US 12,257,213 B2
Method, computer program product and dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments
Martinus Johannes Donatus Brakkee, Epe (NL); Peter van Roon, Epe (NL); and Patrick van Voorn, Epe (NL)
Assigned to VMI HOLLAND B.V., Epe (NL)
Appl. No. 18/572,206
Filed by VMI HOLLAND B.V., Epe (NL)
PCT Filed Jan. 19, 2022, PCT No. PCT/NL2022/050022
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/271009, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 29, 2022.
Application 18/572,206 is a continuation of application No. 17/353,986, filed on Jun. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,273,103, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0285474 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 7/00 (2006.01); A61J 7/00 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B65B 5/10 (2006.01); B65B 57/14 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61J 7/0084 (2013.01) [B25J 11/00 (2013.01); B65B 5/103 (2013.01); B65B 57/14 (2013.01); B65G 1/045 (2013.01); B65G 1/10 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for dispensing discrete medicaments with a dispensing device,
wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section for dispensing the medicaments, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein each feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units comprises a container for holding medicaments with a composition specific to said respective feeder unit, an outlet for dispensing the medicaments and a dispensing mechanism between the container (50) and the outlet for controlled feeding of the medicaments from the container into the outlet,
wherein the dispensing device further comprises a control unit,
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
receiving, by the control unit, a first set of dispensing instructions requiring a first selection and a first amount of medicaments to be dispensed from the plurality of feeder units;
receiving, by the control unit, one or more further sets of dispensing instructions to be executed after the first set of dispensing instructions, wherein at least one set of the one or more further sets of dispensing instructions requires a selection different from the first selection or an amount different from the first amount; and
prior to executing the first set of dispensing instructions, determining using the control unit if the plurality of feeder units contain sufficient readily available medicaments to complete the dispensing of the first selection and the first amount of medicaments in accordance with the first set of dispensing instructions;
wherein, if the plurality of feeder units contain insufficient readily available medicaments to complete the dispensing of the first selection and the first amount of medicaments in accordance with the first set of dispensing instructions, the method further comprises the step of:
executing one or more sets of the one or more further sets of dispensing instructions prior to executing said first set of dispensing instructions.
 
7. A dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments,
wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section for dispensing the medicaments, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein each feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units comprises a container for holding medicaments with a composition specific to said respective feeder unit, an outlet for dispensing the medicaments and a dispensing mechanism between the container and the outlet for controlled feeding of the medicaments from the container into the outlet,
wherein the dispensing device further comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium holding instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to execute the following steps:
receiving, by the control unit, a first set of dispensing instructions requiring a first selection and a first amount of medicaments to be dispensed from the plurality of feeder units;
receiving, by the control unit, one or more further sets of dispensing instructions to be executed after the first set of dispensing instructions, wherein at least one set of the one or more further sets of dispensing instructions requires a selection different from the first selection or an amount different from the first amount; and
prior to executing the first set of dispensing instructions, determining using the control unit if the plurality of feeder units contain sufficient readily available medicaments to complete the dispensing of the first selection and the first amount of medicaments in accordance with the first set of dispensing instructions;
wherein, if the plurality of feeder units contain insufficient readily available medicaments to complete the dispensing of the first selection and the first amount of medicaments in accordance with the first set of dispensing instructions, the method further comprises the step of:
executing one or more sets of the one or more further sets of dispensing instructions prior to executing said first set of dispensing instructions.