U.S. patent application number 13/830805 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for pill counting and control system for a pill transport apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to PCAS Patient Care Automation Services Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Derek Bessette, Richard Panetta. Invention is credited to Derek Bessette, Richard Panetta.
Application Number | 20130204432 13/830805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44647855 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130204432 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Panetta; Richard ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
PILL COUNTING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PILL TRANSPORT APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
dispensing varying quantities of pills quickly, conveniently,
securely, accurately operable to incorporate one or more sensors
and at least two data sets for the purpose of monitoring the
activity of transferring pills from a pill singulation to a bottle.
For example, a counting means may be operable, in real-time or
near-real time, to count the pills transferred to a bottle. A
sensor array data-acquisition means may be utilized to facilitate
the collection and monitoring of data relating to transfer of pills
to a bottle. The counting means and sensor array data-acquisition
means may be applied in a cooperative manner so as to facilitate
examinations for the purpose of identifying pill events, such as
overlapping pill dispensing, that have the potential to invalidate
the counting means results.
Inventors: |
Panetta; Richard; (Milton,
CA) ; Bessette; Derek; (Milton, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panetta; Richard
Bessette; Derek |
Milton
Milton |
|
CA
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
PCAS Patient Care Automation
Services Inc.
Oakville
CA
|
Family ID: |
44647855 |
Appl. No.: |
13/830805 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12728204 |
Mar 20, 2010 |
|
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13830805 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 57/20 20130101;
G06M 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/231 |
International
Class: |
B65B 57/20 20060101
B65B057/20 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving input of a quantity of a pill;
determining, using a control system, logic requirements for
dispensing the quantity of the pills; delivering the pills to a
pill singulator, comprising of: a tray for supporting the pills; a
drive means that is operable to move the pills in a stream that is
of one said pill in width; and a guide to guide to establish
spacing between the driven pills and to guide the driven pills into
a container; counting the number of the pills being driven into the
container by: gathering sensor data from: an light emitter disposed
adjacent to, and emitting light over, the opening of the container;
and a light receiver disposed adjacent to the opening of the
container opposite to, and receiving light emitted by, the light
emitter, wherein the delivery of each said pill through the opening
of the container results in a state-date event each of which is
included a first portion of the sensor data and corresponds to
light emitted by the light emitter: towards the pill being
delivered through the opening of the container; and received by the
receiver sensor array; a video capturer operable to capture video
frames of the delivery of the number of pills being driven into the
container, wherein the captured video frames are included a second
portion of the sensor data; and a weight scale operable to obtain
the weight of the container before and after the pills are driven
into the container, wherein the before and after weights of the
container are included a third portion of the sensor data; and
analyzing such sensor data so as to establish: a primary pill count
derived from the first, second and third portions of the sensor
data; and a secondary validated pill count derived from: the
primary pill count; and reference data related to a prior valid
count of similar said pills; and authorizing the dispensing of the
pills if the analysis of the sensor data generates a successful
comparison result between: the input quantity of the pills; the
primary pill count; and the secondary validated pill count.
2. The method as defined in 1, wherein the counting of the number
of the pills being driven into the container includes incrementing
a series of sensor transitions acquired from at least one of the
light receiver, the video capturer and the weight scale.
3. The method as defined in 1, wherein the series of sensor
transitions define the primary pill count.
4. The method as defined in 3, further comprising: relating the
primary pill count to a timeline for a pill dispense, and
generating time-gap data for the pill dispense based on the
time-gap between any two consecutive said pills being driven to the
opening of the container.
5. The method as defined in 4, further comprising feeding back the
time-gap data to the control system in at least one of real time
and near real time to enable the control of the operation of the
pill singulator to reduce at least one of pill counting errors and
other pill driving operational errors.
6. The method as defined in 5, further comprising: operating a
secondary pill counter to capture secondary sensor data in counting
the pills; and validating the primary pill count by the captured
secondary sensor data.
7. The method as defined in 6, further comprising analyzing the
captured secondary sensor data based on a statistical analysis
thereof.
8. The method as defined in 7, further comprising accessing a
logical function of a decision tree, for directing the application
of the statistical analysis to at least one of the primary pill
count and the secondary sensor data.
9. The method as defined in 8, further comprising the step of
feeding the results of the statistical analysis to the control
system.
10. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising software
executable by hardware to perform a plurality of steps, wherein the
steps comprise: receiving input of a quantity of an item;
determining, using a control system, logic requirements for
dispensing the quantity of the items; receiving a count of the
number of the items being driven into the container by: gathering
sensor data from: an light emitter disposed adjacent to, and
emitting light over, the opening of the container; and a light
receiver disposed adjacent to the opening of the container opposite
to, and receiving light emitted by, the light emitter, wherein the
delivery of each said item through the opening of the container
results in a state-date event each of which is included a first
portion of the sensor data and corresponds to light emitted by the
light emitter: towards the item being delivered through the opening
of the container; and received by the receiver sensor array; a
video capturer operable to capture video frames of the delivery of
the number of items being driven into the container, wherein the
captured video frames are included a second portion of the sensor
data; and a weight scale operable to obtain the weight of the
container before and after the items are driven into the container,
wherein the before and after weights of the container are included
a third portion of the sensor data; and analyzing such sensor data
so as to establish: a primary item count derived from the first,
second and third portions of the sensor data; and a secondary
validated item count derived from: the primary item count; and
reference data related to a prior valid count of similar said
items; and outputting an authorization for the dispensing of the
items if the analysis of the sensor data generates a successful
comparison result between: the input quantity of the items; the
primary item count; and the secondary validated item count.
