FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the sector of dosing machines, more specifically to the sector of dosing machines for medications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the sector of dosing machines, for example for medications, one of the major technical problems present is that of down-time owing to the need to load the machine with new medical containers between batches in preparation. Another technical problem is the fact that the different shapes and/or sizes of the medical containers to be dosed makes it difficult to automate the dosing process, in particular owing to the differing positions of the dosing point (as defined below).

In the prior art there is still a need for devices and systems for loading medical containers on dosing machines which allow quick and easy loading minimising the down-time between batches. In addition, there is also the need to provide universal devices and systems which can be used to load any type of medical container, and which facilitate automation of the dosing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to disclose means which allow the down-time related to the loading/unloading of different types of medical containers on dosing machines to be reduced. Said means, in addition, allow the loading of different types and/or sizes of medical containers ensuring that the dosing point, regardless of the medical container concerned, is always positioned in the same place, thus allowing easy automation of the dosing process.

As used in the present document, ‘medical container’ and the plural thereof, refers to any type of container used in medicine to store, prepare or administer medications (for example, intravenous medications, such as non-cytostatic intravenous medications, including antibiotics and anaesthetics) and other solutions used in intravenous treatments (such as physiological solutions, saline solutions or nutritional solutions).

As used in the present document ‘dosing point’ and the plural thereof refer to the point of the medical container through which the dosing is carried out, that is, the point through which the medication is introduced (preferably intravenous medications, such as non-cytostatic intravenous medications, including, among others, antibiotics and anaesthetics) or intravenous treatment solutions (such as physiological solutions, saline solutions or nutritional solutions) into the medical container.

As used in the present document ‘clipping means’ and the plural thereof refer to paired structures which interact by resilient spatial interference. One of the structures provides resistance as the other passes forcing said other structure to move slightly on the vertical axis and/or horizontal axis thereof in order, once introduced in the structure that provides resistance, to return to its position. The terms ‘clipping’ and ‘clipping structure’, the plurals thereof and similar terms are interpreted in accordance with the definition provided for ‘clipping means’ and the plural thereof.

Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for loading medical containers on dosing machines, which comprises an adaptor for medical containers and a support for said adaptor, in which the support comprises attachment means to the dosing machine, and in which said adaptor and said support comprise means for pivoting relative to one another, such as a latch, and means for clipping to each other, such as a hinge, said means being arranged such that the pivoting of the adaptor and of the support by means of the pivoting means produces the clipping together of the adaptor and the support.

Preferably, the dosing machines are dosing machines for medications, more preferably, dosing of intravenous medications, still more preferably, non-cytostatic intravenous medications (for example antibiotics or anaesthetics).

The device according to the present invention allows quick and easy loading of the adaptor in the support to take place owing to the pivoting and clipping means present on the adaptor and the support. Firstly, the pivoting means allow easy initial interaction to take place between the adaptor and the support thereof as these are coupled or almost coupled surfaces each situated on one of the parts mentioned. Accordingly, both parts (support and adaptor) can interact initially without the need to apply force. In addition, the pivoting means produce a contact surface between the parts which guide the movement between the adaptor and the support so that the clipping means are actuated, thus facilitating the coincidence of said clipping means. All this helps ensure that with the device according to the present invention the operator can load the adaptor in the support using only one hand.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that the support used serves equally well for loading different adaptors for different medical containers.

In addition, as will be explained in more detail below, the different structures envisaged for the adaptor (to receive the different types of medical containers), in combination with the support of the present invention help prevent the rotation and vertical movement of the medical container, ensuring that said containers are kept immobile or almost immobile during the dosing process.

Moreover, the device according to the present invention helps ensure that the dosing point, as defined above, is always in a position that is known by the machine and/or robot.

All this helps facilitate and make possible the automation of the dosing process for medical containers.

Said pivoting means comprise, preferably, at least one pivot and at least one paired pivoting surface. Said pivot/s and the paired pivoting surface/s are situated on the above-mentioned adaptor and support so as to be able to interact with each other in pairs. Thus, in one embodiment, when the pivot/s is/are situated on the adaptor for medical containers, the pivoting surface/s is/are situated on the support for said adaptor. In another embodiment, when the pivoting surface/s is/are situated on the adaptor for medical containers, the pivot/s is/are situated on the support for said adaptor. Other possible combinations that achieve the above are included within the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the pivot/s comprise/s at least one projection with a rounded surface, even more preferably it/they comprise/s two projections with a rounded surface which allow pivoting when the projection and recess (paired pivoting structure) come in contact with each other. In the most preferred embodiment, said two projections with a rounded surface are situated at one end of the adaptor, preferably at the end proximal to the dosing zone or to the base of the support when said adaptor for medical containers is situated on the support thereof.

In another preferred embodiment, the pivoting surface/s comprise/s a recess paired with the pivot/s (preferably coinciding or adapted to the projection/s with a rounded surface). In the most preferred embodiment, said at least one pivoting surface comprises two recesses paired with said two projections with a rounded surface, each recess comprising a limit stop which extends the concave surface of each of said recesses, said recesses and limit stops being situated on the base of the support for the adaptor for medical containers.

The above-mentioned clipping means comprise, preferably, at least one clipping projection and at least one paired clipping aperture, one of said structures being situated on the adaptor and the other on the support, such that the projection/s can interact with the paired clipping aperture/s. Thus, in one embodiment, the clipping projection/s is/are on the support and the paired clipping aperture/s on the adaptor for medical containers. In another embodiment, the paired clipping aperture/s is/are on the support and the clipping projection/s on the adaptor for medical containers. Other possible combinations which achieve the above are also included within the scope of the present invention.

Preferably, the at least one aperture is a single aperture and is situated on the adaptor for medical containers.

Also preferably, the clipping projection/s comprise/s three clipping projections in the following configuration:a) a central projection which comprises a vertical clipping tab; andb) two horizontal lateral clipping projections, situated one on either side of said central projection.

Said three clipping projections as indicated above are situated preferably on the support for said adaptor, even more preferably on the contact surface with said adaptor at the end opposite the attachment means to the dosing machine present on said support, that is, distally relative to said attachment means.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for fixing to the dosing machine which comprises the support may be any of those known in the prior art, more preferably, these are two projections and two apertures. Said two projections and two apertures can have any arrangement, more preferably, arranged alternately in pairs. Said fixing means are situated, preferably, on the base of the support.

It is envisaged that the adaptor for medical containers and the support for said adaptor comprise additional paired structures which allow improved interaction between said two parts. In one embodiment, the adaptor for medical containers, on a contact surface with the adaptor, comprises two elongate tabs (preferably on the vertical axis of the adaptor, taking as a reference the position of said adaptor when placed on the support), one on each lateral wall. Said tabs are situated preferably in a zone immediately below the clipping means. In this embodiment, the support comprises elongate apertures paired on the contact surface thereof with the adaptor for medical containers which, preferably, are situated in a zone immediately below the clipping means. The function of said structure is to assist guidance between the two parts when the adaptor for medical containers is loaded on the corresponding support and to help avoid rotation between said parts.

The adaptor for medical containers is adapted to the corresponding medical container. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the adaptor for medical containers is an adaptor for syringes, bags, vials and/or bottles. Said adaptor therefore comprises a zone for receiving syringes, bags, vials and/or bottles. In each case said reception zone will comprise suitable structures in order to hold and prevent vertical and rotational movements of the medical container in question. Said reception zone is situated on the adaptor for medical containers on a surface which is not in contact with the support for said adaptor. Preferably, said surface is the surface of the adaptor distal or opposite to the support for said adaptor (when the adaptor for medical containers is situated on the support thereof).

The dosing machine preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock connection. In this case, the medical containers used (for example, syringes, bags, vials or bottles), comprise a Luer-Lock-type injection or dosing point. If not, the corresponding Luer-Lock punch must be positioned or fitted thereon.

If the medical container is a syringe, the above-mentioned reception zone comprises, preferably, a housing for one of the two fins which syringes usually comprise and two clamps for holding the body of the syringe (as persons skilled in the art will be aware, the number of clamps present on the syringe adaptor may vary depending on the size and/or weight of the syringe and of the structure itself and/or the material of said clamps). In said structure, said housing helps prevent the rotation and vertical movement of the syringe and the two clamps help secure or hold the syringe.

If the medical container is a bag, the above-mentioned reception zone preferably comprises at least one clamp for securing one or more openings of said bag, more preferably a single clamp. In this way, said at least one clamp for securing one or more openings of the bag prevents the rotation and vertical sliding thereof.

As mentioned above, the dosing machine preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock. If none of the openings of the bag has a Luer-Lock-type connection (Luer-Lock-type dosing point), then the at least one clamp for securing one or more openings of the bag secures the Luer-Lock punch which should be positioned or fitted on the bag and, optionally, one or more openings thereof.

In addition and depending on the circumstances (for example, depending on the size and/or weight of the bag), it may be necessary to use at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed (preferably, two lateral arms) and which prevent the bag from moving forwards or backwards. In a preferred embodiment, said at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed, as explained above, are on a part separate from the adaptor and the support explained above, and which is connected to, or interacts directly with, the support or with the adaptor (bag cage), more preferably with the support. It is also envisaged that said at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed, are comprised in the adaptor.

Clearly, depending on the structure of the bag and the interaction thereof with the corresponding adaptor and/or with the support for said adaptor, the above-mentioned lateral arms (preferably the two lateral arms of the bag cage) may have different configurations. Said lateral arms are preferably centred relative to the axis of the bag to be held or supported. In some embodiments, the axis of the bag and the axis of the adaptor and/or of the support may coincide and, therefore, in said embodiments the lateral arms will also be centred relative to the adaptor and/or the support.

Depending on the circumstances (for example, depending on the size and weight of the bag and/or the number of openings and how said openings are to be supported) the inclusion of other additional structures is envisaged (on the adaptor or as separate parts which can be connected to the support and/or to the adaptor), such as one or more support or seating structures for the bag and/or any of the openings thereof (to prevent said openings from interfering in the dosing process).

If the medical container is a vial or a bottle, the above-mentioned reception zone preferably comprises at least one clamp, more preferably, a single clamp, for securing the inlet opening of the vial or bottle, preventing the rotation and vertical movement of said vial or bottle.

As mentioned above, the dosing machine preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock. If the entrance opening of the vial does not have a Luer-Lock-type connection (Luer-Lock-type dosing point), then the above-mentioned at least one clamp (more preferably, a single clamp), secures the Luer-Lock punch which should be positioned or fitted on the vial or bottle.

In a preferred embodiment, the surface distal or opposite to the support on the adaptor for medical containers comprises additional structures, such as a support for one or more Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels which allows, for example, the medical container which is to be dosed to be identified precisely. Said support is shaped such that the one or more RFID labels are in a zone close to the dosing point and makes it possible to ensure that one or more RFID labels are always at the same distance from said dosing point, regardless of the medical container concerned, thus facilitating the correct reading thereof (for example, by the robot responsible for dosing on the dosing machine or other instruments present on said machine).

Given the configuration of the device according to the present invention, said support serves or can be used to attach the various adaptors for the different medical containers to the dosing machine.

It is envisaged that both the adaptor for medical containers and the support thereof may comprise structures additional to those explained above and which allow, for example, the interaction of the adaptor and/or of the support with other elements of the dosing machine (preferably for intravenous medications, still more preferably non-cytostatic intravenous medications), other machines and/or parts or structures.

In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of a device for loading medical containers according to the present invention on dosing machines.

In a preferred embodiment, said dosing machines are dosing machines for medications, more preferably, dosing of intravenous medications, still more preferably dosing of non-cytostatic intravenous medications (such as antibiotics and anaesthetics).

In a third embodiment, the present invention relates to an adaptor for medical containers as explained above, that is, an adaptor for medical containers which comprises pivoting means and clipping means (as indicated above) and which therefore serve to attach said adaptor to a paired support.

It is envisaged that the pivoting means of the adaptor comprise at least one pivot, more preferably, at least one projection with a rounded surface and, still more preferably comprise two projections with a rounded surface, which allow pivoting when projection and recess (paired pivoting structure situated on the support for the adaptor) come in contact with each other. In a more preferred embodiment, said two projections with a rounded surface are situated at one end of the adaptor, preferably at the end proximal to the dosing point or to the base of said paired support when said adaptor for medical containers is situated on the support thereof.

It is envisaged that the clipping means of the adaptor may comprise at least one aperture shaped so that clipping can be produced thereon, more preferably, a single aperture shaped so that clipping can be produced thereon. Said single aperture (clipping means) is situated on the adaptor for medical containers on the contact surface with the support for said adaptor, preferably at a particular distance from the pivoting means (preferably two rounded projections), it being possible for a person skilled in the art to determine said distance depending on the medical container carried by the adaptor and on the weight of said medical container.

