Abstract: Embodiments herein provide an automatic packager (100) for medical products. One embodiment provides an automatic packager (100) including a universal feed cassette (105) and a packaging unit (110). The universal feed cassette (105) includes a plurality of cartridge slots (130) to receive cartridges (155). Each cartridge (155) includes a reservoir (170) for storing a plurality of medical products and a wheel (180) including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir (170). The wheel (180) rotatable with respect to the reservoir (170). Each cartridge (155) also includes a scooping member (185) provided on the wheel (180) to rotate with the wheel (185) and singulate a medical product from the reservoir (170), and a funnel extension (175) coupled to the reservoir (170) and extending outward and upward from the reservoir (170).

Abstract: A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) including a base portion (810) and a counting tray (830) provided on the base portion (810). The counting tray (830) is tilted about a first axis to empty medications into a first package and tiled above a second axis to empty medications into a second package. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) also includes a camera system (950) to capture images of the counting tray (830), the packages, and a label on the packages. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) verifies whether a correct number and type of medications are received on the counting tray (830).

Abstract: An automatic packager for pharmaceuticals including a receptacle configured to receive a plurality of pharmaceuticals and a plunger configured to be movable between a lowered position and a raised and defining a path therebetween. The automatic packager also includes a sensor configured to detect an obstruction in the path and an electronic processor configured to dispense pharmaceuticals for a pouch to the receptacle based on prescription information and move the plunger to the raised position to deliver the pharmaceuticals to the pouch. The electronic processor is also configured to determine, using the sensor, whether an obstruction is present in the path and move the plunger to the lowered position in response to determining the obstruction is not present in the receptacle. The electronic processor is also configured to provide an alert in response to determining that the obstruction is present in the path.

Abstract: A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

Abstract: A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.

Abstract: One aspect provides a blister card for packaging pharmaceuticals including a blister sheet having a plurality of blister compartments defining a recess to receive medications. The blister card also includes a label sheet configured to be placed over the blister sheet to cover the plurality of blister compartments. The label sheet includes a plurality of seal portions that align with and correspond to each of the plurality of blister compartments. The blister card further includes a plurality of seals having a first type of seal and a second type of seal configured to adhere the label sheet to the blister sheet.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) including a base portion (810) and a counting tray (830) provided on the base portion (810). The counting tray (830) is tilted about a first axis to empty medications into a first package and tiled above a second axis to empty medications into a second package. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) also includes a camera system (950) to capture images of the counting tray (830), the packages, and a label on the packages. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) verifies whether a correct number and type of medications are received on the counting tray (830).

Abstract: A verification system for a blister card packaging system. The verification system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to capture a successive plurality of images of a blister of a blister card, display an image of at least a portion of the blister card for verification, receive a selection of the blister subsequent to the display of the image, and display the successive plurality of images in response to receiving the selection.

Abstract: Automatic packager for pharmaceuticals and method of operating the same. The method includes receiving a prescription to be filled by a pharmacy management system and identifying one or more bulk containers that contain medications to fill the prescription. The method also includes counting, using a pre-counter, medications from the one or more bulk containers to fill the prescription and depositing the counted medications in one or more cartridges. The method also includes placing the one or more cartridges including the counted medications at an automatic packager and dispensing the medications in the one or more cartridges. The method also includes packaging medications dispensed from the one or more cartridges into packages and verifying whether the medications are correctly packaged.

Abstract: A method and verification system for verifying pharmaceuticals packaged within a pouch using a pharmacy packaging system. The method includes activating a first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, capturing a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source, activating a second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, and capturing a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The method further includes generating a third image based on the first image and the second image, generating a dashboard to simultaneously display first images, second images, and third images from a plurality of pharmaceutical pouches, providing a number of pills indication of a number of pills detected in the pouch against a number of pills expected in the pouch, and displaying the dashboard.

Abstract: An automatic packaging system including an automatic packager and a sorting device interoperably coupled to the automatic packager. The sorting device is configured to receive a strip of pouches and includes a holder assembly configured to hold the strip of pouches received from the automatic packager. The sorting device also includes a cutter assembly provided downstream of the holder assembly to receive the strip of packages from the holder assembly. The cutter assembly includes a blade and is configured to cut and separate an individual pouch from the strip of pouches using reciprocal motion of the blade. The sorting device receives the individual pouch from the cutter assembly and dispenses the individual pouch into a first bin or a second bin based on the verification status of the individual pouch.

Abstract: An automatic packager configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a heat source configured to heat the pharmaceutical pouch, a visible light source, and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the camera system, the heat source, and the visible light source. The electronic processor is configured to activate the heat source to heat the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch when the pharmaceutical pouch is heated by the heat source. The electronic processor is also configured to activate the visible light source and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the visible light source. The electronic processor is further configured to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.

Abstract: Automatic packager for pharmaceuticals and method of operating the same. The method includes receiving a prescription to be filled by a pharmacy management system and identifying one or more bulk containers that contain medications to fill the prescription. The method also includes counting, using a pre-counter, medications from the one or more bulk containers to fill the prescription and depositing the counted medications in one or more cartridges. The method also includes placing the one or more cartridges including the counted medications at an automatic packager and dispensing the medications in the one or more cartridges. The method also includes packaging medications dispensed from the one or more cartridges into packages and verifying whether the medications are correctly packaged.

Abstract: System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a pharmacy order delivery and transport system including an enclosure and a transport assembly provided in the enclosure and configured to transport a plurality of filled prescription orders. The transport assembly includes a track extending continuously throughout the enclosure and a plurality of transport blocks connected together to form a continuous loop. Each transport block of the plurality of transport blocks includes a transport hook and a wheel configured to move along the track. The transport hook is configured to receive a storage bag containing a filled prescription order of the plurality of filled prescription orders. The transport assembly also includes a transport actuator configured to drive the plurality of transport blocks along the track.

Abstract: System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a method of dispensing a prescription order to a customer at a customer kiosk. The method includes receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk and transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal. The method further includes opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal. The method also includes closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method for remote verification for a pharmaceutical counting and packaging device (150). The method includes filling, using the pharmaceutical counting and packaging device (150), a prescription and capturing, using the pharmaceutical counting and packaging device (150), images during filling of the prescription. The method also includes transmitting, using the pharmaceutical counting and packaging device (150), captured images to a remote pharmacist device (180).

Abstract: A pouch for packaging a plurality of medications. The pouch includes a plurality of discrete compartments, each compartment including a sub-batch of medications. The pouch also includes serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches. The pouch further includes a continuous identifier that spans a subset of the plurality of discrete compartments to provide an appearance of one continuous pouch.

Abstract: A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

Abstract: A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.