MEDICATION DISPENSING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins located at a plurality of storage locations within the enclosure, each medication storage bin being configured to hold one or more medically related items;
a medication dispensing area having one or more doors in the enclosure for passing a selected medication storage bin through the enclosure, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define an opening of variable size; and
a robot system for moving the selected medication storage bin between a corresponding storage location within the enclosure and the medication dispensing area.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes an enclosure providing a secure environment for storing medications in multiple sized medication-storage bins. The medication storage bins are hung in storage racks located within the enclosure. A robot system is also provided within the enclosure for moving bins between the storage racks and a medication dispensing area. The medication dispensing area includes doors configured to open to define an opening for passing a selected bin through the enclosure. In some embodiments, the doors provide a variable-sized opening and, in some instances, the opening matches the size of a bin containing medications selected for dispensing.
82 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure; a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins located at a plurality of storage locations within the enclosure, each medication storage bin being configured to hold one or more medically related items; a medication dispensing area having one or more doors in the enclosure for passing a selected medication storage bin through the enclosure, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define an opening of variable size; and a robot system for moving the selected medication storage bin between a corresponding storage location within the enclosure and the medication dispensing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for dispensing medications from a medication dispensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a medically related item; determining a medication storage bin containing the medically related item, the medication storage bin being located at a storage location within the medication dispensing apparatus; determining the storage location of the medication storage bin within the medication dispensing apparatus; using a robot system within the medication dispensing apparatus to retrieve the medication storage bin from the storage location and move the medication storage bin to a medication dispensing area, the medication dispensing area having one or more doors in an enclosure of the medication dispensing apparatus for passing the medication storage bin through the enclosure; opening the one or more doors to define an opening in the enclosure; and moving the medication storage bin through the opening in the enclosure created by opening the one or more doors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification