WO2018141497A1

WO2018141497A1 - Storage and dispensing station for a blister dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2018141497A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/050133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Hellenbrand; Dietmar Gross
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-02-03
Filing date: 2018-01-03
Publication date: 2018-08-09
Also published as: KR102504910B1; AU2018215105A1; KR20190113767A; CN110300996A; KR102459603B1; KR20220150991A; EP4044136A1; EP3358538B1; SG11201906234UA; JP2020507363A; CA3047082A1; BR112019014486A2; AU2018215105B2; AU2022209243A1; EP3358538A1; BR112019014486B1; CN110300996B

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister dispenser for pharmaceutical portions, wherein the accumulation of pharmaceutical dust is reduced. The storage and dispensing station according to the invention comprises a base part (100); at least one contact means (124), by means of which a storage and dispensing station can be electrically coupled to a blister dispenser and by means of which electric charges can be conducted to a blister dispenser; a storage container (200) which is arranged on the base part (100) and which comprises a housing (210) that surrounds a receiving chamber (202) for pharmaceutical portions and comprises a circular-cylindrical receiving chamber (211), a base surface (220), and a separating device (230) rotatably arranged in the circular-cylindrical receiving chamber (211) of the housing (210); and a drive (110, 111, 112) for moving the separating device (230). According to the invention, the separating device (230) is electrically conductive at least in the separating device outer surface (231) which comes into contact with pharmaceutical portions to be separated, and a line device is provided via which the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the separating device (230) is coupled to the contact means (124) in an electrically conductive manner.

Description

Supply and discharge station for a blister machine

The present invention relates to a supply and

Dispensing station for a blister machine for

Medicament portions.

Modern blister machines, as disclosed, for example, in WO 2013/034504 AI, include, depending on the expansion stage of the blister machine, several hundred stock and

Toll stations. In each of these is a plurality of

Pharmaceutical portions of a particular drug stored, and on request, individual portions of medication can be delivered. With the blister machines stored in the supply and dispensing stations drug portions are patient-specific according to the physician prescribed

Collected and blistered.

For assembling a plurality of medicament portions, corresponding supply and dispensing stations for dispensing one or more medicament portions are activated by means of a control device of the blister machine. To submit a

Pharmaceutical portion is one with a separating device of the supply and dispensing station in a reservoir

stored drug portion and separated over a

Dispensing opening a guide device of the blister machine passed. By means of the guide device, the dispensed drug portion, optionally with the interposition of a collecting device, a packaging device is supplied, which blisters individual or multiple drug portions.

The separating device arranged in a section of the storage container is usually designed in the form of a rotor which has a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction through the separating device. Above the singling device is a receiving space for the medicament portions to be separated. For separating medicament portions, the separating device is rotated by a drive. The rotation of the separating device leads to co-rotation of at least a part of the stored in the reservoir

Medicament portions, so that in the

Separation process both with each other and with the

Singling device and an inner wall of the

Contact reservoir. It comes on a regular basis to tiny flakes in the drug portions and it creates a kind of drug dust, which is on the

Singling and settles on the wall of the reservoir.

An accumulation of drug dust in the reservoir is undesirable because it makes it difficult to clean the reservoir. Furthermore, there is a risk that the drug dust is introduced into other components of the blister machine and it is optionally blistered with alien drug portions, which in sensitive patients, for example

allergic reactions.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a

Supply and discharge stations for a blister machine

in which the deposition of

Drug dust is reduced.

This object is achieved by a

Supply and delivery station according to claim 1. The

inventive supply and dispensing station for a

Blister machines comprises a base part, over which the

Supply and delivery station usually on one

Blister machine is attached, at least one contact means with which the supply and dispensing station is electrically coupled to a blister machine and via which electrical charges are discharged to the blister, a arranged on the base reservoir, which is a

Having receiving space for drug portions enclosing housing, which has a circular cylindrical receiving space, a bottom surface and in the circular cylindrical receiving space comprising rotatably arranged singulating device with a plurality of extending in the axial direction through the singularizing means channels and a coupling means, and a drive for moving the singling device.

