Automated apparatus and process for reconstitution and delivery of medication to an automated syringe preparation apparatus

An automated medication preparation system including automated syringe preparation including reconstitution of the medication and delivery of the reconstituted medication to a syringe, the system comprising:

• an automated device for delivering a prescribed dosage amount of medication to the syringe by injecting the medication through an uncapped barrel in a just-in-time for use manner;
• a controller in communication with the automated device and including a database for storing reconstitution information that is used to control the automated device for reconstituting the medication prior to it being injected into the syringe, wherein the reconstitution information include at least a concentration of the resultant medication and a mixing time for agitating the medication;
• and
• wherein the automated device for delivering a prescribed dosage amount of medication to the syringe comprises an automated robotic device having a cannula unit that is rotatably mounted to a vertical base which is itself rotatably mounted to a lower ground base, wherein the cannula unit includes a cannula extending thereaway for performing at least one of the following operations:
• (1) receiving and discharging diluent from a diluent supply in a prescribed amount to reconstitute the medication in a vial;
• and (2) aspirating and later discharging reconstituted medication from the vial into the syringe.

An automated medication preparation system including automated syringe preparation including delivery of a prescribed amount of medication to the syringe, the system comprising:

• a source of medication;
• a first conduit connected at one end to the source of medication and at the other end to an input port of a pump that has an output port that is connected to a second conduit that terminates at its other end in a connector;
• an automated rotary device that is indexed to advance one syringe from one station to another station, the rotary device having a feature formed as part thereof for releasably retaining the syringe;
• an automated device for extending a plunger of a syringe barrel positioned at a fluid transfer position of the rotary device, the automated device being operatively connected to a control unit which instructs the automated device to extend the plunger a predetermined distance based on the prescribed amount of medication;
• and
• wherein the connector sealingly mates with an open end of the syringe barrel so that extension of the plunger creates a negative pressure condition within the barrel and results in the prescribed amount of medication being drawn therein from the second conduit.

An automated medication preparation system including automated syringe preparation comprising:

• an automated injectable drug vial delivery assembly that identifies and transfers one drug vial from a storage location to a fluid transfer station by means of a robotic vial gripper device;
• an automated device disposed at the fluid transfer station for delivering a prescribed dosage amount of medication to an uncapped syringe by delivering the medication through the uncapped barrel in a just-in-time for use manner;
• and
• a multi-use medication station where drug vials that are identified as multi-use medication vials are stored after the prescribed dosage amount of the medication is withdrawn from the vial and an unused amount remains therein, wherein the vial is delivered to the multi-use medication station by means of the robotic vial gripper device and is available for later use when another syringe requiring the medication contained in the vial is prepared.

A method for automated preparation of a medication including automated syringe preparation that includes reconstitution of the medication and delivery of the reconstituted medication to a syringe, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an automated device for delivering a prescribed dosage amount of medication to the syringe by injecting the medication through an uncapped barrel in a just-in-time for use manner;
• inputting medication identifying information for identifying the medication that is to be prepared for use;
• accessing and retrieving stored reconstitution instructions from a database that is associated with the inputted medication identifying information, the reconstitution instructions being for controlling the automated device for reconstituting the medication prior to it being injected into the syringe, wherein the reconstitution instructions include at least a concentration of the resultant medication and a mixing time for agitating the medication;
• and
• reconstituting the medication, in accordance with the stored reconstitution instructions, in vial with an automated robotic device having a rotatable cannula unit by first discharging a prescribed amount of diluent through the cannula unit into the vial;
• then agitating the medication in the vial, then aspirating and later discharging the prescribed dosage amount of medication from the vial into the syringe in a just-in-time for use manner.