Automated drug preparation apparatus including syringe loading, preparation and filling

1. 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.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dose verification device includes a laser that generates a beam that is directed and is positioned at a target fill location relative to the drug delivery device such that once the beam is impinged by the medication, delivery of the medication is stopped and the volume of the dosage of medication is calculated.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second line segments are linear in nature.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dose verification device is configured to calibrate the volume of the prescribed dosage of medication to pixel locations and map boundary locations of the third line segment and is configured to calculate a liquid volume of the dosage of medication based on the calibration and location and boundaries of the third line segment that represents where the dosage of medication is present.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light beam generated by the laser light source is projected so that the plunger and the space below the plunger is within the light beam projection.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dose verification device includes a line generator lens that is arranged so that it is directed toward the syringe.