JP2003529498A - Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A fully automated pharmaceutical product packaging machine (10) is capable of selectively depositing one or more different solid pharmaceutical products into an individual cavity for each of a plurality of individual patient product package cavities (17). The system employs a plurality of solid pharmaceutical product dispensing canisters which are capable of selectively dispensing a pre-designated number of solid pharmaceutical product (15). The machine fills a template containing temporary storage cavities and the template is automatically positioned over a sheet of clear plastic material containing a plurality of cavities corresponding to the cavities in the template (17). A barrier between the cavities in the template and the sheet of clear plastic material is moved and the pharmaceuticals in the template cavities drop into the corresponding cavities in the clear plastic sheet of material. The clear plastic sheet of material is then manoeuvred into subsequent product packaging stations and the template is returned to beneath the canister region.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of automated drug packaging machines. More specifically, the present invention simultaneously fills a product packaging template with the desired solid drug dosing requirements, while simultaneously sealing a final package containing a plurality of individual patient doses. Oriented to automated drug packaging machines.

[0002]

[Prior art]

Currently, there is a wide variety of available automated drug packaging machines.
Most of these machines are designed to package only one drug product in a drug wrap. These machines generally transfer individual doses of solid drug product into a cavity formed in a transparent plastic carver member. Usually, the cavities are formed in a single sheet of transparent plastic material and corresponding solid drug products are loaded by the filling machine. Once the solid drug component is placed in the cavity, the backing material is then adhesively attached to a clear plastic sheet to seal the solid drug product in the cavity.

These automated machines meet most of the packaging requirements for solid drug products in which a single product is to be packaged. However, especially in controlled care facilities, there is a great need for automated drug packaging machines that can selectively dispense one or more drugs into each of the individual cavities of a drug product package.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Managed care facilities now use patient-specific packaging that provides all the patient's prescription drug requirements for a given time period. Conventional packaging solutions generally employ a solid drug product package card that contains all the prescribed patient doses for one week. Each dose of one or more drugs is contained in a clear plastic cavity. These dose cards usually have 3 to 4 different clear plastic cavities for any given day, corresponding to each prescribed dosing time as required by the patient's medication. There is. Currently, it is possible to selectively fill multiple different dosing cavities with multiple different solid drug doses for a single patient, and even seal the packaging cavities simultaneously. There is no automated system.

As a result, in controlled care facilities, more time consuming processing needs to be performed in order to create packages containing patient doses of solid medication for a given period of time. Thus, one or more solid drug products can be automatically selected and placed into multiple drug therapy packages for a patient, while the other can be simultaneously sealed to further process the solid drug product package. There remains a need in the art for an automated drug packaging machine that can.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and also allows one or more different solid drug products to be selectively placed within individual cavities for each of a plurality of individual patient product packaging cavities. Provide a fully automated drug product packaging machine. The system described below is a computer controlled and fully automated machine employing multiple solid drug product dispensing cans. Each of these solid drug dispensing cans can selectively dispense a pre-specified number of solid drug products. The can is programmable and is operated by a computer controller. These cans allow the individual pills to be selected regardless of their size or shape and are commercially available.

The system of the present invention employs an array of cans arranged in a mechanical feed mechanism. Each can is designed to feed a funnel or trough that delivers the selectively dispensed solid drug product from one of the cans into the cavity of the product packaging template. It is also configured so that multiple agents can be selected for only one cavity member. This process is repeated for each of the multiple cavities of the template corresponding to the cavities in a single sheet or card that provides the patient's dosage requirements for a given period of time. It

For example, a single sheet could generally contain all of the solid drug product prescribed for a patient for a week. The patient's doctor is 3 a week
It is possible to prescribe one or four different medications, so the medication card will generally have between 21 and 28 different individual cavities. Each of the cavities,
It is designed to hold the amount of solid drug required for the patient's medication requirements.
Once the template with temporary storage cavity for each combination of drugs is filled,
The template is automatically positioned on a sheet of transparent plastic material having a plurality of cavities corresponding to the cavities of the template. The partition between the template cavity and the sheet of clear plastic material is shifted or moved so that the drug in the template cavity falls into the corresponding cavity of the sheet of clear plastic material. The sheet of clear plastic material is then steered to the subsequent product packaging station and the template is returned below the can area. The template member spans a range of travel defined by the XY axes such that each cavity of the template is selectively positioned below the delivery mechanism for transfer of the drug contained in the can. It can be moved selectively.

