Drug dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. A drug dispensing apparatus comprising:
- microprocessing means;
a housing defining an interior medication storage area, the interior medication storage area including means for receiving a plurality of different sized dispensers in multiple orientations, the receiving means further including means for establishing electrical communication between the dispensers and the microprocessing means; and
a receiving drawer oriented below the interior medication storage area to receive medication vertically falling from the dispensers, and to dispense the medication through an open position of said receiving drawer, said receiving drawer having a width substantially equal to a width of said plurality of dispensers and having a depth less than a depth of said plurality of dispensers.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for a drug dispensing device which is portable, provides a high level of security, is flexible in accommodating a number of user selected drugs, is easily stockable, and reduces labor and time requirement for drug dispensing. The present invention provides an apparatus having a microprocessor means which controls the drug dispensing. The apparatus includes an interior medication storage area adapted to receive a plurality of different sized dispensers in user selectable combinations. A receiving drawer is provided below the interior medication storage area to receive and dispense the medications.
A dispenser is provided which can be configured in a multiplicity of sizes and shapes to accommodate different sized medications. The dispenser is adapted to receive a cooperating cartridge which contains the medications. The dispenser includes an actuator which contacts and dispenses the medications from the cartridge.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drug dispensing apparatus comprising:
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microprocessing means; a housing defining an interior medication storage area, the interior medication storage area including means for receiving a plurality of different sized dispensers in multiple orientations, the receiving means further including means for establishing electrical communication between the dispensers and the microprocessing means; and a receiving drawer oriented below the interior medication storage area to receive medication vertically falling from the dispensers, and to dispense the medication through an open position of said receiving drawer, said receiving drawer having a width substantially equal to a width of said plurality of dispensers and having a depth less than a depth of said plurality of dispensers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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3. A drug dispensing apparatus comprising:
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microprocessing means; a housing defining an interior medication storage area, the interior medication storage area including means for receiving a plurality of different sized dispensers in multiple orientations, the receiving means further including means for establishing electrical communication between the dispensers and the microprocessing means; a receiving drawer oriented below the interior medication storage area to receive and dispense medication from the dispensers; wherein the receiving means includes a plurality of spaced electrical connectors in electrical communication with the microprocessing means, the electrical connectors being adapted to establish electrical communication with cooperating electrical connectors on the dispensers; and wherein the electrical connectors are contained on a generally horizontally oriented printed circuit board, the circuit board defining at least one aperture through which dispensed medications fall.
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9. An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of sized medication containers, the apparatus comprising:
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microprocessing means; a housing defining an interior medication storage area, the interior medication storage area adapted to receive a plurality of different sized dispensers, the interior medication storage area further including a plurality of spaced electrical connectors in electrical communication with the microprocessing means and adapted to be cooperatively connected to cooperative electrical connectors contained on the dispensers such that the microprocessing means can electrically communicate with each selected dispenser; and a receiving drawer positioned beneath the interior medication storage area such that dispensed medication containers can fall by gravity into the drawer for dispensing, said receiver drawer having a width substantially equal to a width of said plurality of dispensers and having a depth less than a depth of said plurality of dispensers.
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10. A cartridge containing medication containers for use in a drug dispensing apparatus having a removable dispenser, the dispenser having a gravity fed dispensing platform and an actuator arm for urging the medication containers off the dispensing platform, the cartridge comprising:
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a container having a front, a back, two sides, a top, an open bottom, and defining an interior, the container being sized to accept the medication containers in the interior; the front of the container having an opening extending upwardly from the open bottom, the front opening being sized to accept a retaining member having a portion extending into the interior of the container to retain the medication containers within the container; and the retaining member further being removably secured to the outside of the container and including a portion extending upwardly from the inwardly extending portion such that the retaining member can be removed from the container by pulling the upwardly extending portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dispenser for use with a drug dispensing device, the drug dispensing device having a plurality of standardly spaced electrical connectors in electrical communication with a microprocessing means, the dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving a cartridge having medication containers therein and further defining a sliding drawer to receive the medication containers and, from an open position, to dispense the medication containers to a user, said sliding drawer having a width substantially equal to a width of said plurality of dispensers and having a depth less than a depth of said plurality of dispensers; the housing further defining a dispensing platform juxtaposed relative to the interior chamber, the dispensing platform defining an aperture offset from the interior chamber; an electronically activated actuator contained in cooperative relationship to the dispensing platform such that medication containers resting on the dispensing platform can be urged to the defined aperture in route to said sliding drawer; and an electrical connector in electronic communication with the actuator and the microprocessing means and adapted to cooperatively secure the electrical connectors in the dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A drug dispensing apparatus comprising, a housing formed from a box structure with an upper opening and a lid which can be opened and closed over the opening;
- a plurality of dispensers arranged in order inside the housing;
multiple cartridges being accepted in the dispensers and holding disposable injectors, ampules and other injectable medications;
a control unit provided with a microprocessing means for controlling the dispensers and the housing, comprised of an identification section utilizing passwords or integrated circuit cards to allow identification of users, an input unit for inputting the type and number of medications to dispensed from the housing, a memory unit for recording data from the input unit, and a dispensing section for automatically dispensing the requested type and number of medications from the housing based on the information designated by the input unit, said dispensing section including a sliding drawer to receive the medications and, from an open position, to dispense the medications to a user said sliding drawer having a width substantially equal to a width of said plurality of dispensers and having a depth less than a depth of said plurality of dispensers.
- a plurality of dispensers arranged in order inside the housing;
Specification