System and Apparatus for Item Management

• US 20090210247A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chudy Group LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Chudy Group LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Spernow, James T., Chudy, Duane S., Montgomery, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0069 Trays for holding or distributing medicines display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• 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: 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 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a holder defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the holder, at least one indicator selectively-operable to indicate the holder cell into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to selectively operate each at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received. In embodiments, indicators are provided on the holder. In other embodiments, the indicators may by on a guide associated with the docking station to assist the user in loading the holder. The contents of the loaded holder may be easily loaded, for example, into an automated dispensing machine for packaging and subsequent administration to a patient or for another use.

Claims

1. An item-management system comprising:

a holder having plural cells;

a docking station to which the holder is docked;

at least one indicator selectively-operable to indicate the cell of a docked holder into which an item is to be received; and

at least one controller operable to selectively operate each at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each at least one indicator is a lamp.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED).

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each LED is a multi-color LED.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one indicator comprises a plural-lamp indicator.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a guide associated with the docking station, said guide defining a plurality of openings each opening being positioned for alignment with a holder cell of a docked holder, and wherein, each at least one indicator is on the guide adjacent a guide opening.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each at least one indicator is on the holder adjacent a holder cell.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one controller is operatively connected to each at least one indicator when the holder is docked at the docking station.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

at least one contact associated with the holder operably connected to each at least one indicator; and

at least one contact associated with the docking station operably connected to the at least one controller,

wherein, connection of the contacts enables the selective indicator operation when the holder is docked at the docking station.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a wireless receiver associated with the holder operably connected to each at least one indicator; and

a wireless transmitter associated with the docking station operably connected to the at least one controller,

wherein, a wireless connection between the transmitter and receiver enables the selective indicator operation when the holder is docked at the docking station.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one controller comprises a computer including a set of instructions operable to selectively operate each at least one indicator.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one controller further comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) operatively connected to the computer and the PLC selectively operates each at least one indicator.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the docking station further comprises:

a video display operably connected to the at least one controller; and

an input device enabling a user to input information to the at least one controller.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the video display is operable to display information indicating the cell into which each item is to be loaded.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the holder defines an inlet and an outlet for each holder cell and the each cell outlet is in alignment with a corresponding cell of an automated dispensing machine exception storage apparatus.

16. A holder for management of items comprising:

a body defining plural cells, each cell having an inlet and an outlet;

at least one gate mounted with respect to the body and each cell outlet, the gate being movable between a first position in which the cell outlet is closed to receive an item in the cell and a second position in which the cell outlet is open to discharge the item from the cell; and

at least one indicator proximate each cell selectively operable to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein each at least one indicator is a lamp.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED).

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each LED is a multi-color LED.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein each at least one indicator comprises a plural-lamp indicator.

21. The holder of claim 16 further comprising a connection enabling operable connecting between each at least one indicator and at least one controller enabling the at least one controller to operate each indicator to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

22. The holder of claim 21 wherein the connection is an electro mechanical connection.

23. The holder of claim 21 wherein the connection is a wireless connection.

24. The holder of claim 16 wherein the body further comprises structure enabling docking of the holder with a docking station.

25. The holder of claim 16 wherein the at least one gate includes:

a shuttle member proximate the holder bottom side covering the cell outlet in the closed position; and

a pull attached to the shuttle member enabling the shuttle member to be moved between the positions

26. A method for item management comprising the steps of:

docking a holder with a docking station, the holder defining plural item-receiving cells;

selectively operating at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which an item is to be received; and

loading the item into each indicated cell.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the selectively operating step comprises energizing the at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which an item is to be received.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the docking station further comprises a guide, said guide defining a plurality of openings each positioned for alignment with a holder cell of a docked holder, and wherein, each at least one indicator is on the guide adjacent a guide opening.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein each at least one indicator is on the holder adjacent a holder cell.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of displaying information on a video display device indicating the holder cell into which each item is to be received.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transferring the items from the holder cells to corresponding cells of an exception storage apparatus of an automated dispensing machine.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the transferring step further comprises opening a holder cell outlet to allow each item to fall into the corresponding cell of the exception storage apparatus.