As mentioned above, it is envisaged that the adaptor for medical containers may comprise additional structures which allow improved interaction with the support according to the present invention. For example, the adaptor for medical containers comprises, on a contact surface with the support thereof, two elongate tabs (preferably on the vertical axis of the adaptor, taking as a reference the position of said adaptor when placed on the support), one on each lateral wall. Said tabs are situated, preferably, in a zone immediately below the clipping means. The function of said structure, when interacting with the corresponding paired structure on the support, is to help the guidance between the two parts when the adaptor for medical containers is loaded on the corresponding support and help avoid rotation between said parts.

As indicated above, the adaptor for containers is adapted to the corresponding medical container. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the adaptor for medical containers is an adaptor for syringes, bags, vials or bottles. Accordingly, said adaptor comprises a reception zone for syringes, bags, vials and/or bottles. In each case said reception zone will comprise suitable structures to hold and prevent vertical and rotational movements of the medical container in question. Said reception zone is situated on the adaptor for medical containers on a surface that is not in contact with the support for said adaptor. Preferably, said surface is the surface of the adaptor distal and opposite to the support for said adaptor (when the adaptor for medical containers is situated on the support thereof).

The dosing machine, preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock connection. In this case, the medical containers used (for example, syringes, bags, vials or bottles), comprise a Luer-Lock-type injection or dosing point. If not, the corresponding Luer-Lock punch should be positioned or fitted thereto.

If the medical container is a syringe, the above-mentioned reception zone comprises, preferably, a housing for one of the two flanges commonly present on syringes and two clamps for holding the body of the syringe (as persons skilled in the art will be aware, the number of clamps present on the adaptor for syringes may vary depending on the size and/or weight of the syringe and of the structure itself and/or the material of said clamps). In this structure, said housing helps prevent the rotation and vertical movement of the syringe and the two clamps help secure or hold the syringe.

If the medical container is a bag, the above-mentioned reception zone preferably comprises at least one clamp to secure one or more openings of said bag, more preferably a single clamp. Thus, said at least one clamp to secure one or more openings of the bag prevents the rotation and vertical movement thereof.

As mentioned earlier, the dosing machine preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock. If none of the openings of the bag has a Luer-Lock-type connection (Luer-Lock-type dosing point), then the at least one clamp for securing one or more openings of the bag secures the Luer-Lock punch which must be positioned on or fitted to the bag, and optionally one or more openings thereof.

In addition, and depending on the circumstances (for example, depending on the size and/or weight of the bag), it may be necessary to use at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed (preferably, two lateral arms) and which prevent the bag from moving forwards or backwards. In a preferred embodiment, said at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed, as explained above, are situated on a part that is separate from the adaptor and the support described above and which is connected or interacts directly with the support (bag cage). It is also envisaged that said at least two lateral arms between which the bag is placed are included in the adaptor.

Clearly, depending on the structure of the bag and the interaction thereof with the corresponding adaptor and/or with the support for said adaptor, the above-mentioned lateral arms (preferably the two lateral arms of the bag cage) may have different configurations. Said lateral arms are preferably centred relative to the axis of the bag which is to be held or supported. In some embodiments, the axis of the bag and the axis of the adaptor and/or of the support may coincide and, therefore, in said embodiments the lateral arms will also be centred relative to the adaptor and/or the support.

Depending on the circumstances (for example, depending on the size, weight of the bag and/or number of openings and how said openings are to be supported) the inclusion of other additional structures is also envisaged (on the adaptor or as separate parts which can be connected to the support and/or the adaptor), such as one or more support or seating structures for the bag and/or one of the openings thereof (to prevent said openings from interfering in the dosing process).

If the medical container is a vial or bottle, the above-mentioned reception zone preferably comprises at least one clamp, more preferably a single clamp, to secure the entrance opening of the vial or bottle, preventing the rotation and vertical movement of said vial or bottle.

As mentioned earlier, the dosing machine preferably doses by means of a Luer-Lock. If the entrance opening of the vial does not have a Luer-Lock-type connection (Luer-Lock-type dosing point), then the above-mentioned at least one clamp (more preferably, a single clamp), secures the Luer-Lock punch which is to be positioned or fitted on the vial or bottle.

