Object Dispenser With Locking Fill Door Useful in System and Method for Dispensing Objects

• US 20080288105A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Michelli, Richard D., Mauger, Jennifer Ann, Agostini, Rafael III
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,307 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

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing prescription pharmaceuticals contained therein includes: a bin, the bin including an access opening; a door adjacent to the opening and movable between open and closed positions to allow access for filling the bin through the opening, wherein one of the bin and the door includes a first identifier corresponding to the identity of units of a single prescription pharmaceutical contained in the bin; a locking assembly configured and positioned to engage the door in the closed position and prevent the door from moving to the open position; an identifier reading device operably associated with the locking assembly to scan the first identifier and a second identifier on a bulk container, the second identifier corresponding to the identity of the contents of the bulk container; and a controller having a data storage unit and configured to receive and compare signals from the identifier reading device corresponding to the first and second identifiers. The controller is operably associated with the locking assembly such that the locking assembly disengages from the door responsive to a positive comparison by the controller, thereby enabling the door to be moved to the open position.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing prescription pharmaceuticals contained therein, the dispenser comprising:

a bin including an access opening;

a door adjacent to the opening and movable between open and closed positions to allow access for filling the bin through the opening;

one of the bin and the door including a first identifier corresponding to the identity of units of a single prescription pharmaceutical contained in the bin;

a locking assembly configured and positioned to engage the door in the closed position and prevent the door from moving to the open position;

an identifier reading device operably associated with the locking assembly to scan the first identifier and a second identifier on a bulk container, the second identifier corresponding to the identity of the contents of the bulk container; and

a controller having a data storage unit and configured to receive and compare signals from the identifier reading device corresponding to the first and second identifiers;

wherein the controller is operably associated with the locking assembly such that the locking assembly disengages from the door responsive to a positive comparison by the controller, thereby enabling the door to be moved to the open position.

2. The dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein the locking assembly is attached to the bin.

3. The dispenser defined in claim 2, wherein the door has an aperture for receiving an extendable member of the locking assembly.

4. The dispenser defined in claim 3, wherein the locking assembly further comprises an actuating member;

wherein the extendable member extends through the actuating member;

wherein the extendable member is movable between extended and retracted positions;

wherein in the extended position the extendable member extends into the aperture of the door to lock the door; and

wherein the extendable member moves to the retracted position when the actuating member is actuated in response to a positive comparison by the controller.

5. The dispenser defined in claim 4, wherein the extendable member includes an inclined face.

6. The dispenser defined in claim 4, wherein the extendable member is biased toward the extended position.

7. The dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second identifiers are bar codes.

8. The dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of the controller is mounted on the bin.

9. The dispenser defined in claim 4, wherein the actuating member is a solenoid, and the extendable member retracts in response to magnetizing of the solenoid.

10. The dispenser defined in claim 4, wherein the actuating member is a muscle wire that shrinks in response to a signal from the controller.

11. A method for opening a bin containing units of a prescription pharmaceutical, the method comprising:

reading a first identifier that corresponds with an identity of the prescription pharmaceutical contained in the bin;

reading a second identifier that corresponds with an identity of a prescription pharmaceutical contained in a bulk container;

comparing the first and second identifiers to confirm a positive comparison therebetween; and

unlocking a locked door to the bin to permit access to the bin responsive to the positive comparison.

12. The method defined in claim 11, wherein unlocking a locked door to the bin further comprises unlocking a locking assembly that is attached to the bin.

13. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the locked door has engagement structure for engaging an extendable member of the locking assembly.

14. The method defined in claim 13, wherein the locking assembly further comprises an actuating member;

wherein the extendable member extends through and is movable between extended and retracted positions relative to the actuating member; and

wherein the extendable member moves to the retracted position when the actuating member is actuated in response to a positive comparison.

15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the extendable member includes an inclined face.

16. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the extendable member is biased toward the extended position.

17. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the contents of the bin are pharmaceutical tablets.

18. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the first and second identifiers are bar codes.

19. The method defined in claim 11, further comprising:

reading a third identifier that identifies an operator; and

determining if the identified operator has authority to access the bin prior to unlocking the locked door.

20. A dispenser for dispensing objects contained therein, the dispenser comprising:

a hollow bin, the hollow bin including an opening;

a door adjacent to the opening of the bin;

a first identifier attached to one of the hollow bin and the door;

a locking assembly attached to at least one of the hollow bin and the door, the locking assembly having an actuating member comprising a shape memory alloy and an extendable member connected with the actuating member;

a reading device; and

a controller associated with the locking assembly and the reading device;

wherein, responsive to a signal from the controller, the locking assembly moves from a locked position to an unlocked position such that the door may be moved away from the opening of the bin and provide access thereto.

21. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the locking assembly is attached to a side wall of the hollow bin.

22. The dispenser defined in claim 21, wherein the muscle wire is positioned in a slot in the side wall of the hollow bin.

23. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the extendable member includes an inclined face.

24. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the extendable member is biased toward the extended position.

25. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the first identifier is a bar code.

26. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the door includes a flange, and wherein the extendable member engages the flange when the door is in the locked position.

27. The dispenser defined in claim 26, wherein at one end the extendable member includes an inclined face and a cutaway area, the cutaway area receiving an edge of a side wall of the door when the door is in the locked position.

28. The dispenser defined in claim 20, wherein the actuating member is formed of a nickel-titanium alloy.