Patent · US Active

Automated drug discrimination during dispensing

US7930064B2 · kind B2 · utility

56Cited by
30References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 2005
Grant dateApr 19, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F17/0092
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The automated drug discrimination system inspects the drug being dispensed during the dispensing process so that the pharmacist can be certain the correct formulation, dosage and quality of pharmaceuticals were dispensed so the pharmacist does not need to spend as much time examining the dispensed drug. The pills are dispensed through a dispensing area using a dispensing apparatus and are collected in a collection area. At least two sensors take a plurality of measurements of an aggregate of the pills during the dispensing process or of each pill as it moves through the dispensing area. A discrimination system compares the measurements taken to verify that the pills dispensed are the type of pharmaceuticals intended to be dispensed as identified in the individual prescription for at least one of formulation and dosage of the pill.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.