Medication Storage And Dispensing Unit Having A Vial Dispenser

• US 20100228392A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Braun, Patrick Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/007 wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A medication storage and dispensing unit is provided which includes a support platform and a vial dispenser supported by the support platform. The vial dispenser may include a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication and a gate configured to be alternately positioned in a closed position in which the vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute. The medication storage and dispensing unit may be computer controlled so as to include a computing device configured to receive user input regarding dispensation of a vial. The computing device may be further configured to actuate the gate to thereby permit the gate to move to the open position such that the vial is dispensed from the chute.

Claims

1. A medication storage and dispensing unit comprising

a support platform;

and

a vial dispenser supported by the support platform, wherein the vial dispenser comprises;

a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication; and

a gate configured to be alternately and controllably positioned in a closed position in which vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute,

wherein the vial dispenser is configured such that a vial is discharged from the chute when the gate is in the open position.

2. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein the vial dispenser comprises a plurality of upwardly extending chutes, each chute configured to store a plurality of vials of a respective medication.

3. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein the vials of a medication have a predefined diameter, and wherein the chute is sized to store the plurality of vials of medication stacked diameter upon diameter.

4. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 3 wherein the chute comprises a pair of opposed walls defining a width therebetween, and wherein the width of the chute is adjustable.

5. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein the vial dispenser further comprises a quantity indicator associated with the chute and configured to indicate a quantity of vials within the chute.

6. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein the vial dispenser further comprises a plurality of upwardly extending, individually accessible drawers, each drawer including an upwardly extending chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication stacked one upon another.

7. A medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein the support platform comprises a medication storage cabinet comprising at least one drawer for storing medications, and wherein the vial dispenser extends upwardly from the medication storage cabinet.

8. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit comprising:

a support platform;

a vial dispenser supported by the support platform, wherein the vial dispenser comprises;

a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication; and

a gate configured to be alternately positioned in a closed position in which vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute; and

a computing device configured to receive user input regarding dispensation of a vial and further configured to actuate the gate to thereby permit the gate to move to the open position such that the vial is dispensed from the chute.

9. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 8 wherein the vial dispenser comprises a plurality of upwardly extending chutes, each chute configured to store a plurality of vials of a respective medication.

10. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 8 wherein the vials of a medication have a predefined diameter, and wherein the chute is sized to store the plurality of vials of medication stacked diameter upon diameter.

11. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 10 wherein the chute comprises a pair of opposed walls defining a width therebetween, and wherein the width of the chute is adjustable.

12. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 8 wherein the vial dispenser further comprises a quantity indicator associated with the chute and configured to indicate a quantity of vials within the chute.

13. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 8 wherein the vial dispenser further comprises a plurality of upwardly extending, individually accessible drawers, each drawer including an upwardly extending chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication stacked one upon another.

14. A computer controlled medication storage and dispensing unit according to claim 13 wherein the support platform comprises a medication storage cabinet comprising at least one drawer for storing medications, wherein the vial dispenser extends upwardly from the medication storage cabinet.

15. A vial dispenser comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of upwardly extending, individually accessible drawers disposed within the housing, wherein each drawer is configured for movement inward and outward in a first direction relative to the housing, and wherein each drawer comprises;

a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication stacked one upon another, wherein the chute extends upwardly in a second direction different than the first direction; and

a gate configured to be alternately and controllably positioned in a closed position in which vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute.

16. A vial dispenser according to claim 15 wherein at least one drawer comprises a plurality of upwardly extending chutes, each chute configured to store a plurality of vials of a respective medication.

17. A vial dispenser according to claim 15 wherein the vials of a medication have a predefined diameter, and wherein the upwardly extending chute is sized to store the plurality of vials of medication stacked diameter upon diameter.

18. A vial dispenser according to claim 17 wherein the chute of at least one drawer comprises a pair of opposed, upwardly extending walls defining a width therebetween, and wherein the width of the chute is adjustable.

19. A vial dispenser according to claim 15 wherein at least one drawer further comprises a quantity indicator associated with the chute and configured to indicate a quantity of vials within the chute.