According to the invention, it is provided that the

Singling device at least one with to

separating medicament portions in contact

Outside surface is electrically conductive and that one

Conduction device is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulation device is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means.

According to the invention, therefore, there is always an electrical

Connection between the electrically conductive outer surface of the separating device and the contact means, via which electrical charges are transferable to the blister machine.

As already stated above, turning the

Separating device when separating or separating a medicament portion for co-rotating at least a portion of the stored in the reservoir drug portions. This leads to a friction between drug portions

among themselves and to a friction between

Pharmaceutical portions and the separating device and an inner wall of the reservoir. It was found that the above friction is sufficient, one

electrostatic charge in particular the

To effect singulation device.

Due to the inventive design of the

Separation device and provision of the inventively designed conduit means, the electrostatic charge of the singulation device via the contact means to the blister machine, which is a reference potential for

Singling device forms or has, be discharged. Reduction of electrostatic charge of

Separation device causes that at the separation of the resulting drug dust no longer or only to a lesser extent adheres to this. This will clean the Separation device is facilitated and it is avoided that falling or entrained accumulations of drug dust from the supply and delivery station in other parts of the

Blister machines are worn.

It has also been found that the aforementioned electrostatic charge causes drug portions of electrostatically charged components of the supply and dispensing station to become attracted and no longer free to slide along these components. This causes the channels, especially at smaller ones

Medicinal portions, no longer reliable with

Fill medicine portions. Discharge of electrostatic charges causes an attraction of the drug portions on the components is omitted, the drug portions can slide freely into the channels.

The singulator is in the

arranged circular cylindrical receiving space of the housing. Depending on the exact configuration of the receiving space and the separating device, this can be completely accommodated in the receiving space, but it is possible that an upper portion of the separating device from the

protruding circular cylindrical receiving space.

With the contact means, a storage and dispensing station is electrically coupled to the blister machine, in such a way that electrical charges are discharged to the blister machine. With electrical coupling of the dispensing and storage station with a blister machine (via the contact means), the singling device is thus grounded.

The exact design of the contact agent and how exactly

Charges are dissipated depends on the exact design of the relevant components of the supply and discharge station. Accordingly, the contact means can be arranged in the base part or the storage container, which can be designed as a common component or as separate, connectable components. In the storage and usually used with the blister machine according to the above-mentioned WO-font

Dispensing stations, the base part and the reservoir are designed as separate but couplable components, wherein the

Reservoir can be plugged onto the base part. To the

Refilling of drug portions or cleaning of components of the reservoir this can be easily detached from the base and then cleaned and / or refilled plugged.

The base part is detachably connected to the blister machine, wherein electrical contacts between blister machine and

Base part, for example, a power supply for a drive and / or a line for a control unit of the supply and dispensing station, can be designed as a connector.

To avoid further components, it is at a

preferred embodiment of the supply and dispensing station according to the invention provided that the contact means is at least partially provided by means of a ground line, which is coupled to a motor of the drive, provided or designed as such. In this embodiment, an already existing component or group of components, namely the grounding of the motor of the drive, also used for discharging electric charges. For example, it is customary to install the motor on a stable support plate. According to the invention, this is performed at least partially conductive and with a

Provided ground line over which charges can be dissipated by the engine.

According to the invention, the singulation device is electrically conductive at least in the case of the outer surface coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated. At a

In a cost-effective embodiment of the singulating device, the electrically conductive outer surface of the singling device is designed as a surface-conductive coating. When

Carrier material can be a cost-effective, non-conductive material can be used, and only in the areas that come into contact with drug portions to be separated, the be provided more costly conductive coating, which is then electrically conductively coupled via the conduit means with the contact means.

