Method and apparatus for controlling the compounding of a pharmaceutical admixture

Abstract

A method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture, the method performed by a computer under control of a computer program, the method including: inputting the prescribed admixture; determining if a concentration of the prescribed admixture is within an allowed range; and if the concentration is within the allowed range, choosing which of at least two of the following compounding setups to employ (i) a high and a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, (ii) a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, and (iii) a high flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture.

1 . A method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture, the method performed by a computer under control of a computer program, the method comprising:
 inputting the prescribed admixture;   determining if a concentration of the prescribed admixture is within an allowed range; and   if the concentration is within the allowed range, choosing which of at least two of the following compounding setups to employ (i) a high and a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, (ii) a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, and (iii) a high flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture.   
   
   
       2 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , further comprising inputting at least one of (a) patient identification information and (b) patient specific data. 
   
   
       3 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a range of acceptable concentration levels for a plurality of ingredients of the prescribed admixture. 
   
   
       4 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , further comprising (a) overriding an alert or (b) rejecting the prescribed admixture if the concentration is outside the allowed range. 
   
   
       5 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , which includes determining a number of at least one of (a) compatibility groups and (b) rinses if at least one of setup (i) and setup (iii) is chosen. 
   
   
       6 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , which includes determining if lipids are present in the prescribed admixtures. 
   
   
       7 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 6 , wherein determining if lipids are present includes determining if lipids are included in a final bag. 
   
   
       8 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 7 , wherein if lipids are included in the final bag, determining if the lipids are required to be first in the final bag. 
   
   
       9 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 6 , wherein if lipids are present, determining if lipid haze is a concern. 
   
   
       10 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 9 , wherein if lipid haze is a concern, not preparing the prescribed admixture. 
   
   
       11 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , which includes applying a rule of mixing a total parenteral nutrition (“TPN”) solution. 
   
   
       12 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 11 , wherein the rule is selected from the group consisting of (i) phosphate salts are added before calcium salts; (ii) a determination of calcium phosphate solubility is made based on a volume of solution in the TPN bag at the time calcium is added; (iii) unless lipids are required as a last additive, calcium is to be the last additive to the TPN bag; and (iv) compatibility groups are numbered sequentially to coincide with an order of mixing unless specific exceptions are identified. 
   
   
       13 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 6 , which includes calculating solubilities with or without a volume of the lipids. 
   
   
       14 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 1 , which includes determining if a total volume of the prescribed admixture, excluding lipids, is more than a funnel volume. 
   
   
       15 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 14 , wherein if the total volume is more than the funnel volume, transferring instructions to a compounder if a source rinse of a base of the prescribed admixture can be held for a rinse in an acceptable sequence. 
   
   
       16 . A method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture, the method performed by a computer under the control of a computer program, the method comprising:
 inputting the prescribed admixture;   determining if a concentration of the prescribed admixture is within an allowed range;   if the concentration is within the allowed range, determining if lipids are present in the prescribed admixture; and   if lipids are present, determining if the lipids are required to be contained in a final bag.   
   
   
       17 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 16 , wherein if lipids are required to be contained in a final bag, and lipid haze is a concern, not preparing the prescribed admixture. 
   
   
       18 . A method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture, the method performed by a computer under the control of a computer program, the method comprising:
 inputting the prescribed admixture;   choosing which of at least two of the following compounding setups to employ (i) a high and a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, (ii) a low flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture, and (iii) a high flow compounding setup for the prescribed admixture determining if a concentration of the prescribed admixture is within an allowed range; and   altering the control of the compounding under the chosen setup based upon whether lipids are present in the prescribed admixture.   
   
   
       19 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 18 , which includes determining if a concentration of the prescribed admixture is within an allowed range and performing the choosing step if the concentration is within the allowed range. 
   
   
       20 . The method of controlling the compounding of a prescribed admixture of  claim 18 , altering the control of the compounding under the chosen setup based upon whether lipids are present in the prescribed admixture includes determining if the lipids are included in a final bag.