Automated vial preparation module
AssigneeEquashield Medical Ltd.
InventorEric Shem-Tov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated vial preparation module is provided that may include a vial mount for receiving a vial, a manipulator for disinfecting at least a portion of the vial, and control circuitry. The module may apply a disinfecting solution to a vial septum and wipe the septum with a swab. The module may include transferring means for moving vials. An imaging apparatus may monitor the vial preparation process. The module may interface with an automated pharmaceutical compounding system. Methods for automated vial preparation may include steps such as transferring a vial to a mount, removing a vial cap, disinfecting at least the vial septum, and mounting an adaptor onto the vial septum.
Claims30
An automated vial preparation module that, when in use, prepares vials for being used in pharmaceutical compounding, said preparation of vials comprising at least cleaning a septum of a vial, said vial preparation module comprising:
- a vial mount having a mount top surface for placing thereon a vial to be prepared in an upright orientation;
- a manipulator including a swab gripper operable to grip at least a first swab;
- and
- control circuitry configured for:
- maneuvering at least one of the vial mount and the manipulator with respect to the other to position the swab gripper at least partially vertically above the vial mount;
- and
- bringing the first swab gripped by the swab gripper into direct contact with a septum of the vial placed upright on the mount top surface.
An automated method for preparation of vials for reducing a risk of contamination, the method carried out by an automated vial preparation module comprising a vial mount and a manipulator including a swab gripper, said method comprising steps of:
- receiving, at a mount top surface of the vial mount, a vial to be prepared in an upright orientation;
- gripping, by the swab gripper of the manipulator, at least a first swab;
- and
- maneuvering at least one of the vial mount and the manipulator with respect to the other to position the swab gripper at least partially vertically above the vial mount, and
- bringing the first swab gripped by the swab gripper into direct contact with a septum of the vial placed upright on the mount top surface for cleaning the vial septum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.