In the aforementioned embodiment is to a

Base body to apply an electrically conductive coating. In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the separating device, at least in its electrically conductive outer surface of an electrically conductive

Material, preferably an electrically conductive plastic exists. This conductive area is then again with the

Contact agent coupled. Depending on material and

Cost of production, it may also be advantageous that the

Singling device completely made of a conductive

Material exists.

In order for the electrostatic charge can be dissipated, it is necessary in the present invention, a

To provide conduit means, via which the electrically conductive outer surface of the separating device is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means, via which the electrical charge is discharged to a blister machine. In a structurally very simple embodiment includes the

The aforementioned conduit means in the bottom surface

and / or in a circular cylindrical receiving space

forming the housing section arranged slip ring and arranged in the separating device contact element.

By means of the contact element, an electrical connection between the separating device and the slip ring is produced, which in turn is electrically conductive with the

Contact means is coupled. The contact element may be, for example, a type of spring contact which bears temporarily or permanently against the slip ring. The slip ring itself can be formed without interruption, but it is also possible that the slip ring is formed by various segments, which only temporarily in contact with the

Contact element are. These segments can then be interconnected or individually, optionally under Interposition of a node to be coupled to the contact means.

The aforementioned embodiment is structurally simple, but requires the provision or use of other components. In a preferred embodiment it is

provided that the conduit means an electrical

conductive drive hub, an electrically conductive

Drive shaft, a motor and an electrically conductive coupling means, wherein the electrically conductive

Outer surface of the separating device is electrically conductively coupled to the coupling means and wherein the motor is coupled to the contact means. In this embodiment, existing components are designed to be conductive in such a way that the electrical charge of the singulation device can be dissipated via them.

The engine of the drive of the supply and delivery station is usually via a line with the central

Power supply of the blister machine coupled. The engine is also on the contact means with a blister machine

connected, and this contact means provides a grounding of the

Engine. Charges that are transmitted via the coupling means, the drive hub and finally the drive shaft to the engine, can be discharged to the blister machine.

The drug dust settles due to the

electrostatic charging of the singulator

mainly on or on this. As stated above, the electrostatic charge also causes some

Adherence of the medicament portions to the

Singulation device, allowing an intrusion of

Medicament portions in the channels is difficult. In the

However, friction due to the separation process also load other components of the supply and discharge station

electrostatically on, so that it is at a preferred

Embodiment is provided that in contact with

Pharmaceutical portions passing surfaces of the bottom surface of the circular cylindrical portion of the housing and / or others Sections of the housing are electrically conductive and are electrically coupled to the contact means. Again, it is again possible to provide the aforementioned components or component sections with an electrically conductive coating or these completely made of an electrically conductive material

provide. The coupling with the contact means, via which the electrical charges are finally removed at the blister machine, can be produced by any means known to those skilled in the art.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the supply and dispensing station according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which

Figures la and lb a first embodiment of

inventive supply and delivery station with separate

Base part and reservoir show;

Figure 2 shows an oblique view of a storage container according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the reservoir according to the first embodiment;

Figure 4 shows a detail view of a singulator within a reservoir;

FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a storage container placed on a base part according to the first embodiment;

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a transition of the singulator / drive in a second

Embodiment shows; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of

Supply and delivery station shows.

Figures la and lb show oblique views of a first

Embodiment of the inventories and

Dispensing station. In the first embodiment, the

Supply and delivery station a base 100 and a Reservoir 200, which are designed as separate components in the first embodiment.

In the embodiment shown, the base part 100 is part of a composite of five base parts 100. In alternative embodiments

Embodiments, the base parts can be carried out separately. The components mentioned in the following description of the base part 100 are each at each

Base part 100 is present, regardless of whether they are composite (as in the figures la and lb) or carried out separately.

Each base part 100 according to the first embodiment comprises a lower portion 130 and an upper portion 120. The upper portion 120 includes a projection 121, on which a reservoir 200 can be pushed. For this purpose, a lower housing portion of the reservoir 200 is adapted to the geometry of the projection 121.

In a shown in Figure lb, formed from a housing part of the upper portion 120 and the lower portion 130 end face of a base member 100, this is attached to a (not shown) Blisterautomaten. In the aforementioned

Front side, a chute 140 is formed, via which

separated drug portions from a supply and

Dispensing station to a guide device within the

Blister machines are handed over. The chute 140 extends through the base member 100 to the projection 121 in which an opening 123 for receiving a drug portion is formed.

In the aforementioned end face of the base part 100, a contact means 124 is provided, with which the supply and

Dispensing station is electrically coupled to the blister and over which electrical charges are discharged to the blister machine. In the embodiment shown this is

Contact means 124 in the front side portion of the upper

Section of the base member 100 is arranged, in an alternative embodiment, the contact means 124 also in the

End face portion of the lower portion 130 may be arranged. Alternatively, the contact means, for example, as Plug or the like be executed. It is also possible, with appropriate design of the reservoir that

Contact means to be arranged in this. It is essential that via the contact means electrical charges to the (not

shown) blister machines are deliverable.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a contact element 122 is arranged in the projection, which on the one hand is connected to the contact means 124 and on the other hand to the electrically conductive outer surface of a (not here

shown) singulating device is electrically coupled. In the embodiment shown, the contact element is part of the conduit means.

The use of the contact element is due to the exact configuration of the conduit means of the first

Embodiment. Alternatively, the conduit device can also be provided in such a way that the use of a contact element formed as a separate component is unnecessary (see embodiments described below). The position is not limited to the illustrated, the contact element may also be formed outside of the projection.

Figure 2 shows an oblique view of the storage container according to the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention. As already explained with reference to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, in the first embodiment, the

Base part 100 and the reservoir 200 designed as separate components of the supply and dispensing station. The storage container 200 comprises a housing 210 with a housing (in FIG. 3)

shown) circular cylindrical receiving space 211st

comprehensive section 217 (receiving space portion), a lower portion 212 and a handle member 214. The reservoir 200 further includes a lid 213, which among other things to

Refilling of drug portions can be removed.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the storage container according to the first embodiment. On the basis of this sectional view, the arrangement of a separating device 230 in the receiving space 211 of the receiving portion 217 of the housing 210 can be seen. The Singulation device 230 is formed as a kind of rotor having a plurality of protrusions 234 and channels 235, which extend in the axial direction through the singulator 230. In the embodiment shown, the channels 235 are defined by the projections 234 on a central component of the singulator 230, so that the channels are open to the outer periphery of the singulator.

The singulator 230 includes a central conical top surface 232 which defines, together with the housing 210, a medicament portion receiving space 202.

Due to the conical design of the top surface slide on this resting drug portions toward the channels 235th

In the embodiment shown, a step is formed between the conical top surface 232 and the protrusions 234 so that a type of annulus is formed in the region above the channels and the protrusions. A corresponding annulus can be used for drug portions with a particular shape

Promote delivery of drug portions into the channels.

As can be seen on the "left" side of Figure 3, the bottom surface 220 has a discharge opening 221, via which separated drug portions through an opening 123 in the projection 121 of the base member 100 (see Figure la) of the chute 140 are supplied ,

As further indicated in the "left" side of FIG. 3

is above the discharge opening 221 a

Retaining portion 216 of a retaining means 215 in the

Annular space introduced. This is in the circular cylindrical

Section 211 of the housing 210 provided an opening. The function of the restraint, and in particular the

Retaining portion, it is to retain in the receiving space 202 disposed above the discharge port drug portions when a channel 235 is aligned with the discharge port 221.

Separation of drug portions takes place by adding a defined number of

Drug portions containing channel is moved via the discharge opening 221, so that the defined number of Medicament portions can be discharged from the aligned channel. The retaining portion 216 prevents

Overlying drug portions are also delivered, so as to ensure that always only the arranged in a channel number of drug portions is delivered.

As can be seen in Figure 3, includes

Separation device 230 further comprises a coupling means 240, with which the singulation device 230 can be coupled to a drive, via which the singling device can be rotated for separating medicament portions. In the embodiment shown, the coupling means is designed as a separate component, but alternatively it can also be provided that the coupling means is an integral part of the singulation device 230.

According to the invention, the singling device is electrically conductive at least in its outer surface which comes into contact with the medicament portions to be separated. In the first

Embodiment, it is provided that the

Singling device has a surface conductive coating 231.

For deriving the electrical charges from the

Singulation device to the contact means 214 (see Figure lb), via which the charges are then delivered to the blister, according to the invention a conduit means is provided. In the first embodiment, the

Conduction device arranged in the singulation device 230 contact element 236, 237th

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is the

Singling device 230 almost completely in the

Recording room 211 added. The projections 245 terminate below the opening of the receiving space 211, so that a kind of annulus is formed over this. In alternative embodiments, however, the receiving space (or the separating device) may also be designed so that the projections of the upper opening of the

Top up reception room. Unless the projections and channels like 3, that is to say the channels are open to the outer circumference of the singling device, in such an embodiment medicament portions (also) can enter the channels from the side. The exact configuration of the receiving space and the separating device is dependent on the medicament portions to be separated.

In Figure 4, two variants of the arrangement of

Contact element shown; once the contact element at the outer region of a projection 234 and once in the bottom surface of a projection 234 is arranged. With the

Contact element is an electrical coupling with a disposed in the bottom surface 220 and / or the receiving portion 217 slip ring 222, 215 produced. The arrangement of the aforementioned slip rings in the bottom surface 220 and the receiving portion 217 is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a storage container according to the first attached to a base part

Embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of FIG

complete supply and delivery station according to the first

embodiment

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, in particular, the coupling between the base part 100 and the storage container 200 designed as separate components. The storage container 200 is pushed at its lower portion 212 onto the projection 121 of the base part 100, to which end the lower section 212 accordingly

is adjusted.

Figure 6 further illustrates the coupling between the singulator 230 and one in the base part

arranged drive. The drive comprises a motor 112, a drive shaft 111 and a drive hub 110. An outer contour of the drive hub 110 interacts non-positively with an inner contour of the coupling means 240 which, in turn, interacts with the singulation device itself via a corresponding connection. In alternative embodiments, the coupling means 240 may be an integral part of

Singling device 230 be. The singulator 230 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in a dispensing position. A channel is at the

Dispensing opening 221 aligned in the bottom surface 220, arranged in the channel drug portions fall through the

Dispensing opening 221 in the chute 140 and from there into the interior of the blister machine.

Above the channel aligned at the discharge opening 221, the retaining portion 216 of the retaining element 215 is inserted into the annulus and ensures that no further

Slip drug portions out of the receiving space.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the transition

Singulation device 230 / drive at a second

Embodiment of the inventories and

Dispensing station. In an opening in the projection 121 of the upper portion of the base part, the outer contour of the drive hub 110 can be seen. Over this, the coupling means 240 can be seen and above this the separating device 230. Also in this embodiment, the coupling means 240 is formed as a separate component with respect to the separating device 230.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view through the second

Embodiment, wherein a major part of the reservoir

is omitted, in particular the coupling between

Singling device and drive represent.

In the base part 100 is centrally an electric motor 112th

arranged, which is connected via a line 113 with the contact means 124. The contact means is used in this case, inter alia, as a power supply for the electric motor 112. Further, via the contact means further components in the interior of the base part or of the reservoir with a (not

be shown) control device connected. For example, the slide 140 or the discharge opening in the bottom of the reservoir, a (not shown sensor) to be assigned, which determines whether a drug delivery is actually delivered in a singulation process. The electric motor 112 comprises a drive shaft 111 which ends in a drive hub 110. The drive hub 110 has an outer contour (see FIG. 7) which is positively connected and releasable with an inner contour 241 of the coupling means 240

interacts. The coupling means 240 is (releasably) connected to the singulator.

