Replacement liner and methods for a dispensing device
First Claim
1. A method for restocking pharmaceutical or medical supply items into a dispensing unit having a processor, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items are held in removable liners having a plurality of adjustable dividers to divide each liner into receptacles for holding the items, the method comprising:
- entering a request into the processor to restock the items into the dispensing unit;
removing one of the liners from the dispensing unit;
replacing the removed liner with a replacement liner having a new inventory of pharmaceutical or medical supply items contained within a configuration of receptacles that is the same as or different than the configuration of receptacles in the removed liner, wherein at least one of the receptacles includes multiple items of the same type;
entering information identifying the replacement liner into the processor;
wherein the liners are grouped into types based on the configuration of the receptacles and the types ana par levels of items held within the receptacles, wherein the processor includes a record of each type of liner, and further comprising entering into the processor the type of liner to which the replacement liner is grouped;
entering user identification information into the processor;
entering item removal information into the processor for at least one of the items that is desired to be removed to select the item for removal, wherein the item removal information includes an item type and an associated quantity;
removing the selected item from one of the receptacles that includes multiple items of the same type; and
storing a record of the removal along with the number of items remaining within the receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an exemplary method for restocking pharmaceutical or medical supply items into a dispensing unit having a processor, with at least some of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items being held in removable liners having a plurality of receptacles. According to the method, a request is entered into the processor to restock pharmaceutical or medical supply items. One of the liners is then removed from the dispensing unit and is replaced with a replacement liner having a new inventory of pharmaceutical or medical supply items. Information identifying the replacement liner is also entered into the processor.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for restocking pharmaceutical or medical supply items into a dispensing unit having a processor, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items are held in removable liners having a plurality of adjustable dividers to divide each liner into receptacles for holding the items, the method comprising:
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entering a request into the processor to restock the items into the dispensing unit;
removing one of the liners from the dispensing unit;
replacing the removed liner with a replacement liner having a new inventory of pharmaceutical or medical supply items contained within a configuration of receptacles that is the same as or different than the configuration of receptacles in the removed liner, wherein at least one of the receptacles includes multiple items of the same type;
entering information identifying the replacement liner into the processor;
wherein the liners are grouped into types based on the configuration of the receptacles and the types ana par levels of items held within the receptacles, wherein the processor includes a record of each type of liner, and further comprising entering into the processor the type of liner to which the replacement liner is grouped;
entering user identification information into the processor;
entering item removal information into the processor for at least one of the items that is desired to be removed to select the item for removal, wherein the item removal information includes an item type and an associated quantity;
removing the selected item from one of the receptacles that includes multiple items of the same type; and
storing a record of the removal along with the number of items remaining within the receptacle. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35)
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30. A method for restocking pharmaceutical or medical supply items into a dispensing unit having a processor, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical or medical supply items are held in removable liners having a plurality of adjustable dividers to divide each liner into receptacles for holding the items, the method comprising:
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entering a request into the processor to restock the items into the dispensing unit;
removing one of the liners from the dispensing unit;
replacing the removed liner with a replacement liner having a new inventory of pharmaceutical or medical supply items contained within a configuration of receptacles that is the same as or different than the configuration of receptacles in the removed liner, wherein at least one of the receptacles includes par levels of multiple items of the same type; and
entering information identifying the replacement liner into the processor;
wherein each liner includes a unique identifier, wherein the liners are grouped into types based on the configuration of the receptacles and the types and par levels of items held within the receptacles, wherein the processor includes a table having a list of each identifier, the type corresponding to the identifier, and the drawer corresponding to the type, and wherein the dispensing unit includes an entry device to enter the identifier for each liner that is to be restocked into the processor prior to replacing the liner. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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36. A method for stocking items into a dispensing unit, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing unit having a processor, at least one drawer, and a liner which is insertable into the drawer, wherein the liner has adjustable dividers which define at least one bin;
adjusting the dividers to accommodate a certain type of item in the bin;
placing a par level of the item into the bin;
attaching an identification device to the liner which includes information about the type of item that is held in the bin and the par level;
placing the liner into the drawer, wherein the dispensing unit includes a reader which reads the information from the identification device and transfers the information to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification