System and apparatus for the dispensing of drugs
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted for removable placement in a dispensing machine, said receptacle having a lid that is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position;
said receptacle being individually removable from said dispensing machine; and
an information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle and for porting said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information storage device with a computer operating said dispensing machine.
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Abstract
A system and apparatus are described in which modular receptacles are filled and transported to automated dispensing machines for later retrieval and distribution. A system of the present invention includes the loading, refilling, and replacement of the modular receptacles at various stages in the process of the invention. The present invention results in a more efficient and easier to manage system for distribution of such items as medical supplies and drugs.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receptacle adapted for removable placement in a dispensing machine, said receptacle having a lid that is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position;
said receptacle being individually removable from said dispensing machine; andan information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle and for porting said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information storage device with a computer operating said dispensing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receptacle adapted for removable placement in a dispensing machine, said receptacle having a lid that is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position, said receptacle being individually removable from said dispensing machine; an information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle and for portion said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information device with a computer operating said dispensing machine; and a latch in association with said lid, said latch adapted to be actuated to open said lid when said latch receives a request signal from said dispensing machine. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for dispensing items, comprising:
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providing one or more receptacles adapted for removable placement on a dispensing structure, said receptacles having a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoining to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls such that the top is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position, said receptacles being individually removable from said dispensing structure; providing a dispensing structure adapted to receive said receptacles and to exchange information with an information storage device on at least one said receptacle, said information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle and for porting said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information device with a computer operating said dispensing machine; placing said receptacles onto said dispensing structure; and providing a signal to said dispensing structure to cause one of said receptacles to open said top. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An assembly comprising:
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an automated dispensing machine having at least one drawer; a plurality of receptacles adapted to be placed in said at least one drawer, said receptacles each having a lid adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position, at least one of said receptacles being individually removable from said at feast one drawer; and an information storage device secured to or in each of said receptacles for storing information relative to contents of each of said receptacles and adapted for porting said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information storage device with a computer or memory portion of said automated dispensing machine. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for the distribution of a plurality of items, comprising:
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providing individual receptacles for said items, each of said receptacles including a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls, such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a dosed position, said receptacles being individually removable from a dispensing machine, at least one of said receptacles defining a single compartment, and an information storage device secured to or in each of said receptacles for storing information relative to said items to be contained in said receptacles and for porting said information to said dispensing machine and for exchanging and updating said information stored in said information storage device with a computer portion of the dispensing machine; loading said items in individual ones of said receptacles and closing said top of said receptacles; and inputting information relative to said items loaded into each of said receptacles into said information storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for the distribution of a plurality of items, comprising:
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providing an automated dispensing machine for dispensing said items; providing individual receptacles for said items, each of said receptacles including a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls, such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position, said receptacles being individually removable from the automated dispensing machine, and an information storage device secured to or in each of said receptacles for storing information relative to said items to be contained in said receptacles, wherein said entering of information regarding contents of said receptacles into said automated dispensing machine is accomplished by placing said receptacles into a docking station at said automated dispensing machine and porting data contained in said information storage device through said communication contact into a receiver port at said docking station; loading said items in individual ones of said receptacles and closing said top of said receptacles; and inputting information relative to said items loaded into each of said receptacles into said information storage devices.
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51. A method for the distribution of a plurality of items, comprising:
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providing individual receptacles for said items, each of said receptacles including a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at feast one of said side walls, such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position, said receptacles being individually removable from a dispensing machine, at least one of said receptacles defining a single compartment, and an information storage device secured to or in each of said receptacles for storing information relative to said items to be contained in said receptacles and for exchanging information with a computer portion of the dispensing machine; loading said items in individual ones of said receptacles and closing said top of said receptacles; and inputting information relative to said items loaded into each of said receptacles into said information storage devices, wherein said entering of information regarding contents of said receptacles into said automated dispensing machine is accomplished by placing said receptacles into a docking station at said automated dispensing machine and porting data contained in said information storage device through said communication contact into a receiver port at said docking station.
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Specification