DEVICE FOR OFFLOADING CAPPED VIALS USEFUL IN SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS

• US 20140058555A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Rhoads, Thomas P. Jr., Longley, Mark, Bouchelle, Steve, Smith, Bradley Kenneth, Daniels, Matthew P., Owen, Gary M., Boupain, Eric X., Hernandez, Robert Cenk
• Application Number:
  US13/974,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/215
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/16 Delivery means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/28 in which the magazines are inclined
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/30 two or more magazines having independent delivery
• 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

Abstract

An offloading unit for an automated pharmaceutical machine that dispenses filled, capped pharmaceutical vials includes at least one offload location; at least one tote to receive the vials at each offload location, the tote assigned for distribution to a remote pharmacy location; at least one sensor to detect the presence or absence of the tote; and at least one sensor to detect a fill level of the vials in the tote.

Claims

1. An offloading unit for an automated pharmaceutical machine that dispenses filled, capped pharmaceutical vials, comprising:

at least one offload location;

at least one tote to receive the vials at each offload location, the tote assigned for distribution to a remote pharmacy location;

at least one detection sensor to detect the presence or absence of the tote; and

at least one fill sensor to detect a fill level of the vials in the tote.

2. The offloading unit of claim 1, wherein a chute guides the vials into the tote.

3. The offloading unit of claim 2 wherein the chute is illuminated with at least one light.

4. The offloading unit of claim 3 wherein the at least one light communicates the status of the offload location.

5. The offloading unit of claim 4 wherein the status of the offload location is communicated by at least one of a color or an illumination pattern of the at least one light.

6. The offloading unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one tote comprises a unique code.

7. The offloading unit of claim 6 wherein the unique code indicates at least one of:

information about the vials loaded in the tote and information about the remote pharmacy location.

8. A pharmaceutical dispensing system, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills;

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor; and

a computer program residing in the memory that is executable by the processor for transmitting a message to one or more pre-identified recipients about a status or function of the system.

9. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 8 wherein the message is delivered by at least one of text message, email message, instant message, or voice message.

10. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 8 wherein the message comprises information about at least one of:

a system error;

a power failure;

a fill level of a tote;

an inventory level;

a prescription order status;

a service requirement of the system;

a problem encountered by the system while filling orders;

instructions for responding to the message; and

a service request.

11. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 8 further comprising a camera for capturing images of filled prescriptions.

12. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 8 further comprising a bagger for automatically bagging the filled prescriptions.

13. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 11 further comprising a computer program residing in the memory that is executable by the processor for automatically analyzing the images captured by the camera.

14. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 8 further comprising a weight sensor for determining a weight of a filled vial.

15. A pharmaceutical dispensing system, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills;

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

at least one offload location;

at least one tote to receive the vials at each offload location, the tote assigned for distribution to a remote pharmacy location;

at least one detection sensor to detect the presence or absence of the tote;

at least one fill sensor to detect a fill level of the vials in the tote; and

a GUI, wherein the GUI includes a portion specific to filling of the at least one tote.

16. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the GUI communicates information about a status of the totes.

17. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the status is at least one of:

the association of the tote with the system, a number of prescriptions in the tote, a designation of the pharmacy location assigned to the tote, a number of prescriptions directed to the tote, and a fill level of the tote.

18. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the fill level of the tote is indicated by at least one of a dynamic fill line or a color.

19. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 15 further comprising a camera for capturing images of filled prescriptions.

20. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 15 further comprising a bagger for automatically inserting the filled prescriptions into bags.

21. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 19 further comprising a computer program residing in the memory that is executable by the processor for automatically analyzing the images captured by the camera.

22. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 20 wherein the bagger further comprises a printer for printing identifying information on a label or on a bag.

23. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 20 wherein documentation is added to one or more of the bags.

24. The pharmaceutical dispensing system of claim 15 wherein in the portion of the GUI specific to filling of the at least one tote allows a user to create a manifest for the at least one tote.