US-20260124588-A1 - COMPOUNDING SYSTEM

US20260124588A1US 20260124588 A1US20260124588 A1US 20260124588A1US-20260124588-A1

Abstract

According to the invention, a compounding system for dosing a compound comprising stations ( 200 ) for receiving repositories ( 300 ) arranged for holding compounds, wherein each repository comprises: a holder ( 310 ) for holding a compound; and a holder coupling end ( 302 ) providing fluid access to the holder; wherein at least one station comprises a weighing unit ( 210 ) comprising a cradle ( 211 ) arranged for receiving the repository and arranged for weighing the cradled repository; wherein the compounding system comprises unloading means ( 220 ) arranged for unloading the weighing unit providing a loaded condition and an unloaded condition; wherein in the loaded condition the holder coupling end is decoupled, and the received repository is arranged to the cradle for weighing; and wherein the unloading means are in the unloaded condition when the holder coupling end of the received repository in the at least one station is being coupled to or decoupled from a container such that the received repository is prohibited from overloading the weighing unit.

Inventors

Sebastiaan LOON VAN

Assignees

THE COMPOUNDING COMPANY B.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231113
Priority Date: 20221114

Claims (20)

1 . A compounding system for dosing a compound comprising stations for receiving repositories arranged for holding compounds, wherein each repository comprises: a holder for holding a compound; and a holder coupling end providing fluid access to the holder: wherein at least one station comprises a weighing unit comprising a cradle arranged for receiving the repository and arranged for weighing the cradled repository; wherein the compounding system comprises unloading means arranged for unloading the weighing unit providing a loaded condition and an unloaded condition: wherein when the unloading means are in the loaded condition, the received repository is arranged to the cradle for weighing; and wherein when the unloading means are in the unloaded condition, the weighing unit is prohibited from weighing: a container holder for holding a container; and coupling means for coupling and decoupling the container held in the container holder to and from the received repository: characterized in that: the unloading means are in the unloaded condition while the holder coupling end of the received repository in the at least one station is coupled to the container for exchanging fluid; and the unloading means are arranged such that the unloaded condition is vertically above the loaded condition.
2 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the unloading means are in the unloaded condition when the holder coupling end of the received repository in the at least one station is being coupled to or decoupled from the container such that the received repository is prohibited from overloading the weighing unit.
3 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the unloading means are configured for arranging the cradle of the at least one station in the unloaded condition while the received repository is coupled to and decoupled from the container.
4 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling means comprise a rotation actuator and/or a translation actuator.
5 . The compounding system according to claim 4 , wherein the rotation actuator comprises a rotation motor, and a gear wheel driving the container holder.
6 . The compounding system according to claim 3 , wherein the translation actuator comprises a translation motor, a translation spindle, a translation spindle nut, and a translation slider.
7 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the unloading means in the loaded condition provide a received and a cradled position to the received repository; and wherein the unloading means in the unloaded condition provide a received and an uncradled position to the received repository.
8 . The compounding system according to claim 7 , wherein the unloading means are arranged such that the uncradled position is vertically above the cradled position.
9 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the unloading means comprise a spring for biasing the repository in the unloaded condition; wherein the compounding system comprises a comprising a frame supporting the container holder and the at least one station; wherein the spring is arranged to the container holder for biasing the received repository in the unloaded position; and wherein the spring is arranged for biasing the received repository upwards.
10 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the holder coupling end comprises a first thread for coupling with a second thread of the container; and wherein the compounding system comprises: a rotation actuator for rotating the container for coupling to and decoupling from repository; and a controller configured for controlling the unloading means and rotation actuator such that the unloading means are in the unloaded condition during that the repository is coupled to and/or decoupled from the container.
13 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein an adapter is arranged to the repository for adapting the shape of the repository to cooperate with the at least one station.
14 . The compounding system according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one station has a shape preventing rotation of the received repository in the at least one station.
15 . The compounding system according to claim 14 , wherein the shape of the at least one station comprises a hole arranged for receiving the repository vertically from above.
16 . The compounding system according to claim 15 , wherein the hole comprises a stability notch arranged for cooperating with a stability protrusion of the received repository or the adapter for the received repository for prohibiting rotation in a horizontal plane (H), and/or guiding translation of the received repository or the adapter for the received repository in a vertical direction (V).
17 . The compounding system according to claim 15 , wherein the received repository or the adapter for the received repository comprises at least two weighing protrusion; and wherein the cradle comprises at least two contacting surfaces arranged for supporting the at least two weighing protrusions in the loaded condition.
