Patent Description:
The present application generally relates to the pharmaceutical industry and, more particularly, to equipment for the packaging of medication for patients taking a plurality of different medications in tablet or capsule form.

Doses of medication over prescribed periods vary as a function of the type of medication and the condition of the patient. Patients are often required to take a plurality of doses over different periods of a day, and this often leads to confusion. It may be difficult for a patient to respect the prescription details (e.g., intake time, quantity) when the doses and the types of medication are numerous.

One well known method used by pharmacists to overcome this problem is to provide the patient with a dose pack having an array of receptacles, with each receptacle corresponding to a particular time of a day at which medication is to be taken. Such packs typically contain four receptacles per day for seven days, and these receptacles are in the form of sealed cups filled with appropriate medication by pharmacists as a function of the prescription, as determined by physicians' prescription.

The process of preparing these dose packs is labor-intensive, in that each receptacle must be filled individually by hand. Therefore, although the dose pack facilitates the intake of medication by patients, a substantial amount of time is required to fill these packs by pharmacists.

Accordingly, a system has been provided in order to fill such dose packs. For instance, <CIT>, discloses a medication tablet dispenser having a plurality of stacked compartments, each containing a type of medication. The stack of compartments is vibrated so as to position oral-solid medication items in a dispensing position within the respective compartments. A funnel is positioned below the stack of compartments so as to receive a discharge of medication from the compartments. Once the funnel has the appropriate dosage of medication for a receptacle of a dose pack to be filled, the oral-solid medication items in the funnel are released into one of the receptacles. The receptacle is typically displaceable in planar translation, such that the dose pack is displaced to register a different receptacle with the funnel. The operation is repeated for each receptacle.

Document <CIT> relates to a method for transferring products from a supply vessel into the recesses of a conveyed foil, whereby transfer recesses are formed in a filling band according to an arrangement, corresponding to one with the recesses in the foil and the endless filling band is positioned on a first and a second deflecting pulley, for the consecutive loading of the products from the supply vessel, the sorting thereof into the transfer recesses and the transfer thereof into a plurality of placing means, by means of which the products are removed from the transfer recesses in a controlled manner and transferred into the recesses.

Document <CIT> relates to semi-automated medication dispenser, wherein access to the individual compartments is controlled by the computer.

It is therefore an aim of the present application to provide a novel medication dispenser system and method.

The disclosure proposes a medication dispenser system as defined in claim <NUM>. Embodiments of the medication dispenser system are defined in the dependent claims.

There is provided a system for filling medication dose packs with oral-solid medication items, comprising: storage tray drawers each having at least one storage tray, with each storage tray storing a specific type of oral-solid medication item, the storage tray drawers being displaceable to a drawn position to expose the storage trays thereof; a table supporting at least one dose pack having a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, with each receptacle associated with an intake time and date of a patient prescription file; a dispensing mechanism having at least one finger for grasping by suction an oral-solid medication item, and degrees of freedom to displace the at least one finger from any one of the storage trays to the dose pack, to transfer the oral-solid medication items from the storage trays in the drawn position to the receptacles of the dose pack; and a dispenser controller for determining the specific types of oral-solid medication items required in the receptacles of the dose pack as a function of a patient prescription file, and for actuating the dispensing mechanism to control displacements and the suction thereof to fill the dose packs from the patient prescription file.

Further, the dispensing mechanism has three translational degrees of freedom.

Further, the fingers of the dispensing mechanism move along a vertical degree of freedom to grasp oral-solid medication items from the storage trays, and move along two degrees of freedom in a horizontal plane to move the fingers from the storage trays to the dose pack.

Further, the vertical degree of freedom is actuated by a first degree of actuation for movement of the finger in grasping an oral-solid medication item, and by a second degree of actuation for movement of the finger from the storage trays to the dose pack.

Further, the dispensing mechanism connects to the storage tray drawers to open/close the storage tray drawers to/from the drawn position.

Further, the dispensing mechanism has seven of the finger, with the rows of the dose pack each having seven receptacle to represent seven days of one week.

Further, the fingers of the dispensing mechanism move along a vertical degree of freedom to grasp oral-solid medication items from the storage trays, and wherein each finger has an independent suspension to absorb vertical movement once the finger has grasped a oral-solid medication item.

Further, the storage trays each have openings through which the oral-solid medication items are drawn by the fingers of the dispensing mechanism, the opening being sized as a function of the dimension of the oral-solid medication item to ensure at most one of the oral-solid medication items is carried by each finger from the storage trays to the dose pack.

Further, at least one sensor is provided for each said finger, for the dispenser controller to confirm that an oral-solid medication item is grasped by the finger.

Further, the sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor monitoring a pressure in the finger, and an optical sensor monitoring a tip of the finger.

Further, an interface produces a report identifying oral-solid medication items required to manually complete the dose pack as a function of the patient prescription file.

Further, the support table has on its top surface sequential characters for each receptacle of the dose packs, and the report indicates a medication item required in a receptacle using the sequential character.

Further, an interface produces a report sheet arranged in rows in accordance with the dose pack and identifying a number of oral-solid medication items in each receptacle, whereby superposing the dose pack in transparent material with the report sheet enables to see through the receptacles of the dose pack said number of oral-solid medication items required in respective ones of the receptacles of the dose pack for visual inspection.

Further, the report sheet seals off the dose pack to package the medication items in the dose pack, the report sheet having a patient identification thereon.

Further, the system comprises two of said table, such that a first of the tables is displaced to a verification position when filling is completed while a second one of the tables is displaced to a filling position.

Further, each said storage tray drawer has a plurality of the storage trays.

Further, the dispenser controller has a database to store patient prescription files.

Further, the table supports a plurality of dose packs, and the dispenser controller fills the dose packs simultaneously as a function of different patient prescription files.

Further, the dispensing mechanism has a plurality of the fingers to fill simultaneously a plurality of receptacles of a row of the dose pack, with the suction of each one of the fingers being actuated independently to dispense oral-solid medication items in selected ones of the receptacles of the rows.

There is provided a method for distributing oral-solid medication items from a plurality of storage trays each holding a specific type of oral-solid medication items to a dose pack divided in a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, with each row associated with a time period, and each receptacle pack associated with an intake time of the time period, comprising: identifying the receptacles of a first row of the dose pack to receive a first type of oral-solid medication item in accordance with a patient prescription file; obtaining oral-solid medication items of the first type from an appropriate one of the storage trays; displacing the oral-solid medication items to the first row of the dose pack; and dispensing the oral-solid medication items in identified receptacles of the first row of the dose pack; wherein the steps are repeated to fill the rows of the dose pack in accordance with the patient prescription file.

Further, rows of seven receptacles are provided to represent a time period of one week.

Further four of said rows by dose pack are provided to represent four intake times per day.

Further, obtaining an oral-solid medication item comprises grasping by suction the oral-solid medication item.

Further, grasping by suction comprises monitoring a suction pressure to ensure that an oral-solid medication item is grasped.

Further, obtaining an oral-solid medication item comprises opening a storage tray drawer in which the appropriate one of the storage trays is located if the storage tray drawer is closed.

Further, the steps are repeated to fill all rows of the dose pack with the first type of oral-solid medication item prior to repeating the steps for a second type of oral-solid medication item.

Further, the steps are repeated to fill all rows of at least two dose packs with the first type of oral-solid medication item prior to repeating the steps for a second type of oral-solid medication item.

Further, a report is produced to indicate oral-solid medication items from the patient prescription file that are not available in the storage trays.

Further, outputting the report comprises indicating a sequence to manually fill a dose pack with the medication items not available in the storage trays.

Further, a report is printed indicating the number of said oral-solid medication item per receptacle according to the patient prescription file, the numbers of the report being arranged in rows similarly to the dose pack for the numbers to be aligned with respective ones of the receptacles for visual inspection.

Further, printing the report comprises printing the report on a sheet used to seal off the dose pack filled with medication items.

