Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining presence of fluid or air in a non-opaque tube in a pharmaceutical preparation device. The system includes a processing circuitry (PC). The PC is configured to: receive a camera image of the non-opaque tube, the non-opaque tube being positioned, from a camera perspective, in front of a patterned background, the received image thereby depicting one or more regions of the non-opaque tube, wherein each region is associated with a respective degree of refraction of the patterned background; and identify, using image processing techniques, in the received image, one or more of the regions of the non-opaque tube; and determine from, at least, one or more of the identified regions, a content characteristic of the non-opaque tube.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a pharmaceutical preparation device (PPD) with imaging-enhanced preparation process component placement, including a camera configured to capture images of a pharmaceutical preparation interconnection location (PPIL), from a PPIL camera location, the PPIL being associated with a precalibration data; a transport unit (TU) including a gripper for grasping a pharmaceutical compounding component, the TU being configured to move the gripper in one or more of x, y, and/or z directions in response to control signals; and a processing circuitry operably connected to the TU and to the camera. The processing circuitry can be configured to receive at least one real-time digital image, captured by the camera from the PPIL camera location; determine direction and distance of TU movement based on at least the received real-time digital image and the precalibration data; and control the TU to move the gripper in the determined direction by the determined distance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining presence of fluid or air in a non-opaque tube in a pharmaceutical preparation device. The system includes a processing circuitry (PC). The PC is configured to: receive a camera image of the non-opaque tube, the non-opaque tube being positioned, from a camera perspective, in front of a patterned background, the received image thereby depicting one or more regions of the non-opaque tube, wherein each region is associated with a respective degree of refraction of the patterned background; and identify, using image processing techniques, in the received image, one or more of the regions of the non-opaque tube; and determine from, at least, one or more of the identified regions, a content characteristic of the non-opaque tube.

Abstract: Image-based verification of progress and/or results, and or detection of fault conditions, for automated operations preparing pharmaceuticals, particularly in relation to the dissolving of pharmaceutical materials contained in vials. Imaging is and image processing is used, in some examples, to follow the progress of processing which converts solid and/or concentrated material (e.g., crystallized and/or lyophilized) into fluid solutions and/or suspensions. As conditions vary, time to dilute may change; detection of fault conditions may reduce risk and/or reduce waste. In some examples, a quantity of fluid used in dissolution/dilution is itself monitored at one or more stages. Methods of assessing fluid contents of vials, including vials distributed for use in manual operations which may include obstructions to viewing such as labels.