| 摘要 |
Medication errors happen frequently in hospital, home, and pharmacy environments. A medication verification and dispensing system provides protection against such errors. The apparatus includes a guide tube that receives a medication and imaging device(s) adjacent to the guide tube that take image(s) of the medication. The imaging devices(s) and light source(s) are oriented for capturing images that reveal markings, color, size, shape, etc., of the medication. A verification system uses a signature of the image to identify the medication or compares the image(s) to reference images to identify the medication and to a prescription record of the patient to ensure it is a correct medication, dose, amount, timing, etc., for administration. If the medication is correct, it is dispensed into a dispensing vessel that locks the medication inside, but unlocks when it recognizes a unique patient identifier worn by a patient that is a correct recipient for the medication. |
| 主权项 |
1. A medication verification apparatus comprising:
a guide tube having an entry area on a first end for receiving a medication and at least one exit area on a second end for providing the medication; a plurality of imaging devices positioned adjacent to an imaging zone of the guide tube and arranged for taking a plurality of images from different perspectives of the medication within the imaging zone while the medication is in motion within the guide tube from the entry area on the first end through the imaging zone towards the at least one exit area; a light source for providing illumination to the medication while the medication is being imaged in the imaging zone; a proximity sensor to detect the presence of the medication and set proper timing for the plurality of imaging devices and the light source; a verification system in communication with the imaging device for comparing the plurality of images of the medication to a plurality of images of medications in a database to identify the medication, wherein the verification system is configured for standardizing the plurality of different perspective images of the medication, comparing the standardized different perspective images of the medication to the plurality of images of medications in the database, and identifying the medication based on the comparing; and an output system in communication with the verification system for generating an indication of the medication identified, wherein the plurality of imaging devices are a) arranged circumferentially around the imaging zone of the guide tube, b) coupled to a mechanism for moving the imaging devices, or c) arranged opposite a plurality of mirrors positioned around the imaging zone. |
