59 results about "Apothecary" patented technology

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.

The present invention provides for a software-based computing environment that uses data communication systems or networks, including the Internet and World Wide Web technologies, to implement a dosage calculator, which assists the clinician in managing patients receiving intrathecal therapy. The invention provides for a communications environment for clinicians, pharmacists, drug pump manufactures, and patients to assess the information supplied by an implantable drug pump, and to integrate data from other data sources in order to provide optimization of the life of the drug pump and the therapeutic substance formulations for the patient.

A medical information system receives patient data and information from various sources and displays such information in a variety of formats for use by member of a medical team in a hospital, clinic, or office. The system receives patient information from doctors, pharmacists, patient monitoring equipment, testing laboratories, and / or computer databases. Access to selected subsets of patient information is provided by user selection of specific data sets identified by job function selection icons. A member of the medical team can record observations about a patient using key words and phrases which can be supplemented with additional text for customized notation. Multiple types of patient data are selectively displayed si- multaneously, and to multiple remote users. The system can access stored data according to user-specified formula to compute a score or metric which reflects a relationship between various factors, each factor being weighted appropriately according to its significance as defined in the formula. A user can selectively display data in graphic form by “clicking” on a row of tabular data in a tabular region of the display and “dragging and dropping” that row to a graphic display region of the display.

A fully-automated system suitable for use in a hospital setting for filling patient-specific liquid prescriptions to be administered by oral syringes on a just-in-time basis. The system enables hospital pharmacists to simplify and streamline their task, increasing the number of prescriptions that can be filled in a day, improving patient safety and care by minimizing medication errors and the consequences that ensue.

A method for preparing both main label and warning label portions for a container useful in dispensing drugs by a pharmacist in which the main label portion contains specific drug or patient information and the warning label portion contains one or more warnings specific to the drug or patient information includes the steps of providing a backing sheet having the main label portion and the warning label portion releasably adhered thereto, printing the drug or patient information on the warning label during only one printing pass, and then affixing both the main label portion and the warning label portion to a drug container.

An intake to exit security system for high-volume pharmacies provides maximum security from tampering and assures accuracy. The system immediately assigns bar codes to shipments upon arrival and then tracks them through warehousing, bulk distribution, prescription dispensing and shipping to patients, hospitals and drugstores. Bar-coded lock neck devices secure bulk drug canisters to bar-coded dispensing machines at specified dispensing stations where the machines dispense drugs into pre-labeled prescription bottles according to prescription indicia on the labels. Bottles then undergo content analysis and certification before packaged and shipped to customers. A Ramon laser spectral analysis contrasts the bottle contents to a library of known spectral signatures of drugs, and the pharmacist is alerted to any detected difference. A simultaneously captured visual image of the pills enables the pharmacist visually to compare the contents to a library of known visual appearances of the drugs. Both analyses are recorded for prescriptions certified and forwarded to customers. Deviations are excised without disrupting flow of other prescriptions, and the system automatically reassigns an incorrectly filled prescription to another bottle which starts anew through the system. Full bottles of commonly used drugs and specialized containers for irregularly shaped objects, creams and ointments may be pre-filled and inventoried for later collation with prescription bottles at the packaging and shipping stage.

An intelligent pharmacist robot comprises a body (100), two mechanical arms (200) and a controlling system (300); and each mechanical arm (200) is of a structure with at least six shafts. The robot further comprises a stereoscopic vision system (600) connected with the controlling system (300), and the stereoscopic vision system (600) comprises a first camera (610) arranged at the head portion of the body and a second camera (620) arranged on at least one grabbing clamp (260). By means of the technical scheme, the high-intelligent robot can finish medicine preparing work. Due to high intelligence and accuracy, the robot can be applied to working in dangerous occasions in the hospital or preparing medicine with higher requirements. Thus, errors caused by manual operation are avoided. In addition, a robot system can be formed by the robot through networking to finish the whole medicine preparing process.

The method and system provides image data of a prepared pharmacy product for review by a pharmacist located away from the prepared pharmacy product. The method and system enables the verification process to be ported to locations in which resources may be more efficiently utilized.

Varying the daily dose of either or both of the estrogen and the progestogen administered for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is readily and inexpensively accomplished, without the necessity of the physician prescribing a new product each time the daily dose of the estrogen or progestogen is changed, by administering preferably transdermally the estrogen and the progestogen contained in separate extrudable pharmaceutical compositions from a dispenser which contains means, preferably adjustable only by the attending physician or dispensing pharmacist, for varying the volume of either or both of the respective compositions which is dispensed as a single dose from the dispenser in response to a defined digital dispensing manipulation of the dispenser thereby facilitating optimal compliance to a combination of HRT with individually adjusted dosages of the estrogen and progestogen.

