Methods and apparatus for automated filling of packagings with medications

摘要

Methods for filling packagings with at least one medication includes receiving filling instructions for an order and operating an automated packaging station to fill a plurality of packagings making up an order. Operating the automated packaging station includes positioning a plurality of cassettes containing the medications needed for the order onto a feeder base at a single filling location, and moving each of the plurality of packagings to the filling location. The operation also includes actuating at least one of the cassettes at the feeder base simultaneously and according to the filling instructions when each packaging is located at the filling location. Automated packaging stations operable to perform the above filling instructions are also provided.

主权项

1. A method for filling packagings with at least one medication, comprising:
receiving filling instructions for an order, including an allocation of medications to a plurality of the packagings, each packaging adapted to receive at least one of the medications to be taken by a patient at a specified time or as needed, and each packaging including a body with a plurality of separated compartments for separately holding different medications; and operating an automated packaging station to fill the plurality of the packagings for the order, wherein operating the automated packaging station further includes:
positioning a plurality of cassettes containing the medications needed for the order onto a feeder base at a single filling location, the feeder base including a plurality of chutes extending between the cassettes and the plurality of separated compartments of a packaging located at the filling location;moving each of the plurality of packagings to the filling location; andactuating at least one of the plurality of cassettes at the feeder base simultaneously and according to the filling instructions when each packaging is located at the filling location, thereby simultaneously depositing each of the medications needed for that packaging into corresponding separated compartments of that packaging, the plurality of chutes in the feeder base directly passing each dispensed unit dose into a corresponding one of the plurality of separated compartments.