Cartridge loading system for syringe caps
AssigneeOmnicell, Inc.
InventorsRyan Kaintz, Peter Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartridge and loading system for loading tamper-evident syringe caps into a robotic pharmaceutical compounding device. The compounding device has a syringe finishing station, and can transfer tamper-evident caps from the cartridge to the syringe finishing station. The cartridge has a floor disposed at an angle to horizontal. The device may include a vibratory element for vibrating the cartridge, so that tamper-evident caps are fed to an outlet of the cartridge by gravity.
Claims19
A robotic compounding system, comprising:
- a syringe finishing station having an input location configured to individually receive tamper-evident syringe caps and to individually place the tamper-evident syringe caps onto syringes;
- and
- a cartridge that is configured to hold a supply of tamper-evident syringe caps, the cartridge having an outlet positioned adjacent the input location of the syringe finishing station, wherein the cartridge comprises a floor that is angled toward the outlet to facilitate movement of the tamper-evident syringe caps toward the outlet.
A cartridge for holding tamper-evident syringe caps, the cartridge comprising:
- a flat floor;
- opposing side walls rising from the floor, the floor and side walls defining a storage volume, and the side walls including curved sections that approach each other such that the storage volume narrows toward an outlet of the cartridge;
- an end wall opposite the outlet of the cartridge;
- a cover that snaps onto the side walls to enclose the storage volume;
- and
- a spring-loaded door that by default closes off the outlet of the cartridge.
A method of loading tamper-evident syringe caps into a robotic compounding device, the method comprising:
- providing a cartridge having a storage volume for containing the tamper-evident syringe caps;
- placing a supply of tamper-evident syringe caps into the cartridge;
- and
- inserting the cartridge into the robotic compounding device.
A tool for bulk loading of tamper-evident syringe caps into a cartridge, the tool comprising:
- a main body having two portions joined by a hinge;
- two rows of gripping features descending from the main body, one row of gripping features on each side of the hinge;
- and
- two crossed levers, each of the levers having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends of the two levers joined respectively to opposite edges of the main body;
- wherein the main body and the two levers are configured such that bringing the distal ends of the two levers closer together bends the main body at the hinge, and brings the two rows of gripping features closer together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.