18 . The compounding system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one station comprises: receiving notches arranged for receiving the repository or an adapter for the received repository; and locking means arranged for sliding out of the notches when the repository or the adapter for the repository is received, and confining the received repository or the adapter for the received repository to the loaded condition or the unloaded condition.
19 . The compounding system according to claim 18 , wherein the locking means comprise sliding means rotational means, and an entrance surface; and wherein the sliding means and the entrance surface are arranged for sliding the locking means out of the notches with the applied force of the repository or the adapter for the repository on the at least one station.
20 . The compounding system according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one station comprises a manual control for manually controlling the sliding means.
21 . The compounding system according to claim 18 , wherein the locking means comprise an abutment surface arranged for abutting the received repository in the unloaded condition.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a compounding system. The invention more specifically relates to dosing a compound in a repository held by the compounding system. The invention further relates to an adapter for holding the repository in the compounding system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pharmacies, especially hospital pharmacies, have to compound medicines. These medicines may be compounded in the form of pills, but also in the form of syringes or infusion bags filled with a compounded substance. This compounding may be automated by coupling a syringe or infusion bag to a compounding system. For example, US2017008651A1 discloses a machine and a method for the automatic preparation of substances for intravenous application. The machine works by puncturing a container with the needle of a syringe for thereafter drawing a liquid from the container in the syringe. US2017008651A1 further discloses in FIG. 8 a machine for dosing a compound in the container. Disadvantages of US2017008651A1 are that the machine is bulky, and mechanically complex resulting in an error prone machine. Furthermore, dosing with the disclosed machine is inaccurate and/or unvalidated. WO 20217224787 A1 discloses an apparatus for drug preparation, comprising: a first rotor adapted to support a first container for the drug and available, in a releasable manner, on the first rotor; a second rotor adapted to support a plurality of second containers, each containing a respective ingredient, pumping means, controllable by a control unit so as to transfer each ingredient from the respective second container into the first container; a weighing device, adapted to weigh the first container and comprising a translation means, a loading cell and at least one spacer adapted to support the first container. In a condition where the spacer supports the first container by decoupling it from the first support element, the loading cell is adapted to continuously generate, during the transfer of the ingredient, a quantity indicative of a weight force. A disadvantage of the is that the weighing device is inaccurate and regularly breaks down. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to overcome one or more of the disadvantages mentioned above. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compounding system for dosing a compound comprising stations for receiving repositories arranged for holding compounds, wherein each repository comprises: a holder for holding a compound; and a holder coupling end providing fluid access to the holder; wherein at least one station comprises a weighing unit comprising a cradle arranged for receiving the repository and arranged for weighing the cradled repository; wherein the compounding system comprises unloading means arranged for unloading the weighing unit providing a loaded condition and an unloaded condition; wherein in the loaded condition the received repository is arranged to the cradle for weighing; a container holder (120) for holding a container (10); and coupling means for coupling and decoupling the container held in the container holder to and from the received repository; wherein the unloading means are in the unloaded condition when the holder coupling end of the received repository in the at least one station is being coupled to or decoupled from the container such that the received repository is prohibited from overloading the weighing unit; and wherein the unloading means are configured for arranging the cradle of the at least one station in the unloaded condition while the holder coupling end of the received repository in the at least one station is coupled to the container for exchanging fluid. A compounding system is a system arranged for compounding substances or compounds, such as liquids or gels. The compounded substance is typically collected in a container and/or repository. Alternatively, the container and/or repository collects the different substances making up the compounded substance. The container is typically used for transporting and/or temporarily storing the compounded substance. The repository may provide a supply of compound or substance and/or may hold the finally compounded compound or substance. The compounded substance in the container and/or repository may be administered to a patient. The compounding system is typically used in medical settings, such as in a hospital pharmacy, for compounding syringes and/or infusion bags. The compounding system advantageously may alleviate manual labour. Furthermore, the compounding system may replace manual operation preventing dosing failures. Both these advantages may also apply to the automated dosing of the container and/or repository. The container is typically a syringe. Syringes are typically standardized in the medical sector. The container has a container body typically provided with an inner space or a volume for holding or containing the compounded substance. The container also has a plunger typically ar