Automated pharmacy admixture system (APAS)

An automated pharmacy admixture system comprising:

• a supply of IV bags, each bag having at least one of a plurality of different fill port configurations;
• a substantially aseptic chamber comprising at least one fluid transfer station configured to transfer fluids into or out of an IV bag, wherein a pressure inside the substantially aseptic chamber is negative relative to ambient atmospheric pressure;
• a carrier that delivers the supply of IV bags to a location proximate the substantially aseptic chamber;
• and
• an actuator to convey the IV bags to one or more of the fluid transfer stations within the chamber.

An automated pharmacy admixture system, comprising:

• a carrier system comprising a rotating carousel to present a plurality of different types of medical containers to a location proximate or within a first substantially aseptic zone that is controlled to maintain a pressure level negative relative to ambient atmospheric pressure, wherein the plurality of different types of medical containers comprise items selected from the group consisting of syringes, IV bags, and vials, and wherein the carrier system is substantially disposed in a second substantially aseptic zone;
• a robotic manipulator system to handle the plurality of different types of medical containers within the first substantially aseptic zone;
• a fluid transfer system disposed at least substantially within the first substantially aseptic zone, the fluid transfer system comprising a fluid transfer port to transfer fluids to or from the medical containers;
• and
• a controller comprising a processor to receive instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• actuating the robotic manipulator system to transfer an IV bag or vial to the fluid transfer system;
• bringing a fill port of the IV bag or vial and the fluid transfer port into register with one another;
• moving the fill port and the fluid transfer port out of register after a fluid transfer operation;
• and
• actuating the robotic manipulator system to remove the IV bag or vial from the fluid transfer system.

An automated pharmacy admixture system, comprising:

• a processing chamber that provides a substantially aseptic environment for a preparation of one or more pharmaceutical doses, wherein the system is configured to maintain a pressure level inside the processing chamber that is substantially below an atmospheric pressure level proximate and exterior to the processing chamber to substantially reduce an egress of chemicals from inside the processing chamber to outside the processing chamber;
• an inventory chamber exterior and adjacent to the processing chamber for storing within an interior of the inventory chamber a plurality of inventory items to be used in the preparation of one or more pharmaceutical doses, wherein the plurality of inventory items comprises at least one container of diluent, at least one medication container including medication, and at least one syringe, each of the at least one syringes comprising a plunger disposed within a first end of a barrel and a needle coupled to a second opposite end of the barrel, wherein the inventory chamber substantially encloses the plurality of inventory items in an environment substantially separate from an ambient environment outside of the inventory chamber;
• a rotatable inventory carousel disposed in the inventory chamber and rotatable around a vertical axis, the inventory carousel operable to support the plurality of inventory items;
• an exterior access portal in a side of the inventory chamber, wherein the exterior access portal is operable from a closed position to an open position to provide an operator access to the plurality of inventory items stored within the inventory chamber;
• a multiple degree of freedom robotic arm disposed within the processing chamber and configured to reach into the inventory chamber, retrieve an inventory item being supported by the inventory carousel, present the inventory item to a first process location in the processing chamber, release the inventory item for processing at the first process location, and subsequently retrieve the inventory item and convey the inventory item to a second process location;
• an opening defined in a side between the inventory chamber and the processing chamber wherein the opening is arranged to permit the robotic arm to reach through the opening and grasp a selected inventory item supported by the inventory carousel within the inventory chamber;
• a syringe manipulator station within the processing chamber that is configured to hold the syringe;
• a waste container situated to receive processed inventory items from the robotic arm;
• and
• a controller that is configured to cause steps to be performed to prepare a pharmaceutical dose in an output container, the steps comprising:
• (a) selecting at least one of each of the at least one syringe, the at least one diluent container, and the at least one medication container to be used to prepare an output container that comprises a pharmaceutical dose;
• (b) rotating the inventory carousel to at least one position to make at least one of the selected syringe, the selected diluent container, and the selected medication container accessible by the robotic arm as the robotic arm reaches through the opening;
• (c) conveying the selected syringe and the selected diluent container to the syringe manipulator station using the robotic arm;
• (d) registering the needle of the selected syringe with a port of the selected diluent container and drawing diluent from the selected diluent container into the selected syringe;
• (e) conveying the selected medication container to the syringe manipulator station using the robotic arm;
• and
• (f) registering the needle of the selected syringe with a port of the selected medication container to inject at least a portion of the diluent that was drawn into the syringe in order to reconstitute the medication in the selected medication container.