Computerized method and system for loading and/or unloading a tray using laser scanning technology

• US 7,146,247 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Blair, Jerry, Kirsch, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US10/997,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 700/242, 700/236, 700/244, 700/225, 700/231, 250/221, 250/221.1, 250/222.1, 364/479.1, 364/215
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method and system for loading a tray, e.g., a multi-compartment tray, with at least one medication, the tray having a light grid over a surface thereof is provided. Further provided is a computerized method and system for delivering medication to at least one individual from a tray, e.g., a multi-compartment tray, having a light grid over a surface thereof. If desired, the tray may further include a scanner over a surface thereof which is capable of scanning an identification code coupled with the medication being loaded and/or removed from the tray.

Claims

1. A method in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing a tray having an upper perimeter and a light grid and scanner located in the upper perimeter;

receiving an indicator that at least one medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded; and

determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the light grid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith comprises:

detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned thereby; and

determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more types of individuals for whom the at least one medication is likely to be prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting user instructions including at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be loaded into the particular compartment.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is determined to be a compartment other than the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual location discrepancy indicator and an audio location discrepancy indicator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is determined to be the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual location accuracy indicator and an audio location accuracy indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein upon providing the at least one of the visual location accuracy indicator and the audio location accuracy indicator, the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment output with the user instructions is incremented.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be other than the identity of the at least one medication output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual medication discrepancy indicator and an audio medication discrepancy indicator.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be the identity of the at least one medication output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual medication accuracy indicator and an audio medication accuracy indicator.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into the tray comprises receiving a plurality of indicators, each associated with a single one of the at least one medication, wherein each single one of the at least one medication is loaded into the tray individually.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tray identification device comprises a bar code.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tray identification device is capable of having information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medications in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, stored therein and retrieved therefrom.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the tray identification device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component;

generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined; and

generating the scanner over a surface of the tray such that when the scanner is interrupted by the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned, an identity of the at least one medication is capable of being determined.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the tray-receiving component comprises a drawer.

24. A method in a computing environment, comprising:

providing a medication supply container having an upper perimeter and a first light grid and a first scanner located in the upper perimeter;

providing a tray having an upper perimeter and a second light grid and a second scanner located in the upper perimeter, the first and second light grids and the first and second scanners being in communication with one another through a network;

receiving an indicator that a first medication is removed from the medication supply container, the first medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

determining an identity of the first medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith;

receiving an indicator that a second medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment, the second medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

determining an identity of the second medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith;

determining whether the first medication and the second medication are the same medication; and

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the second medication is loaded.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the indicator that the first medication is removed from the medication supply container comprises detecting an interruption in the first light grid.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein determining the identity of the first medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith comprises:

detecting an interruption in the first scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the first medication to be scanned thereby; and

determining the identity of the first medication based upon the scanned identification code.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein receiving the indicator that the second medication is loaded into the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the second light grid.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the second medication is loaded comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the identity of the second medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith comprises:

detecting an interruption in the second scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the second medication to be scanned thereby; and

determining the identity of the second medication based upon the scanned identification code.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein determining whether the first medication and the second medication are the same medication comprises comparing the scanned identification code of the first medication with the scanned identification code of the second medication.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein if the first medication and the second medication are the same medication, the method further comprises providing at least one of visual match indicator and an audio match indicator.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein if the first medication and the second medication are not the same medication, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual non-match indicator and an audio non-match indicator.

33. A method in a computing environment, comprising:

providing a tray having an upper perimeter and a light grid and scanner located in the upper perimeter;

receiving an indicator that the at least one medication is removed from the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

determining a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed; and

determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein receiving an indicator that the at least one medication is removed from the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the light grid.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein determining the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith comprises:

detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned; and

determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more types of individuals for whom the at least one medication is likely to be prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising outputting user instructions including at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be removed from the particular compartment.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is determined to be a compartment other than the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual location discrepancy indicator and an audio location discrepancy indicator.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is determined to be the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual location accuracy indicator and an audio location accuracy indicator.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein upon providing the at least one of the visual location accuracy indicator and the audio location accuracy indicator, the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment output with the user instructions is decremented.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be other than the identity of the at least one medication output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual medication discrepancy indicator and an audio medication discrepancy indicator.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be the identity of the at least one medication output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual medication accuracy indicator and an audio medication accuracy indicator.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is removed from the tray comprises receiving a plurality of indicators, each associated with a single one of the at least one medication, wherein each single one of the at least one medication is removed from the tray individually.

49. The method of claim 33, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the tray identification device comprises a bar code.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the tray identification device is capable of having information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medications in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, stored therein and retrieved therefrom.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the tray identification device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

54. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component;

generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined; and

generating the scanner over the surface of the tray such that when the scanner is interrupted by the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned, an identification of the at least one medication is capable of being determined.

60. The computer system of claim 51, further comprising a user instruction outputting module for outputting user instructions including at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication is prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

61. The computer system of claim 60, further comprising a first quantity outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be loaded into the particular compartment.

62. The computer system of claim 61, further comprising an output indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

63. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising a second quantity outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

64. The computer system of claim 60, further comprising a location discrepancy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual location discrepancy indicator and an audio location discrepancy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is other than the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output from the user instruction outputting module.

65. The computer system of claim 63, further comprising a location accuracy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual location accuracy indicator and an audio location accuracy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output from the user instruction outputting module.

66. The computer system of claim 65, further comprising an incrementing module for incrementing a quantity of medications in the particular compartment output from the user instruction outputting module upon providing the at least one of the visual location accuracy indicator and the audio location accuracy indicator.

67. The computer system of claim 60, further comprising a medication discrepancy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual medication discrepancy indicator and an audio medication discrepancy indicator if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be other than the identity of the at least one medication output from the user instruction outputting module.

