Automated prescription filling system/method with automated labeling and packaging system/method and automated order consolidation system/method
First Claim
1. A bottle or container transfer system, comprising:
- a plurality of storage locations, each storage location having a first side and a second side;
a stoppage mechanism responsively operational with respect to each of a plurality of guides, the stoppage mechanism having a first position and a second position;
a first transport mechanism obtaining a container and feeding the container to one of the plurality of storage locations via the first side thereof, wherein the container is held by the one of the plurality of guides when the stoppage mechanism is in the second position;
a second transport mechanism moving the stoppage mechanism from the second position to the first position;
input system to input the patient specific order in a computer system, said patient specific order comprising one or more container, a package and patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order; and
said computer system coupled to the first and second transport mechanisms for identifying one or more storage locations, wherein the computer system instructs the first transport mechanism to transfer the one or more container corresponding to a patient specific order to one or more of the plurality of storage locations, wherein the computer system further instructs the second transport mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism of the one or more of the plurality of storage locations from the second position to the first position when the one or more container corresponding to the patient specific order has been transferred to the one or more of the plurality of storage locations and are ready for dispensing with other components of the patient specific order, including at least one of another container, the package and the patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A bottle or container transfer system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations, each storage location having a first side and a second side;
a stoppage mechanism responsively operational with respect to each of a plurality of guides, the stoppage mechanism having a first position and a second position;
a first transport mechanism obtaining a container and feeding the container to one of the plurality of storage locations via the first side thereof, wherein the container is held by the one of the plurality of guides when the stoppage mechanism is in the second position;
a second transport mechanism moving the stoppage mechanism from the second position to the first position;
input system to input the patient specific order in a computer system, said patient specific order comprising one or more container, a package and patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order; and
said computer system coupled to the first and second transport mechanisms for identifying one or more storage locations, wherein the computer system instructs the first transport mechanism to transfer the one or more container corresponding to a patient specific order to one or more of the plurality of storage locations, wherein the computer system further instructs the second transport mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism of the one or more of the plurality of storage locations from the second position to the first position when the one or more container corresponding to the patient specific order has been transferred to the one or more of the plurality of storage locations and are ready for dispensing with other components of the patient specific order, including at least one of another container, the package and the patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 26)
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13. A bottle or container transfer system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations, the plurality of storage locations storing one or more bottles corresponding to a patient specific prescription order, said plurality of storage locations including a stoppage mechanism having a first position and a second position;
a first transport mechanism obtaining the one or more bottles and transferring said one or more bottles to one or more of the plurality of storage locations, wherein said one or more bottles held by the one or more of the plurality of storage locations when the stoppage mechanism is in the second position;
a second transport mechanism responsively connected to transfer the stoppage mechanism from the second position to the first position;
input system to input the patient specific order in a computer system, said patient specific order comprising one or more bottles, a package and patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order; and
said computer system coupled to the first and second transport mechanisms for identifying one or more storage locations, wherein the computer system instructs the first transport mechanism to transfer the one or more bottles corresponding to a patient specific order to one or more of the plurality of storage locations, wherein the computer system further instructs the second transport mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism of the one or more of the plurality of storage locations from the second position to the first position when the one or more bottles corresponding to the patient specific order has been transferred to the one or more of the plurality of storage locations and are ready for dispensing with other components of the patient specific order, including at least one of another bottle, the package and the patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27)
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25. A bottle or container transfer system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations means for storing one or more bottles corresponding to a patient specific prescription order and each of the plurality of storage locations means includes a stoppage mechanism having a first position and a second position;
a first transport mechanism obtaining the one or more bottles and transferring said one or more bottles to one or more of the plurality of storage locations means, wherein the one or more bottles held by the one or more of the plurality of storage locations means when the stoppage mechanism is in the second position;
a second transport mechanism responsively connectable to the stoppage mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism from the second position to the first position;
input system to input the patient specific order in a computer system means, said patient specific order comprising one or more bottles, a package and patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order; and
computer system means coupled to the first and second transport mechanisms and for identifying a storage location, wherein the computer system means instructs the first transport mechanism to transfer the one or more bottles corresponding to the patient specific order to the one or more of the plurality of storage location means, wherein the computer system means instruct the second transport mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism of the storage location means from the second position to the first position when the one or more bottles corresponding to the patient specific order have been transferred to the one or more of the plurality storage location means and are ready for dispensing with other components of the patient specific order including at least one of another bottle, the package and the patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order.
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28. A bottle or container transfer system, comprising:
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storage locations means for storing one or more bottles corresponding to a patient specific prescription order and each of the plurality of storage locations means includes a stoppage mechanism having a first position and a second position;
first transport means for obtaining the one or more bottles and transferring said one or more bottles to one or more of the plurality of storage locations means, wherein the one or more bottles held by the one or more of the plurality of storage locations means when the stoppage mechanism is in the second position;
second transport means for transferring the stoppage mechanism from the second position to the first position;
input means for inputting the patient specific order, said patient specific order comprising one or more bottles, a package and patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order; and
computer system means for identifying a storage location, wherein the computer system means instructs the first transport mechanism to transfer the one or more bottles corresponding to the patient specific order to the one or more of the plurality of storage location means, wherein the computer system means instruct the second transport mechanism to transfer the stoppage mechanism of the storage location means from the second position to the first position when the one or more bottles corresponding to the patient specific order have been transferred to the one or more of the plurality storage location means and are ready for dispensing with other components of the patient specific order including at least one of another bottle, the package and the patient specific literature corresponding to the patient specific order.
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Specification