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WO2018012969A1 - A method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, a control device, a packaging device and a computer program product - Google Patents

A method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, a control device, a packaging device and a computer program product Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018012969A1
WO2018012969A1 PCT/NL2017/050464 NL2017050464W WO2018012969A1 WO 2018012969 A1 WO2018012969 A1 WO 2018012969A1 NL 2017050464 W NL2017050464 W NL 2017050464W WO 2018012969 A1 WO2018012969 A1 WO 2018012969A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
medicines
medicine
individualized compound
compound dose
record
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Ceased
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PCT/NL2017/050464
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French (fr)
Inventor
Richard Rudolf Theodoor Van Den Brink
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GLOBAL FACTORIES TOTAL ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING BV
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GLOBAL FACTORIES TOTAL ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING BV
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Publication of WO2018012969A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018012969A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H20/00—ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
    • G16H20/10—ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
    • G16H20/13—ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients delivered from dispensers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/60—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/63—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for local operation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/60—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/67—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation

Definitions

  • a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines a control device, a packaging device and a computer program product
  • the invention relates to individualized compounds of medicines, in particular pills.
  • pills are collected from selected cassettes of a dispensing machine to form an individualized compound dose of medicine in accordance with a patient prescription record, and the doses are individually packaged in a string of sealed packages.
  • the composition of each sealed package in the string is assessed and checked in an automated process, e.g. in accordance to the International patent publication WO 2005/017814 in the name of the applicant.
  • the International patent publication WO 2015/126254 also in the name of the applicant discloses a method and device for receiving and checking individuahzed doses of medicines, wherein a plurality of dispensed medicines forming an individualized compound dose of medicines are received for assessing the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines through automated recognition of the received medicines, using an optical inspection technique.
  • the individualized compound dose of medicines are discharged to be packaged or other than to be packaged depending on the outcome of a step of checking the assessed composition of medicines against a record for the composition of said medicines.
  • the invention aims to alleviate the above mentioned
  • the invention provides for a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, comprising a repetition of the steps of providing a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines, optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines, verifying whether a record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step, wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
  • the occurrence of non recognized medicines in the individualized compound dose of medicines can advantageously be derived.
  • the invention is at least partly based on the insight that the dispense process could be correlated in a positive manner to the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines, thus providing a new independent manner of verifying the dispensed medicines against the record.
  • the dispensing process can e.g. be checked by determining an instruction signal transmitted to the dispenser device for dispensing a medicine, a release signal indicating that a medicine has been dispensed and/or a detection signal that a medicine has been travelled from the dispenser device.
  • the step of checking a dispensing process can be applied in existing packaging devices in a relatively simple manner as means for generating the above-mentioned instruction signal, release signal and/or detection signal have already been implemented for monitoring the performance of the individual dispenser devices.
  • dispense data of dispenser devices associated with the medicines in the individualized compound dose of medicines can be stored, for providing medicine data associated to the compound dose of medicines to be packaged, for later use, e.g. when retrieving the origin of medicines in a transmitted package of the individualized compound dose of medicines, or when performing an evaluation on an individualized compound dose of medicines that has already been packaged.
  • the invention further provides for a control device for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, either in a packaging process or stand alone, e.g. analyzing medicines that have already been packaged.
  • the invention also provides for a packaging device for packing dispensed medicines.
  • a computer program product may comprise a set of computer executable instructions stored on a data carrier, such as a flash memory, a CD, DVD or memory stick.
  • the set of computer executable instructions which allow a programmable computer to carry out the method as defined above, may also be available for downloading from a remote server, for example via the Internet, e.g. as an app.
  • a remote server for example via the Internet, e.g. as an app.
  • the method steps and technical features described above may each on its own be embodied in a method, device or computer program product for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other steps or features, or in combination with only a number of the other steps or features described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these steps or features may further be combined with any other step or feature disclosed, in any combination.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging device according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a diagram illustrating a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention.
  • the embodiment disclosed herein is shown as an example only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way.
  • the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging device 1 according to the invention.
  • the packaging device 1 is arranged for packaging dispensed medicines, and includes a multiple number of dispenser devices for dispensing corresponding types of medicines.
  • the packaging device 1 includes two dispenser devices 2a,b.
  • the packaging device 1 may include more dispenser devices 2, e.g. ten or twenty dispenser devices 2, or more, such as e.g. a hundred dispenser devices 2, or even more.
  • the dispenser devices have a similar structure.
  • the medicines contained in a particular dispenser are of the same type.
  • each operational dispenser device is arranged for containing and dispensing medicines of a specific type.
  • a first dispenser device may contain medicines of a first type
  • a second dispenser device may contain medicines of a second type that is different from the first type, etc.
  • a medicine type may be determined by the type of medicine substance, optionally also by the amount of said medicine substance.
  • a first medicine type is a medicine with a first medicine substance
  • a second medicine type is a medicine with a second medicine substance.
  • a medicine of a first type is a medicine containing 10 microgram active ingredients of a first medicine substance
  • a medicine of a second type is a medicine containing 20 microgram active ingredients of said first medicine substance.
  • Each medicine is usually contained in a dosage form.
  • a dispenser device 2 may be provided with a container containing a multiple number of medicines 10 of the same type, and with a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a single medicine from said container at a time.
  • the packaging device 1 further includes a conveyer unit 3 for conveying a plurality of medicines dispensed from the dispenser devices 2.
  • the packing device 1 also includes a receiving area 4 for receiving the plurality of dispensed medicines from the conveyer unit 3.
  • a selected number of dispenser devices 2 are activated for dispensing corresponding types of medicines.
  • the dispensed medicines travel via the conveyer unit 3 to the receiving area 4.
  • the receiving area 4 Upon receipt at the receiving area 4, the received
  • the packaging device 1 includes a control device 5 for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines.
  • the control device 5 includes a processor 6 and a memory 7.
  • the processor is arranged for performing a repetition of steps, including:
  • the packaging device 1 may comprise a camera 12 or other image recording device arranged for optically inspecting the dose of dispensed medicines 11.
  • the packaging device 1 includes a wired communication line 8
  • the communication line 8 may transmit command messages from the control device 5 to the camera 12, and optical data from the camera 12 to the control device 5.
