PHARMACEUTICAL STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND METHODS OF STORING AND RETRIEVING PHARMACEUTICALS

• US 20130245811A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, William K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,246,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/00 Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/06 with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level B65G1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• 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 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: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a method of accessing and loading the device. The device includes a housing, at least one port with controlled access to inventory stored within the device, a robotic transfer mechanism for moving inventory items to and from the controlled port, software for tracking the inventory and users of the device, and an interface with the pharmacy software system to track and monitor which inventory is authorized for access by each user and which inventory is needed to fill a prescription.

Claims

1. A method of filling a prescription, the method comprising:

verifying identification information of a user at a processor;

obtaining prescription information from a pharmacy computer, the prescription information including a medication type;

determining a shelf location of a container having the medication type;

retrieving the container from the identified shelf location;

positioning the container on an access port;

scanning the container to determine a medication type within the container;

opening a door to the access port if the medication type of the container matches the medication type in the prescription information; and

removing the container from the access port to fill the prescription.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring an image of the container while positioned in the access port.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming that the label read on the container matches the medication type input to the pharmacy computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining prescription information includes the processor communicating with the pharmacy computer to obtain the prescription information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the shelf location of the container having the medication type includes accessing from memory an assigned shelf location of the container when the container was loaded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information includes a quantity of the medication type.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the door closed if the scanned medication type on the container does not match the medication type in the prescription information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising reconciling a reason for the mismatch between the retrieved container and the prescription information.