Dispensing cabinet with unit dose dispensing drawer

• US 6,996,455 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Young, Kirk, Eggenberger, Victor, Bowers, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US10/455,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/236, 700/237, 700/240, 700/241, 700/244, 700/242
• US Class Current: 700/231
• 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

Abstract

A drawer for use in a dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tray movable between an open position and a closed position. An insert, approximately the length of the tray, is carried by the tray and defines the volume of the drawer. A lockable or sealable lid is carried by the insert. A release mechanism is provided to connect the insert to the tray in a manner that allows the insert to be easily disconnected from the tray. Removal of the insert enables inserts to be swapped so that inserts from which inventory has been depleted can be replaced with stocked inserts. A dispensing cabinet and a method of restocking the cabinet are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of restocking an individual drawer of a unit dose dispensing drawer, comprising:

opening an individual drawer;

releasing a first insert that defines the volume of said drawer from a tray, said first insert divided into a plurality of compartments each having a front, a back, two lateral sides and a lid connected at one of said lateral sides, said compartments serially arranged along the length of said insert;

connecting a filled insert of the same construction as said first insert to the tray from which the first insert has been removed;

unlocking the lids of the filled insert; and

closing said open drawer.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising:

delivering the first insert to a location for filling;

filling the first insert and locking the lids thereof; and

delivering the filled first insert to a medication dispensing cabinet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said unlocking comprises one of a mechanical unlocking or unsealing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said opening includes driving the drawer to a fully open position to enable access to a release mechanism.

5. A method of restocking a unit dose drawer comprising:

filling a first insert at a centralized storage location with items to be dispensed, said insert divided into a plurality of compartments each having a front, a back, two lateral sides and a lid connected at one of said lateral sides, said compartments serially arranged along the length of said insert;

sealing the plurality of lids;

delivering said first insert to a decentralized location;

opening an individual drawer of a unit dose dispensing drawer to its fully open position;

removing an insert from said individual drawer;

placing said first insert into the position previously occupied by said removed insert; and

closing said open drawer.

6. A method of controlling the operation of a unit dose dispensing drawer having a plurality of individual drawers, comprising:

in the case of a controlled item, opening an individual drawer only a distance needed to dispense an indicated quantity of an identified controlled item; and

in the case of a non-controlled item, opening an individual drawer to its fully open position to dispense an indicated quantity of an identified non-controlled item.