A pharmaceutical capsule container comprises (i) a novel vial having a closed-bottom window formed from a transparent polymer, and a side-wall formed from a light-blocking polymer, and (ii) a safety cap. The vial is made as one piece by dual injection molding. The window serves as a clear-view window through which a pharmacist may view capsules inside a closed capsule container. In a preferred embodiment the window serves as a magnifying lens for easier recognition of capsule indicia. A pharmacist uses the invention to re-verify the type and strength of the capsules in a filled, closed capsule container against the type and strength specified in the prescription by viewing the capsules in the filled, closed capsule container. The pharmacist holds the capsule container upright and looks up to view the capsules in the container through the window in the bottom of the vial This enables the pharmacist to re-verify a prescription without being required to remove and replace the safety cap every time a prescription is filled.

A system and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions performed by a non-pharmacist at an institutional pharmacy. The institutional pharmacy and a remotely located pharmacist are linked via wired and / or wireless telecommunication systems in a manner that enables the pharmacist to remotely supervise and verify the correct performance of pharmacy functions by non-pharmacist personnel. Images of the pharmacy work performed may be captured using any of a number of types image capture devices. Captured images and corresponding documentation may be transmitted from institutional pharmacy to the remotely located pharmacist, either directly or via a web site accessible to both. After verifying that the pharmacy work was correctly performed, the remote pharmacist may provide the institutional pharmacy with an initialed copy the captured image(s), or other documentation, indicating such verification. Receiving the pharmacist's verification may authorize the non-pharmacist to further process the work.

The present invention is a device or system for providing printed medication-specific informational and promotional materials to patients or customers in conjunction with filling a prescription medication. The device or system of the present invention is designed to make efficient use of a pharmacy prescription shelf. A container tray is formed with forward recesses to hold medication supply containers. The forward recesses are preferably molded to specifically receive medication supply containers. The tray is also formed with a rearward recess to hold an upright sleeve containing informational material comprising information related to the medication in the supply container. The tray and sleeve construction permits the pharmacist to readily identify and access the medication supply container and simultaneously view and access the informational materials.

Systems and methods for allowing a user (e.g., a benefits administrator) to maintain and modify a contract or a group for a prescription drug plan may be provided. In response to receiving a request to modify a contract or a group, a prescription benefits management application may retrieve data relating to the contract or group and allow the user to input information relating to the contract or group, input broker information, input billing information, select a pharmacy network, select pricing options for the prescription plan, create a customized prescription plan, input brand / generic difference overrides, etc. In some embodiments, the modifications and / or additions made to a contract or group may be transmitted to a pharmacist, thereby allowing the pharmacist to fill one or more prescriptions in real-time or upon updating the system (e.g., within 48 to 72 hours).

Systems and methods for facilitating electronic prescriptions and the dispensation of medications subject to prior authorization and / or adherence to a pre-established formulary. A web-based interactive system is established whereby all entities responsible for the prescription event, namely, the prescribing physician, pharmacist / pharmacy and payer / authorizing entity are kept in direct communication with one another via a conventional, secure communications link. All pertinent information regarding the prescription, as well as the patient, is made available to all entities and further, all information associated with a particular formulary is uploaded and made available to the prescribing physician and pharmacist for quick reference as the whether or not a given medication is preapproved. The systems and methods of the present invention are exceptionally effective and efficient, and can be readily utilized with all medications designated as either Part B or Part D per the United States' Medicare healthcare administration system.

There is provided a modular medication dispensing system for managing and automatically dispensing pills from a plurality of portable medication dispensers, the modular system comprising: a base equipped with rotation means and being removably installed on a plane surface, a circular magazine comprising a plurality of adaptors for receiving a plurality of portable medication dispensers, the circular magazine being rotatably mounted on the base, an actuator for actuating a portable dispenser from the plurality of portable dispensers when the portable dispenser is in the dispensing position, a plurality of autonomous portable dispensers being removably received in the plurality of adaptors and operating autonomously or in synchronization with the modular system, a filling assembly comprising movable means for automatically filling a portable dispenser, and an electronic system comprised in each portable dispenser and in the base for permanently communicating between the plurality of portable dispensers and the base or between the base and a doctor, a pharmacist or one's smart phone or between the portable dispensers and a doctor, a pharmacist or one's smart phone using network protocols and for automatically dispensing medication once dispensing periods are reached.

