Apparatus for dispensing medical items
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a medical item dispenser comprising;
a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area,at least two medical item holder support locations,wherein a first holder support location is operative to support a first medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size,wherein the first holder support location is further operative to support a second medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size,a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location,wherein the reference surface has three rows of human readable indicia thereon,wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation,wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser (10) for dispensing medical items (68, 70, 72) includes dispenser modules (28, 30) movably mounted thereon. The dispenser modules are selectively operative to dispense medical items therefrom into a path (54) which is connected to a delivery area (20) of the dispenser. The dispenser and the dispenser modules therein are configured to provide security against unauthorized access thereto. However an authorized user is enabled to readily access the dispenser modules and the medical items therein by unlocking a lock (22), opening a door (16) and extending the dispenser modules through an opening (18). With the dispenser modules in the extended position the medical items therein may be replenished. Alternatively, the dispenser modules may be disconnected from the dispenser and replaced with substitute dispenser modules.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising; a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area, at least two medical item holder support locations, wherein a first holder support location is operative to support a first medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size, wherein the first holder support location is further operative to support a second medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size, a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location, wherein the reference surface has three rows of human readable indicia thereon, wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation, wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical item dispenser module comprising:
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at least two medical item holder support locations, wherein a first medical item holder support location is adapted to support a first helix in engagement with a helix rotator device, wherein the first helix is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, and wherein the first helix is of a first size, wherein the first medical item holder support location is further adapted to support a second helix in engagement with the helix rotator device, wherein the second helix is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second helix is of a second size, and wherein the second size differs from the first size, a reference surface adjacent the first medical item holder support location rows of human readable indicia associated with the reference surface, wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned relation, wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized helix wherein indicia locations in a first indicia row correspond to turns of the first helix, wherein when the first helix is engaged with the helix rotator device the first indicia row indicates a number associated with a medical item quantity held with the first helix, wherein indicia locations in a second indicia row correspond to turns of the second helix, wherein when the second helix is engaged with the helix rotator device the second indicia row indicates a number associated with a medical item quantity held with the second helix.
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9. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising; a medical item holder, wherein the medical item holder is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area, at least two medical item holder support locations, wherein a first holder support location is adapted to support a first medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size, wherein the first holder support location is further adapted to support a second medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size, a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location, wherein the reference surface has rows of human readable indicia thereon, wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation, wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location
wherein a second indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,an enclosure, wherein the reference surface is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure, a moving device wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom, wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising; a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area, at least two medical item holder support locations, wherein a first holder support location is adapted to support a first medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size, wherein the first holder support location is further adapted to support a second medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size, a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location, wherein the reference surface has rows of human readable indicia thereon, wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation, wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,a moving device, a medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom, wherein the holder comprises a helix, wherein the helix is selectively rotatable by the moving device, wherein the helix comprises a plurality of turns,
wherein indicia is viewable through at least one turn of the helix,a holder guide, wherein the helix is secured in position by the holder guide, wherein the holder guide includes a first portion that extends in a longitudinal direction through a plurality of turns of the helix, wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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(a) providing a medical item dispenser comprising; a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area, at least two medical item holder support locations, wherein a first holder support location is operative to support a first medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size, wherein the first holder support location is further operative to support a second medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size, a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location, wherein the reference surface has three rows of human readable indicia thereon, wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation, wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location;(b) positioning a plurality of medical items adjacent the reference surface; (c) operating the medical item dispenser to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification