Automatic packaging machine for pharmaceuticals and its operation method

Abstract

To provide an improved method for filling a prescription.SOLUTION: The method includes the steps of: receiving a prescription to be filled by a pharmacy management system with an electronic processor of the pharmacy management system; identifying one or more bulk containers that contain medications to fill the prescription with a pre-counter; counting, using the pre-counter, medications from the one or more bulk containers to fill the prescription; packaging the medications counted with the pre-counter by using a packaging unit of an automatic packager; capturing one or more images of the medications counted by the pre-counter; and verifying whether the medications are correctly packaged by using the automatic packager on the basis of the one or more images of the medications.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 652,692, filed Apr. 4, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 745,126, filed Oct. 12, 2018. The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

[0002] The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical packaging machine, and more particularly to a verification system for a packaging machine.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] One embodiment provides a method for filling a prescription at a pharmacy. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, a prescription to be filled by the pharmacy management system and identifying, at a pre - counter, one or more bulk containers containing pharmaceuticals for filling the prescription. The method also includes counting, using the pre - counter, pharmaceuticals from the one or more bulk containers for filling the prescription and placing the counted pharmaceuticals into one or more cartridges. The method further includes placing the one or more cartridges containing the counted pharmaceuticals in an automatic packaging machine and dispensing, using the automatic packaging machine, the pharmaceuticals within the one or more cartridges. The method also includes packaging, using a packaging unit of the automatic packaging machine, the pharmaceuticals dispensed from the one or more cartridges into a package and verifying, using the automatic packaging machine, whether the pharmaceuticals are correctly packaged.

[0004] Another embodiment provides a method for dispensing prescriptions at a pharmacy. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, a prescription to be dispensed by the pharmacy management system and identifying, at a pre-counter, one or more bulk containers containing drugs for dispensing the prescription. The method also includes counting, using the pre-counter, drugs from the one or more bulk containers for dispensing the prescription and prompting, using the pre-counter, adding or removing tablets to the pre-counter. The method further includes placing the counted drugs into one or more cartridges and arranging the one or more cartridges containing the counted drugs in an automatic packaging machine. The method also includes verifying, using the automatic packaging machine, each drug when the drug is dispensed from the one or more cartridges and packaging, using a packaging unit of the automatic packaging machine, the drugs dispensed from the one or more cartridges into packages.

[0005] Another embodiment provides a method for dispensing prescriptions at a pharmacy. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, a prescription to be dispensed by the pharmacy management system and identifying, at a pre-counter, one or more bulk containers containing drugs for dispensing the prescription. The method also includes counting, using the pre-counter, drugs from the one or more bulk containers for dispensing the prescription and packaging, using a packaging unit of an automatic packaging machine, the drugs counted by the pre-counter. The method further includes imaging one or more images of the drugs counted by the pre-counter and verifying, using the automatic packaging machine, whether the drugs are correctly packaged based on the one or more images of the drugs.

[0006] Another embodiment provides a method for dispensing prescriptions at a pharmacy. The method is In an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, receiving a prescription formulated by the pharmacy management system and arranging one or more cartridges containing the drugs listed in the prescription in an automatic packaging machine. The method includes the steps of using the automatic packaging machine to individualize the drugs in order to distribute the drugs in the one or more cartridges individually, and using the automatic packaging machine to confirm each drug while the drug is in the one or more cartridges or when the drug is distributed from the one or more cartridges. The method also includes the steps of imaging each image of the drugs when the drugs are distributed from the one or more cartridges and packaging the drugs distributed from the one or more cartridges into packages using a packaging unit of the automatic packaging machine. The method also includes the step of using the automatic packaging machine to confirm whether the drugs are correctly packaged.

[0007] Another embodiment provides a method for formulating a prescription in a pharmacy. The method includes the steps of receiving, in an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, a prescription formulated by the pharmacy management system and identifying, at a precounter, one or more bulk containers containing the drugs for formulating the prescription. The method also includes the steps of counting, using the precounter, the drugs from the one or more bulk containers for formulating the prescription and identifying, using the precounter, one or more characteristics of the drugs listed in the prescription. The method also includes the step of transmitting, using the precounter, one or more characteristics of the drugs to an automatic packaging machine. The automatic packaging machine confirms whether the correct drugs are packaged by a packaging unit based on the one or more characteristics of the drugs received from the precounter.

[0008] Another embodiment provides a method for dispensing prescriptions at a pharmacy. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor of a pharmacy management system, a prescription to be dispensed by the pharmacy management system and identifying, at a precounter, one or more bulk containers that contain medications for dispensing the prescription. The method also includes counting, using the precounter, medications from the one or more bulk containers for dispensing the prescription and packaging, using a packaging unit of an automatic packaging machine, the medications counted at the precounter.

[0009] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by considering the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Before describing embodiments of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configurations and arrangements of the components described in the following description or shown in the following drawings in its application. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and can be carried out or implemented in various ways. Also, functions described as being performed by one component in this application may be performed by a plurality of components in a distributed manner. Similarly, functions performed by a plurality of components may be integrated and performed by a single component. Similarly, a component described as performing a particular function may also perform additional functions not described in this application. For example, an apparatus or structure "configured" in a given way is at least configured in such a way, but may also be configured in ways not described.

[0012] In most health treatments, the administration of several medications is required at specific times of the day. If all the medications required at a given time are not taken together, the treatment will not be effective. To improve compliance with prescriptions, some pharmacies provide medications in labeled strip packaging. Each strip packaging contains all the different types of medications to be taken together at the marked time. Generally, each prescription is issued for the medications for the next 30 days. Thus, each spool of strip packaging contains the medications provided for the next 30 days.

[0013] To ensure that the strip packaging contains the correct types and numbers of medications, it may be necessary to manually check each strip packaging. Generally, the strip packaging is checked after all the medications have been packaged and removed from the packaging machine. However, if an error is discovered after packaging and labeling, it may be necessary to remove the strip packaging from the spool and replace it with a correctly packaged and labeled strip packaging. This can cause a break in the spool and is generally inefficient. In addition, in the above method, the pharmacist has only one opportunity to identify an error in the packaging.

[0014] Accordingly, it is desirable to improve the efficiency of verifying packaging accuracy and provide additional opportunities for pharmacists to efficiently identify or reduce errors in packaging. In addition, by improving packaging efficiency, pharmacists can reduce the time required to handle customers, enabling them to handle more customers.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pharmacy management system 10 according to one exemplary embodiment. The pharmacy management system 10 is a pharmacy automation system used in a retail pharmacy. The pharmacy management system 10 enables automation of pharmacy procurement, prescription compounding, and inventory management performed in a retail pharmacy. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pharmacy management system 10 includes an electronic processor 14, a memory 18, a transceiver 22, an input / output interface 26, a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, a pre-counter 34, and an automatic packaging machine 38. The electronic processor 14, the memory 18, the transceiver 22, and the input / output interface 26 communicate via one or more control and / or data buses (e.g., communication bus 42). FIG. 1 merely shows one exemplary embodiment of the pharmacy management system 10. The pharmacy management system 10 may include more or fewer components and may perform roles other than those explicitly described in this application. For example, in some embodiments, the pharmacy management system 10 may not include the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30.

[0016] In some embodiments, the electronic processor 14 is implemented as a separate microprocessor with a memory such as the memory 18. In other embodiments, the electronic processor 14 can be implemented as a microcontroller (having the memory 18 on the same chip). In other embodiments, the electronic processor 14 can be implemented using a plurality of processors. Additionally, the electronic processor 14 may be implemented partially or wholly as, for example, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc., and the memory 18 may not be required or may be varied according to the implementation. In the illustrated example, the memory 18 includes a non-transitory computer-readable memory that stores instructions received and executed by the electronic processor 14 to perform the functions of the pharmacy management system 10 described herein. The memory 18 may include, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area may include a combination of different types of memories such as read-only memory and random access memory.

