SELECTIVELY ACCESSIBLE CONTAINERS FOR DISPENSING OF BLISTER CARDS

Abstract

A container for a machine for dispensing individual blister cards from a coiled strip of blister cards, each of the blister cards housing a medicament or medical item, includes: a housing including a receptacle with an internal compartment and a lid, the receptacle configured to receive the coiled strip of blister cards in the internal compartment; a drive mechanism mounted to the housing; an outlet in the housing; and a controller operatively connected with the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is configured to receive signals from the controller to selectively drive a single blister card from a strip of blister cards residing within the compartment through the outlet.

Claims

1. A container for a machine for dispensing individual blister cards from a coiled strip of blister cards, each of the blister cards housing a medicament or medical item, the container comprising: a housing including a receptacle with an internal compartment and a lid, the receptacle configured to receive the coiled strip of blister cards in the internal compartment; a drive mechanism mounted to the housing; an outlet in the housing; and a controller operatively connected with the drive mechanism; wherein the drive mechanism is configured to receive signals from the controller to selectively drive a single blister card from a strip of blister cards residing in the compartment through the outlet.

2. The container defined in claim 1, further comprising a divider that divides the internal compartment into a drive compartment and a dispensing compartment, wherein the dispensing compartment is configured to receive the coiled strip of blister cards.

3. The container defined in claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor, and wherein the motor is positioned in the drive compartment.

4. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor and a rotary member operatively connected with the motor and configured to engage and advance the strip of blister cards.

5. The container defined in claim 4, wherein the rotary member is a toothed sprocket.

6. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises a dispensing slot, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to advance an endmost blister card of the coiled strip through the dispensing slot.

7. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the housing and the controller are configured so that mounting of the container in an automated dispensing machine operatively connects the container with an operations controller of the automated dispensing machine, the operations controller configured to signal the controller of the container when permission to dispense a blister card through the outlet is granted.

8. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the lid is attached to the receptacle via a locking mechanism that is configured such that the cavity of the receptacle is inaccessible to a user unless the controller provides a signal indicating permission to access.

9. The container defined in claim 1, further comprising a coiled strip of blister cards in the housing positioned to engage the drive mechanism.

10. The container defined in claim 1, mounted in an automated dispensing machine.

11. A container for a machine for dispensing individual blister cards from a coiled strip of blister cards, each of the blister cards housing a medicament or medical item, the container comprising: a housing including a receptacle with an internal compartment, a lid, and a divider that subdivides the internal compartment into a drive compartment and a dispensing compartment, the dispensing compartment configured to receive the coiled strip of blister cards; a drive mechanism at least partially located in the drive compartment; an outlet from the dispensing compartment located in the housing; and a controller operatively connected with the drive mechanism; wherein the drive mechanism is configured to receive signals from the controller to selectively drive a single blister card from a strip of blister cards residing within the dispensing compartment through the outlet; and wherein the lid is attached to the receptacle via a lid mechanism that is configured such that the cavity of the receptacle is inaccessible to a user unless the controller provides a signal indicating permission to access.

12. The container defined in claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor, and wherein the motor is positioned in the drive compartment.

13. The container defined in claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism includes a rotary member operatively connected with the motor positioned in the dispensing compartment and configured to engage and advance the strip of blister cards.

14. The container defined in claim 13, wherein the rotary member is a toothed sprocket.

15. The container defined in claim 11, wherein the outlet comprises a dispensing slot, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to advance an endmost blister card of the coiled strip through the dispensing slot.

16. The container defined in claim 11, wherein the housing and the controller are configured so that mounting of the container in an automated dispensing machine operatively connects the container with an operations controller of the automated dispensing machine, the operations controller configured to signal the controller of the container when permission to dispense a blister card through the outlet is granted.

17. The container defined in claim 11, further comprising a puncturing unit positioned adjacent the outlet.

18. The container defined in claim 17, further comprising a camera positioned to record an image of a medicament after the medicament is released from a blister card by the puncturing unit.

19. A container for a machine for dispensing individual blister cards from a coiled strip of blister cards, each of the blister cards housing a medicament or medical item, the container comprising: a housing including a receptacle with an internal compartment and a lid, the receptacle configured to receive the coiled strip of blister cards in the internal compartment; a drive mechanism mounted to the housing; an outlet in the housing; a puncturing unit positioned adjacent the outlet; and a controller operatively connected with the drive mechanism; wherein the drive mechanism is configured to receive signals from the controller to selectively drive a single blister card from a strip of blister cards residing in the compartment through the outlet.

20. The container defined in claim 19, further comprising a camera positioned to record an image of a medicament after the medicament is released from a blister card by the puncturing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selective access cabinet that includes selectively accessible containers according to embodiments of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an exemplary blister card.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a container for selectively accessing blister cards according to embodiments of the invention, with the container shown as transparent.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a side section view of the drive compartment of the container of FIG. 3.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an opposite side perspective view of the container of FIG. 3, with the container shown as transparent.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side section view of the dispensing compartment of the container of FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top, front perspective view of the container of FIG. 3, with the container shown as transparent.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a top section view of the container of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a partial top perspective view of the container of FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a side section view of another selectively accessible container for blister cards according to alternative embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout and different embodiments of like elements can be designated using a different number of superscript indicator apostrophes (eg., 10, 10, 10).

[0021] In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0022] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or figures unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0025] As used herein, phrases such as between X and Y and between about X and Y should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as between about X and Y mean between about X and about Y. As used herein, phrases such as from about X to Y mean from about X to about Y.

[0026] It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below. Further features, advantages and details of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention.

[0027] Referring now to the figures. FIG. 1 illustrates an automated dispensing machine (ADM)) for pharmaceuticals, designated broadly at 200, that may be used in hospital and other health care settings. The machine 200 includes a generally box-shaped cabinet 205 with a number of vertically-stacked drawers 210 that are slidable relative to the remainder of the cabinet 205. Each of the drawers 210 is locked in its closed position via a locking mechanism (not shown) that prevents access to the drawer 210 without permission. Either the drawer 210, the locking mechanism, or both are operatively connected with a controller 218 in the machine 200 that prevents the drawer 210 from opening without access having been granted in the manner described below.

[0028] Within each drawer 210 are multiple containers 10, each of which contains a bulk supply of a medicament or other medical item (e.g., a bandage, syringe, or the like). The containers 10 may include a vial or bottle containing a bulk supply of pills, tablets, etc., or the containers 10 may include the pills or other items loosely contained within the container. Each container 10 includes a local controller (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) that interfaces with the controller 218. Typically the interface connection between the container 10 and the controller 218 is established when the container 10 is installed in the drawer 210 (e.g., the PCB may include a port or socket that connects with a mating plug in the drawer 210 that is connected to the controller 218). Exemplary interface connections are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,687,075, supra.

[0029] In addition, each of the containers 10 is locked via a locking mechanism (not shown herein) to prevent access to a user (e.g., a medical professional such as a nurse or medical technician) unless access is permitted in the manner described below. Typically, each container 10 is configured such that its lid 12 pivots to an open position to provide access to the interior of the container 10 where the medicaments or other medical items reside. Exemplary locking mechanisms for the drawers 210 and containers 10 are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,029,829 and 10,435,918, supra. An exemplary machine 200 with such drawers 210 and containers 10 is the Pyxis system, available from Becton, Dickinson & Company (Franklin Lakes, New Jersey),

[0030] A user interface 215 (represented herein by a display monitor and a keyboard) is operatively connected with the locking mechanisms of the drawers 210 and containers 10. The user interface 215 is operatively connected with the controller 218 that is, as described above, operatively connected with the drawers 210 and containers 10. The controller 218 is configured to enable a user to selectively open one of the drawers 210 via data input via the user interface 215 (typically related to the identity of the user and a specific patient or group of patients). In addition, the controller 218 is configured to enable the user to selectively open a specific container 10 via inputs into the user interface 215. In some embodiments, the drawers 210 are configured so that the drawer 210 of interest slides open automatically upon the correct input from the technician. Also, in some embodiments, the containers 10 are configured so that the container 10 that contains the medicament or medical item of interest opens automatically once the drawer 210 is opened. In other words, when a user inputs the correct information into the user interface 215 to qualify for permission to access the medicament or medical item, the controller 218 signals the correct drawer 210 and correct container 10 to open (i.e., to unlock their respective locking mechanisms) to provide access to the contents of that container 10 to the user. As this occurs, access to other containers 10 within that drawer 210 is typically denied unless the input provided by the technician also granted permission to more than one container 10.

[0031] In some embodiments, the controller 218 will be operatively connected with an external device, such as a personal or mainframe computer, that provides input information regarding prescriptions, patients, medical personnel that may access the containers (e.g., locally or over a network). In other embodiments, the controller 218 may be a stand-alone computer that directly receives manual input from a pharmacist or other operator through the user interface 215. An exemplary controller 218 is a conventional microprocessor-based personal computer. The controller 218 may also be divided into multiple computers, networks, processors, etc., that combine and/or share operations. For example, one portion of the controller 218 may be internal to the machine 200 and control certain operations of the machine 200, and another portion of the controller 218 may be external to the machine 218 and control other operations of the machine 200. Alternatively, the user interface may be or include a handheld device.

[0032] The containers 10 mounted in the machine 200 are similar in size and function, and therefore are potentially interchangeable with each other, which enables the machine 200 to be set up as needed (e.g., if one medicament experiences heavy usage, additional containers 10 of that medicament may be included in the machine 200). However, as discussed above, in some instances it may be desirable to supply medicaments that are provided in a different form than the bulk forms discussed above. One such example is shown in FIG. 2, which depicts a blister card package 100 (also known simply as a blister card) that contains a single dose of medication or medications. The blister card 100 is generally flat, typically with a thin cardboard base 102, and has a pocket 104 (usually clear plastic) that contains a medicament. The medicament can be accessed by tearing away or puncturing the pocket 104 or the portion of the base 102 underlying the pocket 104 to allow the medicament to be removed. The blister card 100 may also include a bar code 106 (see FIG. 9), QR code, or other indicia that identifies the medicament.

[0033] When the medicament of a blister card 100 is to be dispensed to a patient, not only does the user remove the medicament from the blister card 100, the user also confirms the identity of the medication via the bar code 106 with a bar code scanner or the like. Often this confirmation takes place at the patient's bedside to ensure that the correct patient is receiving the correct medication. Also, to conform to some hospital or governmental regulations, some medications require confirmation that the medication was indeed given to a patient. Such confirmation may be required for particular controlled substances (e.g., opioid-based pain medications), which may be at risk for misuse if distributed outside of prescriptions.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 3-9, a container 110 is shown therein. The container 110 is intended to fit within and interface with a drawer 210 of the cabinet 200 in much the same manner as a container 10, but the container 110 is configured to selectively dispense medicaments that are packaged in blister cards such as the blister card 100 described above.

[0035] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the container 110 is box-shaped like the containers 10, having a receptacle 111 and a lid 134, and is generally of a similar size and shape (i.e., it is similar in height, width and depth) as the containers 10. The container 110 is subdivided into a drive compartment 112 and a dispensing compartment 114 by a divider 116 (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the drive compartment 112 includes a motor 118 that is mounted on a side wall 115 of the container 110. The motor 118 is operatively connected with a container controller (e.g., a PCB) that is turn connected with the controller 218 of the machine 200. A toothed drive gear 122 is mounted on the shaft 120 of the motor 118 and rotates with the shaft 120. The shaft 120 extends to the divider 116. A toothed driven gear 124 is rotatably mounted on the divider 116 via a shaft 128 and meshed with the drive gear 122.

[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, within the dispensing compartment 114, an axle 125 is mounted on and serves as an extension of the shaft 128 of the driven gear 124. Sprockets 130, 132 are mounted on and are rotatable with the axle 125. The motor 118, drive gear 122, driven gear 124, sprockets 130, 132 and the associated shafts and axles comprise an overall drive mechanism 117.

[0037] The lid 134 covers both the drive compartment 112 and the dispensing compartment 114 of the container 110. The lid 134 includes a slot 136 that is located over the dispensing compartment 114 parallel with the axle 125. The lid 134 is lockable (in some embodiments with a mechanism like those employed with containers 10) to prevent access to the dispensing compartment 114 when the drawer 210 is opened to permit access to a different container 10.

[0038] A coiled strip 140 of blister cards 100 is positioned within the dispensing compartment 114. Each of the blister cards 100 of the strip 140 includes a series of holes 108 adjacent each of the side edges that is configured to receive the teeth of the sprockets 130, 132 (see FIG. 2).

[0039] In operation, the lid 134 of the container 110 is opened, and the dispensing compartment 114 is loaded with the coiled strip 140; the endmost blister card 100 of the strip 140 is positioned adjacent the slot 136, with the teeth of the sprockets 130, 132 inserted into the holes 108 (see FIGS. 5-7). Once the coiled strip 140 is loaded, the lid 134 is closed, and the container 110 is then placed in position in the drawer 210, where it remains securely inaccessible until dispensing.

[0040] When a user inputs information into the user interface 215 that requests the dispensing of a blister card 100 from the container 110, the controller 218 first signals the correct drawer 210 to open. The controller 218 then signals the container 110 to dispense a blister card 100. This signal, transmitted to the motor 118 via the container controller in the container 110, causes the motor 118 to be energized, which in turn rotates the shaft 120 and the drive gear 122. Rotation of the drive gear 122 rotates the driven gear 124 and the shaft 128, which in turn rotates the sprockets 130, 132. Rotation of the sprockets 130, 132 drives the endmost blister card 100 through and out of the slot 136 (see FIGS. 7 and 9), where it can be accessed by the user and detached from the remainder of the coiled strip 140. The rotation of the sprockets 130, 132 also positions the next blister card 100 in the strip 140 adjacent to the slot 136 in preparation for the next dispensing operation.

[0041] Once the blister card 100 is dispensed from the container 110 and detached, it can then be transported to a location for administration (e.g., a patient's bedside). Here the user can use a bar code scanner or other device to scan the bar code 106 (or other identifying indicia) on the blister card 100 to confirm that (a) the patient is supposed to receive this medicament and (b) the medicament was indeed administered to that patient.

[0042] Those of skill in this art will appreciate that the container 110 may take different forms. For example, it may be useful for the dispensing compartment 114 to include a brake or other mechanism that clamps the next-in-line blister card in order to facilitate tearing of the dispensed blister card and to prevent unwanted removal of one or more undispensed blister cards by strong tugging on the dispensed blister card by the user. Alternatively, the container 110 may include a blade or another cutting device that is positioned to sever the dispensed blister card 100 from the remainder of the coiled strip of blister cards 140. Also, the dispensing compartment 114 may include features (e.g., a pin, post, finger or the like) that helps to position the coiled strip 140 during loading and to maintain it in position as blister cards are dispensed.

[0043] In addition, the drive mechanism 117 may take a different form. For example, rather than utilizing both the drive gear 122 and the driven gear 124, the drive mechanism 117 may be configured so that the motor shaft 120 is in line with the axle 125 that drives the sprockets 130, 132. The gears 122, 124 may be replaced with friction wheels (in which case the blister cards may lack holes 108). In some embodiments, a single sprocket may be employed to convey the blister cards; the single sprocket may act alone, or the second sprocket may be replaced with a drive wheel or the like. Alternatively, the sprockets 130, 132 may be replaced with a different rotary member. Other variations may also be employed.

[0044] Also, in some embodiments, the container 110 may lack a divider 116, in which case all of the drive mechanism 117 is located within the same cavity as the blister card strip 140. In such embodiments, it may be beneficial to include guides or other features to maintain the blister card strip 140 in place and to encourage the strip to travel along the desired path.

[0045] Further, in some embodiments the container may operate to output the medicament itself rather than the blister card. As one example, FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a container 310 that is configured for the secure dispensing of single doses from single blister cards arranged as a strip of blister cards. The container 310 is configured much like the container 110, in that it is sized and shaped to be substituted for a container 10 in the cabinet 200. The container 310 includes a PCB or other controller that enables the container 310 to be operatively connected with the controller 218 and the user interface 215, so that the container 310 remains secure until a technician with the proper permission tries to access it. Also, the strip of blister cards may be advanced one at a time in the manner described above in connection with the container 110.

[0046] In contrast to the container 110, instead of the endmost blister card being delivered outside of the container 310 with the medicament still within the blister card, the container 310 includes a puncturing device 320 (e.g., a punch, blade or the like) that is mounted within the container 310 that punctures the pocket of the blister card 100 and causes the medicament contained therein to drop into a well 340. The container 310 also includes one or more guide features 331 that induce the coiled blister card strip to pass by the puncturing device 320.

[0047] A camera 342 (e.g., a still or video camera) is positioned above the well 340 to take and record an image of the medicament as it resides in the well 340. In addition, the container 310 includes a bar code scanner 350 that is positioned to record the bar code on the blister card in order to confirm that the blister card and the medicament contained therein was dispensed. The scanner 350 may be a dedicated bar code scanner, optical scanner, camera, or other device configured to obtain information from a scannable code associated with the container 310 or item located therein. In some implementations, the scanner 350 may be omitted and the camera 342 may be configured to perform the functions of the scanner 350.

[0048] In operation, the blister card strip is advanced (once permission is granted via the user interface 215 and controller 218 as discussed above) to a position adjacent the puncturing device, where the blister card is positioned adjacent the puncturing device 320. The controller 218 then signals the puncturing device 320 to puncture the pocket 104 of the blister card 100, such that the medicament contained therein drops into the well 340. The camera 342 (signaled by the controller 218) takes an image of the medicament and stores the image. The scanner 350 scans and records the bar code 106 of the blister card 100.

[0049] After the camera 342 takes and records the image of the medicament, a technician can remove the medicament from the well 340 and provide the medicament to the patient. Typically, the container 310 is configured to also manage the now-empty blister card, either by directing it to a waste area or be diverting it to a storage area for safekeeping. This clears the path for the next blister card to be delivered when summoned by the user through the controller.

[0050] In some embodiments, the camera 342 may also either take an image of the bar code 106; in either instance a record of the bar code 106 is kept, and can be compared for regulatory purposes later if needed. Alternative, the empty blister card can be manually or automatically scanned outside of the container 310 with an external bar code scanner.

[0051] Those skilled in this art will appreciate that the container 310 may take other forms. For example, any of the potential modifications discussed above in connection with the container 110 may be applicable to the container 310 also. As another example, the puncturing unit may be configured to simply tear open the blister package without permitting the medicament therein to exit the package. This starter tear may help the user to tear open the blister package to remove the medicaments.

[0052] It will also be understood that, in some implementations, the containers 110, 310 may be standalone units rather than residing within a cabinet 200. In such an instance, access for loading and dispensing may be controlled by an internal or external security system.

[0053] Further, although blister card strips are shown herein, those of skill in this art will appreciate that other forms of packaging may be used, including strips of pouches, sachets, linaer polymer bags, other cards, and the like.

[0054] The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.