  • communication between the camera 12 and the control device 5 is arranged in another way, e.g. using wireless
  • the camera 12 may be controlled by another control device or may operate autonomously such that the control device 5 operates depending on a process performed by the camera 12 or by another unit of the packaging device 1.
  • the control device 5 periodically performs the inspecting step, the verifying step and the processing step mentioned above on a plurality of dispensed medicines that are subsequently provided at the receiving area 4.
  • the individualized compound dose of medicines can be evaluated so as to determine whether there is a one-to-one relationship between the medicines in the compound dose and the medicines listed in the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines reflecting a prescription of medicines for a patient to be taken at an intake moment.
  • the inspecting step generally includes receiving optical data of the individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines 11 received at the receiving area 4.
  • the optical data is generated by the camera 12 recording an image of the dose of dispensed medicines 11.
  • the optical data can be rough image data or pre-processed image data, e.g. image data wherein noise has been suppressed.
  • the verifying step generally includes assessing a group of recognized medicines through automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines and comparing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines with said group of recognized medicines, for defining a first subset of verified medicines in the record.
  • the recognition can be performed by pattern recognition or other vision control methods applied to said optical data received from the camera 12, and comparing pattern characteristics to image data stored in a database or library.
  • the pattern recognition process may include analyzing the optical data to extract pill identifying characteristics of individual medicines in the compound dose of medicines. If the pattern characteristics of a medicine in the compound dose of medicines uniquely match to a certain degree with image data in the database or library associated with a known type of medicine, said medicine in the compound dose of medicines can be recognized as a medicine of said known type.
  • a first subset of verified medicines in the record can be defined, based on the outcome of the comparison process.
  • the comparing step can be performed by subsequently comparing each medicine in the record with the group of recognized medicines. If a medicine in the record and a medicine from the group of recognized medicine are of the same type, i.e. if the comparing result is positive, said medicine in the record can be added to the first subset of positively verified medicines in the record, while the corresponding medicine from the group of recognized medicines can be virtually removed from the group of recognized medicines in order to avoid reduce a chance that a particular recognized medicine is matched twice with a medicine in the record, i.e. with two or more medicines in the record.
  • a medicine in the record can not be matched with a medicine in the group of recognized medicines, i.e. if the comparing result is negative, said medicine in the record can be added to a second subset of not yet identified medicines in the record. Then, the second subset of medicines includes all medicines in the record that failed in the step of comparing with the group of recognized medicines.
  • the verifying step has a negative result because the individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines includes at least one medicine that is not listed in the record.
  • the step of verifying step can be completed by concluding that all medicines of the record match with the optically inspected medicines and that the verifying step has a positive result. Then, the second subset is empty.
  • the verification step includes a substep of checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines. Then, at least one medicine of the second subset of not yet verified medicines, but preferably all medicines in said second subset, is checked against a dispensing process of a dispenser device 2 dispensing medicines of a type corresponding to the type of medicine or medicines in said second subset.
  • the step of verifying can be completed by concluding that all medicines of the record match with the individualized compound dose of medicines and that the verifying step has a positive result.
  • the step of checking a dispensing process may includes a step of determining any occurrence of a dispensing signal associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27.
  • the dispensing signal can be an instruction signal transmitted to the dispenser device 2 for dispensing a medicine. Alternatively or
  • the dispensing signal can be a release signal transmitted by the dispenser device 2 indicating that a medicine has been dispensed.
  • the step of checking a dispensing process may include detecting a medicine travelling from the dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27.
  • the verifying step may include selecting a single or a multiple number of dispenser devices 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine or medicines to be verified in the record 27.
  • dispenser devices 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicines included in the second subset of not yet verified medicines are selected, so that dispensing signals of said selected dispenser devices 2 and/or detection signals of medicines travelling from said selected dispenser devices 2 can be checked and verified against medicines that have not yet been verified on the record 27.
  • medicines that have been recognized through automated recognition could be checked against a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine to be verified and included in the record.
  • the checking step with the dispensing process could be performed as a further verification of at least a portion of the medicines that have already been verified based on automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines.
  • the control device 5 in the shown embodiment includes a memory
  • the memory 7 storing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines, and storing registered dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified in the record.
  • the memory 7 may also store a database or library including medicines of known types including at least part of their optical characteristics such as size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy characteristics.
  • the control device 5 including the memory 7 is integrated in the packaging device 1. However, in another embodiment, the memory can be separate from the packaging device 1, e.g. in a separate controller operatively connected with the packaging device 1, or in a remote server accessible via the Internet. Further, the control device 5 including the processor 6 and the memory 7 can functionally be
  • the control device 5 may be arranged to store dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27. Then, evidence data is provided for any evaluation of an individualized compound of medicines, performed at a later moment.
  • the operation of the control device 5 is illustrated by an
  • FIG. 2 showing a diagram illustrating a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines according to the invention.
  • the diagram shows four dispenser devices 2a-d each dispensing, via a dispensing mechanism 13a-d, a medicine of a specific type.
  • the first dispenser device 2a dispenses a pill of a first type 10a
  • the second dispenser device 2b dispenses a pill of a second type 10b
  • the third dispenser device 2c dispenses a pill of a third type 10c
  • the fourth dispenser device 2d dispenses a pill of a fourth type lOd.
  • the pills of the first, third and fourth type are blue, while the pill of the second type is green.
  • the dispenser devices 2a-d can be refilled with medicines of the corresponding type.
  • the process of refilling the dispenser devices 2a-d may including performing an identification process such as scanning a barcode or reading an RFID tag of a medicine box 13a-d that is filled with medicines that are put into the corresponding dispenser device 2a-d.
  • the diagram further shows the memory 7 storing registered dispense data of the dispenser devices 2a-d, a pill library 17 containing image data of medicines of known types A-F, and a record 27 for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines A-D. Also scanning data about the refilling process can be stored in the memory 7.
  • the image data of the medicines in the pill library 17 contain optical data about size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy characteristics of said medicines.
  • medicines of type A, C and D are blue
  • medicines of type B and F are green
  • medicine of type E is orange.
  • the received medicines lOa-d form an individualized compound dose of medicines 11 to be processed as a batch together.
  • the camera 12 records an optical image 18 of the compound dose of medicines 11, and a group of recognized medicines is assessed through automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines 11.
  • the optical image of pills lOa-d is subjected to a pattern recognition process and compared to the image data of medicines of known types A-F in the pill library 17.
  • the first pill 10a and the second pill 10b are recognized as Pill A and Pill B, respectively of the hbrary 17 by its characterizing shape and color.
  • the third pill 10c and the fourth pill lOd can not be uniquely recognized based on optical characteristics.
  • the third pill 10c could be pill C or pill D, based on their similar optical characteristics. They are both round and blue.
  • the fourth pill lOd could be pill C or pill D.
  • a group 19 of recognized medicines is assessed, the group 19 including the first pill 10a and the second pill 10b, both pills being recognized from the data in the library 17. Said group 19 does not include the third pill 10c and the fourth pill lOd as both pills are not uniquely recognized from the data in the hbrary 17.
  • the record 27 for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines is compared with the group 19 of recognized medicines, for defining a first subset of verified medicines in the record 27.
  • the medicine pills A-D in the record 27 are subsequently compared with the group 19 of recognized medicines lOa-b.
  • the medicine pill A and the first dispensed medicine 10a are of the same type, i.e. pill A. Therefore, the comparing result for medicine pill A is positive, so that pill A in the record 27 can be added to the first subset 9a of positively verified medicines in the record 27, while the first dispensed medicine 10a can be virtually removed from the group 19 of recognized medicines in order to avoid that the first dispensed medicine 10a is also matched with a further medicine in the record 27.
  • medicine pill B from the record 27 is of the same type as the second dispensed medicine 10b in the virtually reduced group 19 of recognized medicines, resulting in a second positive comparison result. Pill B is added to the first subset 9a of positively verified medicines in the record 27, and the second dispensed medicine 10b is virtually removed from the group 19 of recognized medicines.
  • the first subset 9a of positive verified medicines in the record 27 includes the medicines pill A and pill B. Further, the updated group 19 of recognized medicines is empty.
  • the medicines pill C and pill D can not be matched with a medicine in the group 19 of recognized medicines. Therefore, pill C and pill D are added to a second subset 9b not yet identified medicines in the record 27.
  • the second subset 9b of medicines includes all medicines pill C and pill D in the record 27 that failed in the step of comparing with the group 19 of recognized medicines.
  • the second subset 9b of not yet identified medicines in the record 27 is not empty but includes pill C and pill D.
  • the verification step further includes a substep of checking a dispensing process of dispenser devices 2c-d dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines. Then, pill C and/or pill D of the second subset 9B of not yet verified medicines are checked against a dispensing process of dispenser devices 2c-d dispensing medicines of the type pill C or pill D, respectively.
  • the occurrence of a pill C and/or pill D in the compound dose of medicines 11 can be determined to a certain degree of probability. If positive, said medicine pill C and/or D can be virtually removed from the second subset 9b of not yet verified medicines in the record 27. If the updated second subset 9b of not yet verified medicines is virtually empty, after performing the checking step, i.e.
  • the step of verifying can be completed by concluding that all medicines pill A-D of the record 27 match with the individualized compound dose of medicines 11 and that the verifying step has a positive result.
  • the processing step may include registering the outcome of the verifying step in a database such as the library 17 or another database.
  • the above described example relates to a situation wherein two medicines lOc-d can not be uniquely recognized by optical inspection.
  • the described method and device are also applicable in other cases, e.g. in a case wherein a single medicine or more than two medicines, e.g. three medicines from the individualized compound of medicines can not be uniquely recognized.
  • the processing step may include discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines to be packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is positive, and discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines other than to be packaged in a dose compartment of the multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is negative.
  • the packaging device 1 may include a discharge for discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines as described above.
  • the packaging device includes an integrated packaging facility 20 that forms multi dose compartments as blister packages 28.
  • the packaging facility 20 forms trays 26 from a continuous web 25 of film that is supplied form a supply roll 21.
  • the trays 26 are formed on a die 24 using a forming apparatus 22, in particular a vacuum forming, thermoforming or vacuum-assisted thermoforming apparatus.
  • a forming apparatus 22 in particular a vacuum forming, thermoforming or vacuum-assisted thermoforming apparatus.
  • the web of film 25 passing through the forming apparatus 22 is heated using a heater 23 opposite to the die 24.
  • the die 24 repeatedly for forming one tray 26, the number of compartments in each tray may be varied. The width and length of the trays 24 that are formed may thus vary.
  • the trays 24 are subsequently fed along a dispensing zone 22 using a conveyor 27, so that compartments may be filled.
  • the medicines are dispensed from the receiving area 4 via a discharge including a chute 22 that is selectively placed above the subsequent dose compartments that are to be filled with the individualized, compound doses of medicines that have been evaluated.
  • the conveyor 27 drives the advancement of the web of film 25.
  • the trays 26 are sealed with sealing film 29 from a supply rol, labelled with labels from a supply roll of labelling material 30.
  • the advancement of the web of film 25 drives the dispatching of sealing film 29 and labelling material 30.
  • the filled, sealed and labelled trays 26 in the web of film 25 are cut with a cutter 31 to form individual blister packages 28.
  • the packaging may include a further chute for dispensing a compound of medicines to another structure, e.g. if the outcome of the verifying step is negative.
  • the packaging device 1 may include another type of packaging facility, e.g. including a table arranged to carry a pre-formed multi dose compartment package, embodied as a blister described in more detail referring to Fig. 3a and 3b in WO 2015/126254.
  • another type of packaging facility e.g. including a table arranged to carry a pre-formed multi dose compartment package, embodied as a blister described in more detail referring to Fig. 3a and 3b in WO 2015/126254.
  • the control device 5 periodically performs the inspecting step, the verifying step and the processing step mentioned above on a plurality of dispensed medicines that are subsequently provided at the receiving area 4.
  • the individualized compound dose of medicines can be evaluated so as to determine whether there is complete match between the medicines in the compound dose and the medicines listed in the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines reflecting a prescription of medicines for a patient to be taken at an intake moment.
  • the match between the medicines in the individualized compound dose and the record could include a one-to-one relationship.
  • the verification is on a subset level including a multiple number of medicines, not on the level of
  • individualized compounds of medicines can be evaluated using the above described evaluation method prior to packaging said medicines in dose compartments or in a multi dose
  • a control device 5 can be applied remotely to the packaging device that has packaged the medicines.