The type of connection between drive hub 110 and

Coupling means 240 of the singulator ensures that the reservoir can be easily removed from the base part without further work steps. Although is shown in the

Embodiment, the coupling means separately formed with respect to the singulator 230, at a lift but remains a connection between the coupling means 240 and singulator.

According to the invention, it is provided that a

Conduction device is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the singulation device 230 is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means. In the second embodiment, the coupling means 240, the drive hub 110, the drive shaft 111, and the electric motor 110 constitute components of the conduit means.

The coupling means 240 is electrically conductive and conductive with the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of

Singulation device 230 connected. This can be achieved, for example, by using a singulator made entirely of a conductive material

(For example, an electrically conductive plastic). Alternatively, leads may be provided from the outer surface to the coupling means. The drive hub and the drive shaft are also electrically conductive, with what has been said above with regard to the exact execution.

The resulting in the separation or separation

Electrostatic charge can over the outer surface of the

Separation device to the coupling means, are discharged from there to drive hub and drive shaft. Of the

Drive shaft is the charge via the engine and the line 113th can be discharged to the contact means 124, via which the charge is finally discharged to the blister machine or

is deductible.

In this embodiment, no extra components for discharging the charge are necessary, due to the configuration of existing components, the construction of a potential difference is avoided, adhesion of drug dust and other fine impurities reduced. The separating device and / or other contact with drug portions in contact

Components of the reservoir (circular cylindrical portion 211 of the housing, the housing 210 itself) are virtually grounded on the blister machine.

Claims

claims

1. supply and dispensing station for a blister machine for drug portions, comprising

a base part (100),

at least one contact means (124) to which a supply and discharge station ^¬ electrically connected to a Blisterautomaten

can be coupled and with which electrical charges can be discharged to a blister machine,

a storage container (200) arranged on the base part (100)

a housing (210) enclosing a medicament portion receiving space (202) having a circular cylindrical receiving space (211) and a bottom surface (220),

one in the circular cylindrical receiving space (211) of the housing (210) rotatably arranged

Singling device (230), which has a plurality of channels (235) extending in the axial direction through the singulator (230) and a coupling means

(240)

and a drive (110, 111, 112) for moving the

Singulation device (230),

characterized,

in that the separating device (230) is electrically conductive at least in its outer surface (231) coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated; and

a conduit means is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the

Singulation device (230) electrically conductive with the

Contact means (124) is coupled.

2. supply and dispensing station for a blister machine for drug portions according to claim 1, characterized,

in that the contact means (124) is provided at least in sections by means of a ground line which is coupled to a motor (112) of the drive.

3. supply and dispensing station (1) for a drug dispenser blister machine according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the

Singling device (230) as a surface conductive

Coating is formed.

4. supply and dispensing station (1) for a blister machine for drug portions according to one of claims 1 - 3,

characterized,

in that the separating device (230) consists of an electrically conductive material, preferably an electrically conductive plastic, at least at its electrically conductive outer surface (231).

5. supply and dispensing station (1) for a blister dispenser for drug portions according to one of claims 1 - 4,

characterized,

in that the conduit device comprises a slip ring (222, 215) arranged in the bottom surface (220) and / or in a housing section (217) forming the circular cylindrical receiving space, and a contact element (236, 237) arranged in the separating device (230). 6. supply and dispensing station (1) for a blister machine for drug portions according to one of claims 1 - 4,

characterized,

in that the conduit device has an electrically conductive drive hub (110), an electrically conductive drive shaft (111), a motor (112) and an electrically conductive drive shaft (111)

Coupling means (240), wherein the electrically conductive Outer surface of the separating device (230) is electrically conductively coupled to the coupling means (240) and wherein the motor (112) is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means (122).

7. supply and dispensing station (1) for a drug dispenser blister machine according to claim 5,

characterized,

that coming into contact with drug portions

Outside surfaces of the bottom surface (220) and / or the housing (210) are electrically conductive and are electrically coupled to the contact means (124).