Patent ID: 6975924

Claim:
Apparatus for use in controlling the operation of at least one pharmaceutical compounder adapted to selectively transfer prescribed amounts of pharmaceutical components from individual source containers through elongated hollow transfer means to a final container in order to prepare a prescription admixture, said apparatus comprising: computing means having memory means for storing instructions for operating the apparatus and for controlling the compounders to prepare a prescribed admixture, said memory means including data relating to a plurality of the pharmaceutical components that may be transferred to prepare the prescription admixture, and data concerning the operating characteristics of at least one of the compounders that the apparatus is adapted to control; said computing means including at least one communication port for establishing a communication link with each compounder that is to be controlled; said computing means being adapted to receive a prescription admixture, identify the pharmaceutical components thereof, determine the compatibility of the pharmaceutical components relative to one another, determine the order in which the components are transferred in preparing the prescription admixture, and communicate the instructions for preparing the prescription admixture to the compounders that are to be used in preparing the prescription admixture.