Automated dispensing devices

Automated dispensing devices create several situations that can easily result in errors. While these machines are routinely restocked, the wrong drug still can be placed into the wrong bin during this process. Devices that have multiple medications in each drawer and/or that do not require pharmacist review of orders before access have drawbacks that are identical to the flaws in traditional floor-stock systems ... 

With the advent of computers and the introduction of automated dispensing devices, the idea of a perpetual inventory is within the grasp of today s pharmacy. Further, the routine use of barcoding allows integration of point-of-care inventory management systems. In such systems, the inventory is constantly inspected and ordering and restocking takes place much faster. 

Murray M. 2001. Automated Medication Dispensing Devices. Available at www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/ptsafety/pdf/ chapll.pdf. 

Automated dispensing machines have become common on nursing units in many hospitals. The nurse must enter a security code and a password into the dispensing device, along with the name of the patient and the name of the medication, before the machine will allow access to remove the medication. This system allows better control of items kept on the nursing unit and serves as a check for the nurse who retrieves the... 

Microplate EIA have also been automated. These systems consist in microplate carriers, dilution and dispenser devices for multiple samples, washers and shakers, photometer (through-the-plate reading) and a processor for multiple reading (desk-top calculator or microcomputer interfaced with the measuring equipment). Compared to other systems, EIA requires less sophisticated equipment for reliable results, available from various commercial sources. 

They are very often found in MEMS devices when the use of automated dispensing equipment makes it easier to place precise amounts of materials in areas where it would be difficult or impossible to apply them by other methods. By applying them in liquid form with automated dispensing equipment, the amount and placement of the material can easily be adjusted to suit the needs of the task at hand. 

UF-3400/ 3MCo. No-flow, unfilled epoxy resin - FUp-chip/BGA or CSP assembly and CSP bonding to PWBs (tin/lead eutectic solder bumped devices) Automated dispensing (22- gauge needle) CSP assembly and FCOB and CSP bonding to laminates. 

Autosamplers are now often used in laser scattering instruments to meet the demand for automation and quality control. A typical autosampler consists of a grid or carousel housing 20-40 sample tubes that in some instances may have bar-codes that uniquely identify each sample a dispersing processor that can supply dispersant, means to apply sonication force, and in some instances an additional dispersing medium for each sample, and finally a sample dispensing device that sequentially dispenses sample materials to the sample handling module. 

Most manufacturers of dissolution testing devices offer semi-automated systems that can perform sampling, filtration, and UV reading or data collection. These systems automate only a single test at a time. Fully automated systems typically automate entire processes including media preparation, media dispensing, tablet or capsule drop, sample removal, filtration, sample collection or analysis (via direct connection to spectrophotometers or HPLCs), and wash cycles. A fully automated system allows automatic performance of a series of tests to fully utilize unused night and weekend instrument availability. 

This seemingly simple series of events does not address all the requirements. If the device is preparing media does that mean it prepares a buffer to be diluted or only degasses the premixed media When media is dispensed, is there a need to perform a preliminary dispense to assure removal of the previous media If samples are to be read on-line is dilution required prior to reading Systems intended for method development (MD) will have many different requirements than one intended for QA. The value of the automation to the user may be very different for each of these two areas. In fact the MD user may not appreciate the need to automate more than one run at a time and will prefer a semiautomated system, since the MD user may have many different experiments to perform that may be labor intensive. Just a few... 

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