  • the remotely applied control device 5 receives optical data from a local camera or other apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines, e.g. via a communication line interconnecting the camera or other optical inspecting apparatus recording optical data to the control device so that the control device can receive said optical data. Operation of the control device may be based on stored dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2
  • operation of the control device may also be based on stored image data recorded by a camera or other apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines.
  • the evaluated individualized compound of medicines can be processed, e.g. by approving a packaged compound of medicines for further handling if the verifying step has a positive result and by disapproving the packaged compound of medicines for further handling if the verifying step has a negative result.
  • the packaging device 1 includes a detection system arranged for detecting a medicine 10 travelling from a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27.
  • the detection system may include counting sluices 12' that are associated with corresponding dispenser devices such that each counting sluice is arranged for detecting only medicines 10 travelling from the corresponding dispenser device 2 towards the receiving area 4.
  • the counting sluices 12' may include any type of sensor or sensor array for detecting a medicine passing by such as an optical sensor, e.g. a camera or a photocell array, a capacitor sensor, an inductance sensor or a mechanical sensor such as a vane.
  • the packaging device 1 further includes a data detection line 8' interconnecting the detection system with the control device 5 for transmitting detection data generated by the detection system towards the control device 5.
  • the conveyer unit 3 preferably includes individual conveyer sections 3a,b extending from the respective dispenser devices 2 in
  • the detection system is arranged for detecting along which individual conveyer section 3a,b a dispensed medicine is travelling.
  • the detection system may also include be integrated in the dispenser devices 2, e.g. near the dispensing mechanism 13 of the
  • the conveyer unit 3 includes common conveyer sections extending from downstream ends of multiple individual conveyer sections 3a,b to the receiving area 4 of the packaging device 1.
  • the individual and/or common conveyer sections may includes chutes.
  • Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention.
  • the method is used for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, and comprises a step of providing 110 a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines, a step of optically inspecting 120 the individualized compound dose of medicines, a step of verifying 130 whether a record for the composition of the
  • the verifying step 130 includes checking 135 a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
  • the method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines can be facilitated using dedicated hardware structures, such as computer servers. Otherwise, the method can also at least partially be performed using a computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor of a computer system to facilitate a process of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines. All (sub)steps can in principle be performed on a single processor. However, it is noted that at least one step can be performed on a separate processor. A processor can be loaded with a specific software module. Dedicated software modules can be provided, e.g. from the Internet.
  • the step of optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines is optional, and that a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines can be provided, comprising a repetition of the steps of:
  • the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
  • the step of verifying medicines on the record via a dispensing process check can be performed on medicines that have recognized using optical inspection and/or on medicines that failed in an automated recognition process.
  • the apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines is optional.
  • the apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound of medicines can be implemented as a camera or video recording device recording visual images of the medicines.
  • optical inspection can also be carried out by recording non-visible images such as an IR image or an X-ray image.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method and control device for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines. The evaluation includes optically inspecting an individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines and verifying whether a record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines. Further, the evaluation includes processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step. The verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.

Description

A method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, a control device, a packaging device and a computer program product
The invention relates to individualized compounds of medicines, in particular pills.
For medicine users who use a plurality of different medicines, it is often difficult to ensure that at each intake moment, a prescribed
combination of medicines is taken. In order to facilitate taking the prescribed combination at each intake moment, it has been proposed to prepare individualized compound doses of medicines, and to prepackage these doses according to subsequent intake moments for a particular patient.
In practice, for each of a series of subsequent intake moments, pills are collected from selected cassettes of a dispensing machine to form an individualized compound dose of medicine in accordance with a patient prescription record, and the doses are individually packaged in a string of sealed packages. In order to ensure the correctness of the compound doses, the composition of each sealed package in the string is assessed and checked in an automated process, e.g. in accordance to the International patent publication WO 2005/017814 in the name of the applicant.
The International patent publication WO 2015/126254 also in the name of the applicant discloses a method and device for receiving and checking individuahzed doses of medicines, wherein a plurality of dispensed medicines forming an individualized compound dose of medicines are received for assessing the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines through automated recognition of the received medicines, using an optical inspection technique. The individualized compound dose of medicines are discharged to be packaged or other than to be packaged depending on the outcome of a step of checking the assessed composition of medicines against a record for the composition of said medicines.
It appears, in practice, that at some instants medicines can not be uniquely recognized via optical inspection, e.g. if medicines overlap or if look-alikes occur i.e. if the individualized compound dose of medicines includes one or more medicines that have the same or similar optical appearance, e.g. having the same shape and colour. Then, the checking process might be interrupted which is less desired from an economic point of view.
The invention aims to alleviate the above mentioned
disadvantage. Thereto, the invention provides for a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, comprising a repetition of the steps of providing a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines, optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines, verifying whether a record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step, wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
By checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device that dispenses medicines of the type included in the record, the occurrence of non recognized medicines in the individualized compound dose of medicines can advantageously be derived. The invention is at least partly based on the insight that the dispense process could be correlated in a positive manner to the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines, thus providing a new independent manner of verifying the dispensed medicines against the record. The dispensing process can e.g. be checked by determining an instruction signal transmitted to the dispenser device for dispensing a medicine, a release signal indicating that a medicine has been dispensed and/or a detection signal that a medicine has been travelled from the dispenser device.
Advantageously, the step of checking a dispensing process can be applied in existing packaging devices in a relatively simple manner as means for generating the above-mentioned instruction signal, release signal and/or detection signal have already been implemented for monitoring the performance of the individual dispenser devices.
Further, dispense data of dispenser devices associated with the medicines in the individualized compound dose of medicines can be stored, for providing medicine data associated to the compound dose of medicines to be packaged, for later use, e.g. when retrieving the origin of medicines in a transmitted package of the individualized compound dose of medicines, or when performing an evaluation on an individualized compound dose of medicines that has already been packaged.
The invention further provides for a control device for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, either in a packaging process or stand alone, e.g. analyzing medicines that have already been packaged.
The invention also provides for a packaging device for packing dispensed medicines.
In addition, the invention provides for a computer program product. A computer program product may comprise a set of computer executable instructions stored on a data carrier, such as a flash memory, a CD, DVD or memory stick. The set of computer executable instructions, which allow a programmable computer to carry out the method as defined above, may also be available for downloading from a remote server, for example via the Internet, e.g. as an app. It should be noted that the method steps and technical features described above may each on its own be embodied in a method, device or computer program product for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other steps or features, or in combination with only a number of the other steps or features described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these steps or features may further be combined with any other step or feature disclosed, in any combination.