[0017] The transceiver 22 enables wired or wireless communication from the pharmacy management system 10 to the communication network 46. In other embodiments, the pharmacy management system 10 may include separate transmit and receive components, such as a transmitter and a receiver, instead of the transceiver 22. The pharmacy management system 10 can communicate via the communication network 46 with the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the precounter 34, the automatic packaging machine 38, and a database, such as the National Drug Code (NDC) database 50.

[0018] The communication network 46 can be constructed according to any suitable network technology or topology or a combination of network technology and topology, and can include a plurality of sub-networks. The connection between the device shown in FIG. 1 and the system can be made via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless network, an intranet, the Internet, or any other suitable network. In a hospital or a medical facility, the communication between the device shown in FIG. 1 and the system can be carried out through any required communication protocol, including, for example, the Health Level 7 protocol (HL7) or any other version of the required protocol. Since the HL7 protocol is a standard protocol that defines the criteria (including the necessary interface implementation) for data exchange between two computer applications (the sending side and the receiving side), a standard common environment is used by vendors, thus facilitating the exchange of electronic data in a medical environment. With the HL7 protocol, medical institutions can exchange important data sets from different application systems. Specifically, the HL7 protocol can define the data to be exchanged, the timing of the exchange, and the communication of errors to the application. The format is generally versatile and can be configured to meet the needs of the relevant applications.

[0019] Figure 2 shows a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 according to one exemplary embodiment. The pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 is an integrated workflow automation and high density robotic storage system used in retail pharmacies. The system 30 seamlessly dispenses prescription containers and returns the containers to inventory without the operator having to use a complex software interface. As shown in FIG. 1, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 includes one or more pharmaceutical storage and retrieval devices 54 and a computer or controller configured to control the operation and functions of the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device 54. The system 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes three pharmaceutical storage and retrieval devices 54, although more or fewer devices 54 may be utilized in a particular pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30. A similar pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 is described and illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 9,727,701 entitled "Pharmaceutical Storage and Retrieval System and Method for Storing and Retrieving Pharmaceuticals". The entire content of such U.S. Patent is incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] Figure 3 schematically shows the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 and its functions within a pharmacy. In the illustrated example, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 includes a storage electronic processor 58, a storage memory 62, a storage transceiver 66, an RFID scanner 70, a biometric scanner 74, a barcode scanner 78, and a storage input / output interface 82. The storage electronic processor 58, the storage memory 62, the storage transceiver 66, the RFID scanner 70, the biometric scanner 74, the barcode scanner 78, and the storage input / output interface 82 communicate via one or more control and / or data buses (e.g., communication bus 86). FIG. 3 shows only one exemplary embodiment of the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30. The pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 may include more or fewer components and may perform roles other than those explicitly described herein.

[0021] The storage electronic processor 58 and the storage memory 62 can be implemented in the same manner as the above-described electronic processor 14 and memory 18. The storage transceiver 66 enables communication from the pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30 to the communication network 46. In other embodiments, the pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30 may include separate transmission and reception components, such as a receiver and a transmitter, instead of the storage transceiver 66. The pharmaceutical storage recovery system 30 can communicate with the precounter 34, the automatic packaging machine 38, and a database, such as the National Drug Code Database 50, via the communication network 46.

[0022] The storage input / output interface 82 may include one or more input mechanisms (e.g., touch screen, keypad, button, knob, etc.), one or more output mechanisms (e.g., display, printer, speaker, etc.), or a combination thereof. The storage input / output interface 82 receives input from an input device actuated by a user and provides output to an output device with which the user communicates. In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to managing input and output via the storage input / output interface 82, the pharmaceutical storage recovery system 30 can receive user input, provide user output, or both, by communicating with an external device, such as a console computer, via a wired or wireless connection.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the pharmaceutical storage recovery system 30 also includes a user authentication system 94. The user authentication system 94 includes an RFID scanner 70, a biometric scanner 74, and a barcode scanner 78. The RFID scanner 70 is integrated with the user authentication system 94. In an alternative embodiment, the RFID scanner 70 can be located separately near the device 54. The biometric scanner 74 is used to identify an authorized user of the system 30 and can be, for example, a fingerprint scanner, an iris reader, a voice recognition scanner, a face recognition scanner, or a combination thereof.

[0024] The barcode scanner 78 can be used to scan barcodes such as the NDC on a container or the label on a custom container stored in the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30. The barcode scanner 78 can also be used to scan a unique barcode label generated by the system 30 to identify an individual container of a particular pharmaceutical. In such an embodiment, a barcode is generated that is uniquely assigned to each container stored within the system 30, device 54. When each container is first introduced into the device 54, a label having the barcode generated by the system 30 is affixed to the container. Thereafter, each time a container is "checked out" from the system 30 or "checked in" to the system 30, the system 30 can not only identify the type of drug being "checked out" or "checked in", but can further track the particular container. Thus, in such an embodiment of the system 30, multiple containers of the same pharmaceutical or drug can be "checked out" from the system 30 simultaneously. Since the system 30 can identify each particular container, the system 30 can verify that an order has been properly completed by associating each container with, for example, a particular operator or a particular prescription order.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the storage electronic processor 58 may implement a fill prescription module for the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30. In some embodiments, the fill prescription module is operable to retrieve a specific container for formulating a customer's prescription from the system 30 using an automated process. In other embodiments, as described above, the system 30 may be omitted. In such embodiments, the user may manually retrieve a specific container from a location within the pharmacy, such as a closet or shelf. In a scenario where the system 30 is used to retrieve a specific container, when the pharmacy receives a prescription to be filled, the pharmacy staff enters the information into the pharmacy management system 10, and the pharmacy printer generates an information sheet including a list of medications, customer information, and a barcode. The information sheet is conveyed to the scanner 78, and the barcode is read. At the same time, the user's RFID authentication information can be read to confirm access to the system 30 and the medications stored within the system 30. Based on the barcode, the fill prescription module instructs the gantry assembly of the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device 54 to retrieve the container specified on the information sheet, which is necessary for formulating the customer's prescription. More specifically, the fill prescription module communicates with the storage memory 62 to obtain the specific location within the device 54 where the containers of the required medications are stored. The fill prescription module communicates the specific location of the container to the gantry assembly so that the gantry assembly knows where to go to retrieve the appropriate container. If a specific container is stored outside the device 54, the operator can be informed of the external storage location associated with the desired container.

[0026] After identifying the specific location of the required container, the gantry assembly retrieves the container and inserts it into port 98 of device 54. After the user's RFID authentication information is verified, the front door opens so that the user can remove the container from port 98. Pharmacy management system 10 can also directly communicate the order information to the storage electronic processor 58 of system 30, and the electronic processor can instruct device 54 to start retrieving and preparing the containers required for the entered order. Similar to the process described above, the user takes the information sheet generated by the pharmacy printer to scanner 78, where the barcode on the information sheet and the user RFID can be read. When system 30 recognizes the valid RFID authentication information related to the order carried out and the barcode on the presented information sheet, port 74 containing the pharmaceuticals required to fulfill the order is opened. Thus, system 30 can retrieve the required pharmaceuticals, but can be configured so that access to the required pharmaceuticals is not possible until the information sheet and RFID are scanned.

