Method for Retrieving Prescriptions with RFID Detection

• US 20100185458A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Newcomb, David, Calderwood, David Alan, Rhoads, Thomas P. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/688,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185458A1
• 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: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A method of tracking the exit of a filled prescription from a storage area configured to house multiple filled prescriptions includes the steps of: providing a pharmaceutical vial filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes an RFID tag that is specific for the prescription; storing the pharmaceutical vial in the storage area; detecting the RFID tag with an RFID detector as the vial is stored in the storage area, the RFID detector being associated with a controller; removing the vial from the storage area; detecting the removal of the RIFD tag to indicate removal of the vial from the storage area; and recording the removal of the vial with the controller. T

Claims

1. A method of tracking the exit of a filled prescription from a storage area configured to house multiple filled prescriptions, comprising the steps of:

providing a pharmaceutical vial filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes an RFID tag that is specific for the prescription;

storing the pharmaceutical vial in the storage area;

detecting the RFID tag with an RFID detector as the vial is stored in the storage area, the RFID detector being associated with controller;

removing the vial from the storage area; and

detecting the removal of the RIFD tag to indicate removal of the vial from the storage area; and

recording the removal of the vial with the controller.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the removal of the RFID tag comprises detecting the absence of the RFID tag from the storage area.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the removal of the RFID tag comprises detecting the RFID tag as it passes through a detecting zone that is separate from the storage area.

4. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second pharmaceutical vial filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes a second RFID tag that is specific for the prescription;

storing the second pharmaceutical vial in the storage area;

detecting the second RFID tag with the RFID detector as the second vial is stored in the storage area;

removing the second vial from the storage area; and

detecting the removal of the second RIFD tag to indicate removal of the second vial from the storage area; and

recording the removal of the second vial with the controller.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the storage area is located within an automated pharmacy dispensing machine.

6. The method defined in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

automatically filling the prescription with the automated pharmacy dispensing machine; and

automatically offloading the filled prescription to the storage area with the automated pharmacy machine.

7. A method of returning a pharmaceutical prescription to stock, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of stock bins, each of the stock bins including a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical;

wherein at least some of the bins contain a different pharmaceutical than at least some of the other bins,

providing a pharmaceutical vial filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes an RFID tag that is specific for the prescription;

detecting the RFID tag with an RFID detector, the RFID detector being associated with a controller;

responsive to the detecting of the RFID tag, determining the identity of the pharmaceutical contained in the vial;

responsive to the detecting of the RFID tag, determining via the controller an identity of a first one of the stock bins, wherein the first stock bin contains the same pharmaceutical that is contained in the pharmaceutical vial;

via the controller, automatically indicating the identity of the first stock bin; and

emptying the pharmaceutical vial into the first stock bin.

8. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the step of indicating the identity of the first stock bin comprises illuminating a signal light corresponding to the first bin.

9. The method defined in claim 7, wherein each of the stock bins includes a lockable replenishment door, and further comprising automatically unlocking the door of the first bin responsive to the determining step.

10. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the plurality of stock bins is mounted in an automated pharmacy dispensing machine.

11. The method defined in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second pharmaceutical vial filled with a second prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes a second RFID tag that is specific for the second prescription;

detecting the second RFID tag with the RFID detector, the RFID detector being associated with a controller;

responsive to the detecting of the RFID tag, determining the identity of the second pharmaceutical contained in the second vial;

responsive to the detecting of the second RFID tag;

determining via the controller an identity of a second one of the stock bins, wherein the second stock bin contains the same pharmaceutical contained in the second pharmaceutical vial;

via the controller, automatically indicating the identity of the second stock bin; and

emptying the second pharmaceutical vial into the second stock container.

12. A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical prescription into a pharmaceutical vial, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of stock bins, each of the stock bins including a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical, each of the stock bins including a dispensing outlet, wherein at least some of the bins contain a different pharmaceutical than at least some of the other bins,

providing a pharmaceutical vial to be filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes an RFID tag that is specific for the prescription;

providing a controller associated with the plurality of stock bins, the controller including data regarding a sequence in which a plurality of prescriptions are to be filled;

detecting the RFID tag with an RFID detector, the RFID detector being associated with a controller;

incorporating the detected prescription into the sequence of prescriptions in the controller;

via the controller, signaling a first one of the stock bins to dispense pharmaceuticals, wherein the first stock bin contains the pharmaceutical associated with the prescription; and

automatically dispensing the pharmaceutical from the first stock bin into its associated dispensing outlet.

13. The method defined in claim 12, further comprising the step of reprioritizing the sequence based on the detecting step.

14. The method defined in claim 13, wherein the reprioritizing step comprises moving the detected prescription to the first spot in the sequence.

15. The method defined in claim 12, wherein the dispensing step further includes dispensing the pharmaceutical from the associated dispensing outlet into the vial.

16. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the step of dispensing the pharmaceutical from the associated dispensing outlet into the vial is performed manually.

17. The method defined in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second pharmaceutical vial to be filled with a second prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the second vial includes a second RFID tag that is specific for the second prescription;

detecting the second RFID tag with the RFID detector, the RFID detector being associated with a controller;

via the controller, signaling a second one of the stock bins to dispense pharmaceuticals, wherein the second stock bin contains the pharmaceutical associated with the second prescription; and

automatically dispensing the pharmaceutical from the second stock bin into its associated dispensing outlet.

18. A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical prescription into a pharmaceutical vial, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of stock bins, each of the stock bins including a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical, each of the stock bins including a dispensing outlet, wherein at least some of the bins contain a different pharmaceutical than at least some of the other bins;

providing a pharmaceutical vial to be filled with a prescription of a pharmaceutical for a particular patient, wherein the vial includes an RFID tag that is specific for the prescription;

detecting the RFID tag with an RFID detector, the RFID detector being associated with a controller;

automatically dispensing the pharmaceutical from a first stock bin into its associated dispensing outlet;

via the controller, signaling that the dispensing outlet associated with the first stock bin contains the pharmaceutical to be used to fill the prescription; and

dispensing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing outlet into the vial.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein the dispensing outlet is lockable, and wherein the signaling step unlocks the dispensing outlet.

20. The method defined in claim 19, wherein the step of dispensing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing outlet into the vial is performed manually.