Dispensing cabinet with unit dose dispensing drawer

• US 20030105554A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Young, Kirk, Eggenberger, Victor, Bowers, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A drawer for use in a dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tray movable between an open position and a closed position. An insert, approximately the length of the tray, is carried by the tray and defines the volume of the drawer. A lockable or sealable lid is carried by the insert. A release mechanism is provided to connect the insert to the tray in a manner that allows the insert to be easily disconnected from the tray. Removal of the insert enables inserts to be swapped so that inserts from which inventory has been depleted can be replaced with stocked inserts. A dispensing cabinet and a method of restocking the cabinet are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A drawer for use in a dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a tray carried by a slider;

an insert approximately the length of said tray, said insert carried by said tray and defining the volume of the drawer;

a lockable lid carried by said insert; and

a release mechanism for connecting said insert to said tray.

2. A combination, comprising:

a tray drivable between an open position and a closed position with respect to a slider;

an insert carried by said tray, said insert defining individual compartments each having a lockable lid, said insert approximately the length of said tray and defining the volume of the drawer;

a release mechanism for connecting said insert to said tray;

a self-locking worm gear for driving said tray; and

a clutch positioned between said worm gear and said tray.

3. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

an input device;

an output device;

a control computer connected to said input and said output devices;

a cabinet carrying a plurality of drawers, at least one of said drawers being a unit-dose dispensing drawer capable of dispensing a unit-dose, said unit dose dispensing drawer comprised of a plurality of individual drawers each individual drawer comprising;

a tray drivable between an open position and a closed position with respect to a slider;

an insert carried by said tray, said insert defining individual compartments each having a lockable lid, said insert approximately the length of said tray and defining the volume of the drawer;

a release mechanism for connecting said insert to said tray;

a motor;

a self-locking worm gear responsive to said motor for driving said tray; and

a clutch positioned between said worm gear and said tray.

4. A method of restocking a unit dose drawer of a medication dispensing cabinet, comprising:

releasing a first insert that defines the volume of an individual drawer from a tray;

connecting a filled insert to the tray from which the first insert has been removed; and

unlocking the lid of the filled insert.

5. The method of claim 4 additionally comprising:

delivering the first insert to a storage location for filling;

filling the first insert and locking the lid thereof; and

delivering the filled first insert to a medication dispensing cabinet.