System for dispensing drugs

Claim 2

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one disposable drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit and having at one end thereof a defeatable seal, wherein said corresponding base-port subunit is configured to open the defeatable seal upon insertion of a sealed drug-containing tower unit into an associated cell.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of drawers, each drawer containing a plurality of cells, said drawers being movable into a position so that a desired drug-containing tower unit can dispense the solid dosage units contained therein into a vial.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein the base-port subunit comprises solid dosage unit counting means for counting the number of solid dosage units which enter the vial.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein the counting means comprises a transmitter for transmitting a beam of energy in the path of the solid dosage units after they leave the drug-containing tower unit and a receiver wherein the passage of the solid dosage unit through the beam causes an interruption of the beam indicative of the passage of the solid dosage unit into the vial.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3 wherein the counting means comprises a piezoelectric detection surface which when contacted by a solid dosage unit causes a pulse of electric current indicative of the passage of the solid dosage unit into the vial.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 further comprising capping means for placing a cap on the vial after the vial has received the preselected number of solid dosage units.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 further comprising indicia on each drug-containing tower unit, said indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, said system further including a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein the indicia comprises an array of projections extending downwardly from the drug-containing tower unit and wherein said sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements, each respective sensing element being engageable with a corresponding one of said projections upon registration of a drug-containing tower unit with a base-port subunit, wherein contact of the projections with the sensors encodes information relating to said at least one characteristic.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein the array of projections and sensing elements define a binary system for encoding said information.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 further including a microprocessor unit for receiving and processing said signals generated by the sensor, said microprocessor being further operative, in response to an input request command, to cause an individual base-port subunit to dispense a requested quantity and type of solid dosage unit into a vial.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 further including a vial transport assembly operative to retain a vial in place while solid dosage units are dispensed thereinto through a base-port subunit and to transport a filled vial to a discharge opening of the dispensing system, operation of said vial transport assembly being controlled by said microprocessor unit.

Claim 13

The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of NDC numbers, lot number, and expiration date.

Claim 15

The system of claim 13 wherein said vial transport assembly includes a robot arm operative to grip a vial to be charged with solid dosage units, to position the vial to be charged in registration with a base-port subunit to permit transfer of solid dosage units therefrom, and to release a charged vial for subsequent dispensing by the system.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein each base-port subunit comprises a dosage unit dispensing mechanism operative to transfer a selectable quantity of solid dosage units into a vial.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15 wherein the dosage unit dispensing mechanism comprises an iris aperture movable from a closed position to an open position for releasing each solid dosage unit said mechanism being configurable to define any of a plurality of aperture sizes selected in accordance with the physical dimensions of the solid dosage unit to be dispensed.

Claim 18

The system of claim 16 wherein the dosage unit dispensing mechanism comprises a lever operatively connected to the base-port subunit for limiting the size of the opening in the iris aperture and a drive gear assembly for moving the lever.

Claim 19

The system of claim 17 further including a hand turnable crank, a segmented arm having a terminal segment, and an indentation within the base-port subunit for receiving the terminal segment, whereby adjustments in the size of the iris aperture are effected in response to placement of the terminal segment in the indentation.

Claim 20

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one disposable drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit and having at one end thereof a defeatable seal, wherein said corresponding base-port subunit is configured to open the defeatable seal upon insertion of a sealed drug-containing tower unit into an associated cell, said at least one tower unit further including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 21

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one disposable drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit and having at one end thereof a defeatable seal, wherein said corresponding base-port subunit is configured to open the defeatable seal upon insertion of a sealed drug-containing tower unit into an associated cell, said at least one tower unit further including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 22

The system of claim 19, further including a microprocessor unit for receiving and processing said signals generated by the sensor, said microprocessor being further operative, in response to an input request command, to cause an individual base-port subunit to dispense a requested quantity and type of solid dosage unit into a vial.

Claim 23

The system of claim 20, further including a vial transporter operative to transport the vial from a charging position in registration with said base-port subunit to a discharge opening of said housing, operation of said vial transporter being controlled by said microprocessor unit.

Claim 24

A disposable drug-containing tower unit for use in a prescription dosage dispensing system, comprising an elongated canister containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said elongated canister being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit of said dispensing system and having at one end thereof a defeatable seal and including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, whereby a sensor of the dispensing system may recognize said indicia and whereby a corresponding base-port subunit of the dispensing system may be configured to open the defeatable seal upon insertion of the canister into a cell thereof.

Claim 25

A disposable drug-containing tower unit for use in a prescription dosage dispensing system, comprising an elongated canister containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said elongated canister being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit of said dispensing system and having at one end thereof a defeatable seal and including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, whereby a sensor of the dispensing system may recognize said indicia and whereby a corresponding base-port subunit of the dispensing system may be configured to open the defeatable seal upon insertion of the canister into a cell thereof.

Claim 26

The disposable drug-containing tower unit of claim 22 wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of projections engageable with corresponding sensing elements of a base-port subunit.

Claim 27

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one disposable drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit, wherein said corresponding base-port subunit is operative to open said at least one sealed drug-containing tower unit, said at least one tower unit further including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 28

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one disposable drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit, wherein said corresponding base-port subunit is operative to open said at least one sealed drug-containing tower unit, said at least one tower unit further including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of the solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 29

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit and including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 30

A prescription dosage unit dispensing system comprising: (a) a housing comprising a plurality of cells, each cell being dimensioned and arranged to receive a base-port subunit; (b) at least one base-port subunit positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality cells, said base-port subunit being operable to dispense a preselected number of solid dosage units into a vial; and (c) at least one drug-containing tower unit containing, in sealed condition, a single type of solid dosage unit, said at least one tower unit being dimensioned and arranged for releasable engagement with a corresponding base-port subunit and including indicia corresponding to at least one characteristic of solid dosage units contained therein, and wherein said system further includes a sensor operative to recognize said indicia and to generate signals representative of said at least one characteristic.

Claim 31

The system of claim 25 further including a microprocessor unit for receiving and processing said signals generated by the sensor, said microprocessor being further operative, in response to an input request command, to cause an individual base-port subunit to dispense a requested quantity and type of solid dosage unit into a vial.

Claim 32

The system of claim 26, further including a vial transporter operative to transport the vial from a charging position in registration with said base-port subunit to a discharge opening of said housing, operation of said vial transporter being controlled by said microprocessor unit.