11. A system comprising: a pill singulator, operable to transfer
pills to a pill container, comprising: a tray for supporting the
pills; a drive means that is operable to move the pills in a stream
that is of one pill in width; and a guide to: guide the driven
pills towards a pill receiving station; and establish spacing
between the driven pills; and-- a control system, linked to the
pill singulator, operable to: control the driving of pills by the
pill singulator, including controlling the starting and stopping of
the pill singulator; control the speed of the driving of pills by
the pill singulator; and determine logic requirements for the
dispensing of an input quantity of the pills-- and a counting
system, linked to the control system, operable to counting the
number of pills being driven into the container by: gathering
sensor data from: an light emitter disposed adjacent to, and
emitting light over, the opening of the container; and a light
receiver disposed adjacent to the opening of the container opposite
to, and receiving light emitted by, the light emitter, wherein the
delivery of each said pill through the opening of the container
results in a state-date event each of which is included a first
portion of the sensor data and corresponds to light emitted by the
light emitter: towards the pill being delivered through the opening
of the container; and received by the receiver sensor array; a
video capturer operable to capture video frames of the delivery of
the number of pills being driven into the container, wherein the
captured video frames are included a second portion of the sensor
data; and a weight scale operable to obtain the weight of the
container before and after the pills are driven into the container,
wherein the before and after weights of the container are included
a third portion of the sensor data; and analyzing such sensor data
so as to establish: a primary pill count derived from the first,
second and third portions of the sensor data; and a secondary
validated pill count derived from: the primary pill count; and
reference data related to a prior valid count of similar said
pills; wherein the control system authorizes the dispensing of the
pills if the analysis of the sensor data generates a successful
comparison result between: the input quantity of the pills; the
primary pill count; and the secondary validated pill count.
12. The system as defined in 11, wherein the counting system is
further operable to generate the primary pill count by incrementing
a series of sensor transitions acquired from at least one of the
light receiver, the video capturer and the weight scale.
13. The system as defined in 12, wherein the sensor transitions
define the primary pill count.
14. The system as defined in 13, wherein the counting system is
further operable to: relate the primary pill count to a timeline
for a pill dispense, and generate time-gap data for the pill
dispense based on the time-gap between any two consecutive said
pills being driven to the opening of the container.
15. The system as defined in 14, wherein the counting system is
further operable to feed back the time-gap data to the control
system in at least one of real time and near real time to enable
the control of the operation of the pill singulator to reduce at
least one of pill counting errors and other pill driving
operational errors.
16. The system as defined in 11, wherein the counting system is
further operable to validate the primary pill count by operation of
a secondary pill counter.
17. The system as defined in 16, wherein the counting system is
further operable to validate the primary pill count using captured
secondary sensor data from the secondary pill counter.
18. The system as defined in 17, wherein the counting system is
further operable to analyze the secondary sensor data based on a
statistical analysis thereof.
19. The system as defined in 18, wherein the counting system is
further operable to: apply one or more of a plurality of logical
functions that embody or form part of a decision tree, for
directing the application of the statistical analysis to the
particular primary pill count and secondary sensor data; and feed
the results of the statistical analysis to the control system.
20. A system comprising: means for receiving input of a quantity of
an item; means for determining, using a control system, logic
requirements for dispensing the quantity of the items; means for
receiving a count of the number of the items being driven into the
container by: gathering sensor data from: an light emitter disposed
adjacent to, and emitting light over, the opening of the container;
and a light receiver disposed adjacent to the opening of the
container opposite to, and receiving light emitted by, the light
emitter, wherein the delivery of each said item through the opening
of the container results in a state-date event each of which is
included a first portion of the sensor data and corresponds to
light emitted by the light emitter: towards the item being
delivered through the opening of the container; and received by the
receiver sensor array; a video capturer operable to capture video
frames of the delivery of the number of items being driven into the
container, wherein the captured video frames are included a second
portion of the sensor data; and a weight scale operable to obtain
the weight of the container before and after the items are driven
into the container, wherein the before and after weights of the
container are included a third portion of the sensor data; and
analyzing such sensor data so as to establish: a primary item count
derived from the first, second and third portions of the sensor
data; and a secondary validated item count derived from: the
primary item count; and reference data related to a prior valid
count of similar said items; and means for outputting an
authorization for the dispensing of the items if the analysis of
the sensor data generates a successful comparison result between:
the input quantity of the items; the primary item count; and the
secondary validated item count.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of,
U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/728,204, titled "PILL
COUNTING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PILL TRANSPORT APPARATUS," filed
on Mar. 20, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
counting items moving as a closely arranged sequence thereof. The
invention has a particular application for counting pills being
dispensed at a medicament dispensary kiosk.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In this specification, the term "medicament" encompasses
drugs and any and all other materials dispensed subject to
presentation of a prescription, and the term "pill" encompasses
pills, capsules, lozenges and like discrete items intended for
ingestion.