Referring to the drawings and, more particularly, to <FIG>, a medication dispenser system for dose packs is generally shown at <NUM>. More specifically, a plurality of elements of the medication dispenser system <NUM> have been removed to illustrate a dispensing mechanism <NUM>, and its relation with a support table <NUM>. The support table <NUM> is provided to support dose packs.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> is displaceable along three translational degrees-of-freedom (hereinafter DOF), as illustrated by directions X, Y and Z in <FIG>. Moreover, it is contemplated to provide a translational or rotational DOF to an output arm <NUM> of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>, as will be described hereinafter.

More specifically, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> has a first support beam <NUM> operatively mounted on a pair of vertical posts <NUM>. The vertical posts <NUM> are typically a pair of linear actuators, with the moving portion of the linear actuators connected to opposed ends of the first support beam <NUM> such that the first support beam <NUM> is displaceable along the Z direction.

A second support beam <NUM> (e.g., linear actuator) is operatively connected to the first support beam <NUM>, such that the second support beam <NUM> is displaceable along direction X with respect to the first support beam <NUM>. For instance, the first support beam <NUM> is a linear actuator, with a moving portion of the linear actuator connected to the second support beam <NUM>.

A carriage <NUM> (e.g., moving portion of a linear actuator) is mounted to the second support beam <NUM>, and is displaceable along direction Y with respect to the second support beam <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> supports the output arm <NUM>. An actuator <NUM> is provided for the independent actuation of the output arm <NUM> with respect to a remainder of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. Accordingly, there are two degrees of actuation for the dispensing mechanism <NUM> in the vertical direction.

In a first configuration, the actuator <NUM> is a linear actuator providing an additional translational degree of actuation, along the Z axis. This linear actuator is preferably used for the capsule-grasping movements of the output arm <NUM>. In such a case, the actuator <NUM> is advantageously smaller and more powerefficient than the linear actuators of the vertical posts <NUM>, considering the numerous displacements to be performed by the output arm <NUM>.

Alternatively, the actuator <NUM> is a rotational actuator, such that a rotational DOF is provided for the output arm <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may also combine both a translational and a rotational degree of freedom.

It is seen in <FIG> that the output arm <NUM> has two rows of seven fingers <NUM> (illustrated as fingers <NUM> and <NUM>'). Each of the fingers <NUM> is provided so as to carry an oral-solid medication item or tablet (hereinafter "medication item" for simplicity purposes) from storage trays to dose packs, as will be described hereinafter. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fingers <NUM> each have a suction tip, by which medication items are releasably connected to the fingers <NUM>.

Alternatively, a second series of seven fingers <NUM>' can be provided in parallel with the first series of fingers <NUM>. In such a case, the second series of seven fingers would be of different sizes (e.g., smaller) to be capable of grasping smaller medication items. A trap (not visible ) is then actuated to determine which set of the fingers <NUM> is moved downwardly to grasp medication items.

Referring to <FIG>, the medication dispenser system <NUM> is shown having a medication storage tray drawer <NUM>, and a plurality (i.e., eight) of dose packs <NUM> on the support table <NUM>. It is seen that the dose packs <NUM> have a <NUM>-receptacle format, in that each pack <NUM> has <NUM> doses per day for a <NUM>-day period. A few of the receptacles of the dose packs <NUM> are shown as 31A. It is pointed out that, although the dose packs <NUM> are illustrated in a <NUM>-receptacle format, other formats of the dose pack <NUM> may also be used, for instance, with more or fewer than <NUM> receptacles.

Therefore, the output arm <NUM> of the dispensing mechanism <NUM> is displaced along the axes X, Y and Z in order to transport medication items from the medication storage tray drawer <NUM> to the dose packs <NUM>.

Each of the medication storage tray drawer <NUM> has a plurality of storage trays (one of which is shown at 30A), each storage tray 30A containing one type of medication items. It is also contemplated to provide the storage trays with covers, which covers are perforated with openings sized as a function of the size of the medication items. Such covers would ensure that only one capsule per finger <NUM> exits the storage tray. Accordingly, the output arm <NUM> is displaced to a position above one of the storage trays 30A, whereby the fingers <NUM> are in position to each collect a medication item. This is as a function of the doses required in the dose packs <NUM>, as will be discussed hereinafter.

