Method of operating a dispensing cabinet

• US 20040098166A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Philip H. Spano Jr, Robert B. Meek, Jr.
• Inventors: Spano, Philip H. Jr., Meek, Robert B. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• 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: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used

Abstract

A method of operating a dispensing cabinet to identify the locations where items to be dispensed are located is comprised of a login step in which user information is entered into a processor controlling the dispensing cabinet. The processor unlocks certain doors of the dispensing cabinet in response to the user information. Assuming that a locate mode of operation has been chosen, the locations of the items to be located are determined by the processor. An alpha-numeric display positioned on a shelf within the cabinet begins flashing with the number of items to be located that are held by that shelf. After the user identifies the shelves having flashing alpha-numeric displays, the user may enter a dispense mode or may logoff causing the unlocked doors to lock.

Claims

1. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

unlocking certain doors of a dispensing cabinet in response to said user information;

receiving mode information identifying a locate mode;

receiving information identifying an item to be located;

flashing a display positioned on a shelf within the cabinet with the number of items held by that shelf which are to be located;

receiving a log off instruction; and

locking the unlocked doors.

2. The memory device of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of receiving patient information.

3. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

unlocking certain doors of a dispensing cabinet in response to said user information;

receiving patient information;

receiving mode information identifying a locate mode;

receiving information identifying an item to be located;

flashing a display positioned on a shelf within the cabinet with the number of items held by that shelf which are to be located;

receiving information selecting a compartment;

zeroing the display in response to the selection of a compartment;

receiving the number of items taken from the selected compartment;

displaying the number of items taken on the display;

receiving a log off instruction; and

locking the unlocked doors.

4. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

unlocking certain doors of a dispensing cabinet in response to said user information;

receiving information identifying a query mode;

receiving information identifying an item for which information is sought;

displaying information for the identified item;

receiving a log off instruction; and

locking the unlocked doors.

5. The memory device of claim 4 additionally comprising the step of receiving patient information.

6. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

unlocking certain doors of the dispensing cabinet in response to said user information;

receiving patient information;

receiving information identifying a query mode;

receiving information identifying an item for which information is sought;

displaying information for the identified item;

receiving information selecting a compartment;

receiving information identifying the number of items taken from the selected compartment;

displaying the number of items taken on a display;

receiving a log off instruction; and

locking the unlocked doors.