Systems and methods for dispensing medical products

• US 20020173875A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: Telepharmacy Solutions, Inc. (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wallace, Robert L., Liff, Harold J., Berube, Arthur A., Hart, Brian T., Hart, Richard D., Dowling, James, Piantedosi, Steve, Buciuman-Coman, Liana
• Granted Patent: US 6,735,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the remote dispensing of packaged and non-packaged medical products using networked communications systems. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a network to provide for the secure delivery of confidential patient information and the sending of dispense instructions to a remote dispensing station. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods of dispensing samples of drugs or other medical products. Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for dispensing non-prescription medications.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing of a medical product, comprising:

a dispensing node to distribute the medical product at a second location, the dispensing node being connected to a touch activated graphical display;

a controlling node which interfaces with the dispensing nodes; and

a transmission medium between the nodes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a network.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the network is the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a telephone system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a satellite system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a pager system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a wireless system.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing node includes a dispenser controller and a housing having a plurality of bins;

each bin storing an encoded plurality of packages of medical products.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein a code reader is coupled to said controller for reading a code of a dispensed medical product.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controlling node is located at a location different from an authorization node.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the controlling node is co-located with the authorization node.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the dispensing node.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the authorization node.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the controlling node.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical product is a prescription pharmaceutical.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium includes a network such as the Internet.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium includes a telephone system.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium includes a satellite system.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium includes a pager system.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium includes a wireless system.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical product is a prescription pharmaceutical.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising controlling the dispensing of the medical product.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein controlling the dispensing of the medical product is performed at the first location.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein controlling the dispensing of the medical product is performed at a third location.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the second dispensing location.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the first authorizing location.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the dispensing of the medical product is initiated at the third controlling location.

30. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the global communication network includes a public access network.

31. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the global communication network includes a telephone system.

32. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the global communication network includes a satellite system.

33. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the global communication network includes a pager system.

34. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the global communication network includes a wireless system.

35. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein an authorizing system is in communication with the dispense system via the global communication network.

36. The dispense system of claim 29 wherein the medical product is a prescription pharmaceutical.

38. The computer apparatus of claim 37 wherein the data processors communicate via a network and are further operative with a set of executable instructions to authorize and dispense the medical product.

39. The computer apparatus of claim 37 wherein the dispensing data processor is integral with the housing having a plurality of pharmaceuticals.

40. The computer apparatus of claim 37 wherein the medical product is a prescription pharmaceutical.

41. The computer apparatus of claim 37 further comprising an interface data processor to parse communications from the authorizing data processor.

42. The computer apparatus of claim 41 wherein the interface data processor is in communication with the controlling data processor.

16. The method for dispensing of a medical product comprising:

authorizing the dispensing of the medical product at a first location;

transmitting the authorization via a transmission medium to a second location; and

dispensing the medical product from a dispenser housing at the second location, the dispenser housing including a touch activated graphical display, and a dispenser having a plurality of bins and a code reader.

29. A dispense system for a medical product which is connected to a global communication network.

37. In a computer network formed of a communication channel and a plurality of digital data processors coupled to the communication channel for communication thereon and a computer apparatus dispensing a medical product comprising:

an authorizing data processor at a first location to authorize the dispensing of the medical product;

a dispensing data processor at a second location connected to a housing having a plurality of medical products; and

a controlling data processor which is in communication with the authorizing and dispensing data processors to control the dispense of the medical product when authorized.

43. A computer-readable data transmission medium between a plurality of computers having a data structure comprising:

a first subset of data for processing at a first authorizing computer, the first subset of data including authorization for dispensing a medical product; and

a second subset of data for processing at a second dispensing computer, the second subset of data including the data for a medical product label that accompanies a dispensed medical product.

44. The computer-readable data transmission medium of claim 43 further comprising a third subset of data for processing at a controlling computer, the third subset of data including data that includes data resulting from parsing the first subset of data.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the medical product is a prescription pharmaceutical.

48. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the drug dispenser further comprises at least one door mounted to the housing the, at least one door having a plurality of bins.

49. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the drug dispenser further comprises a camera.

50. The drug sample dispenser of claim 49 wherein the drug dispenser comprises a proximity detector coupled to the camera.

51. The drug sample dispenser of claim 49 wherein the drug sample dispenser comprises a user identification system coupled to the camera.

52. The drug sample dispenser of claim 49 wherein the camera is coupled to the at least one door such that opening of the at least one door causes the camera to snap a picture.

53. The drug sample dispenser of claim 49 wherein the drug sample dispenser comprises a control system connected to the camera.

54. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the dispenser further comprises a user identification system.

55. The drug sample dispenser of claim 54 wherein the user identification system comprises a keypad.

56. The drug sample dispenser of claim 54 wherein the user identification system comprises a card reader.

57. The drug sample dispenser of claim 54 wherein the drug dispenser comprises a control system connected to the identification system.

58. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the dispenser further comprises a barcode reader.

59. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the at least one door comprises a proximity sensor.

60. The drug sample dispenser of claim 47 wherein the computer is in communication with a database data processor.

61. The drug sample dispenser of claim 60 wherein the communication between the computer and the database data processor includes transmission using one of at least the Internet, a telephone system, a satellite system, a wireless system, and a pager system.

45. A computer program product for implementing a dispensing of a medical product, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer-readable code therein, including a program code which;

authorizes the dispensing of the medical product at a first location, and executes the dispensing of the medical product at a second location.

47. A drug sample dispenser comprising:

a housing in which a plurality of packaged medical products are stored;

a computer mounted within the housing; and

a control system that opens and closes the dispenser.

62. A method for obtaining drug samples from a drug sample dispenser comprising the steps of:

providing a drug sample dispenser housing with a plurality of drug samples;

providing a valid user identification to a database interfaced with the drug sample dispenser;

inputting request signals to dispense a drug sample;

selecting a drug sample;

to be dispensed by the drug sample dispenser from the database; and

retrieving the selected drug sample from the drug sample dispenser.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of entering a prescriber'"'"'s name into the database interfaced with the drug sample dispenser.

64. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of entering a patient'"'"'s name into the database interfaced with the drug sample dispenser.

65. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of providing the user access to the drug samples.

66. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of securing the drug samples from further access.

69. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser further comprises a computer mounted to the housing.

70. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser further comprises a user identification system.

71. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 70 wherein the user identification system comprises a thumb print detector.

72. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser further comprises a magnetic card reader.

73. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser further comprises a security monitoring device.

74. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 73 wherein the security monitoring device comprises a camera.

75. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser comprises a labeling device.

76. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispenser comprises a barcode reader.

77. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the dispensing device comprises a helix coil.

78. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the collector comprises a tray with a pushing device.

79. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 78 wherein the pushing device comprises an S-rail screw.

80. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the collector tray comprises at least one S-rail screw.

81. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 69 wherein the computer is in communication with a database data processor.

82. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 81 wherein the communication between the computer and the database data processor includes transmission using one of at least the Internet, a telephone system, a satellite system, a wireless system, and a pager system.

83. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 further comprising a card reader.

84. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein each storage location comprises a tray that stores a plurality of packaged medical products.

85. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 wherein the collector is mounted within a housing door such that the collector moves vertically within the housing.

86. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 75 wherein the labeling device prints a label for a product being dispensed and attaches the label to the product package.

87. The non-prescription medical product dispenser of claim 68 further comprising an adjudication system within the dispenser including a card reader and a communication link to a network to record payment for the medical product.

67. A method for dispensing drug samples from a drug sample dispenser comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of drug samples in a drug sample dispenser;

verifying a user'"'"'s identification and ability to receive drug samples from the drug sample dispenser;

receiving request signals to dispense a drug sample;

using a control system to provide user access to the drug samples;

allowing a user to remove the drug samples and record the samples into a database; and

using a control system to prevent further user access to the drug samples.

68. A non-prescription medical product dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of storage locations within the housing, the plurality of storage locations having a dispensing device;

a product collection area mounted to the housing; and

a collector moveably mounted to the housing such that the collector can move to the storage locations to deliver a user-selected medical product to the product collection area.

88. A method of obtaining uncontrolled drugs from a drug dispenser comprising the steps of. providing a uncontrolled drug dispenser housing with a plurality of uncontrolled drugs;

providing a user identification to a database interfaced with the drug dispenser;

selecting a drug to be dispensed by the drug dispenser from the database; and

retrieving the selected drug from the drug dispenser.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing computer-readable data transmission medium between a plurality of computers having a data structure including:

a first subset of data for processing at a first authorizing computer, the first subset of data including authorization for dispensing a medical product; and

a second subset of data fbr processing at a second dispensing computer, the second subset of data including the data for a medical product label that accompanies a dispensed medical product.

90. The method of claim 89 further comprising providing a third subset of data for processing at a controlling computer, the third subset of data including data that includes data resulting from parsing the first subset of data.

91. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing a computer program product for implementing a dispensing of a medical product, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer-readable code therein, including a program code which;

authorizes the dispensing of the medical product at a first location, and

executes the dispensing of the medical product at a second location.

92. The method of claim 88 wherein the medical product is a bottled pharmaceutical.

93. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing at least one door mounted to the housing the at least one door having a plurality of bins.

94. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing a camera attached to the housing to record an image of each user.

95. The method of claim 88 further comprising printing a label in the housing and attaching the label to the package.

96. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing a user identification system.

97. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing drug a card reader.

98. The method of claim 96 further comprising providing a control system connected to the identification system.

99. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing a barcode reader.

100. The method of claim 88 further comprising providing a computer in communication with a database data processor.

101. The method of claim 100 further comprising communicating between the computer and the database data processor by transmission using one of at least the Internet, a telephone system, a satellite system, a wireless system, and a pager system.

102. A method of dispensing non-prescription drugs from a non-prescription drug dispenser comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of non-prescription drug packages in a nonprescription drug dispenser;

verifying a user'"'"'s identification to receive non-prescription drugs from the non-prescription drug dispenser;

receiving request signals to dispense a non-prescription drug package;

delivering a non-prescription drug package from a drug storage tray into a collection tray;

conveying the non-prescription drug package from the collection tray to a labeling area; and

dispensing the non-prescription drug package to the user.

103. An information display device for retrieving and caching information for a drug dispensing operation from a communication network during periodically established communication sessions, the device comprising in combination:

a drug dispenser;

a touch activated graphical display device;

a communication transceiver connectable to a communication network that receives display data;

a microprocessor and a memory device that stores display data, at least one display template, and program information, said at least one display template including variable field identifiers;

said program information comprising a display generator, said display generator providing a modified template by replacing said variable field identifiers with corresponding said display data, and displaying the modified template on said graphical display device;

the microprocessor and the memory device recording at least one dispensing operation value for a subset of data that are subsequently sent to the communication network.

104. The device of claim 103 wherein the drug dispenser comprises a plurality of bins, each bin having a pushing device and a code reader.