Therefore, by the use of seven fingers <NUM>, the receptacles of one of the dose packs <NUM> may all be filled simultaneously for a first time period for all seven days with one capsule of medication.

Referring to <FIG>, the medication dispenser system <NUM> is shown having a plurality of medication storage tray drawers <NUM>, stacked vertically. The medication storage tray drawers <NUM> are typically set back, and are displaceable to a drawn position of <FIG>. More specifically, each of the medication storage tray drawer <NUM> may be translated to and from the drawn position of <FIG>, so as to be used as a supply for the output arm <NUM> of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> is used to pull any one of the storage tray drawers <NUM> to a supply position (as illustrated in <FIG>). Alternatively, the opening and closing of the storage tray drawers <NUM> may have its own set of actuators.

As the output arm <NUM> is displaceable in the Z direction as described previously, the output arm <NUM> travels to the height of the storage tray drawer <NUM> so as to collect medication items to be dropped into the appropriate dose packs <NUM>. Once the dose packs <NUM> are filled with available medication from the storage trays <NUM>, the dose packs <NUM> may be pulled away from the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. More specifically, it is contemplated to provide the support table <NUM> with telescopic arms or a like translational mechanism in the Y axis, such that a portion of the support table <NUM> can readily be moved away. This configuration enables a second series of dose packs <NUM> to be filled while a first series of dose packs <NUM>, pulled away from the dispensing mechanism <NUM>, is hand-filled by the operator with medication not stored in the medication storage trays <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> is shown in greater detail. There is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> a pair of the fingers <NUM>, respectively illustrated as fingers 26A and 26B in accordance with another embodiment. The fingers 26A and 26B are provided with a ring <NUM>. Accordingly, the fingers <NUM> are mounted to a support <NUM> of the output arm <NUM> so as to be displaceable in translation along the Z axis, and are naturally in the position illustrated in <FIG> as being pulled by gravity because of the ring <NUM>. When the fingers <NUM> are displaced downwardly to capture medication items <NUM> in the receptacles 30A of the storage trays <NUM>, it may be required for one of the fingers <NUM>, such as the finger 26B of <FIG>, to be moved lower than other finger <NUM>, such as the finger 26A, to capture a medication item <NUM>.

In order to stop the movement of the fingers <NUM> having captured a medication item, the fingers <NUM> are freely mounted onto the support <NUM> so as to be displaceable vertically, while being pulled downwardly by the effect of gravity. Accordingly, the risk of having a medication item dislodged from one of the fingers 26A is reduced by this suspension mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, the fingers <NUM> are each connected to a vacuum system, such that a tip of each of the fingers <NUM> is subjected to a pressure differential from ambient pressure, that will be of sufficient magnitude to grasp a medication item.

The suction at the tip of each of the fingers <NUM> will be controlled individually, such that any combination of the fingers <NUM> can be actuated over the <NUM>-day period represented by a row of the dose packs <NUM>. This is typically performed by on/off valves between the vacuum source and the tips of the fingers <NUM>.

It is also contemplated to provide each of the fingers <NUM> with pressure sensors, so as to determine whether a medication item has been grasped by the respective fingers <NUM>, and whether the medication item has been released at the appropriate position of the output arm. It is contemplated to use other types of sensors, such as optical sensors (using LED's).

Referring to <FIG>, a medication dispenser system <NUM> is shown having a controller <NUM> associated with the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is typically a processing unit that is programmed to operate the preparation of a plurality of dose pack jobs as a function of an inventory of medication items present in the various levels of storage trays <NUM> (<FIG>), as a function of patient prescription files entered in the system <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is therefore connected to an interface <NUM>, by which a user person (e.g., pharmacist, chemist, technician), enters various jobs. The jobs to be performed are patient prescription files in the form of oral-solid medication items to be converted into dose packs associated with the patient (i.e., customer). The jobs are typically entered as digital files, or may be entered manually through the interface <NUM>. The interface <NUM> has a display screen, as well as associated peripherals, such as a keyboard, mouse, disk drives, printer, internet/ethernet ports.

