Medication dispensing cabinet systems and methods
First Claim
1. A medication dispensing cabinet, comprising:
- at least one lockable storage compartment;
a controller that controls access to the interior of at least one lockable storage compartment by a user to whom an item is to be dispensed;
a keyboard;
a display screen adjacent to the keyboard;
a self-contained module configured for integration as a unit into the medication dispensing cabinet, the module containing the keyboard and containing a camera operably coupled to the controller, the module defining an opening positioned to one side of the display screen, wherein the camera is aligned with the opening in the module such that the camera receives light through the opening, wherein the camera is positioned to photograph the user of the medication dispensing cabinet, and wherein the controller is programmed to cause the camera to take a photograph of the user of the medication dispensing cabinet when the user accesses the medication dispensing cabinet, and wherein the module further contains a keypad, and wherein the opening is adjacent within the module to both the keyboard and the keypad.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and communications circuit board. The cabinet may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the controller conditions access to the at least one lockable storage compartment on receipt of information from the RFID reader. Data may be stored in the controller according to an implementation of RAID technology. The controller may include multiple electronic communications network interfaces, and may include an out of band network communication channel. A dispensing cabinet may facilitate printing of labels for medications.
102 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A medication dispensing cabinet, comprising:
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at least one lockable storage compartment; a controller that controls access to the interior of at least one lockable storage compartment by a user to whom an item is to be dispensed; a keyboard; a display screen adjacent to the keyboard; a self-contained module configured for integration as a unit into the medication dispensing cabinet, the module containing the keyboard and containing a camera operably coupled to the controller, the module defining an opening positioned to one side of the display screen, wherein the camera is aligned with the opening in the module such that the camera receives light through the opening, wherein the camera is positioned to photograph the user of the medication dispensing cabinet, and wherein the controller is programmed to cause the camera to take a photograph of the user of the medication dispensing cabinet when the user accesses the medication dispensing cabinet, and wherein the module further contains a keypad, and wherein the opening is adjacent within the module to both the keyboard and the keypad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A medication dispensing cabinet, comprising:
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at least one lockable storage compartment; a set of cabinet electronics; a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment; and a power distribution and communications circuit board; wherein the controller resides on a separate circuit board from the power distribution and communications circuit board, and the cabinet electronics are remote from the power distribution and communications circuit board; and wherein the power distribution and communications circuit board further includes circuitry that provides a first set of required voltage supplies to the controller and provides a second set of required voltage supplies to the cabinet electronics; and wherein the power distribution and communications circuit board receives communication signals from the controller and routes the communication signals received from the controller to the cabinet electronics, and the power distribution and communications circuit board receives communication signals from the cabinet electronics and routes the communication signals received from the cabinet electronics to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A medication dispensing cabinet, comprising:
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at least one lockable storage compartment containing at least one medication to be dispensed; and a controller that controls access to the interior of the at least one lockable storage compartment by a user to whom the medication is to be dispensed, the controller including local area network controller hardware, wherein the controller includes a channel for normal communication with a remote server and the controller also includes an out of band network communication channel that enables remote administration of the controller independent of the state of an operating system in the controller, wherein the out of band network communication channel and the channel for normal communication are implemented using the local area network controller hardware.
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Specification