Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
1
TITLE
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID DOSING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.5 Field of-the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a liquid dosing system for the
delivery of
pharmaceutical liquid into dosage containers.
Discussion of the Background Art
In the pharmaceutical industry of liquid medication, liquid medicine is
initially
packaged in bulk storage containers for shipment to pharmacies or health care
settings. Individual dosing of the liquid medicine is often carried out in
health care
settings by qualified staff members. Typically, a bulk storage container, such
as a
bottle, is stored on a ward and the- staff member has to open the bottle' and
measure
the dose to. be administered into a calibrated cup. Unlike other packaging
industries,
such as the packaging of foods and beverages, the packaging of liquid medicine
into
single dosage units requires a great deal of accuracy and a high level of
sterility.
Such dosing liquids is a time-intensive and tedious task requiring multiple
steps and
a great deal of diligence on the part of the staff member charged with the
task.
Some existing automated packaging devices provide means for single unit dosage
packaging in the form of a dispenser for dispensing liquid medicine into
individual unit
dosage containers. Such packaging devices use various individual steps to fill
the
individual unit dosage containers, such as mini cups; then seal the individual
containers one by one; and then print information on the seal of each
individual
container. These packaging devices are inefficient as they require manual user
input
at almost every stage of the packaging process. In these existing types of
packaging
devices, the degree of sterility is lessened with each requirement for human
interaction. Furthermore, packaging devices which produce single unit dosage
cups
present problems for storage and transport of the final products.
The present invention reduces or ameliorates one or all of the above problems
of
conventional manual and automated packaging methods.
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
2
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosure of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, a liquid dosing system delivers
liquid
medicine from a bulk supply into single dosage liquid medicine containers. The
liquid
dosing system comprises one or more dispensing points for filling single
dosage
liquid medicine containers of an array of single dosage liquid medicine
containers
with liquid medicine from the bulk supply; a platform for supporting the array
of single
dosage liquid medicine containers; and a control device for controlling the
relative
position of the dispensing point and the platform.
The single dosage liquid medicine containers of an array can be removably
joined to
each other via frangible tabs, such that a detached single dosage container is
absent
of residual sharp edges. The containers are preferably sealed and may be
provided
with a removable tamper proof closure. The containers may be labelled with
printed
information relating the liquid medicine contained therein.
Embodiments of the present invention include a liquid medicine delivery system
comprising a racking or storage device for racking or storing the array of
single
dosage liquid medicine containers. Printed information remains to be visible
even
when the array of single dosage liquid medicine containers is placed in the
racking or
storage device.
Other embodiments of the preserit invention further include a user input
device for
controlling the delivery of the liquid medicine.
Further embodiments of the present invention include a reader adapted to
provide
feedback to the user. The reader may comprise of a digital or optical reader
and may
be configured to provide feedback to the user via the user input device.
BRIEF DETAILS OF THE DRAWINGS
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
3
In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into
practical
effect, reference, will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate
preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a liquid dosing system according to two
embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 2A provides an illustration of an uncovered array of single dosage liquid
medicine containers according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2B provides an illustration of 'a covered array of single dosage liquid
medicine containers according to the invention corresponding to Fig. 2A;
FIG. 2C provides an illustration of a covered single dosage liquid medicine
container according to the embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figs.
2A
and 213;
FIG. 2D provides an illustration of a single dosage liquid medicine container
with a partially peeled off cover according to the embodiment of the invention
corresponding to Figs. 2A to 2C;
FIG. 2E provides an illustration of an open single dosage liquid medicine
container according to the embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figs.
2A to
2D;
FIG.3A provides an illustration of an uncovered array of single dosage liquid
medicine containers according to one embodiment of the-invention;
FIG. 3B provides an illustration of a covered array of single dosage liquid,
medicine containers according to the invention corresponding to Fig. 3A;
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
4
FIG. 3C provides an illustration of a covered single dosage liquid medicine
container according to the embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figs.
3A
and 3B;
FIG. 3D provides an illustration of a single dosage liquid medicine container
with a partially peeled off cover according to the embodiment of the invention
corresponding to Figs. 3A to 3C;
FIG. 3E provides an illustration of an open single dosage liquid medicine
container according to the embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figs.
3A to
3D;
FIG.4A provides an illustration of an uncovered array of single dosage liquid
medicine containers according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4B provides an illustration of an open single dosage liquid medicine
container according to the embodiment of the invention corresponding to Fig.
