Verification system for prescription packaging and method

Abstract

A system for verifying medication doses m a filled medication package comprises an imaging unit to produce at least one image of a filled medication package and a verification unit for receiving the image of the filled medication package. The verification unit comprises a dose locator to determine from the image a location of any dose m the filled medication package, and associate a time period to the location. It also comprises a dose verifier to verify an identity of any dose from the visual characteristics of the image as a function of dose reference profiles. The verification unit compares an identity and time period of the doses of the filled medication package to a prescription and has an interface for producing verification output based on the comparison of the verification unit. A method for verifying medication doses m a filled medication package is also provided.

1 . A system for verifying medication doses in a filled medication package, comprising an imaging unit to produce at least one image of a filled medication package;
 a verification unit for receiving the image of the filled medication package, and comprising:
 a dose locator to determine from the image a location of any dose in the filled medication package, and associate a time period to the location; 
 a dose verifier to verify an identity of any dose from the visual characteristics of the image as a function of dose reference profiles, whereby the verification unit compares an identity and time period of the doses of the filled medication package to a prescription; and 
 an interface for producing verification output based on the comparison of the verification unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a visual characteristics database providing the dose reference profiles to the dose verifier. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dose reference profiles comprise visual characteristics in the form of at least one of an outline, a geometry, pattern, color data, marking, code pertaining to a specific dose. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the dose reference profiles further comprise data pertaining to at least one of a name, a reference number, a posology of the specific dose. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the verification unit comprises a scan reader for at least one of providing dose location data to the dose locator, and for identifying a dose. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a patient prescription database for providing prescription profiles, and further wherein the dose verifier compares the filled medication package to a prescription profile for an identified patient. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the verification unit obtains the dose reference profile related to the prescription, and further wherein the dose verifier verifies the identity of any dose by comparing the dose to the obtained dose reference profile. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image database for storing the image for the prescription. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit comprises actuators to displace a camera to produce multiple images of the filled medication package. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the imaging unit provides coordinates of the camera for each of the multiple images, and wherein the dose locator determines from the coordinates the intake period for doses in the images. 
     
     
         11 . A method for verifying medication doses in a filled medication package as a function of a prescription, comprising:
 obtaining at least one image of the filled medication package;   determining an intake period of at least one dose from the at least one image;   identifying the at least one dose using visual characteristics of the dose from the image in comparison with dose reference profiles;   comparing the identity and the intake period of the at least one dose with a prescription; and   outputting data related to the comparing.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein obtaining at least one image comprises obtaining at least two images and creating at least one of a three-dimensional image and a mosaic for subsequent steps. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining the intake period comprises identifying a compartment of the dose in the filled medication package and associating a day and hour value to the compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining the intake period comprises reading location data related to a compartment of the dose in the filled medication package. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising obtaining a patient posologic profile related to the prescription, and wherein comparing comprises comparing the identity and the intake period of the at least one dose with the patient posologic profile. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising obtaining dose reference profiles for medication indicated in the patient posologic profile, and wherein identifying the at least one dose from the image comprises comparing the visual characteristics of the dose with data of the obtained dose reference profiles. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising storing the at least one image with the prescription. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein outputting data comprises indicating to an operator an error requiring additional verification. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein obtaining at least one image of the filled medication package comprises obtaining coordinates of a camera producing the image, and wherein determining an intake period comprises determining the intake period using the coordinates.