Automated pharmacy admixture system (APAS)

A robotic automated pharmaceutical processing system comprising:

• a processor-based interface configured to receive requests to prepare one or more pharmaceutical prescriptions;
• and
• a controller coupled to the interface and configured to operate an automated prescription preparation device in response to the received requests, the automated prescription preparation device comprising:
• an inventory chamber comprising a housing to store within the inventory chamber a plurality of inventory items to be used in the preparation of one or more pharmaceutical prescriptions;
• an exterior access portal formed in a first side wall of the housing of the inventory chamber, wherein the exterior access portal is operable between a closed position and an open position to provide an operator access for loading and unloading inventory items in the inventory chamber;
• a compounding chamber access portal in a second side of the inventory chamber;
• a rotatable inventory carousel disposed in the inventory chamber to receive the plurality of inventory items, wherein the carousel is rotatable about a vertical axis and comprises a first plurality of locations each adapted to receive an IV bag, a second plurality of locations each adapted to receive a vial that contains a drug, and a third plurality of locations each adapted to receive a syringe configured with a plunger slidably disposed within a first end of a barrel and a needle coupled to a second opposite end of the barrel, and wherein the carousel is configured to bring a selected one of the locations in proximity to the compounding chamber access portal to present a selected inventory item being stored at the selected location to the compounding chamber access portal;
• a compounding chamber adjacent to the inventory chamber and communicating with the inventory chamber through the compounding chamber access portal in the second side, the second side being disposed between the compounding chamber and the inventory chamber, wherein air pressure within the compounding chamber is negative relative to an ambient air pressure proximate and exterior to the compounding chamber;
• a multi-axis multi-linkage robot disposed within the compounding chamber and configured to grasp an inventory item being presented from the carousel in the inventory chamber to the compounding chamber access portal, convey the grasped inventory item to a first process location, release the inventory item for processing at the first process location, and subsequently convey the processed inventory item to a second process location in the compounding chamber;
• a syringe manipulator station configured to hold a syringe with a needle directed in a generally upward orientation for drawing fluid through the needle from a vial into the held syringe;
• a shaking station configured to impart a motion to the vial to mix the contents of the vial before the drawing of fluid from the vial;
• an air handling system arranged to provide air flow through the compounding chamber;
• a waste container area disposed in proximity to the compounding chamber to receive inventory items that have been processed in the compounding chamber;
• and
• an aperture that couples the compounding chamber to the waste container area, wherein the air handling system is arranged to cause at least a portion of the provided air flow to flow from an interior region of the compounding chamber through the aperture generally toward a waste container disposed in the waste container area.