[0004] The traditional means of dispensing prescribed medicaments
involves a doctor meeting with a patient and prescribing a
medicament based on a particular diagnosis, and then hand writing
and signing a prescription of the patient to carry to a pharmacist
at a pharmacy location for fulfillment. In recent years, two
significant advances have occurred in the field of medicament
dispensing. The first is the advent of electronic prescription
capturing methods, systems and apparatus, which improve the overall
accuracy and patient record-keeping associated with prescribing
drugs. The second is the advent of automated apparatus, typically
configured as kiosks, from which medicaments can be automatically
dispensed, the kiosks being located for convenient patient access,
such as at a doctor's premises, a hospital or mall, and being
networked with a system server for inventory control and
management. In this regard, reference may be made to applicant's
co-pending PCT application serial no. PCT/CA2007/001220 related to
a method, system and apparatus for dispensing drugs. More
specifically, the PCT application describes a networked system
having a server, a database of patient information linked to the
server, a first client device having input means linked to the
server and operable to generate a script for a medicament
prescribed to a user, and a second client device comprising an
automated apparatus for dispensing medicaments (referred to in said
PCT application as a robotic prescription dispensary) operable to
recognize a human and/or machine readable description in the
script, and to provide validating cross-referencing between the
description and patient information as a prelude to dispensing a
drug to the user on the basis of the input script. A doctor in a
clinic can be associated with a third client device having input
means linked to the server to input appropriate prescription
information, or accept certain prescription information from the
database as being applicable in the particular case for a
particular patient. Further, the doctor's client device can be
operable to display patient information, e.g., drug history,
insurance coverage, etc., and a printer module can print the script
as a paper print-out.
[0005] The server and database enable storing, compiling and
retrieval of patient data including name, address, and diagnostic
and drug history. Access to the database can be provided to both
the doctor and the automated apparatus for dispensing medicaments
via the server, via a secure connection, or via a link between the
system and a clinic's existing clinic management system or patient
database.
[0006] The system described in PCT/CA2007/001220 has a user
interface for receiving input data from the user and for guiding
the user through a medicament dispensing procedure. The system also
has a teleconferencing or video-conferencing means enabling
communication between the user and a human validation agent, such
as a licensed pharmacist, who may be connected to the system from a
remote location. The user interface also includes a scanning means
for capturing an image of the script for validation by the
validation agent.
[0007] An authentication means for confirming the identity of the
user may, for example, prompt the user for a personal
identification number, to provide biometric identifying data, or to
provide answers to questions that will identify the user when
cross-referenced with patient information stored on the networked
database. Once the user is recognized, the dispensary apparatus
prompts the user for, a script and the apparatus processes the
script either by the above-mentioned human validation agent or by
processing the machine readable description, which may be a bar
code. This information can be verified with the server and the
database. The apparatus may also interface with the server for the
adjudication of insurance claims and for determining amounts to be
paid by patients. The patient either accepts or rejects the
transaction. If the transaction is accepted, the apparatus
interfaces with the server in effecting a payment transaction, for
example, by prompting the patient for credit card information.
Prescription labels and receipts are printed. The apparatus
confirms that the drug is correct and delivers it to a dispensing
area for retrieval by the user while retaining the script in a lock
box, and verifying that the purchased drug product has been
retrieved. Further, the apparatus may print and/or provide to the
user educational materials relevant to the medicaments that have
been dispensed. The medicament dispensary kiosk may be located in a
doctor's office or clinic. The interaction between a user and the
user interface coupled with access to the various networked
functionalities means that a patient can obtain prescribed
medicaments without having to attend a pharmacy or drug store.
[0008] In a further copending patent application PCT/CA2009/001186
('186), a particular medicament dispensary apparatus for delivering
medicaments to users is disclosed, the apparatus having a drug
vault with a pre-packaged product storage container for containing
inventory pre-packaged medicament product and a bulk product
storage container for containing inventory medicament in bulk form,
including to maximize the medicaments that can be stored within the
space made available in the kiosk.
[0009] The apparatus disclosed in '186 has a control system
operable to dispense bulk form inventory medicament from the bulk
product storage container, to package the medicament as a suitable
package, and to pick and deliver the package to a delivery zone of
the kiosk. One form of bulk products is pills. In a medicament
dispensary kiosk of the type contemplated, an efficient method and
apparatus for dispensing pills is required. In order to reduce wait
times for dispense of medicaments, and manage operation of the
medicament dispensary kiosk efficiently, a relatively short
medicament dispense cycle is required, while ensuring that pill
counts are accurate, including to meet regulatory requirements.
[0010] It is noted that some government regulations require that
certain classes of medicaments be double-counted.
[0011] Whether for a medicament dispensary kiosk or for other
application where pill counting is required, such as packaging of
medicaments in containers whether by a drug manufacturer,
distributor, or pharmacy, there is a need for a pill counting
apparatus, and control system for a pill transport apparatus linked
to the pill counting apparatus, that provides efficient and
accurate pill counting in batches of medicaments of different
sizes, and also for medicaments that vary in their size and
shape.