The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a non- limitative exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawing:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging device according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a diagram illustrating a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines according to the invention, and
Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. The embodiment disclosed herein is shown as an example only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way. In this description and in the figures, the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.
Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging device 1 according to the invention. The packaging device 1 is arranged for packaging dispensed medicines, and includes a multiple number of dispenser devices for dispensing corresponding types of medicines. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the packaging device 1 includes two dispenser devices 2a,b. However, generally, the packaging device 1 may include more dispenser devices 2, e.g. ten or twenty dispenser devices 2, or more, such as e.g. a hundred dispenser devices 2, or even more.
Generally, the dispenser devices have a similar structure. The medicines contained in a particular dispenser are of the same type. In principle, each operational dispenser device is arranged for containing and dispensing medicines of a specific type. A first dispenser device may contain medicines of a first type, a second dispenser device may contain medicines of a second type that is different from the first type, etc. A medicine type may be determined by the type of medicine substance, optionally also by the amount of said medicine substance. As a first example, a first medicine type is a medicine with a first medicine substance, while a second medicine type is a medicine with a second medicine substance. As a further example, a medicine of a first type is a medicine containing 10 microgram active ingredients of a first medicine substance, while a medicine of a second type is a medicine containing 20 microgram active ingredients of said first medicine substance. Each medicine is usually contained in a dosage form.
A dispenser device 2 may be provided with a container containing a multiple number of medicines 10 of the same type, and with a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a single medicine from said container at a time.
The packaging device 1 further includes a conveyer unit 3 for conveying a plurality of medicines dispensed from the dispenser devices 2. The packing device 1 also includes a receiving area 4 for receiving the plurality of dispensed medicines from the conveyer unit 3.
During operation of the packaging device 1, a selected number of dispenser devices 2 are activated for dispensing corresponding types of medicines. The dispensed medicines travel via the conveyer unit 3 to the receiving area 4. Upon receipt at the receiving area 4, the received
medicines form an individualized compound dose of medicines 11 to be processed as a batch together. After processing the batch, the process is repeated, i.e. again a multiple number of dispenser devices 2 is activated for dispensing corresponding types of medicines that travel via the conveyer unit 3 to the receiving area 4 forming an individualized compound dose of medicines 11 to be processed as a batch together. Additionally, the packaging device 1 includes a control device 5 for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines.
The control device 5 includes a processor 6 and a memory 7. The processor is arranged for performing a repetition of steps, including:
- optically inspecting an individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines 11,
- verifying whether a record for the composition of the
individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines 11, and
- processing the individualized compound dose of medicines 11 based on the outcome of the verifying step.
For the purpose of optically inspecting an individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines 11, the packaging device 1 may comprise a camera 12 or other image recording device arranged for optically inspecting the dose of dispensed medicines 11. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the packaging device 1 includes a wired communication line 8
interconnecting the camera 12 and the control device 5 so that the control device 5 may control operation of the camera 12 and may receive optical data that have been recorded by said camera 12. During operation, the communication line 8 may transmit command messages from the control device 5 to the camera 12, and optical data from the camera 12 to the control device 5. Alternatively, communication between the camera 12 and the control device 5 is arranged in another way, e.g. using wireless
communication means. Further, the camera 12 may be controlled by another control device or may operate autonomously such that the control device 5 operates depending on a process performed by the camera 12 or by another unit of the packaging device 1.
During operation of the packaging device 1, the control device 5 periodically performs the inspecting step, the verifying step and the processing step mentioned above on a plurality of dispensed medicines that are subsequently provided at the receiving area 4. By performing these steps, the individualized compound dose of medicines can be evaluated so as to determine whether there is a one-to-one relationship between the medicines in the compound dose and the medicines listed in the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines reflecting a prescription of medicines for a patient to be taken at an intake moment.
The inspecting step generally includes receiving optical data of the individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines 11 received at the receiving area 4. The optical data is generated by the camera 12 recording an image of the dose of dispensed medicines 11. The optical data can be rough image data or pre-processed image data, e.g. image data wherein noise has been suppressed.
The verifying step generally includes assessing a group of recognized medicines through automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines and comparing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines with said group of recognized medicines, for defining a first subset of verified medicines in the record.
By automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines at least a group of the dispensed medicines in the individualized compound dose of medicines 11 can be recognized, e.g. based on size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy analysis of medicine ingredients. The recognition can be performed by pattern recognition or other vision control methods applied to said optical data received from the camera 12, and comparing pattern characteristics to image data stored in a database or library. The pattern recognition process may include analyzing the optical data to extract pill identifying characteristics of individual medicines in the compound dose of medicines. If the pattern characteristics of a medicine in the compound dose of medicines uniquely match to a certain degree with image data in the database or library associated with a known type of medicine, said medicine in the compound dose of medicines can be recognized as a medicine of said known type. In this manner at least a group of dispensed medicines in the compound dose of medicines might be identifiable. Remaining medicines that are not uniquely recognized by automated recognition will be verified in another way, as explained below using dispense data. Automated recognition may fail for several reasons, e.g. if medicines are not separate from each other in the image captured by the camera, e.g. due to overlap, or if the orientation of a medicine in the image does not correspond to image data of the medicine stored in the database or library. Further, different medicines can be indistinguishable from each other with respect to optical characteristics. As an example, pills may have a similar size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy characteristics.
By comparing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines with said group of recognized medicines, a first subset of verified medicines in the record can be defined, based on the outcome of the comparison process. The comparing step can be performed by subsequently comparing each medicine in the record with the group of recognized medicines. If a medicine in the record and a medicine from the group of recognized medicine are of the same type, i.e. if the comparing result is positive, said medicine in the record can be added to the first subset of positively verified medicines in the record, while the corresponding medicine from the group of recognized medicines can be virtually removed from the group of recognized medicines in order to avoid reduce a chance that a particular recognized medicine is matched twice with a medicine in the record, i.e. with two or more medicines in the record. If a medicine in the record can not be matched with a medicine in the group of recognized medicines, i.e. if the comparing result is negative, said medicine in the record can be added to a second subset of not yet identified medicines in the record. Then, the second subset of medicines includes all medicines in the record that failed in the step of comparing with the group of recognized medicines.
