Installation for individually tailored filling of blister packs with medication according to predetermined prescription data

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation for the individually tailored filling of blister packs ( 25 ) with medication according to predetermined prescription data, the blister packs ( 25 ) having receiving compartments for respective medication administration units, said compartments being arranged in a matrix configuration in rows corresponding to a number of administration times during a day and columns corresponding to a number of days, for example weekdays. The installation comprises a plurality of medication filling stations ( 40 ), arranged one behind the other, for filling each blister pack ( 25 ) with the respective specified medication and a transport device ( 10 ) designed to transport the blister packs ( 25 ) individually one behind the other in a direction of travel alongside the medication filling stations ( 40 ). Each medication filling station ( 40 ) has a pre-batch cartridge ( 50 ) comprising multiple pre-batch compartments ( 51 ), said cartridge being movable between two positions and being designed to take up the medication in one or more of the pre-batch compartments ( 51 ) in a first position and in a second position to dispense the medication from the pre-batch compartments ( 51 ) into corresponding receiving compartments ( 26 ) of the blister pack ( 25 ). As a result of the use of the pre-batch cartridge, which can be moved between a take-up position and a dispensing position, for filling the blister packs, the time-critical process of filling the blister pack can be decoupled from the mechanically complex process of ejecting the medication units from the blister strip, thus increasing the efficiency and reliability of the installation.

1 . An apparatus for individually tailored filling of blister packs with medication according to predetermined prescription data, wherein the blister packs have receiving compartments for respective medication administration units, said compartments being arranged in a matrix configuration in rows corresponding to a number of intake times during a day and columns corresponding to a number of days, for example weekdays, comprising:
 a number of medication filling stations arranged one after the other for filling the blister packs with in each case a particular medication, and   a transport device constructed for transporting the blister packs individually one after the other in a direction of movement alongside the medication filling stations,   wherein each medication filling station has a premetering cartridge which can be moved between two positions, has a plurality of premetering compartments and is set up to receive the medication in one or a plurality of the premetering compartments in a first position and to dispense the medication from the premetering compartments into corresponding receiving compartments of the blister pack in a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the medication is fed into each medication filling station by means of a blister strip and each medication filling station has one or a plurality of ejector rams for ejecting the medication out of blister pockets of the blister strip into the premetering compartments of the premetering cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the blister strip can be moved only in one direction in a medication filling station. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the premetering cartridge has a base which can be displaced in the transverse direction in the second position thereof for dispensing the medication into the receiving compartments of the blister pack. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the premetering compartments of the premetering cartridge are constructed in a row such that, in the second position, they are in each case arranged above the receiving compartments of the blister pack which are arranged in a row corresponding to a number of (week)days. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each medication filling station has at least one sensor device for checking correct receipt of the medication in the premetering compartments of the premetering cartridge and/or correct release of the medication into the receiving compartments of the blister pack. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the premetering cartridge has slots arranged laterally in the region of the resting position of a medication in the premetering compartments and a first sensor means is constructed to detect visually through the slots a medication in the premetering compartments during a movement of the premetering cartridge from the first into the second position and vice versa. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the base of the premetering compartments of the premetering cartridge is transparent or light-reflecting and a second sensor means comprises a camera for detecting medication present on the base of the premetering compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the premetering cartridge has a replaceable inner lining made of plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport device is constructed as a magnetic track with a linear motor for driving the blister packs. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport device is constructed for transporting workpiece carriers, which are guided in a magnetic rail, for receiving the blister packs. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the transport device is constructed as a closed track on which the workpiece carriers are conveyed in a closed circuit, the blister packs being placed on the workpiece carriers before being filled and being removed again after the filling operation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a camera arranged above the transport device for visual checking of the correct filling of the blister packs according to the prescription data. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the premetering cartridge is freely accessible for manual feeding of a medication into said cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having a device for establishing and attaching a documentation carrier on the blister pack comprising information relating to the individual and/or information on the use of the medication packaged in the blister pack.