Method of operating a dispensing cabinet

• US 6,985,797 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Spano, Philip H. Jr., Meek, Robert B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E
• Application Number:
  US10/706,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/216
• US Class Current: 700/237
• 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: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used

Abstract

A method of operating a dispensing cabinet to identify the locations where items to be dispensed are located is comprised of a login step in which user information is entered into a processor controlling the dispensing cabinet. The processor unlocks certain doors of the dispensing cabinet in response to the user information. Assuming that a locate mode of operation has been chosen, the locations of the items to be located are determined by the processor. An alpha-numeric display positioned on a shelf within the cabinet begins flashing with the number of items to be located that are held by that shelf. After the user identifies the shelves having flashing alpha-numeric displays, the user may enter a dispense mode or may logoff causing the unlocked doors to lock.

Claims

1. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

unlocking certain doors of a dispensing cabinet in response to said user information;

receiving patient information;

receiving mode information identifying a locate mode;

receiving a list at containing least one item to be located;

flashing a display positioned one shelf within the cabinet with the number of different variety of items on the list held by that shelf;

receiving information selecting a compartment; and

zeroing the display in response to the selection of a compartment.

2. The memory device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

receiving the number of items taken from the selected compartment;

displaying the number of items taken on the display;

receiving a log off instruction; and

locking the unlocked doors.

3. A memory device carrying a set of instructions which, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving user information;

receiving mode information identifying a locate mode;

receiving information identifying a list containing at least one item to be located; and

indicating on a numeric display positioned on a shelf within a cabinet the number of different variety of items on the list held by that shelf.

4. The memory device of claim 3 additionally comprising receiving patient information.

5. The memory device of claim 3 additionally comprising unlocking certain doors of the cabinet in response to said user information.

6. The memory device of claim 5 additionally comprising receiving a log off instruction and locking the unlocked doors in response to the receipt of said log off instruction.

7. The memory device of claim 3 wherein said indicating includes flashing the number of different items on the numeric display.