A dose pack calculator <NUM> is also provided in association with the controller <NUM>. The dose pack calculator <NUM> creates a dose pack profile from the patient prescription file. The dose pack profiles comprise: (<NUM>) an identification of the storage tray 30A from which medication items must be grasped, and (<NUM>) the receptacles 31A of each dose pack <NUM> in which the medication items will be received. Accordingly, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> receives a series of maneuver instructions to fill the dose packs. The dose pack calculator <NUM> is associated with the controller <NUM> which actuates the dispensing mechanism as a function of the dose pack profiles.

A database <NUM> is provided in association with the controller <NUM>, such that the various jobs (i.e., patient prescription files having been converted to dose pack profiles) may be stored in the wait of being performed. It is contemplated to store dose pack profiles of specific customers, in such a way that a customer's identification may be the only information required through the interface <NUM> to order the preparation of a dose pack from the controller <NUM> for that customer.

A confirmation sensor <NUM> is connected to the controller <NUM> and is actuated as a function of commands from the controller <NUM>. The confirmation sensor <NUM> is provided to determine whether a medication item has been dispensed into a prescribed receptacle 31A. The detection data is sent to the controller <NUM> by the confirmation sensor <NUM>, whereby the controller <NUM> will update its accounting of the medication items dispensed in a job.

The confirmation sensor <NUM> may take various configurations. For instance, it has been described previously that the fingers <NUM> may be provided with a pressure sensor. The confirmation sensor <NUM> may be such pressure sensors, with pressure profiles being fed to the controller <NUM> has detection data. The pressure profiles are then interpreted by the dose pack calculator <NUM> to determine whether the medication item has been successfully dispensed in the appropriate dose pack <NUM>.

Alternatively or additionally, the confirmation sensor <NUM> may be a visual or optical sensor, that is configured to detect the dispensing of a medication item into a prescribed receptacle 31A, so as to confirm that a medication item has been dispensed.

The controller <NUM> is connected to the dispensing mechanism <NUM> so as to actuate the DOFs and the suction of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. More specifically, the controller <NUM>, by way of its association with the dose pack calculator <NUM>, will convert dose pack profiles into a plurality of actuation commands of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>. More specifically, as a function of the position and level of the medication into the storage trays 30A of the storage tray drawers <NUM>, the controller <NUM> will actuate the linear and rotational actuators of the dispensing mechanism <NUM> as well as the grasping action of the fingers <NUM>, so as to dispense appropriate medication items into the prescribed receptacles 31A of the dose packs <NUM>.

Therefore, in order to perform a job associated with a single patient prescription file, the medication dispenser system <NUM> will obtain the prescription file from the interface <NUM> or from the database <NUM>.

The patient prescription file is converted by the controller <NUM>, in association with the dose pack calculator <NUM>, into a dose pack profile comprising a plurality of displacements and actuations of the dispensing mechanism <NUM>, as a function of the position of the medication items in the various storage trays 30A (<FIG>), and of the position of the dose packs <NUM> on the support table <NUM>.

The dispensing mechanism <NUM> will then proceed to the displacement of medication from the storage trays 30A to the dose pack <NUM>, with the confirmation sensor <NUM> confirming that a medication item was appropriately dispensed as prescribed.

The controller <NUM> will account the detection data from the confirmation sensor <NUM>. The inventory data of the dose pack provided by the controller <NUM> will result in feedback as to the completion of the job.

The medication dispenser system <NUM> advantageously has the capacity of displacing a plurality of medication items at once. More specifically, it has been observed that prescriptions often require a same medication item to be taken over a <NUM>-day period at a same period of a day. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> therefore has the capacity of grasping seven medication items in one displacement from the storage tray drawer <NUM> to the dose packs <NUM>. Alternatively, the rotational DOF of the output arm <NUM> could be used to grasp medication items from different trays 30A of a same storage tray drawer <NUM>.

In order to minimize the number of movements performed by the dispensing mechanism <NUM>, and therefore accelerate the completion of the jobs, it is considered to proceed by filling all receptacles 31A of all dose packs <NUM> with a first type of medication item. Accordingly, the appropriate storage tray drawer <NUM> is opened once, and the distribution of a first type of medication from that storage tray drawer <NUM> is performed for all rows of the dose packs <NUM>. Once the distribution of the first type of medication is completed, the distribution of the medication for a second type of medication item is performed, from the same storage tray drawer <NUM>. These steps are performed until all types of medication items from that same storage tray drawer <NUM> have been distributed. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> then switches to another storage tray drawer <NUM>.

Some types of medication may be absent from the storage trays <NUM>. In such cases, it is contemplated to manually fill the dose packs with such medication before or after the preparation of the dose pack with the medication dispenser system <NUM>. A report is typically produced to indicate what medication items are absent from the storage tray <NUM> to complete the job. The report typically contains a sequence to follow to fill the dose pack. In an embodiment, the support table <NUM> has on its surface an array of sequential numbers sized such that each receptacle 31A on the support table <NUM> has its own location identified with one of the sequential numbers. The report identifies the receptacles 31A with their sequential number, and indicates what medication item is required in the identified receptacles 31A.

In order to verify the contents of a filled dose pack, one contemplated solution is to have the interface <NUM> print out a report sheet that is arranged in an array representing the arrangement of receptacles 31A of the dose pack <NUM>, for every completed job, with the report sheet featuring the number of medication items required in each receptacle. As the dose packs <NUM> are typically made of a transparent material, the report sheet is superposed with the filled dose pack in such a way that the receptacles 31A are in register with the respective number of items. Accordingly, by seeing the number through the receptacle 31A, the user can determine if the number of items in the receptacle 31A matches with the number seen through the receptacle 31A. In an embodiment, the report sheet is the sheet used to seal off the filled dose pack. Accordingly, verification can be performed when the dose pack is filled and sealed.

It is suggested to have appropriate personnel review the jobs performed with the dose packs, to ensure that the prescriptions have been respected. For instance, the interface <NUM> preferably has a printer, such that a check list could be printed out for the review of the contents of a dose pack by a pharmacist prior to the dose pack being sealed off.

Claim 1:
A medication dispenser system (<NUM>) for dose packs (<NUM>) configured to fill dose packs supported by a support table (<NUM>) and comprising:
a storage tray drawer (<NUM>) having at least one storage tray (30A) for storing oral-solid medication items, the storage tray drawers being displaceable to a drawn position to expose the storage trays thereof;
a dispensing mechanism (<NUM>) having a plurality of fingers (<NUM>) for grasping by suction an oral-solid medication item, and degrees of freedom to displace the plurality of fingers from the at least one storage tray (30A) to the dose pack (<NUM>) having a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, to transfer the oral-solid medication items from the at least one storage tray (30A) in the drawn position to the receptacles of the dose pack (<NUM>), and a vacuum system to provide a suction at tips of the plurality of fingers such that a tip of each finger (<NUM>) is subjected to a pressure differential from ambient pressure; and
a controller (<NUM>) for controlling the dispensing mechanism (<NUM>) to displace oral-solid medication items from the at least one storage tray (30A) to the receptacles of the dose pack (<NUM>) as a function of a patient prescription file;
the medication dispenser system (<NUM>) being characterized in that the at least one storage tray comprises a cover perforated with openings sized as a function of the oral-solid medication items such that only one oral-solid medication item exits the at least one storage tray (30A) per finger (<NUM>), and
the fingers (<NUM>) are provided with a ring (<NUM>) and are freely mounted to a support (<NUM>) of an output arm (<NUM>) so as to be displaceable vertically, the fingers being suspended independently and naturally being pulled downwardly by gravity because of the ring (<NUM>).