[0027] In a scenario where system 30 does not exist, when the pharmacy receives a prescription to be compounded, the pharmacy staff still enters the information into pharmacy management system 10, and the pharmacy printer generates an information sheet. However, in this embodiment, the information sheet may not include a barcode to be scanned by pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30. Instead, the information sheet may include a list of pharmaceuticals and customer information. And the user can manually retrieve the bulk storage container containing the desired drug from a storage location (e.g., closet, cabinet, shelf, etc.). Alternatively, the user can first enter the information into pharmacy management system 10 and directly retrieve the desired bulk storage container without generating an information sheet.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a pre-counter 34 for an automatic packaging machine 38 according to one exemplary embodiment. The pre-counter 34 is a drug counting device for use in a retail pharmacy and detects and counts a number of drugs placed on the pre-counter 34. The pre-counter 34 displays the count number and shares the count number with other systems within the pharmacy. As shown in FIG. 5, the pre-counter 34 includes a barcode scanner 102, a counting tray 106, a camera system 110, a display 114, a funnel 118, and a funnel gate 122.

[0029] The barcode scanner 102 is used to scan barcodes on the labels of containers retrieved from the device 54 or other locations within the pharmacy and may be implemented in the same manner as the barcode scanner 78. Although the illustrated scanner 102 is identified as a barcode scanner, in other embodiments, the precounter may include other types of scanners, such as a scanner for recognizing Q-codes on bottles or a camera for recognizing an image of the bottle or an image on the bottle. In a further embodiment, the scanner 102 may be omitted and the user may directly input information regarding the bottle (e.g., the serial number of the bottle via a keypad) into the precounter. And the contents of the container can be placed on the counting tray 106 for counting by the precounter 34. The counting tray 106 may be replaceable for cleaning and to prevent cross-contamination between different types of medications. The counting tray 106 may be transparent or translucent such that an illumination system 126 (see FIG. 6) below the counting tray 106 can illuminate the contents of the counting tray 106. Once illuminated, the camera system 110 may capture an image of the contents of the counting tray 106 and begin counting. The display 114 may be used to display the scanned barcode information as well as the count number of the medications placed on the counting tray 106. Based on the information displayed, the pharmacist or technician may add medications to or remove medications from the counting tray 106 until the correct amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 106. Once the correct amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 106, the user may transfer the contents of the counting tray 106 to the cartridge 158 (FIG. 7) of the automatic packaging machine 38. The funnel 118 and the funnel gate 122 are used to transfer medications from the counting tray 106 to the original container or the cartridge 158.

[0030] FIG. 6 schematically shows the pre-counter 34 and its functions within the pharmacy. In the illustrated example, the pre-counter 34 includes a counter electronic processor 130, a counter memory 134, a counter transceiver 138, a barcode scanner 102, a camera system 110, a display 114, an illumination system 126, and a counter input / output interface 142. The counter electronic processor 130, the counter memory 134, the counter transceiver 138, the barcode scanner 102, the camera system 110, the display 114, the illumination system 126, and the counter input / output interface 142 communicate via one or more control and / or data buses (e.g., communication bus 146). FIGS. 5 and 6 merely show one exemplary embodiment of the pre-counter 34. The pre-counter 34 may include more or fewer components and may perform roles other than those explicitly described herein.

[0031] The counter electronic processor 130 and the counter memory 134 may be implemented in a similar manner to the storage electronic processor 58 and the storage memory 62 described above. The counter transceiver 138 enables communication from the pre-counter 34 to the communication network 46. In other embodiments, the pre-counter 34 may include separate transmit and receive components, such as a transmitter and a receiver, instead of the counter transceiver 138. The pre-counter 34 may communicate with the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the automatic packaging machine 38, and a database, such as the National Drug Code Database 50, via the communication network 46.

[0032] The counter input / output interface 142 may include one or more input mechanisms (e.g., touch screen, keypad, buttons, knobs, etc.), one or more output mechanisms (e.g., display, printer, speaker, etc.) or a combination thereof. The counter input / output interface 142 receives input from an input device actuated by a user and provides output to an output device with which the user communicates. In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to managing input and output via the counter input / output interface 82, the pre-counter 34 may receive user input, provide user output, or both, by communicating with an external device such as a console computer via a wired or wireless connection.

[0033] The lighting system includes a first light source 147 and a second light source 148. The first light source 147 (e.g., light in the infrared (IR) or near-infrared (NOR) spectrum) is located under the counting tray 106. The first light source 147 shines light toward the camera system 110 through the counting tray 106 to illuminate the contents of the counting tray 106. When the first light source 147 illuminates the counting tray 106, the medications on the counting tray 106 form shadows against the first light source 147 or the white background of the counting tray 106. The camera system 110 captures an image of the shadows projected by the medications on the counting tray 106. The image may be a still image of the medications at a particular instant or a live image continuously transmitted to the display 114. The second light source 148 (e.g., visible spectrum light) is located on the same side of the counting tray 106 as the camera system 110 and shines light onto the counting tray 106 to illuminate the contents of the counting tray 106. When the second light source 148 illuminates the counting tray 106, the camera system 110 captures a visible light image of the medications showing the color, shape, contour, surface finish, etc. of the medications. The image may be a still image of the medications at a particular instant or a live image continuously transmitted to the display 114. The camera system 110 communicates with the counter electronic processor 130 and the counter memory 134 to store and / or transmit the image to the display 114.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary automatic packaging machine 38 including a universal feed cassette 150 and a packaging unit 154 according to an exemplary embodiment. The universal feed cassette 150 receives medicaments from a bulk canister or a pre-counter 34 and individually dispenses tablets to the packaging unit 154. Each universal feed cassette 150 can dispense 10 separate tablets simultaneously. In other embodiments, the universal feed cassette 150 can dispense 20 or more separate tablets simultaneously. In some embodiments, the automatic packaging machine 38 can include two or more universal feed cassettes 150.

[0035] The universal feed cassette 150 includes a plurality of cartridges 158 disposed within the housing of the universal feed cassette 150. In one example, the universal feed cassette 150 can include up to 10 cartridges 158 received in cartridge slots 162. In another example, the universal feed cassette 150 can include up to 20 cartridges 158 received in cartridge slots 162. For example, the cartridges 158 can be received in two tiers or levels of the cartridge slots 162. A pharmacist can load medicaments from the bulk canister or pre-counter 34 into each cartridge 158. The same medicament can be loaded into each cartridge 158, or different medicaments can be loaded into each cartridge 158. The cartridges 158 individually dispense medicaments to the packaging unit 154.

[0036] The cartridges 158 are removably fixed to the universal feed cassette 150. A pharmacist or technician can remove each individual cartridge 158 from the cartridge slot 162 to load the cartridge 158 with medicaments from the pre-counter 34. Then, the cartridge 158 can be placed within any of the cartridge slots 162.

[0037] The exemplary cartridge 158 is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 160535, filed on October 15, 2018, entitled "Universal Feeding Mechanism for Automatic Packaging Machines". The entire content of such patent application is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, other suitable cartridges may be used or other suitable cartridges may be alternatively used. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the packaging unit is a strip packaging machine. The exemplary strip packaging machine is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 031891 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0015445. The entire content of both of these patent applications is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, other suitable packaging units including strip packaging machines, blister card packaging machines, etc. may be used or other suitable packaging units may be alternatively used.

[0038] FIGS. 8A - 8C show one exemplary embodiment of the cartridge 158. In the example shown, the cartridge 158 includes a reservoir 850, a wheel 860, and a scoop member 865. The reservoir 850 stores the agent during the dispensing process. The wheel 860 is provided on one side of the cartridge 158 and extends to the bottom of the reservoir 850. The bottom of the reservoir 850 has a curved shape that starts from the side, front, and rear sides opposite the side of the wheel 860 and ends at the center of the bottom of the wheel 860. The curved shape of the reservoir 850 directs the agent within the reservoir 850 towards the bottom of the wheel 860, particularly into the scoop member 865 of the wheel 860.

[0039] Teeth 875 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 860. During the dispensing process, the teeth 875 interlock with the teeth of a shaft driven by a motor assembly of the cartridge mechanism 845. The wheel 860 includes three scoop members 865 for scooping individual agents from the reservoir 850. The scoop member 865 includes an inward projection 866 that extends into the wheel 860. The curved surface of the reservoir 850 guides the agent into the inward projection 866 of the scoop member 865. The scoop member 865 includes a stopper 868 that holds the agent when the wheel 860 is rotated along the circumferential end of the inward projection 866.

[0040] The wheel 860 includes a retaining pin 880 that extends and retracts from the inside of the wheel 860 during rotation of the wheel 860. The scoop member 865 includes an opening for receiving the retaining pin 880. The retaining pin 880, together with the circumferential surfaces of the stopper 868 and the inward protrusion 866, is used to hold the drug when the wheel 860 is being rotated. During rotation of the wheel 860, when the inward protrusion 866 of the scoop member 865 meets the reservoir 850, the drug in the reservoir 850 moves inward into the scoop member 865 due to the curved shape of the reservoir 850. When the scoop member 865 is moving along the reservoir 850 at the bottom of the wheel 860, the retaining pin 880 is retracted. When the scoop member 865 exits the reservoir 850, the retaining pin 880 advances toward the circumferential end of the scoop member 865 to draw in the drug. The drug is held between the circumferential end of the scoop member 865, the retaining pin 880, and the stopper 868. The scoop member 865 and the retaining pin 880 can be used with any type of drug. Generally, only one drug is sandwiched between the retaining pin 880 and the scoop member 865, and the other drugs fall back into the reservoir 850 during rotation of the wheel 860. When the scoop member 865 passes through the upper part of the wheel 860, the retaining pin 880 is retracted again to release the drug into the shuttle system. The wheel 860 and the scoop member 865 together may be referred to as a singulating mechanism.

[0041] Cartridge 158 also includes a shuttle system, a camera system, and a motor assembly. The shuttle system includes a platform 920, a shuttle 925, and a shuttle drive 930. The platform 920 can be made of a transparent or translucent plastic material. An LED lighting system 922 is provided above and / or below the platform 920 to illuminate the contents on the platform 920 when the camera system images the contents. The LED illumination system 922 can emit visible light or infrared light to illuminate the platform 920. The shuttle 925 can be moved laterally above the reservoir 850 and above the conduit between the platforms 920. The shuttle 925 transfers the drug either from the platform 920 to the reservoir 850 or to the conduit. The shuttle 925 is driven by the shuttle drive 930. The shuttle drive 930 can be a motor assembly, an actuator, etc. that moves the shuttle 925 between the platforms 920, above the reservoir 850, and above the conduit. In the illustrated example, the shuttle drive 930 includes a rotating screw 932 that moves the shuttle 925 laterally between the platforms 920, the reservoir 850, and the conduit.

[0042] The camera system includes a camera 940 and a mirror 945. The camera 940 is located behind the cartridge mechanism 845. The camera 940 can be a still camera or a video camera that images the contents of the platform 920. The mirror 945 is disposed directly above the platform 920 and is tilted at an angle of 45 degrees so that the camera 940 located behind the cartridge mechanism 845 can image the platform 920.

[0043] In some embodiments, the camera system is operable in a learning mode to create a database of images of the drugs currently in cartridge 158. For example, when each drug is singulated by wheel 860, camera 940 captures an image of the drug, such image is stored in the database, and shuttle 925 returns the drug to reservoir 850. This process can be repeated, for example, 50 - 100 times to capture images of the drug in different orientations.

[0044] The motor assembly includes a motor 950 that drives a shaft 955 located in the middle of the cartridge mechanism 845. Shaft 955 includes teeth 956 that mesh with teeth 875 of wheel 860. When motor 950 is driven, shaft 955 rotates wheel 860 to individually dispense drugs 180.

[0045] Cartridge 158 may include an RFID tag that can be used to identify cartridge 158. The RFID tag can be read by an RFID reader of the precounter 34 or the automatic wrapper 38.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the packaging unit 154. In the illustrated example, the packaging unit 154 includes a manifold 170, a receptacle 174, two supply stock rolls 178, 182, a take-up roll, and a verification system 186. The universal supply cassette 150 is disposed on the manifold 170. The manifold 170 or chute includes a plurality of individual tracks corresponding to each of the cartridges 158 attached to the manifold 170 (specifically, the conduits of each cartridge 158). The illustrated tracks are independent grooves that together form the manifold 170. The tracks direct the drugs from the universal supply cassette 150 towards the packaging device of the packaging unit 154. The conduits of the cartridges 158 are aligned with the holes of the manifold 170 such that the drugs slide down the manifold 170 towards the packaging device. Track 190 separates the drugs from each other as the drugs slide down the manifold 170 and reach the receptacle 174.

[0047] The receptacle 174 retrieves the medicament from the manifold 170. After the medicament passes through the receptacle 174, the medicament is sandwiched between two material strips (e.g., plastic, paper, etc.) from the supply stock rolls 178, 182. The first supply roll 178 may be made of a white first material (e.g., a translucent material). The second supply roll 182 may be made of a transparent second material (e.g., a transparent material), allowing a pharmacist to view the medicament within the pouch through the pouch. Then, the two material strips are heat-sealed together to form a pouch for the medicament. In some embodiments, the packaging unit 154 may include a single supply feed roll having one strip of material that is folded and / or heat-sealed to form the pouch. Once filled and sealed, the pouch is wound around a take-up roll to create a spool of pouches. The spool may correspond to the medicaments required by a particular patient or a particular facility. In other embodiments, the pouch may be cut and separated when filled, rather than being continuously wound on a take-up roll. The pouch is dispensed, for example, through an attached dispenser or dispensing port.

[0048] In some embodiments, the packaging unit 154 may include a printer 194 for printing the patient's name, date, amount and type of medicament contained therein, barcode and / or other markings on the pouch when the pouch is formed. The printer 194 may be, for example, a thermal printer. In other embodiments, the printer 194 may include an ink ribbon or ink jet. Additionally, the packaging unit 154 may include a verification system 186 for monitoring and verifying the pouch when the pouch is wound onto the take-up roll or dispensed.

[0049] FIG. 10 schematically shows an embodiment of an automatic packaging machine 38. The automatic packaging machine 38 controls the operation of the supply feed rolls 178, 182 to discharge and form the pharmaceutical pouch and controls when the active cartridge 158 located in the manifold 170 is actuated.

[0050] In the illustrated example, the automatic packaging machine 38 includes a packaging machine electronic processor 202, a packaging machine memory 206, a packaging machine transceiver 210, a packaging machine input / output interface 214, a motor 166, a camera 168, a printer 194, and a verification system 186. The packaging machine electronic processor 202, the packaging machine memory 206, the packaging machine transceiver 210, the packaging machine input / output interface 214, the motor 166, the camera 168, the printer 194, and the vision system 198 communicate via one or more control and / or data buses (e.g., communication bus 218). FIG. 10 shows only one exemplary embodiment of the automatic packaging machine 38. The automatic packaging machine 38 may include more or fewer components and may perform roles other than those explicitly described herein.

[0051] The packaging machine electronic processor 202 and the packaging machine memory 206 may be implemented in the same manner as each of the storage electronic processor 58, the counter electronic processor 130, the storage memory 62, and the counter memory 134, as described above. The packaging machine transceiver 210 enables communication from the automatic packaging machine 38 to the communication network 46. In other embodiments, the automatic packaging machine 38 may include separate transmit and receive components, such as a transmitter and a receiver, instead of the packaging machine transceiver 210. The automatic packaging machine 38 may communicate with the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the precounter 34, and a database, such as the National Drug Code Database 50, via the communication network 46.

[0052] As described above, the automatic packaging machine 38 may include a packaging machine input / output interface 214 (or more generally referred to as a user interface). The packaging machine input / output interface 214 may include one or more input mechanisms (e.g., touch screen, keypad, buttons, knobs, etc.), one or more output mechanisms (e.g., display, printer, speaker, etc.) or a combination thereof. The packaging machine input / output interface 214 receives input from an input device actuated by a user and provides output to an output device with which the user communicates. In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to managing input and output via the packaging machine input / output interface 214, the automatic packaging machine 38 may receive user input, provide user output, or both, by communicating with an external device such as a console computer via a wired or wireless connection.

[0053] One advantage of the cartridge 158 is that the cartridge 158 significantly reduces the packaging time compared to conventional cartridges. In some conventional cartridges, pharmacists or technicians had to manually fill each tablet one by one. In contrast, the pharmacist or technician simply drops the tablets from the bulk container into the cartridge 158 and places the cartridge 158 into the universal supply cassette 150. Then, the automatic packaging machine 38 retrieves the drug from the cartridge 158. Generally, the pharmacist or technician may have to overfill the cartridge 158 to ensure that there is sufficient drug available in the cartridge 158 to formulate a prescription without refilling the cartridge 158. When the drug is packaged, the pharmacist or technician returns the unused drug to the bulk container. However, since the packaging process receives excess drug from the cartridge 158 and the bulk container needs to be outside the storage area until the packaging process is complete, this results in inefficiency in the system 10. The precounter 34 helps to eliminate this inefficiency by enabling the pharmacist to quickly and efficiently count the exact number of tablets required to formulate a prescription and to return the bulk container to the storage.

[0054] FIG. 11 shows a method 230 for pre-counting drugs to compound a prescription. The method 230 includes certain blocks, but it is not necessary to perform all the blocks or to perform them in the presented order. When a pharmacist receives a prescription from a customer, the pharmacy management system 10 generates an information sheet that includes a list of all the drugs necessary to compound the prescription. The pharmacist uses the information sheet to retrieve a bulk container that contains the drugs on the information sheet. For example, the pharmacist retrieves the bulk container from the pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30 or from a storage shelf within the pharmacy.

[0055] In block 234, the method 230 includes using a counter electronic processor 130 together with a barcode scanner 102 to scan a bulk storage container having a barcode to identify the types of drugs within the bulk storage container. When the pharmacist retrieves the bulk storage container, the pharmacist scans the bulk storage container at a precounter 34. The barcode scanner 102 scans the barcode on the bulk storage container and provides the identification information read from the barcode to the counter electronic processor 130. The counter electronic processor 130 uses the identification information to retrieve information regarding the drugs within the bulk storage container. For example, the counter electronic processor 130 communicates with an NDC database 50 to identify the type, weight, size, color, etc. of the drugs within the bulk storage container. Scanning the bulk storage container at the precounter 34 verifies that the correct bulk storage container has been retrieved.

[0056] At block 238, method 230 includes using counter electronic processor 130 with camera system 110 to count the number of drugs on counting tray 106 of pre-counter 34. After scanning the bulk storage container, the pharmacist drops the drugs from the bulk storage container onto counting tray 106. Counter electronic processor 130 activates first light source 147 to illuminate counting tray 106, continuously captures images of counting tray 106 using camera system 110, and identifies the number of drugs on counting tray 106. In some embodiments, first light source 147 may always be on when pre-counter 34 is on. As described above, first light source 147 is an IR or NIR light source that projects a shadow of the drug against a white background. Counter electronic processor 130 processes the images captured by camera system 110 using a known image processing system to identify the number of drugs on counting tray 106. In particular, counter electronic processor 130 analyzes the shadow projected by the drug to identify the number of drugs on counting tray 106. In some embodiments, pre-counter 34 continuously captures images of counting tray 106 at regular time intervals (e.g., every 0.5 seconds) to update the drug count.

[0057] At block 242, method 230 determines whether the number of medications on the counting tray 106 matches the number of medications required to compound the prescription. The pre-counter 34 can receive prescription information or label sheet information from the pharmacy management system 10. The pre-counter 34 identifies the number of medications required to compound the prescription from the prescription information or label sheet information. In particular, the pharmacist can scan an information sheet generated by the pharmacy management system 10 using the barcode scanner 102. The pharmacy management system 10 transmits the information contained in the information sheet to the pre-counter 34. The electronic processor 14 of the pharmacy management system 10 communicates with the pre-counter 34 using the transceiver 22 and the communication network 46 to provide the information on the information sheet to the counter electronic processor 130. The counter electronic processor 130 retrieves the information received from the pharmacy management system 10 based on the scanning of the barcode on the information sheet. The pre-counter 34 compares the number of medications on the counting tray 106 with the number of medications required to compound the prescription.

[0058] If the number of medications on the counting tray 106 does not match the number of medications required to compound the prescription, at block 246, the pre-counter 34 instructs the user to add / subtract a first number of medications from the counting tray 106. The pre-counter 34 identifies the difference between the number of medications on the counting tray 106 and the number of medications required to compound the prescription and indicates to the user (e.g., using the display 114) to add or subtract a first number of medications corresponding to the difference between the number of medications on the counting tray 106 and the number of medications required to compound the prescription. For example, if 30 medications are required to compound the prescription but 32 medications are on the counting tray 106, the pre-counter 34 instructs the user to remove 2 tablets and return the tablets to the bulk container. Conversely, if 30 medications are required to compound the prescription but only 28 medications are on the counting tray 106, the pre-counter 34 instructs the user to add 2 tablets from the bulk container to the counting tray 106. As described above, method 230 then returns to block 242 to continuously determine the number of medications on the counting tray 106.

[0059] When the number of drugs on the counting tray 106 matches the number of drugs required to compound the prescription, the precounter 34 indicates in block 250 that the counting tray 106 contains the correct number of drugs. Also, the precounter 34 can process the captured image to identify whether the drug is damaged or whether the counting tray 106 contains any debris. The precounter 34 instructs the pharmacist to remove the damaged drug or debris from the counting tray 106. Then, the pharmacist empties the drugs on the counting tray 106 into one of the cartridges 158. Method 230 is repeated for each drug in the prescription to fill different ones of the cartridges 158. Thereby, the pharmacist can fill the cartridges 158 with the required number of drugs to compound the prescription, and there is no need to return the excess drugs from the cartridges 158 to the bulk storage container after packaging.

[0060] In addition to counting the number of drugs, the precounter 34 can also be used to identify one or more characteristics of the drug. For example, the precounter 34 can be used to identify the color and size of the drug. Generally, the NDC information received from the NDC database 50 includes information regarding the color and size of the drugs within a set range. The pharmacy management system 10 transmits the color and size information to the automatic packaging machine 38 for verification during dispensing and between packaging. However, there may be variations in color (e.g., shade of blue) and size during manufacturing. For example, when manufacturing a drug, the drug is not necessarily made with the same color quality. The drug is identified as blue in the database, but the shade of blue in the actual drug may vary slightly. Similarly, a certain drug is identified in the database as having a diameter of 2 - 3 mm, and the actual size of the drug can be anywhere within that range.

[0061] As described above, the precounter 34 is used to image the drug within the IR / NIR and visible light spectra using the camera system 110. For example, the counter electronic processor 130 activates the second light source 148 to image the counting tray 106 containing the drug using the camera system 110. The counter electronic processor 130 processes the image captured by the camera system 110 using known image processing techniques to identify the actual color (e.g., a specific shade) of the drug. Similarly, the counter electronic processor 130 processes the image captured by the camera system 110 to identify the actual size (e.g., the measured size) of the drug. The counter electronic processor 130 can determine whether the actual color and actual size are within the range of the predicted color and predicted size provided by the NDC database 50. The precounter 34 associates the color information and size information with the identification information of the drug identified after scanning the barcode of the bulk storage container. The precounter 34 transmits the color information and size information for each drug in the prescription to the automatic packaging machine 38 and / or the pharmacy management system 10. In some embodiments, the precounter 34 may measure only one feature (e.g., color or size) associated with each drug. In further embodiments, in addition to or instead of the above, the precounter 34 may identify or compare other features of the drug, such as weight, shape, etc. (e.g., via a scale integrated into the counting tray 106).