After performing the comparing step, a first subset of verified medicines and a second subset of not yet verified medicines have been generated, the combination of the first and second subset composing the hst of medicines in the record.
If the group of recognized medicines is not virtually empty, after performing the comparing step, at least one recognized medicine does not match with a medicine of the same type in the record. Then, it is concluded that the verifying step has a negative result because the individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines includes at least one medicine that is not listed in the record.
Further, if the first subset of verified medicines includes all medicines in the record, the step of verifying step can be completed by concluding that all medicines of the record match with the optically inspected medicines and that the verifying step has a positive result. Then, the second subset is empty.
If the first subset of verified medicines does not include all medicines in the record, the second subset of not yet verified medicines is not empty, and the verification step includes a substep of checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines. Then, at least one medicine of the second subset of not yet verified medicines, but preferably all medicines in said second subset, is checked against a dispensing process of a dispenser device 2 dispensing medicines of a type corresponding to the type of medicine or medicines in said second subset.
By performing the above mentioned checking step information of the dispensing process can advantageously be related to medicines in the record that failed in the comparing step. If it can be determined that a medicine has been dispensed wherein the type of said dispensed medicine corresponds to a medicine in the record that has not yet been verified, said medicine can be virtually removed from the second subset of not yet verified medicines in the record.
If the second subset of not yet verified medicines is virtually empty, after performing the checking step, i.e. if it is determined that medicines of the type listed in the second subset of not yet verified medicines in the record have actually been dispensed by the corresponding dispenser device or devices, the step of verifying can be completed by concluding that all medicines of the record match with the individualized compound dose of medicines and that the verifying step has a positive result.
The step of checking a dispensing process may includes a step of determining any occurrence of a dispensing signal associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27.
The dispensing signal can be an instruction signal transmitted to the dispenser device 2 for dispensing a medicine. Alternatively or
additionally, the dispensing signal can be a release signal transmitted by the dispenser device 2 indicating that a medicine has been dispensed.
The step of checking a dispensing process may include detecting a medicine travelling from the dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27.
Further, the verifying step may include selecting a single or a multiple number of dispenser devices 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine or medicines to be verified in the record 27. Preferably, dispenser devices 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicines included in the second subset of not yet verified medicines are selected, so that dispensing signals of said selected dispenser devices 2 and/or detection signals of medicines travelling from said selected dispenser devices 2 can be checked and verified against medicines that have not yet been verified on the record 27.
It is noted that, in principle, also medicines that have been recognized through automated recognition could be checked against a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine to be verified and included in the record. The checking step with the dispensing process could be performed as a further verification of at least a portion of the medicines that have already been verified based on automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines.
The control device 5 in the shown embodiment includes a memory
7 storing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines, and storing registered dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified in the record. The memory 7 may also store a database or library including medicines of known types including at least part of their optical characteristics such as size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy characteristics. The control device 5 including the memory 7 is integrated in the packaging device 1. However, in another embodiment, the memory can be separate from the packaging device 1, e.g. in a separate controller operatively connected with the packaging device 1, or in a remote server accessible via the Internet. Further, the control device 5 including the processor 6 and the memory 7 can functionally be
implemented in a separate apparatus or remotely in the cloud though operatively connected to the packaging device 1.
The control device 5 may be arranged to store dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27. Then, evidence data is provided for any evaluation of an individualized compound of medicines, performed at a later moment. The operation of the control device 5 is illustrated by an
exemplary process of evaluating an individualized compound dose of medicine that are processed by the packaging device 1 referring to Figure 2 showing a diagram illustrating a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines according to the invention. The diagram shows four dispenser devices 2a-d each dispensing, via a dispensing mechanism 13a-d, a medicine of a specific type. In the shown embodiment, the first dispenser device 2a dispenses a pill of a first type 10a, the second dispenser device 2b dispenses a pill of a second type 10b, the third dispenser device 2c dispenses a pill of a third type 10c, and the fourth dispenser device 2d dispenses a pill of a fourth type lOd. The pills of the first, third and fourth type are blue, while the pill of the second type is green. The dispenser devices 2a-d can be refilled with medicines of the corresponding type. The process of refilling the dispenser devices 2a-d may including performing an identification process such as scanning a barcode or reading an RFID tag of a medicine box 13a-d that is filled with medicines that are put into the corresponding dispenser device 2a-d. The diagram further shows the memory 7 storing registered dispense data of the dispenser devices 2a-d, a pill library 17 containing image data of medicines of known types A-F, and a record 27 for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines A-D. Also scanning data about the refilling process can be stored in the memory 7. The image data of the medicines in the pill library 17 contain optical data about size, shape, color, texture, markings and/or spectroscopy characteristics of said medicines. In the described embodiment, medicines of type A, C and D are blue, medicines of type B and F are green while medicine of type E is orange.
Upon receiving the four pills lOa-d at the receiving area 4, the received medicines lOa-d form an individualized compound dose of medicines 11 to be processed as a batch together. The camera 12 records an optical image 18 of the compound dose of medicines 11, and a group of recognized medicines is assessed through automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines 11. For the purpose of verifying the record 27 with the compound dose of medicines 11, the optical image of pills lOa-d is subjected to a pattern recognition process and compared to the image data of medicines of known types A-F in the pill library 17. The first pill 10a and the second pill 10b are recognized as Pill A and Pill B, respectively of the hbrary 17 by its characterizing shape and color. However, the third pill 10c and the fourth pill lOd can not be uniquely recognized based on optical characteristics. The third pill 10c could be pill C or pill D, based on their similar optical characteristics. They are both round and blue. Similarly, the fourth pill lOd could be pill C or pill D.
Based on the automated recognition process, a group 19 of recognized medicines is assessed, the group 19 including the first pill 10a and the second pill 10b, both pills being recognized from the data in the library 17. Said group 19 does not include the third pill 10c and the fourth pill lOd as both pills are not uniquely recognized from the data in the hbrary 17.
