Filling a restocking package using a carousel

• US 7,072,737 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Wangu, Manoj, Lal, Payal, Lunak, Richard, Hart, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/820,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/233, 700/235, 700/236, 700/237, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/12 with separate article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the articles being books, documents, forms or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• 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 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A carousel used in a restocking system is comprised of a drive track. A plurality of bins are arranged into rows, with the rows being driven by said drive track. A drive mechanism, e.g. an electric motor, drives the drive track. A sensor is provided to sense the position of the rows of bins. A processor is responsive to the sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for more than one order for controlling the drive mechanism. By combining picks from different orders into a batch, the time spent driving the rows and time between picks is minimized. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of columns, each with its own drive track, drive mechanism, and sensor, to enable several rows to be brought into a pick position simultaneously. Various methods and forms of restocking packages are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating; and

filling a restocking package with said picked items;

wherein said picking comprise;

identifying a carousel item printer;

printing a barcode label for the item;

waiting for a barcode label scan message;

moving the carousel; and

waiting for a scan of the barcode corresponding to the item picked.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising generating an exception list for items not in the carousel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said queue of requests contains requests for items to be picked for a plurality of patients.

5. The method of claim 1 a wherein said queue of requests contains requests for items to be picked for a plurality of dispensing devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said queue of requests contains requests for items to be picked for a plurality of decentralized locations.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said evaluating is performed dynamically.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said user configurable priorities for evaluating the queue are based on the time of day.

9. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising performing dose calculations when a request for an item in the queue is a dose and the specific dose is not present in said carousel.

10. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising displaying a plurality of items to be picked wherein said items comprise a kit in response to an order for the kit.

11. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising manually checking the contents of a restocking package.

12. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising tracking a lot number for each item stocked into the carousel.

13. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising generating a request for an item whenever the quantity of said item falls below a par value.

3. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items;

generating an exception list for items not in the carousel;

identifying a non-carousel item printer; and

generating a bar code for each item on said exception list.

14. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel baed on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

checking admission, discharge, transfer and order change information for each item in the queue.

15. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating; and

filling a restocking package with said picked items;

wherein said operating a carousel based on said evaluating is paused, said method additionally comprising picking an item from the carousel on-demand during said pause.

16. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

determining if an item to be picked belongs in said queue.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said determining includes determining based on a set of fill priorities.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said determining includes determining based on a status of the carousel.

19. A method, comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

determining the frequency with which an item is picked, and identifying a bin to contain the item based on said frequency.

20. A method comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

determining the frequency with which an item is picked, and removing said item from the carousel when the frequency falls below a predetermined value.

21. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising adding said item to the carousel when the frequency is above said predetermined value.

22. A method comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating; and

filling a restocking package with said picked items;

wherein when an item in said queue is located in a controlled substance vault, said method additionally comprising;

sending a request to open the door of the vault.

23. A method comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

processing returned items.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said processing of returned items comprises:

crediting an account for a returned item;

returning the item to the carousel; and

updating the carousel'"'"'s inventory records.

25. A method comprising:

evaluating a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating; and

filling a restocking package with said picked items;

wherein, the method additionally comprises a cycle counting process comprising;

presenting a bin for counting; and

accepting the count along with a date and time.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said cycle counting process is based on one of DEA codes and previously identified items.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said cycle count process is initiated at scheduled times.

28. A method comprising:

evaluating queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel based on a set of user configurable priorities;

operating a carousel based on said evaluating;

picking items from the carousel in response to said operating;

filling a restocking package with said picked items; and

generating a request for an item whenever the quantity of said item falls below a par value, wherein said par value is a dynamic value based on one of current usage and historic usage.

29. A method, comprising:

filling a restocking package with items in a centralized storage location;

loading a plurality of restocking packages into a cart;

delivering the cart containing the plurality of restocking packages to a dispensing device at a decentralized location; and

connecting said cart carrying said plurality of restocking packages to the dispensing device;

wherein said cart contains a chip having information about the contents of said cart, said method additionally comprising dispensing from said cart, and modifying the information in said chip in response to said dispensing; and

wherein said centralized location includes an automation device, said method additionally comprising returning said cart to said centralized location, and connecting said cart to said automation device, said automation device accessing said information in said chip.