SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS

• US 20090043421A1
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Eberdt, Jesse Samuel III, Calderwood, David Alan, Parrish, David J., Rhoads, Thomas P. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 9,299,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes: a frame having first and second opposed sides; a plurality of bins configured to house pharmaceutical tablets, each of the bins being accessible from the first side of the frame for replenishment of pharmaceutical tablets; and a plurality of chutes, each of the chutes connected to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of bins, each of the chutes being accessible from the second side of the frame for dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets. A system of this configuration can facilitate operation by physically separating replenishment tasks from dispensing tasks, thereby enabling these tasks to be performed simultaneously.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A pharmaceutical dispensing system, comprising:

a frame having first and second opposed sides;

a plurality of bins configured to house pharmaceutical tablets, each of the bins being accessible from the first side of the frame for replenishment of pharmaceutical tablets;

a plurality of chutes, each of the chutes connected to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of bins, each of the chutes being accessible from the second side of the frame for dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets;

a first graphics user interface mounted on the first side of the frame for controlling the replenishment of the plurality of bins; and

a second graphics user interface mounted on the second side of the frame for controlling the dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets from the chutes.

18. The system defined in claim 17, further comprising a scanning device mounted to the first side of the frame configured to scan indicia located on the plurality of bins.

19. The system defined in claim 17, further comprising a scanning device mounted to the second side of the frame configured to scan a vial prior to the dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets from a chute.

20. The system defined in claim 17, further comprising a scanning device mounted to the first side of the frame configured to scan a bulk supply bottle of pharmaceutical tablets.

21. The system defined in claim 17, further comprising a scanning device configured to scan an operator'"'"'s ID badge.

22. The system defined in claim 21, wherein the scanning device is mounted on the first side of the frame.

23. The system defined in claim 21, wherein the scanning device is mounted on the second side of the frame.

24. The system defined in claim 17, further comprising a biometric scanning device.

25. A pharmacy arrangement, comprising:

a bulk stock area;

an automated pharmaceutical dispensing machine comprising;

a frame having first and second opposed sides;

a plurality of bins configured to house pharmaceutical tablets, each of the bins being accessible from the first side of the frame for replenishment of pharmaceutical tablets, the first side of the frame facing the bulk stock area; and

a plurality of outlets, each of the outlets connected to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of bins, each of the outlets being accessible from the second side of the frame for dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets; and

a customer interaction area, the second side of the frame facing the customer interaction area;

wherein the bulk stock area, the dispensing machine and the customer interaction area are generally aligned along a material flow path that extends through the first and second sides of the dispensing machine.

26. The pharmacy arrangement defined in claim 25, wherein stock shelves are positioned generally parallel to and offset from the material flow path.

27. The pharmacy arrangement defined in claim 25, wherein the automated pharmaceutical machine includes a first graphics user interface mounted on the first side of the frame for controlling the replenishment of the plurality of bins.

28. The pharmacy arrangement defined in claim 25, wherein the automated pharmaceutical machine includes a second graphics user interface mounted on the second side of the frame for controlling the dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets from the chutes.

29. The pharmacy arrangement defined in claim 27, wherein the automated pharmaceutical machine includes a second graphics user interface mounted on the second side of the frame for controlling the dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets from the chutes.

30. The pharmacy arrangement defined in claim 28, wherein the outlets comprise chutes that extend from the bins to the second side of the frame.

31. A pharmacy arrangement, comprising:

a bulk stock area;

an automated pharmaceutical dispensing machine comprising;

a frame having first and second opposed sides;

a plurality of bins configured to house pharmaceutical tablets, each of the bins being accessible from the first side of the frame for replenishment of pharmaceutical tablets, the first side of the frame facing the bulk stock area; and

a plurality of outlets, each of the outlets connected to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of bins, each of the outlets being accessible from the second side of the frame for dispensing of pharmaceutical tablets; and

a customer interaction area, the second side of the frame facing the customer interaction area;

wherein the bulk stock area, the dispensing machine and the customer interaction area are generally aligned along a material flow path;

wherein the dispensing machine is generally parallel to the material flow path, and wherein the second side of the frame is adjacent a verification portion of the customer interaction area.