A device for attachment to a medicine bottle is disclosed. The device is intended as an aid to consumers in remembering information concerning a medication. The device provides a mechanism for conveniently attaching a label to a medicine bottle with the label being a blank area suitable for writing the purpose of the medication or any other information to help the consumer. The label is reusable for repeated attachment to refills of the same prescription medicine and is intended to be written on by either the pharmacist or the consumer in a language or with words which are understandable and clear to the consumer. The label is large enough to accommodate large writing for persons with poor eyesight. Additional features related to taking of a medication are provided as part of the device including a counting device with the appearance like that of the hands on a clock.

A low-profile visual counting system is provided and designed to count pills or other small discrete objects. This technology is vision based, which allows a pharmacist or other user to pour pills onto a counting surface in a single layer, and then the device tells the user how many pills are on that surface. The present device places the camera and preferably an infrared light source below the counting surface. This offers the unique advantage of not having to mount a camera above the counting surface which reduces the size and improves the aesthetic characteristics of such a device. The image is captured and then processed to determine the number of pills on the surface. This system may be interfaced with other networks, terminals, and existing pharmacy management systems.

The invention discloses a medicine box information management method and a medicine box storage device. The method includes acquiring first marking information on each medicine box, wherein each medicine box is used for storing one medicine and the first marking information includes information of the medicine stored by the medicine box; calling second marking information correlated to the corresponding medicine box storage position of each medicine box when acquiring the first marking information, wherein the second marking information comprises the position information of the medicine box storage position and information of logic relation between the medicine box and relevant hardware connected with the medicine box stored at the medicine box storage position; correlating the first marking information and the second marking information and storing the information into a database as correlated information. By means of the implementation mode, the medicine boxes loaded with medicines can be arranged randomly, a user does not need to worry about whether the medicine boxes are arranged at the positions in corresponding columns correctly, and a pharmacist can conduct management and follow-up use of the medicine boxes conveniently.

A method for preparing both main label and warning label portions for a container useful in dispensing drugs by a pharmacist in which the main label portion contains specific drug or patient information and the warning label portion contains one or more warnings specific to the drug or patient information.

The invention discloses a common bulk traditional Chinese medicine decoction piece automatic dispensing cabinet. The common bulk traditional Chinese medicine decoction piece automatic dispensing cabinet comprises a stored medicine weighing system, a control operation system, a dispensing table and a supporting frame; a support frame A and a support frame B are fixed at the bottom of the stored medicine weighing system; a support frame C is mounted at the bottom end of the control operation system; the stored medicine weighing system comprises a plurality of weighing medicine boxes which are arranged in sequence; each weighing medicine box comprises a damping rubber pad, a medicine box body, a medicine storage hopper, a vibration feeding device, a weighing device and a stirring device. By means of the designed stored medicine weighing system, the storage space of traditional Chinese medicine is enlarged, frequent medicine supplementation of a pharmacist is avoided, the medicine taking weighing speed and precision are improved, traditional Chinese medicine mutual pollution is effectively avoided, and the working efficiency of a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy is greatly improved; the control operation system can improve the convenience of medicine taking and weighing, ensure that a pharmacist has enough time to check the formula again, improve the medication safety of patients, and effectively reduce the work intensity of the pharmacist.

A method of doing business is practiced by a group of independent professionals to meet the varied but related needs of an individual. The method uses a centralized computer system to coordinate professional services to an individual. Professional entities, such as attorneys, physicians, pharmacists, realtors, architects, financial institutions and advisors, insurance agents, bondsman, psychologists, enter into a coalition agreement. The coalition agreement defines a standard infrastructure comprising documentation, modes of communication, and administrative case management, all of which are operable and accessible through the centralized computer system. The professional entities form facilitator groups directed to particular multi-disciplinary problems, which individuals face. The standard infrastructure coordinates the activities of the professional entities. Individuals benefit by having a coordinated approach to their problems and convenience of an apparent single provider through a single user interface.

A pharmacist's spatula, or pill tray spatula, is provided for assisting in sorting and counting of pills and capsules comprising generally flat stainless steel blades extending from opposing ends of a generally bi-conic handle. The first blade has a straight portion less than or equal in length to a width or length of a pill counting tray, a curved portion between the straight portion and the handle and a curved and angled tip at the distal end of the first edge of the first blade. The second edge of the first blade has a notched hook, a fulcrum, and a bottle opener. The second blade is short and has the shape of a flat truncated arrow.

