Apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies
First Claim
1. A dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies comprising:
- a cabinet having an interiorat least one drawer supported by the cabinet for movement between a storage position wherein the drawer is housed in the interior of the cabinet and an extended position wherein the drawer is accessible for removal of items from the drawer, the drawer having a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold at least one item, and wherein at least one of the receptacles includes a lid movable between a closed position and an open position,a selectively actuatable lock for releasably maintaining the lid in the closed position, the selectively actuatable lock including a lock member shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member and causing movement of the lock member in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire,a processor in communication with the selectively actuatable lock and configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator wire to unlock the lid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies which includes a cabinet having a plurality of drawers, the drawers each have a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold one item, and having a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. Selectively actuatable locks are provided for releasably maintaining the lid in the closed position, the locks include an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the locks and causing movement of the locks in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire. A processor is in communication with the selectively actuatable lock and configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator wire to unlock the lid.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies comprising:
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a cabinet having an interior at least one drawer supported by the cabinet for movement between a storage position wherein the drawer is housed in the interior of the cabinet and an extended position wherein the drawer is accessible for removal of items from the drawer, the drawer having a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold at least one item, and wherein at least one of the receptacles includes a lid movable between a closed position and an open position, a selectively actuatable lock for releasably maintaining the lid in the closed position, the selectively actuatable lock including a lock member shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member and causing movement of the lock member in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire, a processor in communication with the selectively actuatable lock and configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator wire to unlock the lid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A drawer assembly for use in a dispensing apparatus for controlled single unit dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, the drawer assembly comprising:
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at least one drawer adapted to be supported for movement between a storage position and an extended position wherein the drawer is accessible for removal of items from the drawer, the drawer having a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold a single item, at least a plurality of the receptacles including lockable lids, selectively actuatable locks for releasably locking said lockable lids to prevent access to said receptacles, each of said selectively actuatable locks including a lock member being shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member to cause movement of the lock member in response to an electrical signal being supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire, the electrically responsive actuator wire being adapted to be actuated by a processor containing user information and item identification information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies comprising:
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a cabinet having an interior at least one drawer supported by the cabinet for movement between a storage position wherein the drawer is housed in the interior of the cabinet and an extended position wherein the drawer is accessible for removal of items from the drawer, the drawer housing a tray having a plurality of upwardly open receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold at least one item, the drawer including a hinged cover covering the tray and the plurality of receptacles, the hinged cover being movable between an open position wherein the receptacles are exposed for removal of items and a closed position, the cover including a plurality of openings aligned over the receptacles when the hinged cover is in a closed position, the hinged cover supporting a plurality of hinged lids positioned over the receptacles, each lid supported by the cover and movable between a closed position and an open position, each lid including a selectively actuatable lock, the selectively actuatable lock including a lock member shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, a processor for receiving user information and item identification information, the processor being in communication with each of the selectively actuatable locks and configured to send a signal to unlock at least one selected lid based on identification information supplied to the processor, and an electrically responsive actuator wire operably connected to the lock member to selectively move the lock member to the unlocking position, the electrically responsive actuator wire including opposite ends and wherein the length of the electrically responsive actuator wire changes in response to an electrical signal to the actuator wire from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A latch for use in a dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, the dispensing apparatus having a cabinet having an interior and at least one drawer supported by the cabinet for movement between a storage position wherein the drawer is housed in the interior of the cabinet and an extended position wherein the drawer is accessible for removal of items from the drawer, the drawer having a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle sized to hold at least one item, and wherein at least one of the receptacles includes a lid movable between a closed position and an open position, the latch comprising:
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a lock member supported by the drawer and shiftable between a locking position wherein the lock member restrains the lid in the closed position and an unlocking position wherein the lock member releases the lid to permit the lid to move to the open position, an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member to cause movement of the lock member in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of supplies comprising:
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at least one storage member, the storage member having at least one receptacle, with the receptacle sized to hold at least one item, and wherein the receptacle includes a lid movable between a closed position and an open position, a selectively actuatable lock for releasably maintaining the lid in the closed position, the selectively actuatable lock including a lock member shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member and causing movement of the lock member in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire, a processor in communication with the selectively actuatable lock and configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator wire to unlock the lid. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A storage device for use in controlled dispensing of supplies, the storage device comprising:
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at least one receptacle sized to hold at least one item, the receptacle including a lockable lid, a selectively actuatable lock for releasably locking said lockable lid to prevent access to said receptacle, said selectively actuatable lock including a lock member shiftable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member to cause movement of the lock member in response to an electrical signal being supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire, the electrically responsive actuator wire being adapted to be actuated by a processor containing user information and item identification information. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A latch for use in a dispensing apparatus for controlled dispensing of supplies, the dispensing apparatus having a receptacle, the receptacle sized to hold at least one item, and wherein the receptacle includes a lid movable between a closed position and an open position, the latch comprising:
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a lock member supported by the receptacle and shiftable between a locking position wherein the lock member restrains the lid in the closed position and an unlocking position wherein the lock member releases the lid to permit the lid to move to the open position, an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the lock member to cause movement of the lock member in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification