US20060277870A1 - System and method for removing medication from packaging - Google Patents

System and method for removing medication from packaging Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060277870A1
US20060277870A1 US11/150,995 US15099505A US2006277870A1 US 20060277870 A1 US20060277870 A1 US 20060277870A1 US 15099505 A US15099505 A US 15099505A US 2006277870 A1 US2006277870 A1 US 2006277870A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
blister
medication
pharmaceutical
positioning mechanism
doses
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/150,995
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeff Feehan
Todd Siegel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MTS Medication Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
MTS Medication Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MTS Medication Technologies Inc filed Critical MTS Medication Technologies Inc
Priority to US11/150,995 priority Critical patent/US20060277870A1/en
Assigned to MTS MEDICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. reassignment MTS MEDICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FEEHAN, JEFF, SIEGEL, TODD
Priority to GB0522925A priority patent/GB2427138B/en
Priority to DE102006016942A priority patent/DE102006016942A1/de
Publication of US20060277870A1 publication Critical patent/US20060277870A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
    • A61J1/035—Blister-type containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
    • B65B69/005—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by expelling contents, e.g. by squeezing the container
    • B65B69/0058—Solid contents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates, in general, to the field of medication dispenser systems. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method which may be used for dispensing medication from blister packages into custom pharmaceutical packages.
  • the present invention overcomes the shortcomings and the deficiencies of the prior art and is directed to systems and methods which solve or at least substantially reduce the problems associated with existing pharmaceutical and medication dispenser systems.
  • an individual receives one or more prescriptions from a doctor, and a pharmacy provides a pre-determined supply of each medication properly distributed amongst cavities of a single container, sometimes called a custom pharmaceutical package.
  • Each cavity in the container is labeled for a different day or time of day to ensure that the patient takes the proper medication and dosage throughout the time period prescribed by the doctor.
  • the individual simply accesses the proper individual cavity to retrieve the correct dose of medication(s).
  • a container is divided in both the x and y direction into a plurality of individual cavities.
  • the labels in the x direction are, for example, the days of the week: “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” etc.
  • the labels in the y direction are, for example, “Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Bedtime,” etc.
  • the present invention is directed to a system and method for directly transferring medications provided in blister packs to custom pharmaceutical product packages based on a particular patient's needs.
  • the medication dispensing system and method employs a de-blister apparatus, holding bracket, and funnel all mounted to a cantilevered arm, a positioning mechanism to allow the de-blister apparatus to be moved in two directions, a sealing paddle in which an empty custom pharmaceutical package is placed, and a templated structure with a pre-defined matrix of holes formed therein such that the sealing paddle slides in underneath the templated structure.
  • the de-blister apparatus includes a means for removing individual doses from a blister pack.
  • this means is implemented as a plunger that protrudes in a downward direction and moves in a vertical direction between two extreme positions.
  • the plunger is driven by, for example, a solenoid disposed within the de-blister apparatus package.
  • a holding bracket Positioned below the de-blister apparatus and also connected to the cantilevered arm is a holding bracket upon which a funnel is attached. Once a pharmaceutical blister pack is positioned over the funnel and across the bracket, the plunger is displaced by the solenoid contact with each of the blisters to remove the medication dose from the blister-pack such that the dose falls into the funnel.
  • the funnel helps to guide the pharmaceutical once it is freed from the blister-pack to one of the cavities in the custom pharmaceutical package.
  • screw-axes could be added in addition to, or in place of, the slide-axes.
  • the de-blister apparatus could be utilized under computer control, such that the screw-axes are utilized to control the position of the de-blister apparatus in the x and y directions.
  • the computer can be programmed to automatically transfer each dose in the blister package to its requisite cavity in the custom pharmaceutical package without user intervention.
  • a pivotable arm may be used to position the de-blister apparatus.
  • the pivotable arm may be under manual or computer control. The decision of which positioning mechanism is used in any one situation will be based upon factors such as ease of use and available space.
  • FIG. 1 shows a partially automatic medication dispenser system embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a manually operated medication dispenser system embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment utilizing a swing arm positioning apparatus
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a medication dispenser apparatus 10 according to the current invention.
  • the apparatus is comprised of a de-blister apparatus 2 , a positioning mechanism 4 , a holding bracket 14 , a cantilevered arm 12 for connecting the de-blister apparatus 2 and the bracket 14 to the positioning mechanism 4 , a funnel 16 attached to the bracket 14 , a sealing paddle 6 which holds a custom pharmaceutical package (not shown), and a templated structure 8 for interfacing between the funnel output and the custom pharmaceutical package.
  • the de-blister apparatus further comprises a plunger 18 for removing individual doses of medication from a target blister-pack.
  • the positioning mechanism includes slide rails 30 to facilitate movement in the x-direction, and slide rails 28 to facilitate movement in the y-direction.
  • blister packs 22 and 24 are manually or mechanically fed to the de-blister apparatus 2 .
  • the apparatus in FIG. 1 contains a screw drive in only one direction (the y-direction).
  • an additional screw drive could be placed on drive mechanism 20 to allow automated control in the x-direction.
  • a computer Under fully automatic control, a computer, for example, could be pre-programmed with the relative x, y coordinates of each cavity in the template 8 .
  • a user desiring to create a custom pharmaceutical package would enter in each medication and the correct time of day that medication is to be taken.
  • the computer would control the relative position of the de-blister apparatus via the screw-drives 26 .
  • the plunger also under computer control, would then be activated to impinge on each blister in the blister pack corresponding to each cavity that the medication is to be deposited into. Additional blister packs may be loaded depending on the total amount of medication needed for the custom pharmaceutical package. Blister packs containing different medications could then be loaded based on the needs of each patient.
  • FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the instant invention.
  • the pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus is under pure manual control. More specifically, there are no screw-drives in either the x or the y direction. Rather, slide rails 28 and 30 provide for free-movement of the de-blister apparatus 2 under the control of a pharmacist or other such user.
  • a mechanism such as a button or switch, disposed somewhere on the frame of the dispensing apparatus 10 that drives the plunger 18 (not shown in FIG. 2 ) downward to free a dose of medication from the blister-pack. Accordingly, there is no need to enter dosage information into a control apparatus such as a computer. Rather, the operator can simply feed the blister packs into the apparatus, position the de-blister apparatus over the desired cavity in the template 8 , and manually cause the plunger to descend by depressing the button or switch.
  • the current invention allows the direct transfer of medication from bulk blister packs to a custom pharmaceutical package, without having to first remove all of the medication from the blister pack into a gross supply source.
  • Such an invention is a great improvement over the prior art devices will be especially useful in countries where medication is delivered in bulk via blister-packs.
  • Such an apparatus decreases the amount of time necessary to create such custom pharmaceutical packages, and improves the accuracy and effectiveness of such a practice.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
US11/150,995 2005-06-13 2005-06-13 System and method for removing medication from packaging Abandoned US20060277870A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/150,995 US20060277870A1 (en) 2005-06-13 2005-06-13 System and method for removing medication from packaging
GB0522925A GB2427138B (en) 2005-06-13 2005-11-10 System and method for removing medication from packaging
DE102006016942A DE102006016942A1 (de) 2005-06-13 2006-04-11 System und Verfahren zum Abgeben von Medikamenten aus einer Verpackung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/150,995 US20060277870A1 (en) 2005-06-13 2005-06-13 System and method for removing medication from packaging

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060277870A1 true US20060277870A1 (en) 2006-12-14

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/150,995 Abandoned US20060277870A1 (en) 2005-06-13 2005-06-13 System and method for removing medication from packaging

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20060277870A1 (de)
DE (1) DE102006016942A1 (de)
GB (1) GB2427138B (de)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070084150A1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2007-04-19 Medical Technology Systems, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US20090012820A1 (en) * 2007-07-06 2009-01-08 Shane Bishop Medication dose administration and inventory management
WO2009030907A2 (en) * 2007-09-04 2009-03-12 Venalink Limited Deblistering press and distensible carriage
US20090321469A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-31 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable identification
US20090321472A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-31 Qem, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically filling prescriptions using interchangeable platens
US7779614B1 (en) * 2007-05-30 2010-08-24 Walgreen Co. Method of loading a multi-dose blister card using intermediate blister cards
US20110011880A1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2011-01-20 Marti Garcia Sala Blister Pack Dispensing Machine
US20110208352A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-08-25 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable/writable identification
FR3074041A1 (fr) * 2017-11-28 2019-05-31 Distraimed Dispositif et procede de preparation d'un pilulier
CN110949698A (zh) * 2019-12-10 2020-04-03 江西仟方智能科技有限公司 一种散装药分拣包装装置
US20200270061A1 (en) * 2017-09-12 2020-08-27 Canister Developments B.V. Device for Packaging Dosed Quantities of Solid Medicines
CN112451380A (zh) * 2020-11-13 2021-03-09 重庆理工大学 一种智能医药箱及其控制系统
US11779518B2 (en) 2021-08-09 2023-10-10 Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. Blister pack device and method

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4694996A (en) * 1986-10-20 1987-09-22 Siegel Family Revocable Trust Multi cavity medication card crusher
US4975015A (en) * 1989-04-07 1990-12-04 Harding Robert M Blister package opening method and apparatus
US5038968A (en) * 1990-11-01 1991-08-13 Albetski Donald N Medication deblistering apparatus and method
US6318051B1 (en) * 1996-12-30 2001-11-20 P+P Materialfluss-Systeme Gmbh Method and device for automatic dispatching of singular items, specially an individual pill
US20030057230A1 (en) * 2000-06-05 2003-03-27 Stevens Gerard Thomas Medication dispenser
US7051898B1 (en) * 2004-09-20 2006-05-30 Connell Gerard P Blister pack rupturing device

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5368187A (en) * 1993-01-19 1994-11-29 Poncetta; Stanley Method and apparatus for dispensing materials from blister packages

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4694996A (en) * 1986-10-20 1987-09-22 Siegel Family Revocable Trust Multi cavity medication card crusher
US4975015A (en) * 1989-04-07 1990-12-04 Harding Robert M Blister package opening method and apparatus
US5038968A (en) * 1990-11-01 1991-08-13 Albetski Donald N Medication deblistering apparatus and method
US6318051B1 (en) * 1996-12-30 2001-11-20 P+P Materialfluss-Systeme Gmbh Method and device for automatic dispatching of singular items, specially an individual pill
US20030057230A1 (en) * 2000-06-05 2003-03-27 Stevens Gerard Thomas Medication dispenser
US7051898B1 (en) * 2004-09-20 2006-05-30 Connell Gerard P Blister pack rupturing device

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7334379B1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2008-02-26 Mts Medication Technologies, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US8225582B2 (en) 2000-11-01 2012-07-24 Mts Medication Technologies, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US20070084150A1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2007-04-19 Medical Technology Systems, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US20110126494A1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2011-06-02 Mts Medication Technologies, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US7882680B2 (en) 2000-11-01 2011-02-08 Mts Medication Technologies, Inc. Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
US7946101B1 (en) 2007-05-30 2011-05-24 Walgreen Co. Method and system for verification of contents of a multi-cell, multi-product blister pack
US7971414B1 (en) * 2007-05-30 2011-07-05 Walgreen Co. Multi-dose filling machine
US8943780B1 (en) 2007-05-30 2015-02-03 Walgreen Co. Method and system for verification of product transfer from an intermediate loading cartridge to a multi-container blister pack
US7779614B1 (en) * 2007-05-30 2010-08-24 Walgreen Co. Method of loading a multi-dose blister card using intermediate blister cards
US7818950B1 (en) 2007-05-30 2010-10-26 Walgreen Co. Method of loading a multi-dose blister card using a transfer fixture
US8915051B1 (en) 2007-05-30 2014-12-23 Walgreen Co. Method of loading a multi-dose blister card using a transfer fixture
US20090012820A1 (en) * 2007-07-06 2009-01-08 Shane Bishop Medication dose administration and inventory management
WO2009030907A2 (en) * 2007-09-04 2009-03-12 Venalink Limited Deblistering press and distensible carriage
WO2009030907A3 (en) * 2007-09-04 2009-06-04 Venalink Ltd Deblistering press and distensible carriage
US20110011880A1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2011-01-20 Marti Garcia Sala Blister Pack Dispensing Machine
US20090321472A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-31 Qem, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically filling prescriptions using interchangeable platens
US20110208352A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-08-25 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable/writable identification
US7958701B2 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-06-14 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable identification
US8863480B2 (en) 2008-06-27 2014-10-21 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable/writable identification
US7908827B2 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-03-22 Qem, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically filling prescriptions using interchangeable platens
US20090321469A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-31 Qem, Inc. Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable identification
US20200270061A1 (en) * 2017-09-12 2020-08-27 Canister Developments B.V. Device for Packaging Dosed Quantities of Solid Medicines
FR3074041A1 (fr) * 2017-11-28 2019-05-31 Distraimed Dispositif et procede de preparation d'un pilulier
WO2019106246A1 (fr) * 2017-11-28 2019-06-06 Distraimed Dispositif et procédé de préparation d'un pilulier
CN110949698A (zh) * 2019-12-10 2020-04-03 江西仟方智能科技有限公司 一种散装药分拣包装装置
CN112451380A (zh) * 2020-11-13 2021-03-09 重庆理工大学 一种智能医药箱及其控制系统
US11779518B2 (en) 2021-08-09 2023-10-10 Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. Blister pack device and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2427138B (en) 2009-04-29
GB0522925D0 (en) 2005-12-21
GB2427138A (en) 2006-12-20
DE102006016942A1 (de) 2006-12-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MTS MEDICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., FLORIDA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FEEHAN, JEFF;SIEGEL, TODD;REEL/FRAME:016381/0456;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050728 TO 20050801

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION