Visual analysis pill dispenser
Inventors
Swarvar, Aaron C. • Dent, Jacob A. • Taut, Gabriel V. • Doherty, Thomas E.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11295843-B2
Publication Date
2022-04-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
This disclosure provides a visual analytical method of verifying dispensed pills. In a preferred embodiment, a camera captures one or more parameters of each pill as it travels along a dispense path. The camera stores the parameters, and a processor displays the parameters or evaluates whether the parameters are within a threshold limit for the dispensed pill. If the parameter is outside the threshold, the pill or the receptacle is separated and/or removed. If all the parameters are within the threshold, the pill is stored in a receptacle, and the images are processed and archived for future verification. The process is repeated for each pill in the dispenser. The system captures at least one verification image for every pill dispensed into the receptacle.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a visual analysis pill dispenser/validation system that captures pill parameters using a camera positioned about a channel or dispense path. The camera records a plurality of images and creates a stitched signal indicative of the pill parameter in different wavelengths of light, including a composite image for each medical product or pill. The system uses the stitched signal or composite image to identify parameters for medical products in the dispense path or pills in the channel.
The system compares the captured stitched signal or composite image against a threshold limit for the parameter of each medical product. A separator removes the medical product or pill when the composite image indicates that the parameter is outside the threshold, and does not remove when the parameter is within the threshold. The separator therefore controls diversion by evaluating whether the parameter meets threshold criteria, and the system routes accepted products into a receptacle.
The invention further validates and documents the dispensing by associating verification images or composite images with dispensed products and by using counting and display. A display indicates the composite image for each medical product with the parameter within the threshold limit, and the system is described with features including real-time and post-processing verification, display of parameter images and counts, archiving or storage of verification images, and batch, load, or group numbering tied to NDC to map stored images to dispensed receptacles.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00012, and clm-00018. Across these independent claims, the inventive features include multi-wavelength imaging with stitched or composite signals, threshold-based separation or diversion, and validation and dispensed-acceptance display and verification, with further refinements that include throughput validation and quantity and accuracy validation of threshold values.
Multi-wavelength stitched signal for pill parameter identification
A camera situated about the channel records a plurality of images of the pill and creates a stitched signal, the stitched signal indicative of the parameter in different wavelengths of light.
Threshold-based separator that removes only when stitched signal is outside threshold
A separator coupled to the channel removes the pill from the channel when the stitched signal for the parameter is outside a threshold and does not remove the pill from the channel when the stitched signal for the parameter of the pill is within the threshold.
Dispense path with multi-wavelength composite image and separator validation at high throughput
A camera situated about the dispense path records a plurality of images in different wavelengths of light for each parameter of each medical product in the dispense path, the plurality of images being stitched into a composite image for each medical product; and a separator that removes the medical product when the composite image indicates that the parameter of the medical product is outside a threshold limit, wherein the separator verifies the parameter and threshold value for each medical product for at least 100,000 medical products per hour.
Receptacle receiving only products with parameters within threshold and display of composite images
A receptacle that receives the medical products with the composite image indicating that the parameter is within the threshold limit; and a display that indicates the composite image for each medical product with the parameter within the threshold limit and dispensed into the receptacle.
Recording under different wavelengths and removing pills outside threshold
Dispensing pills into a vibratory channel to orient the pills a predetermined distance relative to other pills in the vibratory channel, the dispensed pills having a predetermined set of parameters; recording the pills under different wavelengths of light as they travel along the vibratory channel; and removing the pills with parameters outside a threshold value of the predetermined set of parameters.
Processing recorded images to validate quantity and accuracy of threshold values
Processing the dispensed pills with a recorded image for each pill dispensed; and validating a quantity and accuracy of the threshold values for the predetermined set of parameters of the pill.
The independent claims collectively cover visual analysis validation using multi-wavelength camera imaging stitched into a composite or stitched signal, followed by threshold evaluation implemented by a separator to remove or retain pills or medical products. The claims also cover validating the acceptance results via processing recorded images and, in the system claim, indicating composite images for accepted products on a display, including a high-throughput verification threshold in the system claim.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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