage means, from said container to the discharge means, through the filling station, the means for storing and evacuating the container being in a fixed position. 2 / PLC according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a single metering means. 3 / PLC according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first means for ensuring the movement of the storage and dispensing means of the products relative to the dosing means, is in the form of a carousel mu in rotation by a motor, all of the storage and distribution means of the products being positioned on all or part of the periphery of said carousel. 4 / PLC according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when it is intended for the distribution of liquid products, the storage and dispensing means of the products are in the form of bottles with a dispensing pump , the pump being secured to a pusher intended to come into contact with the dosing means. 5 / Automaton according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing means is in the form of a column comprising a screw ball driven vertically by a motor. 6 / PLC according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second means for moving the container from the storage means of said container to the discharge means through the filling station, is presented also in the form of a carousel, mu rotated by means of a motor, and whose periphery comprises at least one cell for receiving the container. 7 / PLC according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the two carousels are arranged side by side. 8 / A machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises, in a fixed position, at the periphery of the carousel ensuring the supply of empty containers, upstream of the evacuation means, a sealing means, a heat sealing means of the lid and means for labeling the filled container. 9 / A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that when it is intended for the distribution of liquid products, it further contains a dilution means, positioned at the periphery of the second carousel, between the filling station and the d lidding. 10 / PLC according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the products are drugs. 11 / An automaton according to claim 10, characterized in that it is equipped with software for storing the prescription of a given patient entered manually or from the software of the hospital, to check the existence of drugs to prescribe, 30 to check the available amount of drug, to establish a list of dosages to be performed.