Pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and methods of storing and retrieving pharmaceuticals

• US 10,246,207 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cobanoglu, Dilek B
• Application Number:
  US13/888,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2, 700216, 700232, 700237, 700244, 53445, 53411, 235380, 235385, 221 79, 221 9, 211 592
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/00 Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/06 with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level B65G1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a method of accessing and loading the device. The device includes a housing, at least one port with controlled access to inventory stored within the device, a robotic transfer mechanism for moving inventory items to and from the controlled port, software for tracking the inventory and users of the device, and an interface with the pharmacy software system to track and monitor which inventory is authorized for access by each user and which inventory is needed to fill a prescription.

Claims

1. A method of filling a prescription using a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device including a housing, an interface panel supported by the housing and having an access control device, a shelving system configured to store containers within the housing, an access port supported by the housing, a door supported by the housing to selectively cover the access port, a scanner supported by the housing, and a gantry system positioned within the housing, the gantry system including a gripper assembly and a motor coupled to the gripper assembly to move the gripper assembly within the housing, the method comprising:

verifying, by a processor, identification information input into the access control device;

obtaining, by the processor, a queue of prescriptions to be filled from a pharmacy computer;

receiving a selection of a prescription from the queue of prescriptions to be filled, the selected prescription containing prescription information including a medication type;

determining, by the processor, a shelf location in the shelving system of a container expected to have the medication type of the prescription information;

retrieving the container from the determined shelf location by engaging the container with the gripper assembly of the gantry system;

positioning the container within the access port by moving the gripper assembly and the container to the access port with the motor of the gantry system;

scanning, by the scanner, the container to determine an actual medication type within the container;

determining, by the processor, whether the actual medication type within the container matches the medication type of the prescription information;

when the actual medication type within the container matches the medication type of the prescription information, opening the door to the access port; and

when the actual medication type within the container does not match the medication type of the prescription information, returning the container to a shelf location in the shelving system by engaging the container with the gripper assembly and moving the gripper assembly and the container to the shelf location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring an image of the container while positioned in the access port to determine a size of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming that the label read on the container matches the medication type of the prescription information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining prescription information includes the processor communicating with the pharmacy computer to obtain the prescription information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the shelf location of the container includes accessing from memory an assigned shelf location of the container when the container was loaded, the assigned shelf location being the determined shelf location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information includes a quantity of the medication type.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the door closed if the scanned medication type on the container does not match the medication type in the prescription information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising reconciling a reason for the mismatch between the retrieved container and the prescription information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the access port includes a scale, the method further comprising measuring a weight of the container.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the container to the shelf location further includes returning the container to a shelf location that is different from the determined shelf location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the container to determine an actual medication type within the container includes scanning the container when the container is in the access port.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the container from the shelf location for a second prescription.