Random Access And Random Load Dispensing Unit

• US 20070162183A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angus Colson, David Williams, Erik Barnes, John Beane, Keith Kopitzke, Keith Reynolds, Linda Pinney
• Original Assignee: Angus Colson, David Williams, Erik Barnes, John Beane, Keith Kopitzke, Keith Reynolds, Linda Pinney
• Inventors: Williams, David, Kopitzke, Keith, Barnes, Erik, Beane, John, Reynolds, Keith, Pinney, Linda, Colson, Angus
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/60 the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable
• 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 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• 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 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.

Claims

1. A communication network for use in delivering a prescription medication to a consumer comprising:

a dispensing apparatus configured to store a plurality of prescription medications, substantially all the prescription medications are correlated to specific, different consumers and wherein the dispensing apparatus is capable of delivering a correlated prescription medication upon demand;

a dispensing computer for controlling the dispensing apparatus;

a pharmacy information system located remotely from the dispensing apparatus, and contains a plurality of electronic records, wherein the record corresponds to a prescription medication stored in the dispensing apparatus and comprises a consumer'"'"'s information, the consumer'"'"'s information comprising a unique consumer identifier and a prescription information, the prescription information comprising a prescription number associated with the consumer; and

an interface communicating with the pharmacy computer system and the dispensing computer, which enables the transfer of a record from the pharmacy computer system to the dispensing computer;

wherein the dispensing computer controls the dispensing device to deliver to the consumer a stored prescription medication that corresponds to the record.

2. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the record comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a drug name, a drug code, a brand name, a refrigeration needed flag, an age of prescription flag, a refill flag, a pharmacist counseling flag, a newly filled prescription flag, a narcotics flag, a size flag, a location flag, a generic name, and a prescription specific flag.

3. The communication network of claim 2, wherein the record comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a tax information, a retail price, a fill cost, a co-pay information, a co-pay amount, a consumer insurance information, a Medicaid information, and a drug cost.

4. The communication network of claim 2, wherein the record further comprises a information selected from a group consisting of:

a physician name, a physician contact information, a consumer preference flag, an alternate person for prescription pickup, a restriction for a pickup, a preference for pickup at a counter, a preference for interaction with pharmacy personnel, a last prescription information, a non-child resistant packaging information, a consumer address, a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer email address.

5. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the record further comprises a information selected from a group consisting of:

a tax information, a retail price, a fill cost, a co-pay information, a co-pay amount, a consumer insurance information, a Medicaid information, and a drug cost.

6. The communication network of claim 5, wherein the record further comprises a information selected from a group consisting of:

a physician name, a physician contact information, a consumer preference flag, an alternate person for prescription pickup, a restriction for a pickup, a preference for pickup at a counter, a preference for interaction with pharmacy personnel, a last prescription information, a non-child resistant packaging information, a consumer address, a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer email address.

7. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the record further comprises a information selected from a group consisting of:

a physician name, a physician contact information, a consumer preference flag, an alternate person for prescription pickup, a restriction for a pickup, a preference for pickup at a counter, a preference for interaction with pharmacy personnel, a last prescription information, a non-child resistant packaging information, a consumer address, a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer email address.

8. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the record further comprises a information selected from a group consisting of:

a drug name, a drug code, a brand name, a refrigeration needed flag, an age of prescription flag, a refill flag, a pharmacist counseling flag, a newly filled prescription flag, a narcotics flag, a size flag, a location flag, a generic name, a prescription specific flag, a tax information, a retail price, a fill cost, a co-pay information, a co-pay amount, a consumer insurance information, a Medicaid information, a drug cost, a physician name, a physician contact information, a consumer preference flag, an alternate person for prescription pickup, a restriction for a pickup, a preference for pickup at a counter, a preference for interaction with pharmacy personnel, a last prescription information, a non-child resistant packaging information, a consumer address, a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer email address.

9. The communication network of claim 1, further comprising a point of sale system, and wherein the interface communicates with the point of sale system.

10. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the point of sale system can communicate with the pharmacy information system.

11. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the point of sale system is associated with a store or pharmacy and is coupled to a financial accounting system of the store or pharmacy.

12. The communication network of claim 11, wherein the point of sale system can communicate with the pharmacy information system.

13. The communication network of claim 12, wherein the dispensing computer sends a prescription number to the point of sale system via the interface engine, and the point of sale system transmits the purchase price to the dispensing computer via the interface engine.

14. The communication network of claim 12, wherein the dispensing computer sends a prescription number to the pharmacy information system via the interface engine, and the pharmacy information system transmits the purchase price to the dispensing computer via the interface engine.

15. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the dispensing apparatus stores a plurality of prescription medications for one consumer, each prescription medication being associated with a different record.

16. The communication network of claim 1, further comprising a controller to control the dispensing apparatus, wherein the controller communicates with the dispensing computer or the pharmacy information system.

17. The communication network of claim 16, wherein the dispensing apparatus further comprises robotics, and the controller controls the robotics.

18. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises a plurality of unique storage locations.

19. The communication network of claim 18, wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises several hundred unique storage locations.

20. The communication network of claim 19, further comprising a database, wherein the database associates a unique storage location with a prescription medication associated with a specific consumer.

21. The communication network of claim 18, wherein the prescription medication is randomly placed as a unique storage location, and the database is updated after the prescription medication is placed at the unique storage location.

22. The communication network of claim 20, wherein the database comprises identifying information of consumers who have registered to use the dispensing apparatus.

23. The communication network of claim 22, wherein the dispensing apparatus further comprises a touch screen and an identification reader, and the dispensing computer communicates with the touch screen and the identification reader.

24. The communication network of claim 23, whereupon identification of the consumer, the database compares the consumer'"'"'s identity with the registered consumers stored in the database.

25. The communication network of claim 24, whereupon identification of the consumer, the dispensing computer queries the database to identify prescription medications stored within the dispensing apparatus for the identified consumer.

26. The communication network of claim 25, whereupon identification of the dispensing consumer, the dispensing computer queries the database to ascertain the location of a stored prescription medication for the identified consumer.

27. The communication network of claim 26, wherein the dispensing computer matches a selected prescription medication previously associated with the identified consumer, and determines the random location in which the selected prescription medication is stored.

28. The communication network of claim 27, wherein the dispensing computer queries the pharmacy computer system to update information concerning the selected prescription medication just prior to displaying information about the selected prescription medication to the consumer.

29. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the record further comprises consumer information selected from a group consisting of:

a consumer address, a consumer insurance information, a Medicaid information, a non-child resistant packaging information, a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer email address.

30. The communication network of claim 20, wherein the database is located remotely from the dispensing apparatus.

31. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the location of the dispensing computer is selected from the group consisting of:

a location within the dispensing apparatus and a location remote from the dispensing apparatus.

32. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the pharmacy information system and the dispensing computer are located on a single node of the network.

33. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the pharmacy information system and pharmacy point of sale system are located on a single node of the network.

34. The communication network of claim 30, wherein the database is located within a device on the network.

35. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the interface is located within the dispensing apparatus.

36. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the interface occupies a separate node on the network.

37. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the interface is located on a device on the network selected from group consisting of:

the point of sale system, the pharmacy information system and the dispensing computer.

38. The communication network of claim 1 further comprising a device selected from a group consisting of:

a router and a firewall.

39. The communication network of claim 38, wherein the network is configured to allow external access across a virtual private network connection.

40. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a network selected from a group consisting of:

an Ethernet network, a virtual private network, a point to point network, a point of sale network, and a controller area network.

41. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the network further comprises a consumer interface to allow the consumer to interface with the dispensing apparatus.

42. The communication network of claim 41, wherein the communication network transmits information to the consumer selected from a group consisting of:

a price of a prescription, an availability of a prescription, a drug interaction warning, and a pharmacist interaction requirement.

43. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the communication network communicates with a consumer using a communication selected from a group consisting of:

an email, a phone call, a page, a text message, and a fax.

44. The communication network of claim 9, wherein over the counter items are stored within the dispensing apparatus, and available for purchase by the consumer.

45. The communication network of claim 18, wherein the database is located within the dispensing computer.

46. The communication network of claim 45 wherein the database is located within the pharmacy information system.

47. The communication network of claim 41, wherein the dispensing apparatus further comprises an electronic reader, and the dispensing computer communicates with the electronic reader.

48. The communication network of claim 1, wherein an electronic identifier is coupled to a stored prescription medication, and contains transmittable information comprising a consumer'"'"'s name and an identity of the prescription medications, which is used to locate the prescription medication before delivery.

49. The communication network of claim 48, wherein the electronic identification tag is a barcode.

50. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the dispensing computer and the pharmacy information system are within the same housing.

51. The communication network of claim 1, wherein dispensing apparatus is located such that the back of the dispensing apparatus is in a secured area only accessible to pharmacy personnel and the front of the dispensing apparatus is accessible to consumers.

52. A communication network for use in a purchase transaction for a prescription medication by a consumer comprising:

a dispensing apparatus configured to store a plurality of prescription medications, each prescription medication correlated to a particular consumer, and upon request deliver a correlated prescription medication upon demand;

a pharmacy information system located remotely from the dispensing apparatus, and containing a plurality of electronic records, wherein a record comprises a consumer information element, a prescription information element, and a medication information element, the record corresponding to a correlated prescription medication placed within the dispensing apparatus;

a computer communicating with the dispensing apparatus;

a point of sale system;

an interface communicating with the pharmacy information system and the computer, which enables the transfer of a record from the pharmacy information system to the computer; and

a user interface for allowing the consumer to interact with the dispensing apparatus;

wherein the computer, after a consumer engages the consumer interface, accesses a record associated with that consumer, directs the dispensing apparatus to deliver to the consumer a correlated prescription medication corresponding to the record.

