Automated drug preparation apparatus including syringe loading, preparation and filling

An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device comprising:

• a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device which is in the form of a syringe having a movable plunger disposed therein, wherein one of the stations is a medication delivery station where a prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device;
• a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station;
• and
• a dose verification device for measuring and verifying a volume of the prescribed dosage in the drug delivery device, wherein if the dose verification device detects that a measured volume of the prescribed dosage of medication lies outside of an acceptable volume range, then the drug delivery device is identified as needing further inspection and is not automatically advanced to the next station;
• wherein the system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time;
• wherein the dose verification device includes a laser light source that generates a light beam that is projected through the drug delivery device parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drug delivery device, the dose verification device having a camera on an opposite side of the drug delivery device relative to the laser light source, the camera being configured to observe different laser line segments that differ in their locations based on differences in index of refraction, a first line segment representing a space below the plunger that is free of the prescribed dosage and a second line segment representing a space above the dosage of medication, and a third line segment being offset from the first and second line segments and being indicative of the volume of the prescribed dosage of medication that is defined in part by the plunger and is located above the plunger, wherein the dose verification device processes coordinate information relative to the offset third line segment to calculate the volume of the prescribed dosage of medication that is contained in the drug delivery device.