[0062] Figure 12 shows a method 254 for compounding a prescription in a pharmacy. Method 254 includes certain blocks, but it is not necessary to perform all blocks or to perform them in the presented order. The pharmacy is an automated pharmacy that includes the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the pre-counter 34, and the automatic packaging machine 38 described above. As described above, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30 may be omitted. Method 254 takes advantage of the nature of the automated pharmacy to verify that the correct type and / or number of drugs are placed in each pouch as part of the compounding of the prescription. In particular, method 254 involves providing a triple verification system for the pharmacist to verify the compounding of the prescription from the time the prescription is received until the drugs are filled and sealed in the pouch, thereby creating a chain of custody for the drugs. This chain of custody may be stored as an electronic file in the pharmacy management system 10 or in the memory 18 of a remote computer or server.

[0063] In block 258, method 254 includes receiving, by the electronic processor 14, a prescription to be compounded by the pharmacy management system 10. In one embodiment, the prescription may be received electronically from a healthcare facility via the communication network 46. In other embodiments, the prescription may be received by scanning a paper prescription presented by a customer or by manually entering the contents of the prescription presented by the customer into the pharmacy management system 10.

[0064] In block 262, method 254 includes generating, using the electronic processor 14, an information sheet for compounding the prescription. Generating the information sheet may include the pharmacy management system 10 electronically generating a list of the drugs in the prescription (e.g., including identifying information about the drugs) and transmitting the information sheet to the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the pre-counter 34, and / or the automatic packaging machine 38. In other embodiments, the pharmacy management system 10 prints the information sheet using a printer in the pharmacy. Then, the pharmacist may physically carry the information sheet to be scanned by the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system 30, the pre-counter 34, and / or the automatic packaging machine 38.

[0065] At block 266, method 254 includes retrieving a bulk storage container that contains the medications required to compound the prescription. As described above, the pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30 retrieves a container that contains the medications for the prescription that the pharmacist retrieves in response to receiving or scanning an information sheet at the pharmaceutical storage retrieval system 30. In other embodiments, the pharmacist may manually retrieve the container that contains the medications from the pharmacy's storage shelves based on the information sheet. At block 270, method 254 includes pre-counting the medications required to compound the prescription using the pre-counter 34. The method of pre-counting the medications has been described above in connection with FIG. 11. At block 274, method 254 includes identifying one or more characteristics of the medications required to compound the prescription using the pre-counter 34. The one or more characteristics may include the shape, dimensions, or color of the medications. The one or more characteristics may be identified using the camera system 110 described above. At block 278, method 254 includes transmitting one or more characteristics of the medications to the automatic packaging machine 38 using the pre-counter 34. The pre-counter 34 transmits the one or more characteristics to the automatic packaging machine 38 via the communication network 46.

[0066] At block 282, method 254 includes filling cartridge 158 with pre-counted medicaments. When the required number of medicaments are placed on count tray 106, the pharmacist fills cartridge 158 by transferring from count tray 106 to cartridge 158 and emptying it using funnel 118 and funnel gate 122. At block 286, method 254 includes determining whether the prescription includes additional medicaments to be processed. Pre-counter 34 counts and identifies one or more characteristics for each type of medicament required to formulate the prescription. If pharmacy management system 10 determines that there are additional medicaments to be processed, method 254 returns to block 270 to process the next medicament in the prescription. If pharmacy management system 10 determines that all medicaments in the prescription have been processed and cartridge 158 has been filled, the method proceeds to block 290. At block 290, method 254 includes verifying that cartridge 158 is correctly filled. As described above, pre-counter 34 provides one or more characteristics of the medicament to pharmacy management system 10. Pre-counter 34 may also provide identification information to pharmacy management system 10 along with an image of the medicament (e.g., from the captured image) and a final count number (e.g., before count tray 106 becomes empty). Pharmacy management system 10 receives information from pre-counter 34 and displays the relevant information on the display of pharmacy management system 10 for confirmation by the pharmacist. In one example, pharmacy management system 10 compares the image of the medicament received from pre-counter 34 with images available, for example, on NDC database 50. Pharmacy management system 10 may also display the image received from pre-counter 34 alongside an image available on NDC database 50 for confirmation by the pharmacist. Pharmacy management system 10 may display to the user whether the correct medicaments have been filled into cartridge 158. This display may include providing a colored border around the image of each medicament. This provides the pharmacist with an opportunity to correct errors before the medicament is packaged.

[0067] In block 294, method 254 includes placing cartridge 158 in automatic packaging machine 38. The filled cartridge 158 is placed within cartridge slot 162 of automatic packaging machine 38 to begin packaging of the drug. In block 298, method 254 further includes observing the release of the drug from cartridge 158 using automatic packaging machine 38. As described above, automatic packaging machine 38 includes sensors and camera 168 within cartridge 158 to image and count the drug while it is being dispensed from cartridge 158. Automatic packaging machine 38 may provide the count number and images to pharmacy management system 10. In block 302, method 254 includes using automatic packaging machine 38 to verify that the correct drug is being dispensed. Automatic packaging machine 38 verifies that the correct drug is being dispensed by comparing the image captured by camera 168 with the image of the drug received from precounter 34. Automatic packaging machine 38 may provide the captured image and the image received from precounter 34 for display in pharmacy management system 10. Additionally, automatic packaging machine 38 may provide an indication of whether the correct drug is being dispensed by providing a colored border around the image as described above. This provides the pharmacist with a second opportunity to correct any errors before the drug is packaged.

[0068] In block 306, method 254 includes packaging the drug using the packaging unit 154 of the automatic packaging machine 38. As described above, these drugs can be packaged in a pouch or a strip package for providing to a customer. In block 310, method 254 includes verifying that the correct number and / or type of drugs have been packaged in the pouch or strip package. An exemplary method for verifying the exact number and / or type of pharmaceuticals within a pouch or strip package is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0091745, filed on September 27, 2016, entitled "Verification System for a Pharmaceutical Packaging System". The entire content of such patent application is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, packaging includes sealing the drug within a pouch, blister card, vial, or other suitable package. The automatic packaging machine 38 uses the verification system 186 to image the pouch. The automatic packaging machine 38 compares the image captured by the verification system 186 with the image of the drug received from the pre-counter 34 to verify that the correct number and / or type of pharmaceuticals have been packaged. The automatic packaging machine 38 may provide the captured image and the image received from the pre-counter 34 for display in the pharmacy management system 10. Additionally, the automatic packaging machine 38 may provide an indication of whether the correct drug has been packaged by providing a colored border around the image as described above. Thus, method 254 provides the pharmacist with a third opportunity to correct any errors before the packaged drug is provided to the customer.

[0069] One advantage of the above method is that the pharmacist is provided with three opportunities to ensure that the prescription is accurately compounded. Additionally, the above method uses an automated pharmacy to efficiently package pharmaceuticals so as to reduce the customer's waiting time.

[0070] FIG. 13 shows a pre-counter 314 of an automatic packaging machine 38 according to another exemplary embodiment. The pre-counter 314 is a drug counting device for use in a retail pharmacy that detects and counts a number of drugs placed on the pre-counter 314. The pre-counter 314 displays the count number and shares the count number with other systems within the pharmacy. As shown in FIG. 13, the pre-counter 314 includes a counting tray 318, a camera system 322, a display 326, a funnel 330, and a cartridge slot 334.

