Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Reservoir container for a supply and dispensing station for
medication
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage container for
drugs and, in particular, a storage container for a storage and
dispensing station for drugs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern automated blistering machines, as they are, for
example, disclosed in the publication WO 2013/034504 Al,
include, depending on the level of configuration, several
hundred storage and dispensing stations. These storage and
dispensing stations store a plurality of drug portions of a
specific drug and, upon request, individual drug portions may be
dispensed. Using the automated blistering machines, the drug
portions stored in the storage and dispensing stations are
combined and blistered individually for each patient according
to the medically prescribed intake time points.
In order to compile the drug portions, respective storage
and dispensing stations are actuated for dispensing one or a
plurality of individual drug portions. When actuating a storage
and dispensing station, a singling device separates an
individual drug portion, which is transferred via a discharge
opening to a guiding device of the automatic blistering machine.
Using the guiding device, a dispensed drug portion is, if
applicable, by inter-positioning a collecting device, fed into a
packaging device, which blister-packs individual or a plurality
of drug portions according to medical specifications.
In order to individualize the drug portions, which are
stored in a storage container of a storage and dispensing
station, the singling device includes a rotor having a plurality
of ducts, which conventionally are situated at the outer
circumference of the rotor. The ducts are, with regard to their
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dimensions, adapted to the respective drug portions to be
separated in such a manner that the drug portions in a duct may
be situated only above one another, however, not next to one
another.
In order to dispense a drug portion from a duct, a duct is
moved above a discharge opening in the housing of the storage
container, and the drug portion disposed at the undermost
location in the duct slides or drops into the discharge opening.
In order to avoid that additional drug portions stored in or
above the duct are dispensed as well, a restraint portion of a
restraint means in the area above the discharge opening is
guided at least into or above the duct that is aligned with the
discharge opening. This restraint portion is, in relation to the
height of the duct, situated in or above said duct in such a
manner that only one drug portion may be disposed below the
restraint portion. In case the restraint portion is guided into
the duct for separating the undermost drug portion from drug
portions located above it, the projections separating the
individual ducts have a slot, which receives the restraint
portion when rotating the rotor. In case the restraint portion
is guided above the ducts, the restraint portion is regularly
only slightly guided above the upper end of the projections, so
to avoid that additional drug portions enter the duct when
dispensing the drug portion.
In known storage and dispensing stations, the restraint
portion of the restraint means is guided from the outside
through a housing slit into the storage container.
Disadvantageous in this embodiment is that dust generated when
operating a storage and dispensing station may exit through the
slit into the storage container and contaminate the automatic
blistering machine.
For this reason, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a storage container for a storage and dispensing
station, which minimizes the contamination of the automatic
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blistering machine, in which the storage and dispensing station
is used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, there is provided a storage container. The
storage container according to the present invention for a
storage and dispensing station for drugs includes a housing
enclosing a receiving space for drug portions, having a section
in the shape of a circular cylinder and a bottom area, wherein
this bottom area has a discharge opening for receiving
singularized drug portions.
In the circular-cylindrical section of the housing, a
singling device having at least one duct for receiving at least
one drug portion is provided. Depending on the precise design of
the singling device, the duct may receive only one drug portion
or a plurality of drug portions, wherein these drug portions
then may only be located above one another in the duct.
Furthermore, the storage container includes a restraint
means located completely inside the housing, which encloses the
receiving space, having a fastening portion and a restraint
portion, and the restraint portion is kept above the discharge
opening and prevents additional drug portions from entering a
duct aligned with the discharge opening, and wherein the
fastening portion works together with at least one fastening
socket inside the housing for fixing the restraint means in the
housing. The fastening socket may have any design, as long as it
is provided that the restraint means is fixedly kept in place.
The design of the fastening portion of the restraint means is
also arbitrary, as long as it is provided that the restraint
portion itself is fixed into place in the housing. For example,
the fastening portion and the restraint portion may relate to
the same component of the restraint means, but may, however,
have different functions.
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Owing to the design and the positioning of the restraint
means according to the present invention, the insertion of a
slot, through which the restraint portion is guided into the
housing, may be omitted. Dust generated when operating the
storage and dispensing station may not reach the outside;
rather, the dust, to a great extent, remains in the interior of
the storage and dispensing station and may there be collected
before a possible discharge to the outside.
