Patent Publication Number: US-11649078-B2

Title: High-speed container filling with reduced cross-contamination and method of use thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/181,859, filed Nov. 6, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to dispensers of medical supplies. This disclosure relates more specifically to a dispenser of medical supplies, such as pills, that provides for a reduced risk of cross-contamination of the medical supplies being dispensed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Existing automated systems for dispensing medical supplies, such as pills or capsules, are often used to expedite the filling of bottles with pills. A problem with many of these systems is a risk of cross-contamination of the different medical supplies. For example, when the automated system dispenses a first drug A, a powder residue from the first drug A may adhere to certain components in the dispensing system. Subsequently when a second drug B is dispensed, part of the powder residue from drug A may adhere to drug B, and as a result the patient taking drug B will unknowingly also be taking trace amounts of drug A. Often the amount of cross-contamination is so minimal as to be inconsequential, but for some drugs and for some patients any cross-contamination should be avoided. 
     The disclosure describes one or more embodiments of medical supply dispensing systems. These and other advantages of the disclosure, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the disclosure provides a medical dispensing system. The medical dispensing system includes dispensing and pathway components. The dispensing component includes several dispensers for medications. The pathway component includes a corresponding number of pathways to facilitate the dispensers placing medication in a bottle. Both the dispensing and pathway components are circular and the dispensers and pathways are arranged around the periphery of the respective components. 
     The circular dispensing and pathway components are arranged above and on either side of a conveyer for medication bottles. The conveyer for medication bottles receives empty bottles and moves them to a filling area. The dispensing and pathway components overlap above the conveyer, in the filling area, from opposite sides of the conveyer. 
     In another aspect, the filling area is hermetically sealed from an external environment. The sealed area encompasses the filling area and most of the dispensing and pathway components. Individual dispensers and pathways rotate into and out of the contaminated area as the dispensing and pathway components are rotated. The contaminated area is maintained with a slight negative air pressure relative to the external environment, thus reducing the likelihood of contaminants leaving the contaminated area. 
     In yet another aspect, multiple conveyers, dispensing and pathway components are vertically arranged with respect to each other. Such an arrangement reduces the volume needed for multiple embodiments of this disclosure, thus providing a space-efficient structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a medical dispensing system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic top view of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a partial perspective view of a medical dispensing system according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic top view according to the embodiment of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a top schematic view according of a medical dispensing system to another embodiment, shown in a first position; 
         FIG.  5 B  is a top schematic view according the embodiment of  FIG.  5 A , shown in a second position; 
         FIG.  5 C  is a top schematic view according the embodiment of  FIG.  5 A , shown in a third position; 
         FIG.  5 D  is a top schematic view according the embodiment of  FIG.  5 A , shown in a fourth position; 
         FIG.  5 E  is a top schematic view according the embodiment of  FIG.  5 A , shown in a fifth position; and 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a medical dispensing system according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     While the disclosure will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Automated medication dispensers are being increasingly used by pharmacists to improve their responsiveness to receiving orders for medication. An important issue when dispensing medication, via manual or automated means, is to minimize contamination to or from the medication being dispensed. The medications that are placed into these containers may be classified as hazardous. Dust and other particulates from the dispensing system may become airborne. This can be a risk to people around medication dispensing systems. 
     Additionally there is also a risk of dust or other particulate entering the dispensed containers either through airborne particulates, particulates from conveyors or other equipment, or tablets (partial or whole) that may have been left from other operations. These cross-contaminating particulates may remain in shared pathways or common funnels or chutes. These types of particulates can represent a risk to end users and recipients of the medication containers. 
     It is the intent of this disclosure to provide a design that can achieve high speed high volume container filling, while eliminating or reducing exposure and risk to both operators and those receiving the dispensed/filled containers. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , a dispensing system according to an embodiment is shown. Dispensing system  10  comprises dispensing disc  20  and pathway disc  50  selectively interacting to dispense medications into containers  82  on conveyer  80 . Dispensing disc  20  is positioned slightly above pathway disc  50 . Pathway disc  50  is positioned slightly below dispensing disc  20  to facilitate medication being placed into containers  82 . 
     Dispensing disc  20  comprises multiple dispensers  22  arranged around periphery  40  of dispensing disc  20 . Arc distance  26  separates dispensers  22 . In use, dispensing disc  20  may rotate around center  24  in either clockwise direction  36  or the reverse rotational direction. 
     Similarly, pathway disc  50  comprises multiple pathways  52  around periphery  70  of pathway disc  50 . Arc distance  56  separates dispensers  52 . In use, pathway disc  50  may rotate around center  54  in either clockwise direction  66  or the reverse rotational direction. 
