IP Library Granted Patent US 8,794,276
Granted Patent B2
US 8,794,276 · App. 12/870,881 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Method and machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products

Inventors: Paolo Giribona (Trieste, IT); Walter Bianco (Trieste, IT); Michele Minisini (Trieste, IT); Garcia Gaspar de Viedma Santoro (Madrid, ES)
Assignee: Health Robotics S.r.l.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,794,276
App. No.
12/870,881
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Method and machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products according to which a container containing a liquid phase and a gaseous phase is connected to an aspiration circuit of a given amount of the liquid phase; a flow sensor being provided for detecting the passage of the liquid phase and of the gaseous phase along the aspiration circuit.

Claims (32)

1. A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products comprising:

a picking station adapted to receive at least one container containing a liquid phase and a gaseous phase;

a conveying line for feeding the container into the picking station;

an aspiration circuit, which is mounted in the picking station to pick a given amount of the liquid phase contained in the container, and comprises an inlet connectable to the container itself,

wherein the aspiration circuit comprises a suction pump connected to said inlet, and a flow sensor mounted between the inlet and the aspiration pump for detecting the passage of the liquid phase and of the gaseous phase along the aspiration circuit itself; and

wherein the conveying line comprises a pocket conveyor adapted to feed the container through the picking station with a concavity thereof facing upwards.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the aspiration pump is a peristaltic pump.

3. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the flow sensor is a capacitance type sensor.

4. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising an aspiration needle defining said inlet and an actuating device for moving the needle from and to an operating position, wherein the needle is arranged in the gaseous phase of the container.

5. A method for the preparation of pharmaceutical products, the method comprising:

feeding a container containing a given amount of the liquid phase and a gaseous phase into a picking station by way of a conveying line that defines an upwardly facing concavity;

connecting the container with an aspiration circuit;

aspirating the gaseous phase contained in the container;

detecting the passage of the liquid phase along the aspiration circuit;

aspirating a given amount of the liquid phase contained in the container; and

feeding the container through the picking station with the concavity thereof facing upwards.

6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising inserting an aspiration needle of the aspiration circuit into the gaseous phase of said container.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a calculation device connected with respect to the aspiration pump and with respect to the flow sensor to calculate the volume of the liquid phase aspirated by the container starting from an instant in which the flow sensor detects passage of the liquid phase along the aspiration circuit.

8. The method according to claim 5 , comprising calculating the amount of liquid phase aspirated from the container starting from an instant in which the passage of the liquid phase along the aspiration circuit is detected.

9. A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products comprising:

a picking station adapted to receive at least one container containing a liquid phase and a gaseous phase;

a conveying line for feeding the container into the picking station;

an aspiration circuit, which is mounted in the picking station to pick a given amount of the liquid phase contained in the container, and comprises an inlet connectable to the container itself,

wherein the aspiration circuit comprises a suction pump connected to said inlet, and a flow sensor mounted between the inlet and the aspiration pump for detecting the passage of the liquid phase and of the gaseous phase along the aspiration circuit itself; and

an aspiration needle defining said inlet and an actuating device for moving the needle from and to an operating position, wherein the needle is arranged in the gaseous phase of the container.

10. A method for the preparation of pharmaceutical products, the method comprising:

feeding a container containing a given amount of the liquid phase and a gaseous phase into a picking station;

connecting the container with an aspiration circuit;

aspirating the gaseous phase contained in the container;

detecting the passage of the liquid phase along the aspiration circuit;

aspirating a given amount of the liquid phase contained in the container; and

inserting an aspiration needle of the aspiration circuit into the gaseous phase of said container.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: OMNICELL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066703/0184 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2019
From: AESYNT B.V.
To: OMNICELL, INC.
Reel/Frame 050938/0824 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 6, 2019
From: AESYNT TOPCO B.V.
To: AESYNT B.V.
Reel/Frame 050938/0788 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2016
From: TPG SPECIALTY LENDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AESYNT B.V. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AESYNT TOPCO B.V.)
Reel/Frame 037410/0622 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2014
From: HEALTH ROBOTICS S.R.L.
To: AESYNT TOPCO B.V.
Reel/Frame 032986/0613 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 21, 2014
From: AESYNT TOPCO B.V.
To: TPG SPECIALTY LENDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032981/0671 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2010
From: GIRIBONA, PAOLO; BIANCO, WALTER; MINISINI, MICHELE; DE VIEDMA SANTORO, GARCIA GASPAR
To: HEALTH ROBOTICS S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 025360/0373 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120048418A1 · Mar 1, 2012