Compounding device system
Inventors
Trovato, Giuseppe • Schiavinato, Andrea • Amato, Luca • Marsh, Charles • McCutchan, Larry
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12042632-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for compounding medications. The system includes one or more compounding devices, and a central computer system. The central computer system receives requests, at least some of which require the compounding of one or more medications, and pushes assignments of respective compounding tasks to the one or more compounding devices. The assignments are made in accordance with a set of rules designed to promote efficient use of compounding resources.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a medication compounding system that coordinates one or more computerized compounding devices, including manual compounding assistance devices and robotic compounders, through a central pharmacy server over an electronic network. The central system receives medication compounding requests and uses configurable rules to push assignment of compounding tasks to appropriate devices. The system is designed to improve efficiency and reduce waste by accounting for protocols and workflows and by coordinating task execution across devices.
The system supports task execution with protocol/workflow documentation and by recording verification data intended for pharmacist review. The described approach includes weight and multi-camera imaging using visible and infrared imaging, including barcode verification. The system stores photographic documentation and can include additional image-based determination and annotation tied to compounding documentation, such as verifying syringe conditions and recording relevant details for subsequent review.
A resource control and load-balancing concept is described for assigning portions or batches of compounding tasks based on device performance records. The described assignment can further account for beyond-use dates, inventory, pharmacy and facility locations, operating hours, delivery constraints, and patient demographics. The adaptive processing and control system architecture supports balancing available compounding resources to enable efficient task assignment and execution across the distributed compounding environment.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage includes four inventive features focused on infrared backlit syringe imaging and photograph analysis.
Infrared backlit syringe photograph for verification
Receiving a syringe into a viewing area between an infrared area light source and an infrared digital camera; taking a first digital photograph of the syringe in infrared light wherein the infrared area light source emanates light directly toward the infrared digital camera such that the syringe is backlit by the infrared area light source; storing the digital photograph.
Automatic needle or needle cap detection
Automatically analyzing the digital photograph to ascertain whether a needle is attached to the syringe, or automatically analyzing the first digital photograph to ascertain whether a needle cap is attached to the syringe.
Syringe size and position determination with synthetic image comparison
Automatically analyzing the digital photograph to ascertain the size and position of the syringe in the digital photograph, wherein the automatically analyzing comprises comparing a synthetic syringe image to the digital photograph.
Volume annotation of infrared photograph
Annotating the digital photograph with volume indications.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on infrared backlit imaging of a syringe within an infrared area light source and infrared digital camera viewing area, automatic determination of needle or needle cap presence, determining syringe size and position by comparing a synthetic syringe image to the digital photograph, and annotating the photograph with volume indications.
Stated Advantages
Improve efficiency.
Reduce waste.
Provide documentation via weight and multi-camera imaging for pharmacist review.
Documented Applications
Medication compounding using coordinated computerized compounding devices, including manual compounding assistance devices and robotic compounders, managed by a central pharmacy server to assign compounding tasks over an electronic network.
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