Robot developed to mix chemotherapy drugs

The New York Times reports on a program at the Colorado University hospital to mix up chemotherapy drugs with robots. If successful, this may be the beginning of a substantial safety innovation in the field of cancer care.

Chemotherapy is often given in the form of cocktails: either more than one chemotherapy agent or agents with carriers, diluents, and other materials. Dosing must be exact, and there is always the possibility of dangerous errors. By turning the responsibility over to a machine, developers hope to reduce error rates and enhance patient safety.

This stationary robot uses an automated arm to mix the components and put the correct mixture into vials, syringes, or intravenous feed bags. Excess and waste packaging and products are deposited into a medical waste container for disposal. The robot should also help protect health care workers and hospital staff from contact with possibly poisonous chemicals.

Two companies, Primus Innovations and Health Robotics, are mentioned as collaborating with the hospital in the program. The Baylor Health System in Texas is also pursuing a chemotherapy mixer robot program. A news report says the Colorado doctors think robotic mixing will eventually become the standard procedure at major cancer centers.

The CU Hospital will start using the robot in a few weeks. A similar robot has been used in Europe.

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