4A;
FIG. 5A provides an illustration of an empty liquid medicine dosage container
storage tray according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5B provides an illustration of a racked liquid medicine dosage container
storage tray according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 provides an illustration of a dispensing hopper according to the.
invention corresponding to Fig. 1;
FIG. 7A provides an illustration of a plurality of bulk liquid medicine
storage
containers in a rotary support according'to the invention corresponding to Fig
1; and
FIG. 7B provides an illustration of a plurality of bulk liquid medicine
storage
containers in an in-line support according to the invention corresponding to
Fig 1.
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated with reference to
Fig. 1. In
both embodiments of the. invention, there is provided a system 100 for
delivering
5 liquid medicine 102 from a bulk supply 104 into an array 106 of single
dosage liquid
medicine containers.
The bulk supply 104 is shown to be in the form of one or more bulk storage
containers. However, in an alternative embodiment, the bulk supply 104 can be
in
the form of a pipe or a hose supplying liquid medication from a remote
location.
The first exemplary embodiment shows a moveable support 220 for holding a
number of bulk storage containers 104 and moving a selected container into a
desired position. In this first exemplary embodiment, the moveable support 220
is in
the form of a linear support mechanism, which, for example, can work on the
basis of
a conveyor system.
The second exemplary embodiment also shows a movable support 320 for holding a
number of bulk storage containers 104 and moving a selected. container into a
desired position. However, in this second exemplary embodiment, the moveable
support 320 is in the form of a rotary support, such as a carousel or a
cassette, for
example.
Each array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine containers may be an integral
one or
two-dimensional array. According to these exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, each array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine containers is
supported by
platform 108. Platform 108 is moveable over platform support 122 such that the
position of platform 108 can-be controlled relative to the position of
dispensing point
110. In an alternative embodiment, dispensing point 110 is moveable such that
its
position is controlled relative to platform 108. In yet another alternative
embodiment,
the position of both platform 108 and dispensing point 110 is controlled
relative to
one another. _ Dispensing, point 110 fills each array 106 of single dosage
liquid
medicine containers with liquid medicine 102 from bulk storage supply 104.
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
6
Each array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine containers is configured to be
stacked inside dispensing hopper 120. At the beginning of the filling, sealing
and
labelling process, dispensing hopper 120 dispenses one array 106 of single
dosage
liquid medicine containers onto carrier platform 108 for movement towards
dispensing point 110.
In one embodiment of the present invention, dispensing point 110 may be
configured
as a single nozzle adapted to discharge liquid medicine 102. In an alternative
embodiment of the present invention, dispensing point 110 may be configured as
an'
array of nozzles adapted to discharge the liquid medicine at a plurality of
points. The
array of nozzles may be configured as a one or two-dimensional array.
In yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, there may a
plurality
of separate dispensing points. In this exemplary embodiment, the system may be
configured to select from the plurality of dispensing points or use more than
one
dispensing point at the same time to fill an array of single dosage liquid
containers
with liquid medicine from a selected bulk storage supply. Such a dispensing
system
could include control over which of the plurality of dispensing points are
used for
different sized arrays of single dosage liquid medicine containers. For
example, an
array of 5 x 3 single dosage liquid medicine containers could be filled by
activating 3
dispensing points or 5 dispensing points depending on its orientation.
With reference to Fig. 1, according to one embodiment of the present
invention,
system 100 is provided with peristaltic pump 424 for supplying liquid medicine
102 to
dispensing point 110.
Also shown in Fig. 1, ' is an alternative embodiment where system 100 is
provided
with pinch tube valve 524 for supplying liquid medicine 102 to dispensing
point 110.
The system 100 of the present invention includes a sealing component 112 for
sealing an array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine containers and a
printing or
labelling component 114 for labelling the array 106 of single dosage liquid
medicine
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
7
containers with printed information relating to the liquid medicine contained
therein.
The information printed on the array 106 of removably joined single dosage
liquid
medicine containers may contain details relating to: content, dose volume,
dose
information, patient name, patient address, doctor, batch and expiry
information,
colour code, and/or identification code.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, printing may be done
prior to
adhesion of the seals to the array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine
containers.
In yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, labelling
component
114 may be an RFID writer. In this exemplary embodiment, labelling component
114
is configured to write data to an RFID tag either embedded or attached to each
array
106 of single dosage liquid medicine containers. Akin to the printed
information, the
written data may contain details relating to: content, dose volume, dose
information,
patient name, patient address, doctor, batch and expiry information, colour
code,
and/or identification code.
Also shown in Fig. 1, user input device 116 is used to control the delivery of
liquid
medicine into the array 106 of single dosage containers. The user input device
116
can be adapted to utilise input from external sources. According to the
embodiment
in Fig. 1, the user input device 116 is shown to be in the form of a computer.