[0071] The camera system 322 includes a barcode scanner 102 (see FIG. 6) and an imaging system for counting the drugs on the counting tray 318. The barcode scanner 102 is used to scan the barcode on the label of the bulk container recovered from the device 54 or other locations within the pharmacy and can be implemented similarly to the barcode scanner 78. Then, the contents of the bulk container can be placed on the counting tray 318 for counting by the pre-counter 314. The counting tray 318 can be replaceable for cleaning and to prevent cross-contamination between different types of drugs. The counting tray 318 is pivotally attached to the housing of the pre-counter 314 such that a user can lift the counting tray 318 and direct the drugs on the counting tray 318 towards the funnel 330 without touching the drugs. The funnel 330 is shaped to guide the drugs from the counting tray 318 to the cartridge slot 334. The cartridge slot 334 is provided under the funnel 330 to receive the cartridge 158. In some embodiments, the pre-counter 314 can include a mechanism for rotating the wheel 860 or otherwise agitating the cartridge 158 to help create a space for the tablets to be fed into the cartridge 158.

[0072] The counting tray 318 can be transparent or translucent such that the lighting system 126 (see FIG. 6) below the counting tray 318 can illuminate the contents of the counting tray 318. Once illuminated, the camera system 322 can image the contents of the counting tray 318 to begin the count. The display 326 can be used to display the scanned barcode information and to display the count number of the medications placed on the counting tray 318. Based on the information displayed, a pharmacist or technician can add or subtract medications from the counting tray 318 until the correct amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 318. Once the correct amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 318, the user can transfer the contents of the counting tray 318 to the cartridge 158 (FIG. 7) of the automatic packaging machine 38 placed in the cartridge slot 334. The user can transfer the contents of the counting tray 318 by lifting the counting tray 318 and guiding the medications into the cartridge 158 through the funnel 330. In some embodiments, a lockout mechanism can be provided for the counting tray 318. The lockout mechanism of the counting tray 318 prevents the counting tray 318 from being lifted if an incorrect amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 318. The lock of the lockout mechanism of the counting tray 318 can be released so that the pharmacist can lift the counting tray 318 to transfer the medications to the cartridge 158 when the correct amount of medication is placed on the counting tray 318.

[0073] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method 338 for filling the cartridge 158. The method 338 includes certain blocks, but it is not necessary to perform all the blocks or to perform them in the order presented. As shown in FIG. 14, the method 338 includes receiving prescription information (at block 342) using the electronic processor 14. Generally, a pharmacist reviews a prescription presented by a patient and formulates the prescription. The pharmacist can scan the prescription information including dosage, quantity, and medication information or manually input it via the input / output interface 26 of the pharmacy management system 10. For example, the input / output interface 26 can include a scanner for inputting prescription information and / or a separate computer console.

[0074] Method 338 also includes generating collection information based on prescription information using an electronic processor 14 (at block 346). The electronic processor 14 receives the prescription information and generates collection information for a pharmacist to collect a bulk container containing the drugs listed in the prescription. The electronic processor 14 can identify the location of the drugs listed in the prescription (e.g., aisle and / or bin number) using a lookup table. Then, the electronic processor 14 can print or display collection information listing the drugs in the prescription and the location of the bulk containers containing the drugs. Additionally, in some embodiments, the collection information may also include the identification number of the cartridge 158 for each of the drugs listed in the prescription. The pharmacist collects the bulk containers based on the collection information provided, such as on a printed collection sheet.

[0075] Method 338 further includes pre-counting, using a pre-counter 314 (at block 350), the drugs required to formulate a prescription. The method of pre-counting the drugs has been described above in connection with FIG. 11. Method 338 further includes identifying (at block 354) a cartridge 158 into which the drugs are to be filled. Either the pre-counter 314 or the electronic processor 14 can identify the filling cartridge 158. For example, as described above, the electronic processor 14 can identify the cartridge 158 on the collection sheet. Then, the electronic processor 14 transmits the identification information (e.g., identification number) of the cartridge 158 to the pre-counter 314. The pre-counter 314 can identify the cartridge 158 based on the scanned bulk container. For example, when a bulk cartridge is scanned by the pre-counter 314, the pre-counter 314 can identify the cartridge 158 that is compatible with the drugs in the bulk container. Different cartridges 158 can be used to dispense different sizes of drugs. Additionally, some cartridges 158 can be set aside for allergic drugs (e.g., penicillin) to reduce cross-contamination. The pre-counter 314 identifies the cartridge 158 that is compatible with the drugs in the bulk container and displays the identification information (e.g., cartridge number) on the display 326 of the pre-counter 314.

[0076] Method 338 includes using pre-counter 314 to read the RFID tag of cartridge 158 in order to receive the identification information of cartridge 158 (at block 358). When the appropriate cartridge 158 is identified at block 354, the pharmacist may grasp the identified cartridge 158 and scan the RFID tag of cartridge 158 with pre-counter 314. Method 338 further includes the step of determining (at block 362) whether the correct cartridge 158 has been read using pre-counter 314. Pre-counter 314 compares the received identification information received from the scan of the RFID tag with the identification information of the correct cartridge 158 (e.g., the cartridge 158 identified by electronic processor 14 or pre-counter 314 at block 354) to determine whether the pharmacist has removed the correct cartridge 158.

[0077] In response to determining that an incorrect cartridge 158 has been read at block 358, method 338 includes (at block 366) locking out the cartridge slot 334 of pre-counter 314. Pre-counter 314 includes a door that can be locked out by a solenoid. When locked out, the pharmacist cannot insert cartridge 158 into cartridge slot 162. Pre-counter 314 locks out cartridge slot 334 until the correct cartridge 158 is scanned by pre-counter 314.

[0078] In response to determining that the correct cartridge 158 has been read by block 358, method 338 includes receiving (at block 370) the correct cartridge 158 in cartridge slot 334 of pre-counter 314. And method 338 includes filling (at block 374) cartridge 158 with pre-counted medicament 314 using pre-counter 314. In some embodiments, the distribution process management information is updated to include which cartridge 334 is located in the slot (e.g., via an RFID tag on cartridge 334). Additionally, the distribution process management information is updated for the type of medicament filled in the cartridge and / or the number of medicaments filled in the cartridge.

[0079] Method 338 further includes generating (at block 378) an indication for the placement of filled cartridge 158 using automatic packaging machine 38. Automatic packaging machine 38 may generate the indication using an indicator system of automatic packaging machine 38. For example, if a prescription includes three different medicaments to be packaged, automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the blue LEDs of three cartridge slots 162 (also referred to as cartridge mechanisms) to indicate that the filled cartridge 158 should be placed within the activated cartridge slot 162. Automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the indicator system (e.g., an LED) of the first cartridge slot 162 to guide the pharmacist to place the first cartridge 158 in the first cartridge slot 162. And automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the indicator system of the second cartridge slot 162 to guide the pharmacist to place the second cartridge 158 in the second cartridge slot 162.

[0080] Method 338 also includes determining (at block 382) whether cartridge 158 is correctly positioned in automatic packaging machine 38 using automatic packaging machine 38. Automatic packaging machine 38 can read the RFID tag of cartridge 158 using the RFID antenna in cartridge slot 162 and determine whether the correct cartridge 158 is placed in cartridge slot 162. If cartridge 158 is incorrectly placed in cartridge slot 162, method 338 includes generating (at block 386) an indication that cartridge 158 is incorrectly placed. For example, as described above, automatic packaging machine 38 can activate the red LED of indicator system 990 of the corresponding cartridge mechanism 845. In some embodiments, cartridge slot 162 can include a lockout mechanism (e.g., a solenoid lockout mechanism on the cartridge mechanism of cartridge slot 162) that prevents an incorrect cartridge 158 from being loaded into cartridge slot 162. Automatic packaging machine 38 can lock out cartridge slot 162 until the correct cartridge 158 is placed in cartridge slot 162. In some embodiments, the lockout mechanism of cartridge slot 162 can also prevent cartridge 158 from being removed until the dispensing process is complete.