Then, the record 27 for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines is compared with the group 19 of recognized medicines, for defining a first subset of verified medicines in the record 27. The medicine pills A-D in the record 27 are subsequently compared with the group 19 of recognized medicines lOa-b. The medicine pill A and the first dispensed medicine 10a are of the same type, i.e. pill A. Therefore, the comparing result for medicine pill A is positive, so that pill A in the record 27 can be added to the first subset 9a of positively verified medicines in the record 27, while the first dispensed medicine 10a can be virtually removed from the group 19 of recognized medicines in order to avoid that the first dispensed medicine 10a is also matched with a further medicine in the record 27. Similarly, medicine pill B from the record 27 is of the same type as the second dispensed medicine 10b in the virtually reduced group 19 of recognized medicines, resulting in a second positive comparison result. Pill B is added to the first subset 9a of positively verified medicines in the record 27, and the second dispensed medicine 10b is virtually removed from the group 19 of recognized medicines.
After performing the comparison step, the first subset 9a of positive verified medicines in the record 27 includes the medicines pill A and pill B. Further, the updated group 19 of recognized medicines is empty.
The medicines pill C and pill D can not be matched with a medicine in the group 19 of recognized medicines. Therefore, pill C and pill D are added to a second subset 9b not yet identified medicines in the record 27. The second subset 9b of medicines includes all medicines pill C and pill D in the record 27 that failed in the step of comparing with the group 19 of recognized medicines.
In this process, no dispensed medicine has been recognized that does not occur in the record 27.
Further, as the first subset 9a of verified medicines does not include all medicines pill A-D in the record 27, the step of verifying step can not be completed yet. The second subset 9b of not yet identified medicines in the record 27 is not empty but includes pill C and pill D.
The verification step further includes a substep of checking a dispensing process of dispenser devices 2c-d dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines. Then, pill C and/or pill D of the second subset 9B of not yet verified medicines are checked against a dispensing process of dispenser devices 2c-d dispensing medicines of the type pill C or pill D, respectively.
By relating pill C and pill D to the dispensing process of dispenser devices 2c-d, the occurrence of a pill C and/or pill D in the compound dose of medicines 11 can be determined to a certain degree of probability. If positive, said medicine pill C and/or D can be virtually removed from the second subset 9b of not yet verified medicines in the record 27. If the updated second subset 9b of not yet verified medicines is virtually empty, after performing the checking step, i.e. if it is determined that medicines of the type listed in the second subset of not yet verified medicines in the record have actually been dispensed by the corresponding dispenser device or devices, the step of verifying can be completed by concluding that all medicines pill A-D of the record 27 match with the individualized compound dose of medicines 11 and that the verifying step has a positive result.
Based on the outcome of the verifying step, the individualized compound dose of medicines are processed. The processing step may include registering the outcome of the verifying step in a database such as the library 17 or another database.
The above described example relates to a situation wherein two medicines lOc-d can not be uniquely recognized by optical inspection.
Apparently, the described method and device are also applicable in other cases, e.g. in a case wherein a single medicine or more than two medicines, e.g. three medicines from the individualized compound of medicines can not be uniquely recognized.
Alternatively or additionally, the processing step may include discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines to be packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is positive, and discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines other than to be packaged in a dose compartment of the multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is negative.
The packaging device 1 may include a discharge for discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines as described above. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the packaging device includes an integrated packaging facility 20 that forms multi dose compartments as blister packages 28. The packaging facility 20 forms trays 26 from a continuous web 25 of film that is supplied form a supply roll 21. The trays 26 are formed on a die 24 using a forming apparatus 22, in particular a vacuum forming, thermoforming or vacuum-assisted thermoforming apparatus. When thermoforming, the web of film 25 passing through the forming apparatus 22 is heated using a heater 23 opposite to the die 24. By using the die 24 repeatedly for forming one tray 26, the number of compartments in each tray may be varied. The width and length of the trays 24 that are formed may thus vary. The trays 24 are subsequently fed along a dispensing zone 22 using a conveyor 27, so that compartments may be filled. The medicines are dispensed from the receiving area 4 via a discharge including a chute 22 that is selectively placed above the subsequent dose compartments that are to be filled with the individualized, compound doses of medicines that have been evaluated. The conveyor 27 drives the advancement of the web of film 25. After filhng, the trays 26 are sealed with sealing film 29 from a supply rol, labelled with labels from a supply roll of labelling material 30. The advancement of the web of film 25 drives the dispatching of sealing film 29 and labelling material 30. Finally, the filled, sealed and labelled trays 26 in the web of film 25 are cut with a cutter 31 to form individual blister packages 28. The packaging may include a further chute for dispensing a compound of medicines to another structure, e.g. if the outcome of the verifying step is negative.
The packaging device 1 may include another type of packaging facility, e.g. including a table arranged to carry a pre-formed multi dose compartment package, embodied as a blister described in more detail referring to Fig. 3a and 3b in WO 2015/126254.
During operation of the packaging device 1, the control device 5 periodically performs the inspecting step, the verifying step and the processing step mentioned above on a plurality of dispensed medicines that are subsequently provided at the receiving area 4. By performing these steps, the individualized compound dose of medicines can be evaluated so as to determine whether there is complete match between the medicines in the compound dose and the medicines listed in the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines reflecting a prescription of medicines for a patient to be taken at an intake moment.
It is noted that the match between the medicines in the individualized compound dose and the record could include a one-to-one relationship. However, it might also occur that the verification is on a subset level including a multiple number of medicines, not on the level of
individual medicines. As an example, referring to the diagram shown in the above Fig. 2, it is positively verified that the second subset of 9b including pills C and D have a match with the subset of not recognized third and fourth dispensed medicine lOc-d.
It is further noted that individualized compounds of medicines can be evaluated using the above described evaluation method prior to packaging said medicines in dose compartments or in a multi dose
compartment packages. Further, the evaluation method can also be applied for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines that have already been packaged in does compartments or in multi dose compartments. Then, a control device 5 can be applied remotely to the packaging device that has packaged the medicines. Preferably, the remotely applied control device 5 receives optical data from a local camera or other apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines, e.g. via a communication line interconnecting the camera or other optical inspecting apparatus recording optical data to the control device so that the control device can receive said optical data. Operation of the control device may be based on stored dispense data associated with a dispenser device 2
dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27 that is associated with the individualized compound of medicines to be evaluated. Further, operation of the control device may also be based on stored image data recorded by a camera or other apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines. Again, based on the outcome of the verifying step, the evaluated individualized compound of medicines can be processed, e.g. by approving a packaged compound of medicines for further handling if the verifying step has a positive result and by disapproving the packaged compound of medicines for further handling if the verifying step has a negative result.
