Portable nursing center

• US 5,564,803 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Original Assignee: Automated Healthcare, Inc. (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Lunak, Richard R., McDonald, Robert H., Zini, Aldo, McDonald, Sean C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/210,906
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 312/215, 312/249.1, 312/249.8, 312/249.11, 312/249.12, 312/223.1, 221/2, 221/7, 221/9, 221/92
• US Class Current: 312/215
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/003 with drawers, trays or shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/006 Medication carts
• 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 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A portable nursing center has a plurality of selectively locked patient drawers carried in a housing. Each of said drawers are movable between a given open position and a closed position each drawer sized and configured for holding pharmaceutical items which have been prescribed for a specific patient. A nurse enters a predetermined access data and other data, using a keyboard or bar code reader which may be removable from the nursing center. Entry of correct data causes the unit to selectively unlock the appropriate patient drawer or on demand drawer while maintaining other drawers in a locked condition. Whenever the patient is given medicine or otherwise treated the nurse enters or receives information pertinent to that treatment. The unit has a transmitter/receiver to transmit and receive such patient information.

Claims

1. A portable nursing center comprising:

a) a housing having a base and a plurality of wheels attached to the base;

b) a plurality of drawers carried by the housing, each of said drawers being movable between a given position and a closed position at least some drawers sized and configured for holding pharmaceutical items which have been prescribed for a specific patient;

c) a control unit for locking at least some of said drawers to prevent access thereto, said control unit including data entry means for entry of predetermined access data and other data, wherein the data entry means is removable from the nursing center and contains a transmitter for transmitting entered data to a transmitter/receiver, locking means for locking and unlocking the at least some of said drawers and a processing unit with an associated memory for unlocking at least one drawer in response to entry of access data and recording at least a portion of the access data; and

d) a transmitter/receiver connected to the control unit for transmitting selected access data and other data from the portable nursing center to a remote receiver and for receiving data from a remote transmitter, the nursing center being sized and constructed so that when filled with pharmaceuticals and other nursing items, the nursing center can be moved through a nursing area by a single nurse.

2. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the data entry means is comprised of at least one of a keyboard and a bar code reader.

3. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising patient identification means affixed to at least one of the drawers.

4. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the control unit includes a memory and a processing unit, the memory containing a program which permits only authorized users to enter data and remove selected pharmaceuticals from the nursing center.

5. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a receiver connected to the control unit.

6. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a writing surface sized and positioned to be used by a care-giver to record information about patient care.

7. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a touch screen connected to the control unit.

8. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the data entry means is at least one of a keyboard and a bar code reader.

9. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a display connected to the control unit.

10. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the display may also function as a touch screen.

11. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a printer connected to the control unit.

12. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising an equipment holder attached to the housing.

13. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising at least one spring attached to at least one patient drawer, the spring being sized and positioned to bias the patient drawer to extend from the housing when the patient drawer is unlocked.

14. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the housing contains a top at least a portion of the top being sized and positioned to serve as a writing surface.

15. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a handle attached to the housing.

16. The portable nursing center of claim 1 wherein the control unit and lock means can selectively lock and unlock at least some of said drawers while maintaining other drawers in a locked position.

20. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a handle attached to the housing.

21. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the housing contains a top, at least a portion of the top being sized and positioned to serve as a writing surface.

23. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a receiver connected to the control unit.

24. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a writing surface sized and positioned to be used by a care-giver to record information about patient care.

25. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a touch screen connected to the control unit.

26. The nursing center of claim 1 wherein the data entry means is at least one of a keyboard and a bar code reader.

27. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a display connected to the control unit.

28. The nursing enter of claim 1 wherein the display may also function as a touch screen.

29. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising a printer connected to the control unit.

30. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising an equipment holder attached to the housing.

31. The nursing center of claim 1 also comprising at least one spring attached to at least one patient drawer, the spring being sized and positioned to bias the patient drawer to extend from the housing when the patient drawer is unlocked.

17. A portable nursing center comprising:

a) a housing having a base and a plurality of wheels attached to the base;

b) a plurality of drawers carried by the housing, each of said drawers being movable between a given position and a closed position, at least some drawers sized and configured for holding pharmaceutical items which have been prescribed for a specific patient;

c) at least one removable partition positioned between adjacent drawers, wherein the at least one removable partition is sized and positioned to permit one larger drawer to be substituted for at least two smaller drawers when the removable partition is removed;

d) a control unit for locking at least some of said drawers to prevent access thereto, said control unit including data entry means for entry of predetermined access data and other data, lock means for locking and unlocking the at least some of said drawers and a processing unit with an associated memory for locking at least one drawer in response to entry of access data and recording at least a portion of the access data; and

e) a transmitter connected to the control unit for transmitting selected access data and other data from the portable nursing center to a remote receiver, the nursing center being sized and constructed so that when filled with pharmaceuticals and other nursing items, the nursing center can be moved through a nursing area by a single nurse.

18. The nursing center of claim 17 wherein the control unit and lock means can selectively lock and unlock at least some of said drawers while maintaining other drawers in a locked position.

19. The nursing center of claim 17 also comprising patient identification means affixed to at least one of the drawers.

22. The nursing center of claim 17 wherein the control unit includes a memory and a processing unit, the memory containing a program which permits only authorized users to enter data and remove selected pharmaceuticals from the nursing center.

32. The nursing center of claim 17 also comprising a receiver attached to the nursing cart for receiving data from a remote transmitter.

33. The nursing center of claim 32 wherein the data entry means is removable from the nursing center and contains a transmitter for transmitting entered data to the receiver.

34. The nursing center of claim 33 wherein the data entry means is comprised of at least one of a keyboard and a bar code reader.