Apparatus and methods for dispensing pre-filled containers with precisely-applied patient-specific information

A system for application of patient-specific information to a pre-filled drug container having a first label representative of the container contents comprising:

• a positioner configured to position the container, the container having a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion and the first label covers the first sidewall portion and the second sidewall portion is unlabeled, the positioner comprising:
• a first support arm;
• a second support arm;
• a first idler roller coupled to the first support arm;
• a second idler roller coupled to the second support arm;
• a first actuator coupled to the first support arm and configured to move the first support arm independent of the second support arm;
• and
• a second actuator coupled to the second support arm and configured to move the second support arm independent of the first support arm, wherein the first and second actuators are configured to the move the first and second support arms, respectively, to bring the first and second idler rollers into contact with the container;
• a labeler configured to print and to apply a second label including patient-specific information to the container;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the positioner and the labeler, the controller configured to control the labeler to print patient-specific information on the second label, to control the positioner to orient the container relative to the labeler such that the second sidewall portion of the container faces the labeler, and to control the labeler to move the second label into contact with the second sidewall portion of the container without obscuring the first label.

A method of adapting a pre-filled stock container for use as a patient-specific container through application of a label including patient-specific information to the container comprising the steps of:

• providing the pre-filled stock container to a labeler in a first orientation, the container including first indicia representative of the container contents and a reference point;
• detecting the location of the reference point;
• processing information representative of the location of the reference point to determine the first orientation of the container;
• controlling a positioner to move the container from the first orientation to a label application orientation based upon the determined first orientation of the container, the positioner comprising:
• a first support arm;
• a second support arm;
• a first idler roller coupled to the first support arm;
• a second idler roller coupled to the second support arm;
• a first actuator coupled to the first support arm and configured to move the first support arm independent of the second support arm;
• and
• a second actuator coupled to the second support arm and configured to move the second support arm independent of the first support arm, wherein the first and second actuators are configured to the move the first and second support arms, respectively, to bring the first and second idler rollers into contact with the container;
• printing a label including patient specific information via a labeler;
• and
• controlling the labeler to move the label with patient specific information into contact with the container such that the first indicia is unobscured by the label.