The
user input device 116 can be used to control:
= , the position of dispensing point 110 or plurality of dispensing points;
= the activation of a selection of dispensing points in the case of a
plurality of
dispensing points;
= the dispensing of an array of single dose containers from the dispensing
hopper 120;
= the position of the carrier platform 108;
= the selection of a bulk storage container 104;
= the activation of peristaltic pump 424 or pinch tube valve 524;
= the sealing component 112;
0 the labelling component 114; or
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
8
= any other part of the process involved in dispensing liquid medicine 102
from a bulk supply 104 into an array 106 of single dosage containers.
User input device 116 not only controls all stages of system 100, but also
provides
feedback to the user on the status of system 100 during operation.
In one embodiment of the invention, where bulk storage containers 104 are
delivered
full of liquid medicine 102, barcode reader 124 is used to scan bulk storage
containers 104 to ensure that the correct drug (liquid medicine) and strength
is being
used. Scanning of bulk storage containers 104 can also be used to provide the
user
input device with batch and expiry data.
In an alternative -embodiment, where liquid medicine is delivered. in an
original
container (not shown) for filling of bulk storage containers 104 in system
100,
barcode reader 124 is used to scan the original container to ensure that the
correct
drug (liquid medicine) and strength is being used. Once the drug is verified,
the user
may key in batch and expiry data into user input device 116.
System 100 illustrated in these embodiments of the present invention also
includes
optical or digital reader 118 for checking the final product prior to dispatch
or storage.
Optical or digital reader 118 can be configured to check the printed
information or the
data on the RFID tag on each array 106 of single dosage liquid medicine
containers
and verify the accuracy and completeness of the filling, printing and sealing
process.
With reference to Fig. 2A, an integral array of single dosage medicine
containers 200
is shown in a planar formation. In this exemplary embodiment, the array of
single
dosage containers 200 is shown to comprise of fifteen' removably joined single
dosage medicine containers, whereby the array of single dosage containers
comprises a matrix of five single dosage medicine containers 202 in a first
dimension
and three single dosage medicine containers 204 in, a second dimension. In
this
exemplary embodiment, the array of single dosage containers 200 comprises
frame
206 which borders each of the single dosage containers 205. The array of
single
dosage containers 200 further comprises frangible bridging portions 208
removably
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
9
joining each single dosage container 205 to frame 206. The array of single
dosage
containers 200 also comprises tab portion 210 displaying information 212. In
Fig. 2A,
information 212 is shown as printed information. However, in an alternative
embodiment of the invention, information 212 may in be in the form of an RFID
tag,
or in the form of both printed information and RFID tag. The RFID tag can be
either
embedded or attached1o either tab portion 210 of the array 200; or cover 214
of the
array 200.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the array of single dosage
containers
200 has an outer frame bordering the outer circumference of the array.
Frangible bridging portions 208 allow for any of the single dosage containers
205 to
be removed, one at a time, from the array of single dosage containers 200
regardless
of its position relative to other single dosage containers. The array of
single dosage
containers 200 is configured such that removal of a single dosage container
205
leaves frangible bridging portion 208 attached to frame 206. As will be
described
with reference to Figs. 2C to 2E, this provides a discrete single dosage
container 205
that is free of residual edges.
In Fig. 2B there is shown an array of single dosage medicine containers 200
wherein
the containers are covered. Covers 214 are applied to the array of single
dosage
medicine containers 200 to provide a completely tamper proof enclosure to,
each
single dosage liquid medicine container 205 allowing the array of single
dosage liquid
medicine containers 200 to be stored or transported in any position and also
allowing
the user to carry each discrete container 205 in any position. In this
embodiment of
the present invention, information 212 and 216 is shown to be printed on both
the tab
portion 210 of the array of containers 200 and other surfaces of the covers
214 on
each container 205. However, as mentioned above with reference to Fig. 2A,
information 212 and.216 may alternatively be in the form of an RFID tag, or in
the
form of both printed information and an RFID tag. The RFID tag can be either
embedded within tab portion 210 and/or covers 214 or affixed on top of tab
portion
210 and/or covers 214. In one embodiment of the present invention, the covers
214
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
are applied to the array 200 of single dosage medicine containers by adhesive
sealing methods.
Figs. 2C to 2E illustrate a discrete single dosage liquid medicine container
205
5 having been removed from an array of single dosage containers 200 as shown
in
Figs. 2A and 2B. In this embodiment of the present invention, the discrete
container
205 includes a receptacle 218 formed of a base 220 and a conical wall 222. The
top
of the discrete container 205 includes a flange 224. An upper surface of the
flange
224 receives a cover 214 for securing the contents of the discrete container
205.
10 Outer margin 226 of cover 214 is designed to adhesively seal onto flange
224 of the
discrete container. 205.
Upon removal of a discrete single dosage liquid medicine container 205, the
discrete
containers are free of any residual sharp edges. Each discrete single dosage
liquid
medicine container 205 is broken away from a frangible bridging portion 208
such
that the frangible bridging portion 208 remains attached to the frame 206
rather than
the discrete container 205. This is especially advantageous when used by
elderly
patients with fragile skin.
The cover 214 acts to maintain the integrity of the liquid medication by
preventing
interaction with potential degradants, such as moisture, oxygen or dust.
Information
216, which may be printed or in the form of an RFID tag; or both, on the cover
214 of
each discrete container 205 relates to the liquid medicine contained within
each
discrete container 205, such as content, dose volume, dose information,
patient
name, patient address, doctor, batch and expiry information, colour code,
and/or
identification code.
Fig. 3A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention whereby
the
plurality of single dosage medicine containers are removably joined to each
other in
the form of bridging portions 304 provided on flange 318 rather than
perforations 206
as shown in Fig. 2A. Fig. 3A also illustrates the display of information 306
relating to
the liquid medication in each of the single dosage containers printed on the
tab
portion 302 of the array 300 of single dosage containers.
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
11
In Fig. 3B, the discrete single dosage liquid medicine container 310 is shown
to have
been removed from an array 300 corresponding to the embodiment described with
reference to Fig. 3A. In, this embodiment of the present invention, the
discrete
container 310 includes a receptacle 312 formed of a base 314 and a continuous
conical wall 3.16. The top of the discrete container 310 includes a flange
318. The
top surface of the flange 318 receives a cover (not shown) for securing the
contents
of the discrete container 310. As will be described with reference to
subsequent
drawings, an outer margin of the cover is designed to adhesively seal onto the
flange
318 of the discrete container 310. In this embodiment of the present
invention, the
flange 318 of the discrete container 310 includes bridging portions, 304 which
were
removably joined to bridging portions of at least two neighbouring single
dosage
liquid medicine containers in the array 300 as shown in Fig. 3A.' Bridging
portions
304 of the discrete container 310 shown here in Fig. 3A together with bridging
portions of at least two neighbouring containers (not shown in this Figure)
are
removably joined to each other. via a weakened or frangible joint as described
with
reference to Fig. 3A.
Figs. 3C to 3E illustrate a discrete single dosage liquid medicine container
310
having been removed from an array of single dosage containers 300 as shown in
Figs. 3A and 3B. In this embodiment of the present invention, the discrete
container
310 includes a receptacle 312 formed o( a base 314 and a conical wall 316. The
top
of the discrete container 310 includes a flange 318. An upper surface of the
flange
318 receives a cover 322 for securing the contents of the discrete container
310.
25' Outer margin 324 of cover 322 is designed to adhesively seal onto flange
318 of the
discrete container 310.
Fig. 3D shows a discrete single dosage liquid medicine container 310 with a
partially
peeled-off cover 322. Cover 322 is adhesively sealed to, flange 318 of the
discrete
container 310. A user can easily remove the cover 322 and consume the contents
residing in the receptacle 312 of the discrete container 310. A user can
consume
the contents with cover 322 only partially peeled-off flange 318 or with cover
322
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
12
completely removed from flange 318 as shown in Figs. 3C. Such discrete dosage
containers 310 may typically range in size from 5mL to 50mL.
As illustrated in Fig. 3E, cover 322 acts to maintain the integrity of the
liquid
medication by preventing interaction with potential degradants, such as
moisture,
oxygen or dust. Printed information 306 on the cover 322 of each discrete
container
310 relates to the liquid medicine contained within each discrete container
310, such
as content, dose volume, dose information, patient name, patient address,
doctor,
batch and expiry information, colour code, and/or identification code.
With reference to Fig. 4A, an alternative embodiment of an integral array 400
of
single dosage medicine containers is shown in a planar formation. In this
exemplary
embodiment, the array 400 of single dosage containers is shown to comprise of
fifteen removably joined single dosage medicine containers, whereby the array
400
comprises a matrix of five single dosage medicine containers 402 in a first
dimension
and three single dosage medicine containers 404 in a second dimension. Also
shown in Fig. 4A are frangible portions in the form of perforations 406
between each
single dosage medicine container and another. The perforations 406 allow for
each
single dosage medicine container to be removed, one at a time, from the array
400.
Furthermore, the perforations 406 allow for a selected number of single dosage
medicine containers to be removed from the array 400. For example, a patient
prescribed with three doses of medication per day may choose to remove three
single dosage medicine containers from the array 400 leaving the three removed
single dosage medicine containers attached to each other. Also shown in Fig.
4A is
a tab portion 408 of the array 400 of single dosage containers. Tab portion
408 is
used for the display of information relating to the liquid medicine contained
within the
containers. Such information includes, but is not limited to, content, dose
volume,
dose information, patient name, patient address, doctor, batch and expiry
information, colour code, and/or identification code, suitable for scanning.
Fig. 4B illustrates a discrete single dosage liquid medicine container 410
having been
removed from an array 400 of single dosage containers as shown in Fig. 4A. In
this
embodiment of the present invention, the discrete container 410 includes a
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
13
receptacle 412 formed of a base 414 and a continuous conical wall 416. The top
of
the discrete container 410 includes a flange 418. An upper surface of the
flange 418
receives a cover (not shown) for securing the contents of the discrete
container 410.
An outer margin of the cover is designed to adhesively seal onto the flange
418 of
the discrete container 410. In this embodiment of the present invention, the
flange
418 of the discrete container 410 includes flat edge portions 420 which were
removably joined to the edges of at least two neighbouring single dosage
liquid
medicine containers in the an array 400 as shown in Fig. 4A. The flat edge
portions
420 of the discrete container 410 shown here in Fig. 4B together with flat
edge
portions of at least two neighbouring containers (not shown in this Figure)
are
removable joined to each other via perforations 406 in the joints as shown in
Fig. 4A.
Fig. 5A shows a storage tray 500 according to one embodiment of the present
invention. The storage tray 500 is shown to comprise of a plurality of slots
502 with
each slot 502 configured to receive an array of single dosage containers (not
shown
in this Figure).
The storage tray 500 is designed to be placed in a transport mechanism such as
a
trolley or conveyer belt. In this exemplary embodiment, the storage tray 500
is
designed in the form of a rectangular box. However, the storage tray may be
designed in any other form depending on its application.
Fig. 5B'shows the storage tray 500 racked with a plurality, of arrays 300 of
single
dosage containers. Each array 300 slides into a slot 502 of the storage tray
500.
The storage tray 500 is designed such that information 324 and 306 printed on
each
of the single dosage containers and on the tab portion 302 of the array 300
remains
visible after placement of the arrays 300 into the storage tray 500 suitably
by a
transport mechanism- associated with support 122 (see Figure 1). This provides
a
user with the capabilities of identifying an array 300 of single dosage
containers and
its contents without removal of the array 300 from the storage tray 500. In
this
exemplary embodiment of the invention, information 324 and 306 is shown in the
form of printed -text. However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention,
CA 02780967 2012-05-15
WO 2011/060484 PCT/AU2010/001526
14
information 324 and 306 may be in the form of an RFID tag, or in the form of
both
printed information and RFID tag.
Fig. 6 illustrates a dispensing hopper 600 according to one embodiment of the
invention. Dispensing hopper 600 is designed to carry a plurality of arrays
602 of
single dosage containers as described with reference to other figures and is
configured to carry arrays of different sizes. Operation of dispensing hopper
600 is
controlled by user input device 116.
In use, dispensing hopper 600 dispenses one or more arrays 602 of single dose
containers onto movable carrier platform 108 as described with reference to
Fig. 1.
Carrier platform 108 then controls placement of each array of single dose
containers
and their passage through the filling, sealing, labelling, and checking
process.
.15 Fig. 7A provides a more detailed illustration of the moveable support 220
shown
briefly in Fig. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, moveable support 220 is shown
in
the form of a linear support holding four bulk storage containers 221.
Fig. 7B provides a more detailed illustration of the moveable support 320
shown
briefly in Fig. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, moveable support 320. is
shown in
the form of a rotary carousel or cassette holding three bulk storage
containers 321.
In use, the user input device 116 described with reference to Fig. 1 controls
either
moveable support 220 or 320 to move a selected bulk storage container into a
position for dispensing liquid medication. Once the selected bulk storage
container is
empty or no longer required, the user input device 116 controls the moveable
support
220 or 320 to 'shift in linear fashion or rotate respectively thus moving an
alternative
bulk storage container into a dispensing position.
It is to be understood that the above embodiments have been provided only by
way
of exemplification of this invention, and that further modifications and
improvements
thereto, as .would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant' art, are
deemed to
fall within the broad scope and ambit of the present invention described
herein.
