Methods and devices for dispensing pharmaceutical and medical supply items
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing medical supply or pharmaceutical items, the method comprising:
- providing a dispensing unit comprising a processor and a cabinet having at least one lockable door and a plurality of shelves or drawers behind the door having storage locations for holding pharmaceutical or medical supply items, the cabinet further including a visual indicator and a touch button located adjacent each of the storage locations and being in communication with the processor;
entering user identification information into the processor to identify a user that is requesting access to one of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing unit;
entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify at least one pharmaceutical or medical supply item that the user requests to remove from the dispensing unit;
sending a signal from the processor to unlock the door if the processor determines from the user identification information that the user may have access to the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item;
actuating the visual indicator adjacent the storage location on the shelf or in the drawer having the requested item;
removing the requested item from the storage location; and
touching the touch button adjacent the storage location having the requested item to send a signal to the processor confirming the removal of the item.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an exemplary method for dispensing medical supply or pharmaceutical items from a dispensing unit which comprises a processor and a cabinet having a plurality of drawers which are lockable within the cabinet by a locking mechanism. The drawers include a plurality of bins for holding the pharmaceutical or medical supply items, with at least some of the bins having lids equipped with a sensor that communicates with the processor to indicate when the lid is lifted. Further, the processor includes a record of the items held within each drawer and which items may be accessed by specific users or user types. According to the method, user identification information is entered into the processor to identify a user that is requesting access to one of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing unit. The processor then determines which drawer or drawers may be unlocked for access by the user by comparing the user identification information with the record of which items may be accessed by specific users. A signal is then sent from the processor to unlock at least one of the drawers to which the user may have access. The user then looks in the bins of the unlocked drawer to locate a desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item. The lid of bin having the desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item is lifted and the item is removed. Further, lifting of the lid sends a signal to the processor to confirm removal of the desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item.
674 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing medical supply or pharmaceutical items, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing unit comprising a processor and a cabinet having at least one lockable door and a plurality of shelves or drawers behind the door having storage locations for holding pharmaceutical or medical supply items, the cabinet further including a visual indicator and a touch button located adjacent each of the storage locations and being in communication with the processor; entering user identification information into the processor to identify a user that is requesting access to one of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing unit; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify at least one pharmaceutical or medical supply item that the user requests to remove from the dispensing unit; sending a signal from the processor to unlock the door if the processor determines from the user identification information that the user may have access to the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; actuating the visual indicator adjacent the storage location on the shelf or in the drawer having the requested item; removing the requested item from the storage location; and touching the touch button adjacent the storage location having the requested item to send a signal to the processor confirming the removal of the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for dispensing medical supply or pharmaceutical items, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing unit comprising a processor and a cabinet having a plurality of drawers which are lockable within the cabinet by a locking mechanism, wherein the drawers include a plurality of bins for holding the pharmaceutical or medical supply items, with at least some of the bins having lids equipped with a sensor that communicates with the processor to indicate when the lid is lifted, and wherein the processor includes a record of the items held within each drawer and which items may be accessed by specific users or user types; entering user identification information into the processor to identify a user that is requesting access to one of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing unit; determining with the processor which drawer or drawers may be unlocked for access by the user by comparing the user identification information with the record of which items may be accessed by specific users; sending a signal from the processor to unlock at least one of the drawers to which the user may have access; looking in the bins of the unlocked drawer to locate a desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item; lifting the lid of bin having the desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item; removing the desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the bin, wherein lifting of the lid sends a signal to the processor to confirm removal of the desired pharmaceutical or medical supply item. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a dispensing unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, with at least some of the drawers having a plurality of receptacles for holding items and with at least some of the drawers having lockable lids for at least some of the receptacles, the method comprising:
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entering user identification information into the processor to identify a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing unit; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor, the pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information identifying specific pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user requests to remove from the dispensing unit; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the drawers to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the drawers having one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the drawer having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; retracting the unlocked drawer; unlocking the lid of the receptacle having the requested item if the retracted drawer contains at least some lockable lids to allow access to the requested item while preventing access to other receptacles having lockable lids; and removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the receptacle having the unlocked lid. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification