MEDICAL PRODUCT DISPENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090125324A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haleon UK IP Limited (Haleon Plc)
• Original Assignee: GlaxoSmithKline LLC (GlaxoSmithKline PLC)
• Inventors: McGregor, Richard Alexander, Quesnelle, George Michael, Keravich, Daniel Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for transferring restricted distribution medical products to an over-the-counter general sales environment are provided. Methods and systems of dispensing non-prescription, behind-the-counter medical products from a vending machine in a general sales location are also provided. In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for dispensing a medical product from a vending machine in a general sales location based, at least in part, on biometric data collected from the purchaser and, in some instances, based on self-selection and/or de-selection criteria, is provided. Further, methods and systems of switching prescription medical products to non-prescription, over-the-counter medical products are provided.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a medical product, comprising:

storing an electronic self-selection process related to the medical product on a controller;

storing an electronic de-selection process related to the medical product on the controller;

allowing a potential purchaser of the medical product to access the electronic self-selection and de-selection processes;

controlling the controller via the electronic self-selection process to provide a transaction record for the medical product only if the potential purchaser successfully completes the self-selection process for an initial purchase request of the medical product; and

controlling the controller via the electronic de-selection process to provide the transaction record for the medical product only if the potential purchaser successfully completes the de-selection process for a second or subsequent purchase request of the medical product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical product comprises an over-the-counter, non-prescription medical product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical product comprises a non-prescription, behind-the-counter medical product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting purchaser specific biometric data from the potential purchaser as part of the self-selection process.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the biometric data comprises controlling the controller to measure the biometric data of the potential purchaser.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising analyzing the purchaser specific biometric data as part of the self-selection process.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the purchaser specific biometric data comprises requesting the potential purchaser to manually enter the biometric data into the controller.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the purchaser specific biometric data comprises allowing the potential purchaser to scan or read the biometric data into the controller from a user provided medium.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the purchaser specific biometric data comprises:

requesting the potential purchaser to place a purchaser supplied biometric measurement device in electrical communication with the controller; and

controlling the controller to retrieve the purchaser specific biometric data from the purchaser supplied biometric measurement device.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the purchaser specific biometric data comprises:

storing the purchaser specific biometric data on a database associated with an external test or laboratory site; and

authorizing, during the self-selection process, the controller to access the purchaser specific biometric data on the database via a network connection.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting information from the potential purchaser as part of the self-selection process.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising customizing the information based on the self-selection process, the de-selection process, and any combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising customizing the information based on purchaser specific biometric data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the controller to provide instructions to the potential purchaser in the event that the controller determines that the potential purchaser did not successfully complete the self-selection process, the instructions including steps needed to successfully complete the self-selection process.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the controller to provide instructions to the potential purchaser in the event that the controller determines that the potential purchaser did not successfully complete the de-selection process, the instructions including steps needed to successfully complete the de-selection process.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the de-selection process comprises automatically limiting a length of therapy of the medical product to a predetermined length.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing warning and caution data to the potential purchaser during the self-selection process and/or the de-selection process.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the potential purchaser of the medical product to access the electronic self-selection and de-selection processes comprises:

allowing the potential purchaser of the medical product to access the electronic self-selection and de-selection processes via the Internet.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the purchaser to purchase the medical product if the potential purchaser successfully completes the self-selection process or the de-selection process.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transaction record includes proof of purchase of the medical product.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

requiring the potential purchaser to present the transaction record at a point-of-sale.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requiring the potential purchaser to retrieve the medical product from a retail shelf in a retail location; and

requiring the potential purchaser to take the transaction record and the medical product to a sales associate at the retail location.

23. A method for distributing a medical product, comprising:

storing an electronic self-selection process related to the medical product on a controller;

storing an electronic de-selection process related to the medical product on the controller;

allowing a potential purchaser of the medical product to access the electronic self-selection and de-selection processes via a telephone;

controlling the controller via the electronic self-selection process to allow shipment of the medical product to the purchaser only if the potential purchaser successfully completes the self-selection process for an initial purchase request of the medical product; and

controlling the controller via the electronic de-selection process to allow shipment of the medical product to the purchaser only if the potential purchaser successfully completes the de-selection process for a second or subsequent purchase request of the medical product.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the medical product comprises an over-the-counter, non-prescription medical product.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the medical product comprises a non-prescription, behind-the-counter medical product.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising collecting information from the potential purchaser as part of the self-selection process.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising collecting purchaser specific biometric data from the potential purchaser as part of the self-selection process.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising analyzing the purchaser specific biometric data as part of the self-selection process.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein collecting the purchaser specific biometric data comprises requesting the potential purchaser to manually enter the biometric data into the controller.

30. A method for dispensing medical products, comprising:

identifying a particular medical product having a distribution restricted status;

placing a vending machine in a general sales location, the vending machine having a person-machine-interface device in communication with a controller;

storing a supply of the particular medical product in the vending machine;

storing an electronic self-selection process on the controller; and

controlling the vending machine, via the controller, to dispense a first sales unit of the particular medical product only if a purchaser successfully completes the self-selection process for an initial purchase request for the particular medical product via the interface device.

