Unit Dose Blister Mount for Automated Dispensing Without Repackaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated medication dispensing systems require repackaging unit dose medications into standardized formats for robotic handling, which increases costs, requires additional labor, and can shorten the medication's expiration date, while also being unnecessary due to upcoming FDA mandates requiring unit dose medications to have barcodes.
Innovation Solution
A system that stores and handles unit dose medications, including blisters, in their natural state by using a storage system with a unit dose package mount that maintains packages in a predetermined plane, allowing for identification code reading and retrieval without repackaging, utilizing a picking system and controller to direct the delivery of medications to predefined locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If unit dose medications are repackaged into standardized formats for robotic handling, then automated dispensing capability is improved, but material costs increase, labor requirements increase, and medication expiration date is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the handling process by separating the medication blister from its packaging, allowing the robotic system to handle only the essential medication unit rather than repackaging it into new containers. This maintains automation while reducing material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to handle unit dose medications in their original packaging format, allowing the medications to serve themselves rather than requiring repackaging into standardized formats. This eliminates the need for additional packaging materials and reduces labor.
2Extent of automation
If unit dose medications are repackaged into standardized formats, then robotic handling is improved, but labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows unit dose medications to be handled in their original packaging, eliminating the need for manual repackaging labor. The robotic system directly manipulates the original packaging formats, making the process self-sufficient without additional human intervention for repackaging.
3Extent of automation
If unit dose medications are repackaged, then automated dispensing is improved, but medication expiration date is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential function of automated handling from the packaging itself, allowing the medication to remain in its original packaging without being transferred to new containers. This prevents the expiration date shortening that occurs during repackaging processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The original packaging is designed to be directly compatible with robotic handling, allowing the medication to serve its own packaging needs without requiring transfer to new containers, thereby preserving the full expiration period.
4Loss of substance
If unit dose medications are handled in their natural state without repackaging, then material and labor costs are reduced, but standardized handling for automation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed with universal handling capabilities that can accommodate multiple original packaging formats (blisters, bottles, tubes) through a single interface. This allows the system to handle medications in their natural state without requiring standardized repackaging, reducing both material and labor costs while maintaining automation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, method and corresponding apparatus are provided for storing, retrieving and delivering unit dose blisters in their natural, raw state (i.e., without over-wrapping or repackaging). In particular, a plurality of unit dose blister mounts are configured to position a corresponding plurality of different types of unit dose blisters in a predetermined, repeatable orientation, so that they can be retrieved and delivered using, for example, an automated retrieval system. The storage apparatus (or unit dose blister mount) may include a cavity that is configured to receive a iinit dose medication or medication cavity of the unit dose blister in such a way that the unit dose blister lies substantially flat in the horizontal plane, enabling any identification information displayed on the underside of the unit dose blister (i.e., the side opposite the unit dose medication, or medication cavity) to be viewed.