Patent ID: 7530211
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: B65B,B65C,G06Q,G16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for emptying pharmaceutical contents of first pharmaceutical containers including medications into a bulk container storing a first quantity of the pharmaceutical for subsequent dispensing responsive to a patient specific order including a second quantity of the pharmaceutical into a second pharmaceutical container, comprising: a transport system transporting the first pharmaceutical container; an information determining system determining information provided on the first pharmaceutical container identifying the first pharmaceuticals contained therein; a control system determining whether the first pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied from the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container responsive to the determined information received from said information determining system; a position determining system determining an orientation of the first pharmaceutical container; an orientation system orientating the first pharmaceutical container responsive to said determining the orientation by said position determining system; a cutting system cutting the first pharmaceutical container on at least one of the sidewall and bottom of the pharmaceutical container responsive to said orientation received from said orientation system; a rotating system rotating the cut first pharmaceutical container to empty the first quantity of the contents of the first pharmaceutical container into the bulk container after the first pharmaceutical container is cut by said cutting system; a determining system determining when the first contents of the first pharmaceutical container are no longer being emptied into the bulk container; an automated pharmaceutical dispensing system receiving the first contents from the bulk container for subsequent automated dispensing of the pharmaceutical in the second quantity into the second pharmaceutical container responsive to a patient specific prescription order.