31. A method of dispensing a medical product from a vending machine in a general sales location, comprising:

accepting a purchase request at the vending machine from a purchaser for a particular restricted distribution medical product;

determining if the purchase request is an initial purchase request or a subsequent purchase request by the purchaser for the particular medical product;

accessing a self-selection algorithm for the particular medical product if the purchase request is the initial purchase request;

accessing a de-selection algorithm for the particular medical product if the purchase request is the subsequent purchase request;

requiring the purchaser to input an answer to each of a plurality of questions generated by the self-selection algorithm or the de-selection algorithm; and

controlling the vending machine, via the self-selection algorithm or the de-selection algorithm, to dispense or not dispense the particular medical product based the answers.

32. A method of dispensing a medical product from a vending machine in a general sales location, comprising:

accepting a purchase request at a vending machine from a purchaser for a particular medical product;

accessing a dispensing algorithm for the particular medical product;

requiring the purchaser to input an answer to each of a plurality of questions generated by the dispensing algorithm;

collecting biometric data from the purchaser; and

determining whether or not to dispense the particular medical product based on the answers and based, at least in part, on the biometric data.

33. A method of switching a prescription medical product to a non-prescription, over-the-counter medical product, comprising:

selecting a particular medical product having a prescription status;

developing a set of initial dispensing criteria for the particular medical product, the set of initial dispensing criteria that is sufficient so that a responsible regulatory agency approves a change in status of the particular medical product to a non-prescription status;

developing a set of product specific and purchaser specific self-selection questions based on the set of initial dispensing criteria;

arranging the set of self-selection questions into a self-selection algorithm;

placing the particular medical product in a vending machine having a person-machine-interface device in electrical communication with a controller;

placing the vending machine in a general sales location;

storing the self-selection algorithm on the controller; and

controlling the vending machine, via the controller, to dispense a first sales unit of the particular medical product only if a purchaser successfully completes the self-selection algorithm via the interface device.

34. A medical product dispensing system, comprising:

a vending machine defining a storage space, the storage space being configured to receive one or more restricted distribution medical products and one or more unrestricted distribution medical products therein;

one or more person-machine-interface devices;

a controller in communication with the vending machine and the one or more interface devices; and

a self-selection algorithm resident on the controller for each of the restricted distribution medical products in the storage space,

wherein the controller is configured, upon selection of a particular restricted distribution medical product by a purchaser via the one or more interface devices, to determine whether the selection of the particular restricted distribution medical product is a first request or a second request for the particular restricted distribution medical product,

wherein the controller is configured to require the purchaser to complete the self-selection algorithm if the request is the first request, and

wherein the controller is configured to dispense the particular restricted distribution medical product only if the purchaser successfully completes the self-selection algorithm.

35. A method for distributing a medical product, comprising:

providing a controller having a matching algorithm resident thereon;

allowing a purchaser to access to the matching algorithm;

controlling the matching algorithm to provide a plurality of exemplary symptoms or disease-states to the purchaser via at least one data entry and communication device in visual or auditory form;

allowing the purchaser to select one or more symptoms or disease-states from the plurality of exemplary symptoms or disease-states when the one or more symptoms or disease-states match those currently being experienced by the purchaser; and

controlling the matching algorithm to provide a list of one or more appropriate medical products for the one or more symptoms or disease-states selected.

36. A method of switching a behind-the-counter medical product to an over-the-counter medical product, comprising, comprising:

selecting a particular medical product having a behind-the-counter status;

developing a set of initial dispensing criteria for the particular medical product, the set of initial dispensing criteria that is sufficient so that a responsible regulatory agency approves a change in status of the particular medical product to an over-the-counter status;

developing a set of product specific and purchaser specific self-selection questions based on the set of initial dispensing criteria;

arranging the set of self-selection questions into a self-selection algorithm;

placing the particular medical product in a vending machine having a person-machine-interface device in electrical communication with a controller;

placing the vending machine in a general sales location;

storing the self-selection algorithm on the controller; and

controlling the vending machine, via the controller, to dispense a first sales unit of the particular medical product only if a purchaser successfully completes the self-selection algorithm via the interface device.

37. A method for distributing a particular medical product, comprising:

providing a controller having a matching algorithm resident thereon for the particular medical product;

allowing a purchaser to access to the matching algorithm;

controlling the matching algorithm to provide a plurality of exemplary symptoms or disease-states for the particular medical product to the purchaser via at least one data entry and communication device;

allowing the purchaser to select one or more symptoms or disease-states from the plurality of exemplary symptoms or disease-states when the one or more symptoms or disease-states match those currently being experienced by the purchaser; and

determining if the purchase request is an initial purchase request or a subsequent purchase request by the purchaser for the particular medical product;

accessing a self-selection algorithm for the particular medical product if the purchase request is the initial purchase request;

accessing a de-selection algorithm for the particular medical product if the purchase request is the subsequent purchase request;

requiring the purchaser to input an answer to each of a plurality of questions generated by the self-selection algorithm or the de-selection algorithm; and

allowing, via the self-selection algorithm or the de-selection algorithm, the purchaser to purchase the particular medical product based the answers.