[0081] If cartridge 158 is correctly positioned in automatic packaging machine 38, method 338 includes dispensing (at block 390) a medicament through cartridge 158 using automatic packaging machine 38. In some embodiments, upon completion of the dispensing process, automatic packaging machine 38 can indicate which cartridge 158 is ready to be removed. For example, as described above, automatic packaging machine 38 can activate an LED (e.g., a green LED) to indicate that cartridge 158 is ready to be removed.

[0082] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method 450 of compounding a prescription in a pharmacy. Method 450 includes certain blocks, but it is not necessary to perform all blocks or to perform them in the presented order. As shown in FIG. 15, method 450 includes, at block 454, receiving, by an electronic processor 14 of the pharmacy management system 10, a prescription to be compounded by the pharmacy management system 10. As described above, a pharmacist reviews a patient's prescription and compounds the prescription. The pharmacist may scan prescription information including dosage, quantity, and drug information or manually enter it via an input / output interface 26 of the pharmacy management system 10. In some embodiments, method 450 also includes generating, using the electronic processor 14, an information sheet for compounding the prescription.

[0083] Method 450 also includes, at block 458, identifying, at a precounter 314, one or more bulk containers containing drugs for compounding the prescription. In some embodiments, method 450 includes retrieving one or more bulk storage containers containing the drugs necessary to compound the prescription. The precounter 314 associates one or more cartridges 158 with one or more drugs listed on the prescription. In some embodiments, identifying one or more bulk containers containing drugs for compounding the prescription includes scanning, using the precounter 314, the one or more bulk containers identified at the precounter 314.

[0084] Method 450 also includes counting the drug from one or more bulk containers using a pre-counter 314 to formulate the prescription (at block 462). The pre-counter 314 prompts to add or subtract drugs to the pre-counter 314. An exemplary method of counting drugs using the pre-counter 314 has been described above in connection with FIG. 11. Method 450 also includes placing the counted drugs into one or more cartridges 158 (at block 466). When the required number of drugs is placed in the counting tray 318 of the pre-counter 314, the pharmacist fills the cartridge 158, for example, by transferring from the counting tray 318 to the cartridge 158 and emptying it using a funnel 118 and a funnel gate 122. In some embodiments, method 450 may also include identifying the expected types of drugs to be counted using a pre-counter. If the drugs on the pre-counter do not match the expected types of drugs, the pre-counter 314 prompts the user to remove the drugs from the pre-counter.

[0085] Method 450 also includes placing one or more cartridges 158 containing the counted drugs in an automatic packaging machine 38 (at block 470). The filled cartridges 158 are placed in the cartridge slots 162 of the automatic packaging machine 38 to begin packaging the drugs. As described above, the automatic packaging machine 38 may generate a display using the indicator system of the automatic packaging machine 38. For example, if the prescription includes three different drugs to be packaged, the automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the blue LEDs of the three cartridge slots 162 (also referred to as the cartridge mechanism) to indicate that the filled cartridge 158 should be placed in the activated cartridge slot 162. The automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the indicator system (e.g., LED) of the first cartridge slot 162 to guide the pharmacist to place the first cartridge 158 in the first cartridge slot 162. Then, the automatic packaging machine 38 may activate the indicator system of the second cartridge slot 162 to guide the pharmacist to place the second cartridge 158 in the second cartridge slot 162.

[0086] Also, method 450 includes (at block 474) dispensing the medicament within one or more cartridges 158 using the automatic packaging machine 38. Dispensing the medicament includes unitizing the medicament within one or more cartridges 158 to dispense the medicament individually. For example, the controller of the universal supply cassette 150 or the packaging machine electronic processor 202 controls each filled cartridge 158 to cause the packaging unit 154 to dispense the medicament individually. A control signal is provided to the motor assembly to operate the motor 950. As described above, when the motor 950 is driven, the shaft 955 rotates the wheel 860 to dispense the medicament 180 individually. And the automatic packaging machine 38 verifies each medicament as the medicament is dispensed from one or more cartridges 158.

[0087] Method 450 also includes (at block 478) packaging the medicament dispensed from one or more cartridges 158 using the packaging machine unit 154 of the automatic packaging machine 38. As described above, these medicaments can be packaged in a pouch or strip package as provided to the customer.

[0088] Method 450 also includes (at block 482) using the automatic packaging machine 38 to verify whether the medicament is correctly packaged. In some embodiments, method 450 includes imaging an image of the medicament with the precounter 314 for verification. The precounter 314 identifies one or more characteristics of the medicament listed on the prescription and transmits one or more properties of the medicament to the automatic packaging machine 38. The automatic packaging machine 38 verifies whether the correct medicament is being packaged by the packaging unit 154 based on one or more characteristics of the medicament received from the precounter 314. In some embodiments, the automatic packaging machine 38 images a first image of the medicament during unitization of the medicament for a first verification. The automatic packaging machine 38 also images a second image of the medicament while the medicament dispensed from one or more cartridges 158 is being packaged into a package. Verification of whether the medicament is correctly packaged can be based on the second image.

[0089] The various features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a prescription in a pharmacy using a pharmacy management system, the pharmacy management system including an electronic processor, a pre-counter, and an automatic packaging machine connected to each other via a communication bus, the pre-counter including a scanner, the automatic packaging machine including a camera, the method comprising: receiving, by the electronic processor, a prescription to be dispensed; identifying, by the pre-counter, one or more bulk containers containing the drugs for dispensing the prescription by reading the information on the one or more bulk containers with the scanner; counting, by the pre-counter, the drugs from the one or more bulk containers for dispensing the prescription; packaging, by the packaging unit of the automatic packaging machine, the drugs counted by the pre-counter; imaging, by the camera of the automatic packaging machine, one or more images of the drugs packaged by the packaging unit; confirming, by the automatic packaging machine, whether the drugs are correctly packaged based on the one or more images of the drugs; identifying, by the pre-counter, one or more characteristics of the drugs listed in the prescription based on the one or more images of the drugs imaged by the camera of the automatic packaging machine, the one or more characteristics including the color and shape of the drugs; transmitting, by the pre-counter, the one or more characteristics of the drugs to the automatic packaging machine; and including the step of confirming by the automatic packaging machine includes confirming whether the drugs are correctly packaged based on a comparison between the one or more images of the drugs and the one or more characteristics of the drugs received from the pre-counter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of counting the drugs by the pre-counter includes prompting, by the pre-counter, a user of the pharmacy management system to add or remove drugs from the pre-counter.

3. A method for dispensing a prescription in a pharmacy using a pharmacy management system, the pharmacy management system including an electronic processor, a pre-counter, and an automatic packaging machine connected to each other via a communication bus, the pre-counter including a camera system and a scanner, the method comprising: receiving, by the electronic processor, a prescription to be dispensed; Identifying, by the pre-counter, one or more bulk containers containing agents for preparing the prescription by reading information on the one or more bulk containers with the scanner; Counting, by the pre-counter, agents from the one or more bulk containers for preparing the prescription; Identifying, by the pre-counter, one or more characteristics of the agents listed in the prescription based on one or more images of the agents captured by the camera system, the one or more characteristics including the color and shape of the agents; Transmitting, by the pre-counter, the one or more characteristics of the agents and the one or more images of the agents to the automatic packaging machine; Packaging, by a packaging unit of the automatic packaging machine, the agents counted by the pre-counter; Verifying, by the automatic packaging machine, whether the agents are correctly packaged based on a comparison of the one or more characteristics of the agents received from the pre-counter and the one or more images of the agents; A method comprising: Claims 4 The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of counting the agents by the pre-counter includes prompting, by the pre-counter, a user of the pharmacy management system to add or remove agents to / from the pre-counter.

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