SUMMARY
[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a method for counting items moving as a closely arranged series
thereof, the method comprising directing the items of the closely
arranged series past at least one sensor to generate a sequence of
energy pulses corresponding to the passage of successive ones of
the items past the at least one sensor, analyzing the sequence of
pulses to generate a first count, deriving pulse width data from
the sequence of pulses, comparing the pulse width data against
reference data related to prior valid counts of other items to
derive a second count, and determining a valid count exists if the
first count matches the second count.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for
the delivery of individually prescribed amounts of one or more pill
medicaments from a pill dispenser is provided comprising of the
steps of: (a) receiving input by the pill dispenser regarding
desired pill types and quantities; (b) allowing a control system to
determine logic requirements for the dispensing of pills; (c)
delivering of pills to a pill singulator, comprising of: (i) a tray
for supporting pills; (ii) a drive means that is operable to move
the pills in a stream that is of one pill in width; and (iii) a
guide to guide to establish spacing between the driven pills and to
guide the driven pills into a container; (d) counting the number of
pills being driven into the container by gathering sensor data from
at least one sensor disposed adjacent to the opening of the
container, and analyzing such sensor data so as to establish a
primary pill count and a secondary validated pill count derived
from the pill count; and (d) authorizing dispensing of the one or
more pills to the user if the analysis of the sensor data generates
a successful comparison result between the desired pill quantity
and the primary pill count and the secondary validated pill
count.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a system for counting items, the system comprising a drive
to move the items as a closely arranged series, at least one sensor
to detect passage of the items past the at least one sensor and for
generating a sequence of energy pulses corresponding to the passage
of successive ones of the items past the at least one sensor, an
analysis module to analyze the sequence of pulses to generate a
first count, to derive pulse width data from the sequence of
pulses, to compare the pulse width data against reference data
related to prior valid counts of other items to derive a second
count, and to determine a valid count exists if the first count
matches the second count.
[0015] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a system
for the delivery of individually prescribed amounts of one or more
pill medicaments from a pill dispenser is provided, comprising: (a)
a pill singulator, comprising of: (i) a tray for supporting pills;
(ii) a drive means that is operable to move the pills in a stream
that is of one pill in width; and (iii) a guide to guide the driven
pills towards a pill receiving station and to establish spacing
between the driven pills; and being operable to transfer the pills
to a pill container; (b) a control system linked to the pill
singulator for controlling the driving of pills by the pill
singulator, including controlling the starting and stopping of the
pill singulator, and the speed of the driving of pills by the pill
singulator, and for determining the logic requirements for the
dispensing of pills, including based on desired pill types and
quantities; and (c) a counting system linked to the control system,
for counting the number of pills being driven into the container by
gathering sensor data from at least one sensor disposed adjacent to
the opening of the container, and analyzing such sensor data so as
to establish a primary pill count and a secondary validated pill
count derived from the primary pill count; wherein the control
system authorizes the dispensing of the one or more pills to the
user if the analysis of the sensor data generates a successful
comparison result between the desired pill quantity and the primary
pill count and the secondary validated pill count.
[0016] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will be better understood and objects of the
invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes
reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a pill dispensing module
according to one embodiment of the invention, and illustrating a
representative installation of the sensor array;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a time-gap distribution for a
pill dispense or counting session.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating pulse width data in
accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating data weighting reliability
determined in accordance with the present invention, in a
representative calculation thereof.
[0023] In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are
illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood
that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of
illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present invention provides a method, system and
apparatus for dispensing varying predetermined quantities of pills,
in accordance with a medicament prescription, quickly,
conveniently, securely, and accurately, including in a medicament
dispensary kiosk.
[0025] In order to dispense varying predetermined quantities it is
important to have a system, apparatus and/or method for counting
pills accurately.
[0026] The present invention provides a control system, apparatus,
and method for controlling the delivery of pills from a pill store
to one or more containers. The control system is linked to a system
or apparatus that delivers pills from a pill store to one or more
containers, for controlling that system or apparatus in a manner
described below.
[0027] Another aspect of the invention is a counting system,
apparatus, and method that is suitable for counting pills but also
for counting other objects delivered in sequence along a transport
path where providing an accurate count is advantageous. The
counting system and apparatus can be part of the control system and
apparatus, or these are linked to one another. One aspect of the
invention, is that based on operation of the counting system, means
is provided for controlling a pill transport system or apparatus to
reduce counting error or other operational aspects of the
system.
[0028] The control system and apparatus and the counting system and
apparatus may be part of a medicament dispensary kiosk or a pill
counter used by any entity that packages medicaments, whether a
drug manufacturer, distributor or pharmacy. The control system,
apparatus, and method can be part of or linked to a pill counting
system that singulates pills.
[0029] The disclosure refers to "medicaments". In this disclosure,
the term "medicament" encompasses drugs and any and all other
materials dispensed subject to presentation of a prescription, and
the term "pill" encompasses pills, capsules, lozenges and like
discrete items intended for ingestion. The term "singulate" is used
to refer to the process of organizing moving pills into a "stream"
formation a single pill in width.
[0030] Medicament Dispensary Kiosk
[0031] An example of a medicament dispensary kiosk in accordance
with the present invention, that includes or is linked to the pill
counting system and control system of the present invention, is
described herein.
[0032] The medicament dispensary kiosk can include means for
dispensing medicaments in pill form from a bulk pill store within
the medicament dispensary kiosk, by counting a particular number of
pills, and delivering the desired number of pills to a container,
and closing the container, all by operation of the medicament
dispensary kiosk.
[0033] In operation of a medicament dispensary kiosk, where the
number of pills required in a single dispense session can vary
significantly, it is advantageous to have a pill counting system,
apparatus and method that provides accurate pill dispensing. It is
also advantageous to provide a control system for controlling a
pill transport system or apparatus that is part of a medicament
dispensary kiosk, that is linked to the pill counting system so as
to enable control of the pill transport system in a way that
reduces errors in operation of the pill transport system.
[0034] In one aspect of the invention, the pill transport apparatus
described includes or consists of a pill singulator apparatus for
singulating the pills in the transport thereof so as to organize
the pills into a stream. Pill singulation is often required to
obtain an accurate pill count.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, a pill dispensing module (10) includes
a pill hopper (12), and a chute (14) for directing pills toward an
opening of a container (16). The pill dispensing module includes a
container delivery mechanism 18 for placing a pill container below
the chute (14) where it can receive pills falling from the chute,
through a pill drop zone, and into the opening of the container
16.
[0036] The system of the present invention, and the utilities that
are part of such system, can be understood by reference to the
description below and FIG. 2.
[0037] Control System
[0038] The medicament dispensary kiosk includes a control system
for controlling the delivery of pills through the pill drop zone
into the pill container.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 2, a control system (21) includes means to
cease the delivery of pills to a particular container, once the
required number of pills for that container has been delivered to
the container. For example, the medicament dispensary may further
include a gate movable from a closed to an open position to permit
singulated pills to drop into the opening of a container, such as a
pill bottle, which opening is positioned to collect falling pills
and where a sensing mechanism detects and counts the pills falling
in the fall zone to enable the supply of pills from the hopper to
be halted when a required number of pills have passed into the
fall. FIG. 1 illustrates such a moveable gate (20).
[0040] The control system also includes means for varying the speed
of delivery of pills, for example to reduce the speed of delivery
of pills, nearing the total number of pills to be delivered as part
of a particular dispense or counting session, which can help
prevent too many pills being transported.
[0041] Counting System
[0042] The control system is linked to a counting system or
apparatus to establish when the required number of pills have been
transported to the particular container, as determined based on the
prescription of the applicable dispense. FIG. 2 is a system diagram
illustrating, in one implementation of the invention, the
components of the system of the present invention.
[0043] Primary Counting Apparatus
[0044] The counting system or apparatus includes a primary counting
system or apparatus (25). The primary counting system or apparatus
may consist of a counter means or sensor data acquisition utility
which is operable to generate or facilitate the generation of a
count of the number of pills transported as part of a specific
stream of pills (defined based on a particular dispense or counting
session), transported at a relatively high speed by a pill
transport apparatus such as the pill singulator apparatus shown in
FIG. 1. The counter means can be implemented as an optical
detector/emitter that acts as a transition counter and is typically
associated with a micro-controller embedded application. One
particular implementation of such a primary counting apparatus is
illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein a emitter sensor array (22) is
mounted in one area of the container delivery apparatus (18)
adjacent to the pill drop zone, and a receiver sensor array (24) is
mounted in an another area of the container delivery apparatus
(18), opposite to the emitter sensor array (24), such that the
emitter sensor array (22) and the receiver sensor array (24) define
a sensor array area that covers as an area in the pill drop zone
that covers the opening of any container that is delivered to pill
drop zone by the container delivery apparatus (18). The delivery of
a pill through the sensor array results in a state-date event that
is captured by the counting means (26) or sensor data acquisition
utility described below.
[0045] The sensor array (28) can include a plurality of fiber optic
beams. The counter means (26) in one implementation counts the
transition of the fiber optic beams from a stage of unblocked to
blocked. The counter means (26) receives a signal that identifies a
beginning to a dispense or counting session, and another signal
that identifies the end to a dispense or counting session. The
counter means (26) is operable to increment the transitions up to
the end of the dispense or counting session so as to arrive at the
primary pill count described below.
[0046] The primary counting apparatus (25) is also operable to
capture the series of transitions or state-data for the sensor
array (referred to as "sensor capture data").
[0047] The counter means (26) can be implemented as a high speed
leading edge transition counter coupled to the sensor array
(28).
