Automated Medication Preparation with Serial Dilution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automated systems for preparing medication in syringes are inefficient and prone to errors, especially when preparing small doses or dilutions, due to limitations in accurately measuring and delivering volumes below a certain threshold, and they lack effective safety features to prevent contamination.

Innovation Solution

An automated medication preparation system with multiple stations and a controller that calculates precise volumes and concentrations, using an adjustable plunger extension mechanism and a transporting device to handle syringes, along with safety features like automated safety cap removal and a vented cannula for precise fluid handling, to ensure accurate and safe medication delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual medication preparation is performed, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system divides medication preparation into discrete stations (receiving station, processing station, dispensing station) that handle specific tasks independently. This segmentation allows the system to maintain flexibility through programmable control at each station while automating time-consuming operations like vial handling, membrane piercing, and syringe filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service automation where the automated medication preparation system performs operations that traditionally required manual intervention. The programmable controller autonomously manages the entire process from receiving the syringe to dispensing the medication, eliminating the need for continuous human oversight while maintaining adaptability through software control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If conventional manual preparation methods are used, then measurement accuracy for small volumes can be achieved, but the process is tedious and labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidlabor efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical operations with automated mechanisms. The programmable controller directs automated devices to perform precise volume measurements and transfers, substituting human manual measurement and handling with automated precision mechanisms that maintain accuracy while dramatically improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If safety cap removal is performed manually, then inspection of membrane integrity is possible, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidmembrane integrity verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by using an automated needle device to pierce the membrane before manual handling can introduce contamination. The programmable controller manages the sequence where the needle pierces the membrane in a controlled manner, preventing contamination while still allowing verification of membrane integrity through the automated process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Productivity

If automated systems are implemented, then productivity and efficiency increase, but complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by designing a multi-functional automated medication preparation system that can handle various medication types, volumes, and syringe configurations through programmable control. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple specialized devices into one system, increasing productivity while managing complexity through software-based adaptability rather than hardware proliferation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

5Measurement precision

If serial dilution is performed manually, then precise small doses can be prepared, but the process is extremely time consuming and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose accuracyVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system enables continuous useful action during serial dilution by performing multiple dilution steps in sequence without interruption. The programmable controller manages the continuous process of transferring medication between vials and adding diluents, eliminating the start-stop nature of manual operations and reducing preparation time while maintaining precision through automated measurement and transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS7913720B2Automated drug preparation apparatus including serial dilution functionality

Publication Date: 2011.03.29 BAXA CORPORATION

AI summary

An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.