As a function of the precise refinement of the at least one
duct for receiving drug portions, the restraint portion may be
situated above an upper opening of the duct aligned with the
receiving space. In this case, the duct is spatially designed in
such a manner that only one drug portion is able to be situated
in said duct. In case the duct is designed such that a plurality
of drug portions may be situated above one another, the
restraint portion of the restraint means is guided into the duct
aligned with the discharge opening in such a manner that the
drug portions situated in the duct are separated and, namely
that at least one drug portion is situated above the restraint
portion and exactly one drug portion below the restraint
portion. The drug portion situated below the restraint portion
is dispensed via the discharge opening. Additional drug portions
entering the duct is, however, prevented because only the bottom
drug portion is dispensed and the restraint means prevents that
additional drug portions slide through and thus prevents the
entry of additional drug portions. In such an embodiment, the
projections of the singling device defining the ducts have a
slot, in which the restraint portion is guided.
Independent of which type of duct is used, it is always
necessary to adapt the positioning of the restraint portion to
above or in the duct and the design of the duct itself to the
dimensions of the drug portions. In known storage and dispensing
stations, this is achieved in that singling devices adapted to
the drug portions (design of the duct) and housings (positioning
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of the slot or restraint portion) are used. This, however, has
again the disadvantage that a plurality of different restraint
means, singling devices and housings are to be provided. Owing
to the displacement of the restraint means completely into the
housing, the storage and dispensing station according to the
present invention advantageously enables that providing a
plurality of housings is no longer necessary.
In order to also avoid using different restraint means
adapted to the design of the at least one duct, a preferred
embodiment provides that the at least one fastening portion of
the restraint means works together with the fastening socket
within the housing in such a manner that the restraint portion
of the restraint means may be fixed in a height-adjustable
manner.
In order to fix the restraint means, the fastening section
of the restraint means works together with at least one
fastening socket within the housing. The fastening socket may be
situated at any point within the housing, and the location of
the fastening socket determines the precise refinement of the
restraint means and, in particular, of the fastening portion of
the restraint means. In a preferred embodiment, in which the
restraint means is embodied in a particularly simple manner, it
is provided that the at least one fastening socket is disposed
at the circular-cylindrical section of the housing. A singling
device is also disposed in the circular-cylindrical section of
the housing, in which ducts or above which ducts the restraint
portion of the fastening means are fixed, so that this spacial
arrangement of the fastening socket enables a constructionally
particularly simple restraint means.
As already illustrated above, it is provided that in a
preferred embodiment the restraint portion of the restraint
means may be fixed in a height-adjustable manner. In order to
achieve this object, it is, for example, conceivable to provide
different fastening settings for the fastening socket, by which
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settings the fastening portion of the restraint means may work
together with the fastening socket. The different fastening
settings may, for example, be realized by a catch means or the
like, which, depending on the precise design of the ducts,
positions the restraint portion.
A constructionally particularly simple, preferred embodiment
provides that the at least one fastening socket has a
cylindrical cavity and the fastening portion has at least a
cylindrical guiding portion, wherein the cylindrical guiding
portion is situated in the cylindrical cavity of the fastening
socket, wherein the cylindrical cavity is preferably of equal
depth or deeper than the length of the cylindrical guiding
portion. This preferred embodiment provides the encompassing
flexibility in regard to the height adjustability of the
restraint means.
In order to situate or fix the restraint means in a
particularly secure manner in the housing, a preferred
embodiment provides that the fastening portion has a two-part
design and each part works together with one fastening socket.
Within this context, it is particularly advantageous that both
parts of the fastening portion are situated at the outer end
portions of the restraint means. The, in the broader sense, u-
shaped resulting restraint means can be fixed in the housing in
a particularly stable and secure manner.
As already illustrated, the restraint portion of the
restraint means may cover a duct aligned with the discharge
opening from above or may grip into the duct, to avoid that more
than one drug portion is transferred into the discharge opening.