In addition it is envisaged that the adaptor for medical containers according to the present invention should comprise additional structures to those mentioned above. For example, said adaptor may comprise a support for one or more RFID labels preferably situated on an extension present in a zone close to the dosing point, on the surface distal or opposite to the support for said adaptor. In this way, regardless of the medical container loaded in the adaptor, one or more RFID labels will always be found in the same place relative to said dosing point and can be read by the corresponding sensor or reader present on the dosing machine.

The adaptor for medical containers according to the present invention may also comprise structures additional to those explained above which allow the interaction thereof with other elements situated on or of the dosing machine (preferably for medications, more preferably, for intravenous medications, even more preferably for non-cytostatic intravenous medications), with other machines and/or parts or structures, such as two rounded projections on the upper portion of said adaptor (taking as a reference the position thereof relative to the support on the dosing machine) and/or a planar projection perpendicular to the vertical axis of the adaptor situated on the upper rear portion of said adaptor for medical containers (taking the same reference mentioned earlier).

In a fourth embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of an adaptor for medical containers according to the present invention on dosing machines.

In a preferred embodiment, said dosing machines are dosing machines for medications, more preferably, for dosing intravenous medications, still more preferably for dosing non-cytostatic intravenous medications (such as antibiotics and anaesthetics).

In a fifth embodiment, the present invention relates to a support for the adaptor for medical containers according to the present invention, as indicated above, that is, a support which comprises attachment means to a dosing machine (preferably to a dosing machine for medications, more preferably for intravenous medications, even more preferably for non-cytostatic intravenous medications, such as antibiotics or anaesthetics), pivoting means and clipping means as indicated above, that is, suitable (in form, arrangement and shape) for receiving an adaptor for medical containers according to the present invention (that is, as indicated above).

It is envisaged that the pivoting means of the support should comprise at least one pivoting surface which, preferably, comprises at least one recess paired with at least one pivot, more preferably paired with at least one projection with a rounded surface. In the most preferred embodiment said pivoting surface/s comprise/s two recesses paired with said two projections with a rounded surface present on the corresponding adaptor for medical containers, each recess comprising a limit stop which extends the concave surface of each of said recesses, said recesses and limit stops being situated on the base of the support for the adaptor for medical containers.

It is envisaged that the clipping means of the support should comprise three clipping projections in the following configuration:a) a central projection which comprises a vertical clipping tab; andb) two horizontal lateral clipping projections, situated one on either side of said central projection.

Said three clipping projections (clipping means) are situated on the contact surface with the adaptor for medical containers, preferably at a particular distance from the pivoting means (preferably two recesses with the corresponding limit stops), it being possible for a person skilled in the art to determine said distance depending on the medical container mounted in the adaptor and the weight of said medical container.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means to the dosing machine which the support comprises may be any of those known in the prior art, but preferably consists of two projections and two apertures.

Said two projections and two apertures may have any arrangement, more preferably, said projections and apertures are arranged alternately in pairs. Said fixing means are situated preferably on the base of the support.

As mentioned earlier, it is envisaged that the support may comprise additional structures which allow improved interaction with the adaptor according to the present invention. For example, the support according to the present invention may comprise two elongate apertures situated in a zone immediately below the clipping means (clipping structure), each of said apertures being in contact with one of the lateral walls of the support. The function of said structure, when interacting with the corresponding paired structure on the adaptor for medical containers is to help guidance between the two parts when the adaptor for medical containers is loaded on the corresponding support and to help avoid rotation between said parts.

It is envisaged that the support according to the present invention may comprise additional structures to those explained above and which allow, for example, the interaction of said support with other elements of the dosing machine (preferably for medications, more preferably for intravenous medications, still more preferably for non-cytostatic intravenous medications), other machines and/or parts or structures.

In a sixth embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of a support according to the present invention on dosing machines.

In a preferred embodiment, said dosing machines are dosing machines for medications, more preferably, dosing of intravenous medications, still more preferably dosing of non-cytostatic intravenous medications (such as antibiotics or anaesthetics).

In a final embodiment, the present invention relates to a dosing machine which comprises at least one support according to the present invention and/or at least one device according to the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, said dosing machine is a dosing machine for medications, more preferably, dosing of intravenous medications, still more preferably dosing of non-cytostatic intravenous medications (such as antibiotics or anaesthetics).