The system then simultaneously fills the templates with either the same patient dosing requirement for another week, or another another patient dosing requirement for a predetermined period of time. While the template is being filled, a sheet of clear plastic material now containing each of the solid drug doses for the first patient is then simultaneously enclosed,
The prescribed drug is packaged into a final package that is given to the patient and the person caring for the patient as the product package is administered.

Advantageously, the machine saves a great deal of time by simultaneously filling the templates and, on the other hand, further packaging the preselected drug. The present invention employs commercially available cans to selectively dispense the desired amount of solid drug product. To complete the packaging process, a sheet of backing material is attached to the clear plastic member to enclose the drug product within the clear plastic cavity as is known in the art. The machine of the present invention utilizes a pneumatically controlled automated machine for packaging and handling products. In addition, the system of the present invention includes a drug product packaging station and a sealing station.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One implementation of a fully automated drug product packaging machine capable of selectively containing one or more different solid drug products within individual cavities for each of a plurality of individual patient product packaging cavities. An example is shown generally at 10 in FIG. The computer 12 is linked to the various components of the system and controls the operation of each of them. This system employs a plurality of solid drug product dispensing cans, each mounted on the drug dispensing mechanism 15. Drug dispensers are commercially available products. Each of the solid drug dispensing cans disposed within drug dispensing mechanism 15 is capable of selectively dispensing a predesignated number of solid drug products. Each can is independently programmable and operated via the computer controller 12. The can allows individual pills to be selected regardless of their size or shape.

Each can is positioned within a drug dispensing mechanism to supply a funnel or trough that delivers the solid drug product selectively dispensed from one or more cans into the product packaging template 17. This step is performed for each of the plurality of cavity portions of the template 17 corresponding to the cavity portion of the single sheet or card which is composed of the cavity portion of the package that prepares the patient's required dosage for a predetermined period. Is repeated. The template member 17 is such that each cavity of the template 17 is selectively positioned below the delivery mechanism of the mechanism 15 for transferring drug contained in a can located within the medication dispensing mechanism 15. In addition, it is possible to selectively move over the range of motion limited by the XY axes. The dispensing mechanism 15 has a plurality of cans controlled by signals from a computer. Each of the cans can have a separate address so that the cans only respond to the commands intended for the selected can.

FIG. 1 further illustrates a cart 19 in which the computer controller 12 is conveniently located. The mobile cart 19 could also provide a location for pneumatically driven generators used to drive stations on the machine. The package transfer trajectory is shown at 22 and provides a mechanism for transferring the drug product package 23 between each of the other stations of the machine. The lift mechanism 24 starts the transfer 2
The drug product package 23 filled from 2 is lifted and transferred.

The product package dispensing unit is shown at 27 and also transfers empty package members onto transfer track 22. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more product package dispensing members are used to transfer a portion of the package to the filling machine. The system of the present invention further comprises a product packaging sealing station 3
0 and the printing station 32. The product package dispensing unit 27 is shown adjacent to the printing station 32, however, it is preferred that each package dispensing station be located adjacent to or near the drug product dispensing unit 15. This eliminates the movement of product packaging during the manufacturing process,
Furthermore, the filling of the drug packaging template can be performed simultaneously with the sealing and / or further processing of another package member.

Each of the cavities of the drug product package is capable of holding a volume of solid drug required for a patient's dosage requirements. Once the template 17 with the temporary storage cavities for each combination of drugs is filled, the template is of a drug product package having a sheet of clear plastic material with multiple cavities. Positioned automatically above the portion. The cavity of transparent plastic material corresponds to the cavity of the template. The partition between the cavities in the template 17 and the transparent sheet of plastic material is such that when the desired number of cavities are filled and the drug in the cavity of the template falls into the corresponding cavity in the transparent plastic sheet. Be moved.

The sheet of transparent plastic material is then steered in the vicinity of the at least one packaging sealing member, and the now-filled combination of plastic sheet and sealing member is then fed along the transfer track 22 into the product packaging. Sealing station 30
Transferred to. While this is happening, the template 17 is returned to below the drug distribution mechanism 15.