The invention belongs to the field of image information processing, and discloses a method for remotely detecting whether electronic prescription information is complete or not. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring a to-be-detected image of a current electronic prescription and preprocessing the to-be-detected image to obtain an initial image; obtaining corresponding prescription template information and a plurality of initial element region images; traversing all the initial pixel region images; judging whether the image elements in each initial element area image are completeor not: if yes, determining that the current electronic prescription passes the detection, or else judging whether the risk degree of the current initial image is not less than a risk degree thresholdvalue or not: if yes, determining that the current electronic prescription passes the detection, or else determining that the current electronic prescription does not pass information integrity detection. According to the invention, the purpose of screening out electronic prescriptions with incomplete information before an on-duty pharmacist checks the electronic prescriptions is achieved, the unnecessary work intensity of the on-duty pharmacist is reduced, omission and errors caused by manual screening are avoided, and the information integrity detection of the electronic prescriptions is more accurate.

An apparatus and method for permitting a pharmacist to verify a refill of a filled prescription stored on a host system. A prescription refill screen is provided by the host system to a pharmacy system associated with the pharmacist. The prescription refill screen is associated with the filled prescription. Refill request information is received from the pharmacy system. The refill request information identifying a requested refill of the filled prescription. The refill request information is transmitted through the host system to a health care provider system associated with a health care provider identified by the filled prescription stored on the host system. The host system receives an authorization from the health care provider system authorizing the requested refill of the filled prescription. The host system transmits the authorization to the pharmacy system whereby the pharmacist associated with the pharmacy system is authorized to provide the refill of the filled prescription to the patient.

The invention discloses a self-service medicine purchasing system. The system comprises a medicine searching module, a shopping cart module, a login module, a prescription auditing module, a video communication module, an order creating module, a payment module and a medicine taking module. According to the invention, the public and shared medicine information services are provided through the Internet, the legal, real and safe drug information is ensured, and medicine purchasing and taking services are provided; the system cooperates with a mobile phone APP and a pharmacy robot, the system completes the whole process of drug search, order creation, order payment and automatic drug delivery and provides prescription auditing services, and a remote pharmacist checks the prescription, so themedication safety is guaranteed, and the pharmacist consultation service is provided; a user remotely communicates with a pharmacist through a video call function, and the system helps the user purchase medicine, so the user can complete a series of processes of medicine searching, medicine purchasing and medicine obtaining in a self-service mode; an automatic pharmacy can cancel manual service in the pharmacy, thereby reducing operation cost of the pharmacy and improving service efficiency.

The invention discloses an automatic medicine dispensing and taking method for a pharmacy of traditional Chinese medicine. The automatic medicine dispensing and taking method for the pharmacy of the traditional Chinese medicine comprises the following steps that (1), a doctor provides a medicine taking prescription and inputs the medicine taking prescription into a medicine database of a hospitalinformation system, and the medicine database automatically generates three kinds of codes; (2), a patient takes the medicine taking prescription to a code scanning machine of the pharmacy for code scanning, and the code scanning machine converts the three kinds of codes of the medicine taking prescription into code information of a medicine taking robot and transmits the code information to the medicine taking robot; (3), a pharmacist puts an equal quantity of packaging boxes on a medicine bag conveying belt according to the dosage of the medicine taking prescription; (4), the medicine takingrobot takes medicines one by one according to medicine names of the different medicines in the medicine taking prescription; (5), the packaging boxes are conveyed to a pharmacy medicine taking windowthrough the medicine bag conveying belt; and (6), the pharmacist manually checks the medicines and delivers the medicines to the patient. The method has the advantages that the time and effort of thepharmacist are saved, the dispensing accuracy rate is greatly increased, the pharmacist can provide better pharmacy service, and the relationship between the patient and the pharmacist is improved.

Certain embodiments of an anal medicinal applicator that have a non-circular shaped shaft provide enhanced medicinal cream efficacy when applied to a pathologic anal canal. The oblong or non-primarily circular shaped shaft enhances the ability of the shaft to more easily be made to move into the folds and contours in the anal canal thereby more evenly spreading medicinal cream on the full surface of the anal canal. Other envision a generally circular (in cross-section) enlarged dome that helps to keep the medicinal cream in the anal canal. Other embodiments include a medicine blocking ring on the shaft near the handle that prevents the medicinal cream from flowing out of the anus when the anal medicinal applicator is being used.