Fluid compounding method and apparatus

A fluid compounding apparatus for pumping solutions from a plurality of supply containers into a receiving container, said apparatus comprising:

• base housing means configured for support on a surface;
• subhousing means attached to the upper surface of said base housing means;
• a plurality of supply container receiving stations, each of said stations including cradle means on said subhousing means and weight sensing means within said subhousing means with means interconnecting said cradle means and said weight sensing means, each of said cradle means being configured for supporting a supply container with the discharge end thereof facing downwardly, said weight sensing means sensing the weight of the supply container and the solution therein;
• a like plurality of pumping means within said housing means, said subhousing means and each of said pumping means including means for passage of tubing from the discharge ends of each of the supply containers through said pumping means to a receiving container;
• control panel means on said housing means for enabling the input of information into said control means of the amount of solution to be dispensed from the solution in each of the dispensing containers;
• and
• microprocessor means within said housing means responsive to the input of information via said control panel means for enabling generally simultaneous commencement of operation of each of said plurality of pumping means and for enabling selective cessation of each of said pumping means in response to said input information for enabling pumping of the solution from each one of the dispensing containers supported by said cradle means of an amount of solution determined in accordance with the input information for the particular pumping station.

A method for fluid compounding by pumping solutions from a plurality of supply containers by a like plurality of pump devices into a receiving container, said method comprising:

• placing a plurality of supply containers on cradles having weight sensing means therebelow;
• entering into a control means the amount of solution desired to be disposed from each of said supply containers;
• generally simultaneously actuating the plurality of pump devices;
• periodically sampling the weight of each of said plurality of supply containers;
• sensing the flow of solution from each of said supply containers;
• controlling the operation of each of said pump devices in accordance with the sampling of the weight of each of said supply containers compared with the amount of solution desired to be dispensed from each of said supply containers until the desired amount of each solution is dispensed;
• and
• interrupting the operation of all pump devices in the event the sensed flow of solution ceases.

Fluid compounding apparatus for pumping solutions from a plurality of supply containers into a receiving container, said apparatus comprising:

• base housing means configured for support on a surface;
• subhousing means attached to the upper surface of said base housing means;
• a plurality of supply container receiving stations, each of said stations including cradle means on said subhousing means and weight sensing means within said subhousing means with means interconnecting said cradle means and said weight sensing means, each of said cradle means being configured for supporting a supply container with the discharge end thereof facing downwardly, said weight sensing means sensing the weight of the supply container and the solution therein;
• a like plurality of pumping means within said housing means;
• manifold means;
• tubing means including lengths of tubing interconnecting said manifold means and the discharge ends of each of the supply containers;
• means for interconnecting said manifold means with a receiving container;
• control panel means on said housing means for enabling the input of information into said control means of the amount of solution to be dispensed from the solution in each of the dispensing containers;
• and
• control means within said housing means responsive to the input of information via said control means for enabling generally simultaneous commencement of operation of each of said plurality of pumping means and for enabling selective cessation of each of said pumping means in response to said input information for enabling pumping of the solution from each one of the dispensing containers supported by said cradle means of an amount of solution determined in accordance with the input information for the particular pumping station.