The system 10 then simultaneously fills the template with either another week's dosing requirement for the same patient, or a predetermined period of dosing requirement for another patient. While the template 17 is being filled, the clear plastic sheet now containing each of the solid drug doses for the first patient is then simultaneously enclosed,
The sealing station 30 seals the final package provided to the patient or the caregiver of the patient so that the prescribed drug is dispensed from the product package. A sheet of backing is attached to the clear plastic member to enclose the drug product within the clear plastic cavity, as is known in the art.

Advantageously, the machine saves a great deal of time by filling the templates at the same time while also packaging the preselected drug. The machine of the present invention desirably utilizes a pneumatically controlled automated machine for packaging and manipulating products, however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the machine of the present invention may be either We recognize that it is powered by conventional or future developed drive mechanisms. For example, stepper motors may be used for mechanical operation of various elements as described above.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the system described above with reference to FIG. Figure 2
6 illustrates the relative spacing of the various manufacturing stations described above. It will be appreciated that the empty product package dispensing station 27 is in fact preferably located adjacent to the drug dispensing station 15. Furthermore, those skilled in the art
It will be appreciated that additional product package dispensing stations may be included between the sealing station 30 and the drug dispensing mechanism depending on the number of distinct packaging elements that will be sealed together by the sealing station 30.

FIG. 3 shows the drug product dispensing unit 15 and the template member 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the drug product dispensing unit 15 includes structural support members 36, 37, 3 and 3.
Supported by 8. Control line 42 connects the can to the computer so that the desired medication is dispensed by the machine. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the packaging sealing station 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the product package transfer track 22 runs directly below the sealing station 30. Sealing station 30 may be comprised of any conventional sealing mechanism. For example, the sealing station 30 may use heat, or pressure, or some type of electromagnetic radiation, or a combination of these sealing techniques to cure any adhesive that has been previously applied to the product packaging. Will be applicable. One important feature is that these structural relationships allow the product templates to be filled at the same time, while still allowing another filled package to be sealed or otherwise further processed. That is the point.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional printing station mounted above the drug product package transfer track 22. The station prints information on the sealed product package, such as patient identification, time and date the medication was prescribed, content information and / or expiration date information, and other relevant information. Importantly, this station can also operate in parallel and independently of the drug dispensing station 15.

FIG. 6 shows a drug product package dispensing station 27. The station is further typified by known automated product package dispensers. The station is preferably mounted adjacent to the product package transfer track 22 so that the product packages or partial packages are easily installed on the track members 22. As will be appreciated, one or more of these stations are preferably located between the sealing station 30 and the dispensing station 15.

FIG. 7 shows an automated device 24 for automatically removing a finished product package from the transfer track 22. FIG. 7 also shows the completed package located on the transfer mechanism 42 mounted on the product package transfer track 22.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 illustrates an automated can dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 4 illustrates a machine used to transfer solid drug from a template into a sheet of clear plastic material having a cavity for receiving a solid drug product.

FIG. 5 shows a machine for selectively sealing a backing member onto a transparent plastic sheet.

FIG. 6 illustrates a machine used to dispense card backing.

FIG. 7 shows a machine used to lift finished products from an assembly line.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Bagley, Stuart             33762 Ku, Florida, United States             Rearwater Automobile Bourg             Bird 12920 (72) Inventor Stephenson, Michael             33762 Ku, Florida, United States             Rearwater Automobile Bourg             Bird 12920 F-term (reference) 3E118 AA20 AB07 BA01 BA09 CA06                       CA10 CA18 EA06 FA07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method of filling a package of solid drug products, comprising: selectively dispensing one or more solid drug products from a plurality of different drug sources into a plurality of product packaging template cavities. And a step of transferring the solid medicine contained in the cavity of the product packaging template into the corresponding cavity of the product packaging member, the method for filling the package of the solid medicine product. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of simultaneously sealing another solid drug package pre-filled with various solid drugs during the step of selectively dispensing the solid drug product. the method of. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of printing information on the solid drug package. 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of printing information on the solid drug package. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising dispensing the first and second agents from the first and second canisters into a single template cavity at least substantially simultaneously. 6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of dispensing the first and second agents from the first and second canisters into a single template cavity at least substantially simultaneously.