Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-01-20
Crawford, Gene O. (Department: 3653)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S235000, C221S002000, C221S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06681149
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems for automatically filling prescriptions, and more particularly to a computer controlled system for dispensing containers (e.g., pill bottles) and then filling the bottles with pills, wherein a robotic arm removes bulk containers one at a time and then fills a selected bottle with a selected number of pills from the selected bulk container.
2. General Background of the Invention
In the pharmaceutical industry, many different types of pills must be quickly dispensed into pill bottles in order to efficiently provide prescription services to patients. Several such systems have been patented that disclose devices attempting to automate pill prescription services.
Kerney Hurst is a named inventor of a number of issued and now expired U.S. patents that deal with counting articles such as pills from a cassette or drum.
Issued
Filing
Patent
Date
Date
Title
Expiration Date
Inventors
3,045,864
Jul. 24, 1962
Jun. 25, 1959
“Article
Jul. 24, 1979
Hurst/
Counting Device”
Pearson
3,170,627
Feb. 23, 1965
Jul. 08, 1963
“Article
Feb. 23, 1982
Pearson/
Counting Device”
Hurst
3,215,310
Nov. 02, 1965
Jul. 03, 1962
“Article
Nov. 02, 1982
Hurst/
Counting Device”
Pearson
3,266,664
Aug. 16, 1966
Jun. 09, 1965
“Article
Aug. 16, 1983
Pearson/
Counting Device”
Hurst
3,368,713
Feb. 13, 1968
Aug. 15, 1966
“Article
Feb. 13, 1985
Hurst/
Counting Device”
Pearson
4,111,332
Sep. 05, 1978
Dec. 16, 1974
“Article
Sep. 05, 1995
Hurst/
Counting Device”
Pearson
4,171,065
Oct. 16, 1979
Dec. 06, 1976
“Circuitry And
Oct. 16, 1996
Hurst
System For
Controlling
Multi-Use
Article
Dispensing Cells
A more recent Kerney Hurst patent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,394 which relates to a cassette for holding pills to be dispensed. The cassettes of the Hurst '394 patent cooperate with a counter/dispenser having a motor drive that rotates a drum inside the cassette to dispense and count pills contained in the drum. A selected pill in a selected cassette is placed upon the motor drive when a prescription is to be filled. The druggist then selects a number of pills using a numeric key pad entry. The druggist also selects a desired size pill bottle and places that pill bottle under the counter/dispenser so that when the motor drive rotates the drum contained within the cassette, the desired number of pills are dispensed from the cassette through the counter/dispenser and into the pill bottle.
Recent patents deal with the concept of automating the process of filling a prescription. These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,208,762 and 5,337,919. The '762 patent, issued to Charhut et al., discloses a method and apparatus for dispensing drugs, wherein a patient's order of one or more prescriptions is automatically filled. Various drugs are stored in three or more filler lines. A vial size is assigned to each line. When a prescription is filled, it is automatically assigned to a line in view of the vial size requirements and processed accordingly. Provisions are made for the inability to fill a prescription or order. Subsequently, all of the patient's prescriptions are collected and made available as a single order.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,919, issued to Spaulding et al., discloses an automatic prescription dispensing system that includes a housing or flame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial off load carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer. Such prescription data is used by the controller for selecting the dispenser unit having the required drug, vial size, and number of pills to be dispensed.
Some automated drug filling systems automatically fill a prescription and even apply a cap to the pill bottle. These are typically very expensive devices that are only justifiable to very large end users such as hospitals.
There is a need for an automated prescription filling system that includes a bottle dispenser that can be used by smaller and medium sized users such as pharmacies as opposed to very large hospitals.
There is also a need for a container (e.g., pill bottle) dispensing system that uses a cabinet or shelving unit that holds storage containers that can quickly and automatically access a container for subsequent filling (e.g., with a selected pill).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically dispensing containers such as bottles for prescription medication. The system produces a label and fills prescription vials with a specific drug for a specific patient. The system includes a “cassette” based pill counting system and a label printer serviced by an articulated robotic manipulator whose functions are coordinated by a computer to extemporaneously label and fill prescription vials.
A record of prescription information is received by the controlling computer from a pharmacy order entry computer. This record includes usual prescription label information such as patient name, doctor name, instructions, etc. as well as drug and quantity information.
The controlling computer directs a robotic manipulator to retrieve a drug storage unit which includes a queuing and separating means (i.e., cassette).
The controlling computer sends the drug and quantity information to a control counter/dispenser which will cooperate with the drug storage cassette to count and dispense the required number of pills. The robotic manipulator arm places the cassette on a counter, and a bar code on the cassette is read by a scanner interfaced to the counter. If the bar code matches the drug information, the counting and dispensing system is activated and pills are dispensed to a temporary holding volume.
While the pills are being counted the robotic manipulator arm retrieves an empty vial from a vial dispenser. The manipulator then places the vial on a vial rotating device which is positioned in a manner so that the prescription label is applied to the label to the vial as it is printed. The robotic manipulator then retrieves the labeled vial from the labeler and maneuvers the vial to the temporary pill holding volume. Then robotic manipulator lifts a gate allowing the pills to fall from the holding volume into the vial.
The manipulator then places the filled vial to a conveyor means and releases it. The conveyor then transports it to an operator for checking and delivery to the patient.
The robotic manipulator then retrieves the cassette from the counter and returns the cassette to its shelf. When a cassette requires replenishment of it's stock, the manipulator retrieves the cassette from its storage shelf and places it in an output holding area that is accessible by a system operator. The operator removes the cassette from the output holding area and performs the replenishment steps. The cassette is returned to service by placing it in an input holding area The manipulator then returns the cassette to its storage shelf. Multiple vial sizes are accommodated by the single robotic manipulator.
The present invention thus provides an improved method and apparatus for filling prescriptions. The method of the present invention provides a storage shelving unit that c
Bergeron Michael
Dolores Allan
Potepalov Galina
William Jeffrey P.
Crawford Gene O.
McKesson Automation Systems Inc.
Thorp Reed & Armstrong LLP
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