Automated Dispensing System for Pharmaceuticals and Other Medical Items

• US 20100017296A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Spignesi, Robert G. JR., Longley, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.660
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system for dispensing a plurality of customized doses of pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a customer interaction station; a customized packaging station configured to selectively package individual doses of medication into customized packaging, the medications being selected responsive to input from the customer input station; and a controller connected to the customer interaction station and the customized packaging station, the controller configured to control the customized packaging based on customer input from the customer interaction station.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing a plurality of customized doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:

a housing;

a customer interaction station;

a customized packaging station configured to selectively package individual doses of medication into customized packaging, the medications being selected responsive to input from the customer input station; and

a controller connected to the customer interaction station and the customized packaging station, the controller configured to control the customized packaging based on customer input from the customer interaction station.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the customer interaction station further comprises a customer transaction device.

3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a module configured to access insurance information associated with the customer.

4. The system defined in claim 2, wherein the customer interaction station includes an identification device that enables the customer to verify his/her identity.

5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the customized packing is selected from the group consisting of:

pouch, strip, sachet, multi-dose packages, vials, bottles, blister-packs, transdermal patches, and bingo card packaging.

6. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the customer interaction station further comprises a counting station, the counting station configured to count automatically a predetermined number of units of medication and provide the counted units of medication to the customized packaging station.

7. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the customized packaging station includes a labeling station for labeling the customized packaging.

8. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the customized packaging station is configured to package doses of medications based on the time of day the doses are to be taken.

9. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the controller includes a diagnostic module configured to pose queries regarding customer symptoms and to provide suggested medications based on responses to the queries.

10. The system defined in claim 1, further comprising a drug verification station.

12. The system defined in claim 11, wherein the controller further comprises a signaling module configured to alert maintenance or service personnel to restock medical products.

11. A system for dispensing medical products, comprising:

a housing;

a customer interaction station, the customer interaction station configured to receive requests for medical products stored in and dispensed from the housing; and

a controller connected with the customer interaction station, the controller comprising;

an inventory monitoring module configured to monitor inventory of medical products stored in and dispensed from the housing; and

an alternate location module associated with the customer input station, the alternate location module configured to suggest alternative locations for systems that contain medical products that are absent from the housing.

13. A system for dispensing regulated medications, comprising:

a housing;

a customer interaction station comprising a pharmaceutical dispensing station and a customer identification device configured to receive (a) customer-specific data input from the customer and (b) photographic or biometric input from the customer;

a controller connected with the customer interaction station and comprising a regulated substances module that includes data associated with approval of customers to receive regulated substances and is configured to;

receive the customer-specific data input and the photographic or biometric input;

identify a customer corresponding to the customer-specific data;

compare the identity of the customer corresponding to the customer-specific data input to the customer identified by the photographic or biometric input; and

determine whether the identified customer is approved to receive a requested regulated substance; and

a drug verification station configured to verify the identity of the regulated medication.

14. The system defined in claim 13, further comprising a customized packaging station configured to selectively package individual doses of medication into customized packaging, the medications being selected responsive to input from the customer input station.

15. The system defined in claim 14, wherein the customized packing is selected from the group consisting of:

pouch, strip, sachet, multi-dose packages, vials, bottles, blister-packs, transdermal patches and bingo card packaging.

16. The system defined in claim 14, further comprising a counting station, the counting station configured to count automatically a predetermined number of units of medication and provide the counted units of medication to the customized packaging station.

17. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the controller includes a transaction module configured to access insurance information associated with the customer.

18. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the comparing step is performed by the controller.

19. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the comparing step is performed manually.

20. A method for dispensing a plurality of individualized doses of pharmaceuticals grouped by administration time, comprising:

providing a customer interaction station;

receiving a customer order for a medication via the customer interaction station; and

dispensing selectively packaged individual doses of medication in customized packaging, the medications being selected responsive to input from the customer interaction station.

21. The method defined in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

via the customer interaction station, posing queries regarding customer symptoms; and

via the customer interaction station, providing suggested medications based on responses to the queries.

22. The method defined in claim 20, further comprising automatically verifying the identity of the medication prior to the dispensing step.

23. A method of dispensing medical products in a system for dispensing same, comprising:

receiving via a customer interaction station a request for a medical product; and

if the medical product is unavailable in the system, providing information regarding alternative locations that have the requested product in stock, the information being provided via the customer interaction station.

24. A method of dispensing regulated substances from a system for dispensing same, comprising:

receiving, via a customer interaction station, customer-specific data input that identifies a customer;

receiving, via the customer interaction station, photographic or biometric input that identifies a customer;

receiving, via the customer interaction station, a request for a regulated substance;

comparing the identity of the customer corresponding to the customer-specific data to the customer identified by the photographic or biometric input;

determining whether the identified customer is approved to receive the requested regulated substance;

dispensing the regulated substance to the customer responsive to a positive determination and a positive comparison from a dispensing station; and

automatically verifying the identity of the regulated substance prior to dispensing of the regulated substance from the dispensing station.

25. The method defined in claim 24, wherein the comparing step is performed by the controller.

26. The method defined in claim 24, wherein the comparing step is performed manually.

27. A system for dispensing pharmaceuticals, comprising:

a housing;

a customer interaction station that includes;

a dispensing station for dispensing pharmaceuticals; and

a display device for displaying information for a customer responsive to input from the customer interaction station; and

a controller connected to the customer interaction station having a transaction module configured to select information displayed on the display device, the selection of the displayed information being responsive to customer input.

28. The system defined in claim 27, wherein the information displayed is selected from the group consisting of video advertising and printed promotional materials.

29. The system defined in claim 27 wherein the information displayed solicits participation in a clinical trial.