[0048] In a particular aspect of the invention, the counting means
(26) includes or is linked to a computer or some other means of
implementing the functions described herein to hardware. The
computer can be any manner of computer device such as a
micro-computer, or personal computer that is made part of the
medication dispensary kiosk and is configured to execute the
computer-implemented method described herein. Alternatively, the
computer could be a remote computer but connected through a
computer network and/or wireless network to the medication
dispensary kiosk. The computer is linked to a memory, and the
system is operable to store state-data from the sensor array to the
memory on dispense by dispense or counting session by counting
session basis. Alternatively, no memory is necessary, and a data
array can be used that is part of or linked to the counting system
(23). Also, the functions of the counting means (26) can be
hardwired to an electronic component linked to the counting system
(23) such as a microcontroller.
[0049] The primary counting apparatus (25) or the primary counting
apparatus in combination with the computer is operable to generate
a pill count on a dispense by dispense or counting session by
counting session basis, and store the results for the pill count in
the memory or data array ("primary pill count").
[0050] In another aspect of the present invention, the primary
counting apparatus (25) is also operable to relate the sensor
capture data to a timeline, such that within the time period of the
particular dispense or counting session, the stream of pills
transported by the pill transport apparatus (17) is analyzed to
determine the time gap between each pill entering the pill drop
zone, and place each such time gap in the timeline. This provide a
time-gap distribution for the particular dispense or counting
session, as illustrated in FIG. 3. More significantly, the primary
counting apparatus (25) is therefore operable to provide a
rising-edge pill count at a rate that is sufficient to control the
pill delivery speed.
[0051] In one aspect of the invention, the primary counting
apparatus (25) interoperates with the control system (21) to
implement one or more control routines for controlling the pill
transport apparatus (17) in real time or near real time based on
the varying speed of the pill delivery. The specifics of the
control routines will depend on the design of the pill transport
apparatus (17), its current state of operation, the size and weight
attributes of the pill being dispensed or counted, and so on. The
attributes of the control routines are established, and then
selected for application, in order to reduce errors. The control
routines may include slowing down the pill transport when the
time-gap between pills increases past specific thresholds or
decreases below specific thresholds, point or portion of the pill
transport sequence for the dispense or counting session.
[0052] The system of the present invention, relying on the time-gap
data, is operable to balance efficiency with accuracy by
selectively controlling, on an automated basis, by operation of the
system of the invention, the speed of pill transport to reduce the
likelihood of pill counting errors or other problems resulting from
pill transport. For example, it is generally advantageous to slow
down pill transport nearing the end of the dispense or counting
session because the mechanical parts of the pill transport
apparatus (17) have momentum and if the dispense or counting
session ends abruptly then it is common for errors to occur or for
increase wear on the apparatus. In order to slow down the pill
transport at the appropriate time, given the variation in the
time-gap between any two pills in a stream of pills transported in
a given dispense or counting session, the present invention
provides more accurate data to the control system (21) as to what
point in the dispense or counting session has been reached at a
specific time, thereby enabling more effective control of the
system to reduce dispense or counting errors or for example avoid
other problems such as fragmentation of pills. A representative
time gap distribution is illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0053] It should be understood that the container delivery
apparatus (18) may have moving parts that could affect the accuracy
of a dispense or counting session by operation of the present
system. Accordingly, the container delivery apparatus (18) may be
linked to one or more sensors that are operable to signal to the
control system (21) and/or counting system (23) that the container
delivery apparatus (18) is in place, or the container is in place,
such that the dispense or counting session can begin.
[0054] As another example, the time-gap may in a particular
dispense or counting session begin to reach a maximum threshold
defined by the scan rate of the counting means (26), for example an
optical reader used as the primary counting apparatus (25). This
may result in more or fewer pills being dropped into the container
(16) than are expected to be dropped into the container. If for
example the number is smaller than the desired dispense, then the
user does not obtain the prescribed quantity of medicament. The
error further may cause the medicament dispensary kiosk to dispense
medicaments in a manner that is not in accordance with governing
regulations.
[0055] In accordance with the present invention, the primary
counting apparatus (25) is operable to capture the data necessary
for the control system (21) to slow down pill transport to avoid
reaching such maximum threshold.
[0056] Secondary Counting Apparatus
[0057] Achieving marketable dispense or pill counting speed
requires relatively rapid pill transport by means of the pill
transport apparatus in filling containers with pills from the bulk
pill store. In some cases, this can result in pill counting errors
if the counting system (23) relies on the primary counting
apparatus (25) alone, such as an optical counting device. The
incorrect pill counts may result from pill fragments rather than
entire pills in the stream of pills transported; blocked sensor
beams; dirty sensor beams; noise interfering with the operation of
sensors; a saturated amplifier in the optical beam apparatus, and
so on.
[0058] The counting system (23) or apparatus of the present
invention therefore includes a secondary counting system (29) or
apparatus. The secondary counting system (29) includes a device
that is operable to analyze the sensor capture data on a dispense
by dispense or counting session by counting session basis to
provide a secondary pill count.
[0059] 4The secondary pill count is established based on off-line
examination of the sensor capture data in real time or near real
time, by operation of the counting system (23).
[0060] The secondary pill count, in a particular aspect of the
invention, relies on the sensor capture data related to the primary
pill count, but the secondary pill count involves a validation of
the primary pill count based on application of statistical
analysis. Specifically the secondary pill counting system (29) is
operable to apply historical trending to the sensor capture data
for validation purposes.