53. The communication network of claim 52, wherein the prescription information element comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a prescription number, a physician name, a physician contact information, a drug name, a drug code, a tax information, a brand name, a generic name, a retail price, a fill cost, a drug cost, a physician information, and a physician contact information.

54. The communication network of claim 53, wherein the medication information element comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a prescription number, a refill number, a fill date, a maximum refills, a quantity ordered, a store number, a drug cost, a consumer'"'"'s insurance information, a consumer'"'"'s Medicaid information, a co pay information, and a co pay.

55. The communication network of claim 52, wherein the interface communicates with the point of sale system.

56. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the computer provides information to the point of sale system to account for the found transaction.

57. The communication network of claim 52, wherein the consumer information element further comprises a consumer name, and one or more information selected from a group consisting of:

a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, and a consumer'"'"'s email address.

58. The communication network of claim 57, wherein the medication information element comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a prescription number, a refill number, a fill date, a maximum refills, a quantity ordered, a store number, a drug cost, a consumer'"'"'s insurance information, a consumer'"'"'s Medicaid information, a co pay information, and a co pay.

59. The communication network of claim 58, wherein the prescription information element comprises one or more information selected from a group consisting of:

a prescription number, a physician name, a physician contact information, a drug name, a drug code, a tax information, a brand name, a generic name, a retail price, a fill cost, a drug cost, a physician information, and a physician contact information.

60. The communication network of claim 59, wherein the medication information element comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a prescription number, a refill number, a fill date, a maximum refills, a quantity ordered, a store number, a drug cost, a consumer'"'"'s insurance information, a consumer'"'"'s Medicaid information, a co pay information, and a co pay.

61. The communication network of claim 57, wherein the record further comprises a prescription number.

62. The communication network of claim 61, wherein the computer transmits the prescription number to the interface.

63. The communication network of claim 61, wherein the interface transmits the prescription number to the point of sale system.

64. The communication network of claim 57, wherein the computer receives the purchase price of the prescription medication from the interface.

65. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the dispensing device further comprises a means for receiving payment.

66. The communication network of claim 65, wherein the means for receiving payment is a credit card reader a cash acceptor, or a debit card reader.

67. The communication network of claim 66, wherein payment information is sent from the interface to the point of sale system.

68. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the correlated prescription medication is placed in the dispensing apparatus after the record is created.

69. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the accessed record contains information about a prescription medication that was filled for and correlated to the consumer interacting with the dispensing apparatus.

70. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the accessed record contains information about a correlated prescription medication that was filled for a person other than the consumer interacting with the dispensing apparatus, and for whom the consumer is authorized to receive the correlated prescription medication.

71. The communication network of claim 55, wherein over the counter items are also stored within the dispensing apparatus, and available for purchase by the consumer, in conjunction with any prescription medication correlated to that consumer.

72. The communication network of claim 55, wherein over-the-counter items are also stored within the dispensing apparatus, and available for purchase by the consumer, independent of any prescription medication correlated to that consumer.

73. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the user interface further comprises a touchscreen.

74. The communication network of claim 55, wherein the touchscreen can display a message listing all prescription medications that have been correlated to the consumer interacting with the dispensing apparatus, and all prescription medications filled for persons whom have authorized the consumer to pickup their prescriptions.

75. The communication network of claim 74, wherein the dispensing apparatus delivers all prescription medications having a relation to that consumer.

76. A communication network for use in a purchase transaction for a prescription medication by a consumer comprising:

a dispensing apparatus configured to store a plurality of prescription medications, substantially all the prescription medication correlated to a specific consumer, and capable of delivering a correlated prescription medication upon demand;

a dispensing computer for communicating with and controlling the dispensing apparatus;

a pharmacy information system means, located remotely from the dispensing apparatus, for storing a plurality of electronic records, wherein a record comprises a consumer element, a prescription data element, and a medication element, the record corresponding to a prescription medication placed within the dispensing apparatus;

a point of sale means for recording transactions made at the dispensing apparatus; and

an interface means for communicating with the computer, pharmacy information system, and the point of sale system, and which enables the transfer of a record from the pharmacy information system means to the computer,

wherein the dispensing computer controls the dispensing apparatus to deliver to the consumer a stored, correlated prescription medication that the consumer is authorized to receive; and

wherein the computer provides the point of sale means information to account for the purchase transaction.