68. The computer system of claim 60, further comprising a medication accuracy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual medication accuracy indicator and an audio medication accuracy indicator if the identity of the at least one medication is determined to be the identity of the at least one medication output from the user instruction outputting module.

55. A computer system, comprising:

a providing module for providing a tray having a light grid and a scanner over a surface thereof;

an indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that at least one medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

a location determining module for determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded; and

an identity determining module for determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith.

56. The computer system of claim 55, wherein the indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the light grid.

57. The computer system of claim 56, wherein the location determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

58. The computer system of claim 55, wherein the identity determining module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned thereby, and wherein the identity determining module is capable of determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.

59. The computer system of claim 55, further comprising a medication profile receiving module for receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication is prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

69. The computer system of claim 59, further comprising a storage and retrieval module for storing and retrieving information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medication in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, from a tray identification device associated with the tray.

70. The computer system of claim 55, further comprising:

a tray receipt indicator module for receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component;

a light grid generating module for generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined; and

a scanner generating module for generating the scanner over the surface of the tray such that when the scanner is interrupted by the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned, an identification of the at least one medication is capable of being determined.

71. A computer system, comprising:

a first providing module for providing a medication supply container having a first light grid and a first scanner over a surface thereof;

a second providing module for providing a tray having a second light grid and a second scanner over a surface thereof, the first and second light grids and the first and second scanners being in communication with one another through a network;

a first indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that a first medication is removed from the medication supply container, the first medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

a first identity determining module for determining an identity of the first medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith;

a second indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that a second medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and the second medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

a second identity determining module for determining an identity of the second medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith;

a comparison module for determining whether the first medication and the second medication are the same medication; and

a location determining module for determining into which compartment of the tray the second medication is loaded.

72. The computer system of claim 71, wherein the first indicator receiving module includes a detection module for detecting an interruption in the first light grid.

73. The computer system of claim 71, wherein the first identity determining module includes:

a detection module for detecting an interruption in the first scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the first medication to be scanned thereby; and

a medication determining module for determining the identity of the first medication based upon the scanned identification code.

74. The computer system of claim 71, wherein the second indicator receiving module includes a detection module for detecting an interruption in the second light grid.

75. The computer system of claim 74, wherein the location determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

76. The computer system of claim 71, wherein the second identity determining module includes:

a detection module for detecting an interruption in the second scanner which causes the identification coupled with the second medication to be scanned thereby; and

a medication determining module for determining the identity of the second medication based upon the scanned identification code.

77. A computer system, comprising:

a providing module for providing a tray having a light grid and a scanner over a surface thereof;

an indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that at least one medication is removed from the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned;

a location determining module for determining a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed; and

an identity determining module for determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the identification code coupled therewith.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the light grid.

79. The computer system of claim 78, wherein the location determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

80. The computer system of claim 77, wherein the identity determining module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned thereby, and wherein the identity determining module is capable of determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.

81. The computer system of claim 77, further comprising a medication profile receiving module for receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication is prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

82. The computer system of claim 77, further comprising a user instruction outputting module for outputting user instructions including at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication is prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

83. The computer system of claim 82, further comprising a first outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be removed from the particular compartment.

84. The computer system of claim 82, further comprising an output indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

85. The computer system of claim 84, further comprising a second outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

86. The computer system of claim 82, further comprising a location discrepancy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual location discrepancy indicator and an audio location discrepancy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is other than the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output from the user instruction outputting module.

87. The computer system of claim 85, further comprising a location accuracy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual location accuracy indicator and an audio location accuracy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output from the user instruction outputting module.

88. The computer system of claim 87, further comprising a decrementing module for decrementing the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment output from the user outputting module upon providing the at least one of the visual location accuracy indicator and the audio location accuracy indicator.

89. The computer system of claim 82, further comprising a medication discrepancy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual medication discrepancy indicator and an audio medication discrepancy indicator if the identity of the at least one medication removed from the tray is determined to be other than the identity of the at least one medication output from the user instruction outputting module.

90. The computer system of claim 82, further comprising a medication accuracy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual medication accuracy indicator and an audio medication accuracy indicator if the identity of the at least one medication removed from the tray is determined to be the identity of the at least one medication output from the user instruction outputting module.

91. The computer system of claim 81, further comprising a storage and retrieval module for storing and retrieving information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medication in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, from a tray identification device associated with the tray.

92. The computer system of claim 77, further comprising:

a tray receipt indicator module for receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component;

a light grid generating module for generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined; and

a scanner generating module for generating the scanner over the surface of the tray such that when the scanner is interrupted by the at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned, an identification of the at least one medication is capable of being determined.

93. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith which is capable of being scanned is loaded into a tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a light grid and a scanner over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the light grid;

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded based upon a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray;

detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned thereby; and

determining an identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.

94. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that a first medication having an identification code coupled therewith that is capable of being scanned is removed from a medication supply container, the medication supply container having a first light grid and a first scanner over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the first scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the first medication to be scanned thereby;

determining an identity of the first medication based upon the scanned identification code;

receiving an indicator that a second medication having an identification code coupled therewith that is capable of being scanned is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a second light grid and a second scanner over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the second scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the second medication to be scanned thereby;

determining an identity of the second medication based upon the scanned identification code;

determining whether the first medication and the second medication are the same medication;

detecting an interruption in the second light grid; and

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the second medication is loaded based upon a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

95. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that at least one medication having an identification code coupled therewith that is capable of being scanned is removed from a tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a light grid and a scanner over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the light grid;

determining a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed based upon a location of the interruption, and a corresponding location within the tray;

detecting an interruption in the scanner which causes the identification code coupled with the at least one medication to be scanned; and

determining the identity of the at least one medication based upon the scanned identification code.