In the first alternative it is preferred that in the at least
one fastening socket a return means is situated, which pushes or
pulls the restraint means in the direction of the discharge
opening, i.e., pushing or pulling it from above onto the upper
surface of the projections situated between the ducts. In that a
pressure or tension is exerted upon the restraint means, a
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height-adjustable restraint means ensures that the restraint
portion does not "lift off" from the projections separating the
ducts, which would result in drug portions sliding through.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, two preferred embodiments of the storage
container for storage and dispensing stations according to the
present invention are described in reference to the appended
drawings, in which
Figures la-id show different views of a first embodiment of
the storage container;
Figures 2a-2c show different sectional views of the first
embodiment;
Figure 3 shows an additional sectional view of the first
embodiment;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view with the singling device
being removed;
Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the singling device in
combination with the restraint means;
Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the restraint means; and
Figures 7a and 7b show two sectional views of a second
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figures la and lb show two slanted views of a storage and
dispensing station 1 having a first embodiment of the storage
container according to the present invention. Figures lc and id
show top views onto the storage and dispensing station, wherein
Figure id omits a singling device 30, which is at least implied
in Figures la-lc. In order to provide a better overview, a cover
is omitted in all illustrations of the storage and dispensing
station. The cover is typically part of the housing. It is,
however, also conceivable that a storage container is used
without a cover.
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The storage container according to the first embodiment
includes a housing 10 enclosing a receiving space 2 for drug
portions, which in the bottom portion has a circular-cylindrical
portion 11. The storage container (and the housing 10) is sealed
on the bottom by a bottom area 20, which has a discharge opening
21 (see Figure 1d). The bottom area 20 has a further central
reception 22, which works together with a singling device 30. As
can be seen from Figure lc, the singling device 30 is situated
in the circular-cylindrical portion 11 of the housing 10 and
includes a plurality of ducts 31 for receiving at least one drug
portion. The ducts 31 are formed by a plurality of projections
32 forming, together with a central part 34, a rotor, which is
moved by an actuator (not shown) situated in a housing section
12. The projections 32 may be designed as one piece with the
central part 34; however, it is also conceivable that the
projections 32 are attached to the outer circumference of
central part 34 and, in this way, the ducts are built at the
outer circumference of central part 34. As can particularly be
seen from Figure lb, the circular-cylindrical section 11 of the
housing 10 includes two convexities 14a and 14b, in which
fastening sockets 15a, 15b are formed, which are described in
more detail in subsequent figures.
In the housing 12 situated below the storage container, the
engine for moving the singling device 30, and additional
components of the storage and dispensing station, for example, a
sensor for verifying the dispensing of a drug portion, are
situated. The storage container may be detached from the bottom
portion of the storage and dispensing station, for example, to
fill new drug portions into the storage container. In order to
be able to better handle the storage and dispensing station (or,
if applicable, only the storage container), a handle 13 is
provided in the front area.
As it can be seen from Figure id, the circular-cylindrical
section 11 of the housing 10 provides, in the area of
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convexities 14a, 14b, two fastening sockets 15a and 15b, which
extend perpendicularly cylindrically in the convexities. In the
shown embodiment, the surface shell of the cylindrical fastening
sockets is designed as a blind hole extending in a circular
manner, wherein an opening to the circular-cylindrical section
11 of the housing exists. A fastening portion 41 of a restraint
means, which existence may only be guessed from Figure lc, is
fixed in these fastening sockets 15a, 15b.
In alternative embodiments it may be provided that the
fastening sockets are situated in other areas of the housing,
for example, at the upper opening of the housing 10 or at a
cover (not shown in the figures illustrated).
As can already be seen from Figure lb, the restraint means
only implied in Figure lc does not protrude from the housing 10
with its circular-cylindrical section 11, i.e., is situated
entirely in housing 10, 11.
Figure 2a shows a partial lateral sectional view of the
storage and dispensing station having a storage container
according to the first embodiment, wherein the housing 10
including circular-cylindrical section 11 is partially cut away
and, this way, the view onto the central singling device 30 is
cleared.
The singling device 30 includes a central part 34, at which
outer circumference a plurality of projections 32 are provided,
through which positioning and design a plurality of ducts 31 are
defined at the circumference of the central part 34. As can
already be seen from Figure 2a, the projections 32 are each
divided at the same height by a slot 33, into which a restraint
portion 42 of the restraint means is guided. The fastening
socket 15a, into which a circular-cylindrical portion 43a of a
fastening portion component 41a of the restraint means is
guided, is formed in the convexity 14a at the circular-
cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10. The special design of
the fastening socket 15a and the circular-cylindrical guiding
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portion 43a of the fastening portion provides that, given that
the depth of the fastening socket and length of the circular-
cylindrical guiding portion are appropriately selected, the
restraint means is mounted in a height-adjustable manner, so
that restraint portion 42 of the restraint means may adapt to
the height of the slot 33 in the projections 32. This enables
that the same restraint means may be used for a plurality of
different singling devices. Owing to the special placement and
fixing of the restraint means, it is furthermore not necessary
to provide different storage containers for drugs having
different dimensions, as inserting a slit into the housing of
the storage container is no longer necessary (the location for
inserting a slit in known storage containers depends on the size
of the drug portions to be stored).
Figure 2b shows a further sectional view, in particular a
section through the circular-cylindrical section 11 of the
housing 10 and through the singling device situated in the
circular-cylindrical section 11. It can be well seen from this
illustration that the projections 32 are designed in such a
manner that they attach at the inner circumference of the
circular-cylindrical section 11, so that a defined duct 31 is
formed between two projections. Furthermore, two fastening
sockets 15a, 15b can be seen in this illustration, which are
situated in convexities 14a, 14b of the circular-cylindrical
section.
Figure 2c shows a further sectional view, wherein merely the
housing 10 and a part of the circular-cylindrical section 11 are
cut away, so that the precise embodiment of the singling device
and its positioning in the circular-cylindrical section 11 of
30 the housing can be seen. As already described in reference to
Figure 2a, the projections 32 each include a slot 33 for
receiving a restraint portion 42 of the restraint means 40. The
restraint means 40 is guided via two circular-cylindrically
designed guiding portions 43a, 43b, which are situated at two
Date Regue/Date Received 2022-09-27
fastening portion components 41a, 41b, into two fastening
sockets 15a, 15b in a height-adjustable manner.
Figure 3 shows a further sectional view of the storage and
dispensing station 1 having a first embodiment of the storage
container according to the present invention. In this
embodiment, the rear section of the housing 10 with circular-
cylindrical section 11 and the bottom housing portion 12, which
is not part of the storage container according to the present
invention, are cut away. In this illustration, the two circular-
cylindrical guiding portions 43a, 43b of the two fastening
portion components 41a, 41b of the guiding means are shown
again. In this figure it can be seen that below the discharge
opening 21, in which a drug portion is dispensed, a guide 50 is
situated, via which the dispensed drug portion is, for example,
fed into a guidance apparatus. Furthermore, it can be seen in
Figure 3 that the restraint portion 42 of the restraint means is
(temporarily) situated above duct 31' aligned with the discharge
opening 21.
Figure 4 shows a further sectional view, wherein in this
illustration, the singling device in the circular-cylindrical
section 11 of the housing 10 is omitted, to illustrate the
spatial arrangement of the restraint portion 42 of the restraint
means in the circular-cylindrical section. In particular, it can
be seen that the restraint portion 42 is positioned above the
discharge opening 21 and, in this way, always covers or
separates the ducts that are rotated above the discharge opening
21 when rotating the singling device. At the center of the
bottom area 20, a reception 22 for the singling device 30 is
illustrated, which is designed in such a manner that, via this
reception 22, the singling device 30 is rotatable by a motor
(not illustrated).
Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the interaction between
the restraint means 40 and the singling device 30. As can be
seen, the restraint portion 42 of the restraint means 40 is
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-09-27
guided in a slot 33 of the projections 32 and prevents at both
ducts, which are positioned between the two guiding portions
43a, 43b in the shown illustration, that a drug portion situated
in the receiving space above the singling device 30 enters into
the duct section below the restraint portion 42. In this way, a
sliding-through of additional drug portions is prevented.
Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the restraint means 40
having a central restraint portion 42, at which outer ends two
fastening portion components 41a, 41b are situated, which each,
in turn, have a circular-cylindrical guiding portion 43a, 43b,
which may be guided into respective fastening sockets 15a, 15b
at the circular-cylindrical section 11 of the housing.
Figures 7a and 7b show two slanted views of a storage and
dispensing station having a second embodiment of the storage
container according to the present invention. The second
embodiment corresponds substantially with the first embodiment
with the difference that the projections 32 do not have slots
for guiding the restraint portion 42 of the restraint means 40,
but that the restraint means 40 is guided on the upper side of
the projections 32 and, in this way, the entry of another drug
portion into at least duct 31', which is aligned with the
discharge opening 21, is prevented. The further details in
regard to the fixing or placement of the restraint means
correspond with those of the first embodiment, so that here a
repeated, detailed description may be omitted.
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