[0061] The secondary pill counting system (29), in one
implementation thereof, is operable to poll the sensor array within
a repeating interval of time. The interval time can be established
so that it is less than narrowest time gap between any two pills
during pill transport for any dispense or counting session by
operation of the pill transport apparatus of the present invention.
The secondary pill counting transport system (29) of the present
invention, based on the polling of the sensor array is operable to
generate a preliminary secondary pill count, and for this
preliminary secondary pill count it establishes a pulse-width for
each pill in the secondary pill count by capturing the state of the
sensor for each reading of a pill passing through the sensor array.
A representative illustration of pulse width variation data is
shown in FIG. 4.
[0062] It should be understood that this secondary pill count in
effect constitutes a second pill count for the same dispense or
counting session, which occurs at the same time as the primary pill
count. This enables the system of present invention to conduct and
record two pill counts simultaneously. This is important because
two pill counts are often required by drug regulations or other
regulations, and prior art technologies generally require two
consecutive pill counts to occur, thus decreasing efficiency.
[0063] The secondary pill counting system (29) includes or is
linked to a statistical analysis utility (31). The statistical
analysis utility (31) embodies one or more logical operations that
are applied to the preliminary secondary pill count for validation
thereof, for example in the manner described below. The statistical
utility (31) may be implemented as a computer program, that is made
available to a computer associated with the control system (21) and
counting system (23) (such as the computer mentioned above), or
also can be implemented as one or more electronic components that
are part of the system of the present invention.
[0064] This pulse width data is then analyzed by operation of the
statistical analysis utility (31). The statistical analysis utility
(31) embodies a decision tree (33) or other means of pulse width
data or the results of the analysis thereof resulting in
application of one or more logical operations, and the results of
application of such logical operations optionally resulting in
application of further logical operations, and so on. Examples of
such logical operations are described below.
[0065] In a particular aspect of the present invention, the
statistical analysis utility (31) may determine whether acceptable
upper and lower limits have been reached by the pulse width data
based on one or more criteria relevant to accuracy of a pill
dispense or count, including for example possible non-singulated
pills, possible fragmented pills, possible system noise, and other
such criteria. The secondary pill counting system (29) is operable
to generate a statistical analysis of the particular dispense or
counting session, which can take the form of a table or other data
structure that on a pill by pill basis flags pulse width
measurements, for example that relative to their placement within
the dispense or counting session are indicated as meeting or
failing to meet applicable minimum thresholds or maximum
thresholds. These thresholds indicate one or more criteria relevant
to accuracy of the pill dispense or count. In one aspect of the
present invention this results in a preliminary conclusion being
reached for each pill by the statistical analysis utility (31)
("preliminary conclusion data").
[0066] In another aspect of the invention, the preliminary
conclusions are further analyzed by the statistical analysis
utility (31).
[0067] The further analysis may include, in one aspect of the
invention, an analysis of the reliability of the preliminary
conclusion data relative to internal data for the current dispense
or counting session. A suitable logical operation can be used to
establish a reliability factor of the preliminary conclusion data
based on internal data for the dispense or counting session, for
example:
Ri(n)=(M/(1+e.sup.-q))-k where q=(a*n)-j [0068] Ri: Reliability
factor for internal (current) dispense data n: Sample size of
current dispense (number of pills) [0069] a: Slope [0070] j: x-axis
shift constant M: function value range scaling multiplier k: y-axis
offset constant
[0071] In addition, the system is operable to capture external data
from past dispenses or counting sessions, whether for a particular
medication dispensing kiosk for example, or for several linked
medication dispensing kiosks, operable to provide such information
to a central server, which is then provided to the particular
medication dispensing kiosk, or whether this data is exchanged
within a peer-to-peer network of medication dispensing kiosks
provided in accordance with known peer-to-peer network
configurations.
[0072] The preliminary conclusion data can be further analyzed for
its reliability relative to such external data using a suitable
logical operation, for example:
Re(d)=(M/(1+e.sup.-q))-k where q=(a*d)-j [0073] Re: Reliability
factor for external (past) dispense data d: Number of successful
past dispenses [0074] a: Slope [0075] j: x-axis shift constant M:
function value range scaling multiplier k: y-axis offset
constant
[0076] In another particular aspect of the statistical utility
(31), the statistical utility (31) is operable to combine Ri and Re
to derive a minimum reliability constant, Rmin. As a further aspect
of the operation of the statistical utility (31), depending on the
results of the analysis, one or more control operations can be
triggered such as a recount of the dispense or counting session, by
sending a signal to the control system (21), or by alerting an
operator linked to the system such as a pharmacist in the case of a
medicament dispensing kiosk. The pharmacist may then review the
tertiary pill count results referred to below and/or order a
recount. The escalation processes can be provided as a series of
escalation routines embodied in the decision tree (33) and which
initiate a control response from the control system (21) on an
automated basis.