     As medication is dispensed, particulates from the medication (e.g., airborne particles, dust) may be created. Controlling the distribution of the contaminating particulates is a goal of this disclosure. A specific pathway  52  is restricted to interact with (e.g., dispense medication for) dispensers  22  carrying a given medication (e.g., medication X). In a particular use, each dispenser  22  carries a different medication, and as a result each pathway  52  only interacts with a single dispenser. However, it is contemplated that for popular medications multiple dispensers  22  may include the same medication, thus allowing a single pathway  52  to interact with multiple dispensers  22 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  2   , dispensing disc  20  and pathway disc  50  rotate such that only a single dispenser  22  and pathway  52 , respectively, may be located within filling area  90  at a time. In use, when a specific dispenser  22  and a specific pathway  52  are aligned within filling area  90 , and container  82  is positioned to receive medication, dispenser  22  dispenses medication into container  82  via pathway  52 . In one or more embodiments, a given dispenser  22  only dispenses medication when an associated pathway  52  is beneath given dispenser to facilitate the medication being placed into container  82 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  3   , to further reduce the likelihood of contamination of particulate medication, dispensing system  10  may further comprise containment structure  100 . Containment structure  100  restricts and at least partially prevents medication particulates from being allowed to contaminate personnel. Containment structure  100  includes back wall  102  and side walls  104  and  108 . Pathway disc  20  transits left side wall  104  via aperture  106 , and dispensing disc  50  transits right side wall  108  via aperture  110 . Front wall, top wall, and bottom wall of containment structure  100  are not shown. Collectively the walls of containment structure  100  generally restrict medication particulates to remaining filling area  90 . 
     Contaminated area  92  is enclosed by containment structure  100 , and cleaning area  94  is external to contaminated area  92 . In one or more embodiments, contaminated area  92  has a reduced air pressure relative to cleaning area  94 . As a result of the difference in air pressure, any leaks between contaminated area  92  and cleaning area  94  result in flow into contaminated area  92  rather than out of it. To maintain the negative relative air pressure in contaminated area  92 , a pump or blower and associated duct work and air filters (not shown) removes air from contaminated area  92  while simultaneously filtering the removed air. 
     In use, pathway disc  50  and dispensing disc  20 , including pathways  52  and dispensers  22 , are cleaned in cleaning area  94 . Additionally, dispensers  22  are filled and refilled in cleaning area  22 . 
     Top surface  62  of pathway disc  50  is generally co-planar with top surface  58  of dispensers  52 , and bottom surface  64  of pathway disc  50  is generally co-planar with bottom surface  60  of pathways  52 . Outer periphery  68  of pathway disc  50  is arcuately co-planar with periphery  70  of pathway disc  50  (best shown in  FIGS.  5 A- 5 E ). As a result, while pathway disc  50  rotates through aperture  106 , the seal between contaminated area  92  and cleaning area  94  is not compromised by the rotation of pathway disc  50 . 
     Similarly, top surface  32  of dispensing disc  20  is generally co-planar with top surface  28  of dispensers  22 , and bottom surface  34  of dispensing disc  20  is generally co-planar with bottom surface  30  of dispensers  22 . Outer periphery  38  of dispensing disc  20  is arcuately co-planar with periphery  40  of dispensing disc  20  (best shown in  FIGS.  5 A- 5 E ). As a result, while dispensing disc  20  rotates through aperture  110 , the seal between contaminated area  92  and cleaning area  94  is not compromised by the rotation of dispenser disc  20 . 
     Turning to  FIGS.  5 A- 5 E , illustrated therein is an exemplary series of steps to use this disclosure. At  FIG.  5 A , dispensing system  10  receives a request to dispense a medication (e.g., Medication A). For illustrative purposes, target dispenser  42  carries Medication A and target pathway  72  works in conjunction with target dispenser  42  to distribute Medication A into the appropriate container  82 . As can be seen in  FIG.  5 A , both target dispenser  42  and target pathway  72  are not within filling area  90 . In one or more embodiments, target dispenser  42  is configured to distribute Medication A as a result of (a) target dispenser  42  being rotated to within filling area  90 , (b) target pathway  72  being aligned with, and optionally coupled to, target dispenser  42  within filling area  90 , and (c) container  82  being in position within filling area  90  to receive Medication A. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5 B , subsequently pathway disc  50  is rotated to relocate target pathway  72  to a holding position  96  (best shown in  FIG.  4   ) that is proximate and external to filling area  90 . It will be noted that target dispensers  42  is still located relatively further away from filling area  90 , and non-target dispensers  44  are in holding area  96 . Referring to  FIG.  5 C , subsequently dispenser disc  20  is rotated to relocate target dispenser  42  to a holding position that is proximate and external to filling area  90 . Subsequently dispenser disc  20  is rotated to relocate target dispenser  42  to filling area  90  (best shown in  FIG.  5 D ), and subsequent to that pathway disc  50  is rotated to relocate target pathway  72  to filling area  90  beneath and aligned with target dispenser  42  (best shown in  FIG.  5 E ). Once target dispenser  42 , target pathway  72  and container  82  (not shown) are in filling area  90 , Medication A is distributed to container  82  from target dispenser  42  via target pathway  72 . Although this exemplary process details a specific order of steps, it is contemplated herein that the steps may be practiced in any order that would be practicable. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , illustrated therein is an exemplary embodiment of multiple dispensing systems  10  that are arranged vertically with respect to each other. By this arrangement, efficiencies of space may be realized. For example, side walls  104  and  106  of contaminated area  92  may be shared between different dispensing systems  10 . 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.