Method and device for automated evacuation of pharmaceutical tubes
US10450108B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B57/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In compounding pharmaceuticals at the outset, the medications are typically arrive in their mass produced form (pills, creams, syrups, etc.) and are individually packaged. Some packaging forms, particularly tubes, take an excessive amount of time to empty for the medication to be used in later compound medications. Presently in this industry, human workers will squeeze the medication out of each individual tube into large bucket containers for storage until the medication is ready for mixing. The disclosed invention provides a novel apparatus and method for emptying multiple tubes at a time with limited human interaction. The apparatus uses a roller and cap-pressing method that can empty several tubes at one time, significantly increasing efficiency. The apparatus is then connected with a novel software package which controls the operation of the device and can provide a counting mechanism for contract monitoring and predicting the lifespan of the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.