Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080283543 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SOLID PHARMACEUTICAL ARTICLES - A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. | 11-20-2008 |
20100091285 | METHOD OF TAKING AN IMAGE OF AN OBJECT RESIDING IN A TRANSPARENT, COLORED CONTAINER - A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall. | 04-15-2010 |
20100128165 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES - A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected. | 05-27-2010 |
20100232640 | System and Method for Verifying the Contents of a Filled, Capped Pharmaceutical Prescription - A method of verifying the identity of a dispensed pharmaceutical includes the steps of: reading identifying indicia on a pharmaceutical vial containing a dispensed pharmaceutical; determining the identity of a prescribed pharmaceutical called for by the identifying indicia; acquiring an image of the dispensed pharmaceutical through the vial; comparing the image of the dispensed pharmaceutical to data storage comprising image data associated with pharmaceuticals; acquiring spectral data for the dispensed pharmaceutical through the vial; comparing the spectral data of the dispensed pharmaceutical to data storage comprising spectral data associated with pharmaceuticals; and automatically determining whether the image and the spectral data of the dispensed pharmaceutical confirm that the dispensed pharmaceutical matches the prescribed pharmaceutical. | 09-16-2010 |
20110006073 | Methods and Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Pharmaceutical Articles - A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. | 01-13-2011 |
20110096998 | Method of Taking an Image of an Object Residing in a Transparent, Colored Container - A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall. | 04-28-2011 |
20120059512 | APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SOLID PHARMACEUTICAL ARTICLES - An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. | 03-08-2012 |
20130002841 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES - A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected. | 01-03-2013 |
20130248550 | Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Pharmaceutical Articles - An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. | 09-26-2013 |
20140186859 | AUTOFOCUS METHOD FOR IMAGING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE AND CARTRIDGE FOR USE THEREIN - A method of automatically focusing a microscope on a specimen is carried out by capturing an image from each of a plurality of focal planes in or on said specimen, calculating a focus score for each of said images, selecting the focal plane corresponding to the image having the best focus score, and then repositioning said specimen relative to said microscope so that said microscope is focused on said selected focal plane, the method includes a plurality of exogenous targets in or on said specimen, which aids in focusing in the event particular objects of interest, such as cells/pathogens that may or may not be in the sample, are not present, or are present in low numbers. Automated microscopes and microscope cartridges useful in such methods are also described, along with methods of detecting pathogens in biological samples. | 07-03-2014 |
20140233098 | DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof. | 08-21-2014 |
20140315283 | SAMPLE CARTRIDGE AND SAMPLE STAGE - A sample cartridge ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140363882 | RAPID DETECTION OF ANALYTES IN LIQUID SAMPLES - A device for detecting at least one analyte in a liquid sample generally comprises (i) a support having a chamber for receiving a biological fluid (e.g., milk) therein, wherein said chamber is an elongate chamber having a length axis; (ii) a (stationary or movable) carrier (in some embodiments in the form of an end cap, or connected to an end cap; in other embodiments in the form of an agitator in said elongate chamber). | 12-11-2014 |
20150037835 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSIS - An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof. | 02-05-2015 |