Advantageously, the packaging device 1 includes a detection system arranged for detecting a medicine 10 travelling from a dispenser device 2 dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record 27. The detection system may include counting sluices 12' that are associated with corresponding dispenser devices such that each counting sluice is arranged for detecting only medicines 10 travelling from the corresponding dispenser device 2 towards the receiving area 4. The counting sluices 12' may include any type of sensor or sensor array for detecting a medicine passing by such as an optical sensor, e.g. a camera or a photocell array, a capacitor sensor, an inductance sensor or a mechanical sensor such as a vane. The packaging device 1 further includes a data detection line 8' interconnecting the detection system with the control device 5 for transmitting detection data generated by the detection system towards the control device 5.
The conveyer unit 3 preferably includes individual conveyer sections 3a,b extending from the respective dispenser devices 2 in
downstream directions. Here, the detection system is arranged for detecting along which individual conveyer section 3a,b a dispensed medicine is travelling. The detection system may also include be integrated in the dispenser devices 2, e.g. near the dispensing mechanism 13 of the
corresponding dispenser device 2. Optionally, the conveyer unit 3 includes common conveyer sections extending from downstream ends of multiple individual conveyer sections 3a,b to the receiving area 4 of the packaging device 1. The individual and/or common conveyer sections may includes chutes.
Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. The method is used for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, and comprises a step of providing 110 a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines, a step of optically inspecting 120 the individualized compound dose of medicines, a step of verifying 130 whether a record for the composition of the
individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and a step of processing 140 the individuahzed compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step. The verifying step 130 includes checking 135 a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
The method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines can be facilitated using dedicated hardware structures, such as computer servers. Otherwise, the method can also at least partially be performed using a computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor of a computer system to facilitate a process of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines. All (sub)steps can in principle be performed on a single processor. However, it is noted that at least one step can be performed on a separate processor. A processor can be loaded with a specific software module. Dedicated software modules can be provided, e.g. from the Internet.
The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.
In this respect it is noted that, in principle, the step of optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines is optional, and that a method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines can be provided, comprising a repetition of the steps of:
providing a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines,
- verifying whether a record for the composition of the
individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the individualized compound dose of medicines, and
processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step,
wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines. Generally, the step of verifying medicines on the record via a dispensing process check can be performed on medicines that have recognized using optical inspection and/or on medicines that failed in an automated recognition process. Similarly, the apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines is optional.
It is further noted that the apparatus for optically inspecting the individualized compound of medicines can be implemented as a camera or video recording device recording visual images of the medicines. However, optical inspection can also be carried out by recording non-visible images such as an IR image or an X-ray image.
These and other embodiments will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Claims

Claims
1. A method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, comprising a repetition of the steps of:
- providing a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines,
- optically inspecting the individualized compound dose of medicines,
- verifying whether a record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and
- processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step,
wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the verifying step further includes assessing a group of recognized medicines through automated recognition of the optically inspected medicines and comparing the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines with said group of recognized medicines, for defining a first subset of verified medicines in the record.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of checking a dispensing process is performed for a second subset of medicines in the record that failed in the comparing step.
4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of checking a dispensing process includes determining any occurrence of a dispensing signal associated with a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the dispensing signal is an instruction signal transmitted to the dispenser device for dispensing a medicine or a release signal transmitted by the dispenser device indicating that a medicine has been dispensed.
6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of checking a dispensing process includes detecting a medicine travelling from the dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine
corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record.
7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a step of storing dispense data associated with a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record.
8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the verifying step includes selecting a single or a multiple number of dispenser devices dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record.
9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, including a step of receiving the plurality of dispensed medicines from the respective dispenser devices at a receiving area for forming the individualized compound dose of medicines.
10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of processing the individualized compound dose of medicines includes registering the outcome of the verifying step in a database.
11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of processing the individualized compound dose of medicines includes:
- if the outcome of the verifying step is positive, discharging the individualized compound dose of medicines to be packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package, and - if the outcome of the verifying step is negative, discharging the individualized compound dose of medicines other than to be packaged in a dose compartment of the multi dose compartment package.
12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the repetition of steps are performed for evaluating an individualized compound dose of medicines packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package.
13. A control device for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, comprising a processor that is arranged for performing a repetition of the steps of:
- optically inspecting an individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines,
- verifying whether a record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and
- processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step,
wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
14. A control device according to claim 13, comprising a memory storing:
- the record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines, and
- registered dispense data associated with a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified in the record.
15. A packaging device for packaging dispensed medicines, comprising: - a multiple number of dispenser devices for dispensing
corresponding types of medicines,
- a conveyer unit for conveying a plurality of medicines dispensed from the dispenser devices,
- a receiving area for receiving the plurality of dispensed medicines from the conveyer unit, the received medicines forming an individualized compound dose of medicines, and
- a control device according to claim 13 or 14.
16. A packaging device according to claim 15, further comprising a detection system arranged for detecting a medicine travelling from a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to the medicine to be verified in the record.
17. A packaging device according to claim 16, wherein the conveyer unit includes individual conveyer sections extending from the respective dispenser devices in downstream directions, and wherein the detection system is arranged for detecting along which individual conveyer section the medicine is travelling.
18. A packaging device according to any of the preceding claims 15-
17, further comprising an apparatus for optically inspecting the
individualized compound dose of medicines.
19. A packaging device according to any of the preceding claims 15-
18, further comprising a discharge for discharging the received
individualized compound dose of medicines to be packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is positive, and for discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines other than to be packaged in a dose
compartment of the multi dose compartment package if the outcome of the verifying step is negative.
20. A computer program product for evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, the computer program product comprising computer readable code for causing a processor to perform a repetition of the steps of:
- optically inspecting an individualized compound dose of dispensed medicines,
- verifying whether a record for the composition of the
individualized compound dose of medicines matches with the optically inspected individualized compound dose of medicines, and
- processing the individualized compound dose of medicines based on the outcome of the verifying step,
wherein the verifying step includes checking a dispensing process of a dispenser device dispensing a type of medicine corresponding to a medicine to be verified and included in said record for the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines.
PCT/NL2017/050464 2016-07-11 2017-07-11 A method of evaluating individualized compounds of medicines, a control device, a packaging device and a computer program product Ceased WO2018012969A1 (en)

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