[0077] The internal and external data may be utilized by the
statistical facility in combination as follows. (A) If a weighted
averaging of the external data supports the internal data analysis
and preliminary conclusions, then if a pulse width has been flagged
for a broken pill or multiple pills crossing the sensor array
together, then the external data validates the internal data, and a
course of action is initiated based on an escalation routine
embodied in the system of the present invention. (B) Conversely, if
for example the sample size for the external data was low, then a
low reliability factor is assigned and therefore the weighted
averaging of the external data overrules the internal data
analysis, which depending on the specific results may lead to
escalation of the dispense or pill count.
[0078] It should also be understood that the statistical utility
(31) contemplates iterative modification of historical trending
data. For example if Ri+Re exceeds or is equal to Rmin, then Ri and
Re may be used to calculate a weighted average of defined upper or
lower limits. These limits can be updated and provided to other
linked medicament dispensing kiosks or other system including a
pill counting apparatus.
[0079] 0It should be understood that the statistic analysis utility
(31) may consider the following factors in a series of possible
logical operations: (1) the mean pulse width for the dispense or
counting session, based on an average of all of the applicable
pulse widths, (2) multiplied by the sample size; (3) the mean pulse
width from historical data for the same pill; and (4) the number of
dispenses upon which (3) was based. This illustrates the basis for
a series of operations for assessing the reliability of the
preliminary conclusion data generated by the secondary counting
system (29).
[0080] Regarding historical trend data, it is contemplated that the
operator of the system will collect trend data sets regarding the
dispense or counting of specific pills whether using specific pill
transport apparatus so as to provide the historical trend data for
specific pills. This pill specific information, in this case
external information, but also pill specific internal information
to the medication dispensing kiosk in question will be accessed
from a database based on the drug related data associated with the
dispense.
[0081] Tertiary Counting Apparatus
[0082] In another embodiment of the invention, a tertiary count is
performed by analyzing other data associated with the primary
count. One such tertiary count is effected by manual or computer
generated analysis of high-speed video frames that record the
stream of delivery of pills for the entire dispense or counting
session. For this application a high frame speed camera is part of
the system, and is disposed to capture video frames of delivery of
pills to the pill drop zone for analysis by a computer. An
alternative or additional tertiary count is obtained by comparing
the before and after weight of the container into which the pills
drop in the course of the dispense or counting session.
[0083] Escalation
[0084] It should be understood that the analysis by operation of
the statistical analysis utility (31) is operable to identify one
or more historical trend off-sets that may indicate a number of
possible problems either with the pill transport during the
particular dispense or counting session, or possibly other problems
such as a physical error, increase in temperature, or other
condition requiring calibration or maintenance. Medicament
dispensary kiosks in particular are complex machines and are
required to operate within strict parameters. The secondary
counting system (29) provides useful data for the monitoring and
maintenance of such machines.
[0085] 4It should be understood that the decision tree (33)
mentioned above is operable, based on the results of the operations
described, and other similar or related operations embodied in the
statistical analysis utility (31), to escalate based on a number of
possible different escalation paths (35). For example, depending on
the circumstances and results, review of the tertiary video data
referred to below could be mandated, or a recount could be
mandated, or a decision of which path to take could be delegated to
a pharmacist, and so on.
[0086] The present invention may therefore facilitate dispensing of
pills through an automated dispensary from one or more bulk pill
stores, in an accurate manner at a lower cost than traditional
pharmacy-based dispensing systems.
[0087] The present invention need not be applied to a medicament
dispensary kiosk, but can also be used for pill counting devices
used in other applications such as in a pharmacy. One of the
advantages of the invention that other pill counting technologies
generally switching between one counting configuration and another
when a change is made as to the drug being dispensed or counted,
and this change has an impact on performance of the
dispensing/counting because of size, weight, or shape differences
between the pills at issue. This sometimes requires manual
adjustment of the equipment, or the need to recalibrate the system.
The present invention achieves these switches without the need for
such time consuming or cumbersome adjustments.
[0088] A skilled reader will recognize that additional monitoring
means may be applied in the present invention to add additional
means of checking the accuracy of the dropping of pills into the
container to accurately fill a prescription. In a further
embodiment of the invention, error detection sensitivity may be
increased by using analog light intensity sensors, the output of
the sensors being directly coupled to a micro-controller based
control system to analyze light intensity variation with time and
to use the light intensity measurement to derive both a primary
count and, using appropriate historical reference data, a secondary
count.
[0089] The counting system (23) may facilitate reporting of the
data it collects, such as by way of graphs, charts, text,
pulse-width graphics, or other reports. Such reports may be
provided to a user for review. The sensor data acquisition facility
may further facilitate review of the data it collects. It should be
understood that the present invention contemplates use a number of
different sensors. Utilities such as the statistical analysis
utility can be linked or can be provided such that they embody
various analytics processes or technologies, and numerous processes
or algorithms that improve the dispense or counting session
accuracy.
[0090] The invention also contemplates the use of distributed
computer and data mirroring architectures for updating statistical
data, sensor performance data, etc. for a particular medicament
dispensing kiosk, or across a network of associated medicament
dispensing kiosks.
[0091] Other variations and modifications of the invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments of the
invention described and illustrated are not intended to be
limiting. The principles of the invention contemplate many
alternatives having advantages and properties evident in the
exemplary embodiments.
* * * * *