Medicament tray inventory system and method

• US 7,440,818 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Animatronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Animatronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Handfield, Michael, Laliberte, Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/108,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/241, 700/240, 221/2, 221/129, 221/130, 221/131, 221/132, 221/123, 221/124
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• 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: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more cassettes or trays, which hold one or more types of medicaments, the cassettes or trays being configured for intelligent dispensing of the medicaments. In one embodiment, a smart tray for dispensing medicaments includes.

Claims

1. A medicament units container configured to contain at least one medicament unit, and having an inventory indicator, the medicament units container comprising:

means for storing medicament information at the medicament container, the medicament information pertaining to a medicament unit contained in the medicaments units container;

means for receiving a signal from an external device designating a specified medicament information parameter; and

means for activating an indicator associated with the medicament container when the specified medicament information parameter matches the medicament information in the storage device;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

2. The medicament container of claim 1, further comprising means for dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament units container.

3. The medicament container of claim 2, wherein the means for dispensing comprises means for actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament units container.

4. The medicament container of claim 1, further comprising means for setting a status register bit in response to a signal from the external device to place the medicament container in an inventory mode.

5. The medicament container of claim 1, wherein the means for activating the indicator identifies the medicament container as containing a medicament unit corresponding to the designated medicament information parameter.

6. The medicament units container of claim 1, further comprising means for deactivating the indicator after a predetermined time.

7. The medicament units container of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the medicament information external to the medicament container.

8. The medicament container of claim 1, wherein the medicament information further comprises a prescription name;

a sub-name class;

a bar code ID;

a customer ID;

a distributor name;

an intended use for the medicament;

drug interaction precautions;

side effects;

an identification of the medicament units;

dosage information;

a manufacturing date;

a packaging date;

a color image of the medicament units;

inventory data regarding the medicament units;

an expiration date of the medicament units;

drug interaction information;

supplement interaction information;

manufacture information regarding the medicament units;

a lot number;

an ID code for the medicaments container;

quality control data;

or recall information.

9. The medicament container of claim 1, further comprising means for deactivating the indicator.

10. The medicament container of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

11. A method of inventory identification for a medicament container comprising the steps of:

maintaining medicament information in a storage device at the medicament container the medicament information pertaining to a medicament unit contained in the medicament container;

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal, the signal comprising information identifying a specified medicament information parameter; and

the medicament container comparing the specified medicament information parameter with the information in the information storage device;

activating an indicator on the medicament container when the specified medicament information parameter corresponds to the medicament information in the storage device;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of dispensing comprises a step of actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament units container.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of setting a status register bit in response to a second externally generated signal, thereby placing the medicament container in an inventory mode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of activating the indicator identifies the medicament container as containing a medicament unit corresponding to the designated medicament information parameter.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of deactivating the indicator.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of a person retrieving the medicament units container identified by the activated indicator.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of deactivating the indicator after a predetermined time.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of the medicament container transmitting the medicament information to an external device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the medicament information further comprises a prescription name;

a sub-name class;

a bar code ID;

a customer ID;

a distributor name;

an intended use for the medicament;

drug interaction precautions;

side effects;

an identification of the medicament units;

dosage information;

a manufacturing date;

a packaging date;

a color image of the medicament units;

inventory data regarding the medicament units;

an expiration date of the medicament units;

drug interaction information;

supplement interaction information;

manufacture information regarding the medicament units;

a lot number;

an ID code for the medicaments container;

quality control data or recall information.

21. A medicament units container configured to contain at least one medicament unit, the medicament units container comprising:

an information storage device configured to maintain medicament information pertaining to a medicament unit in the medicament container;

control logic communicatively coupled to the information storage device and configured to receive an externally generated signal designating a specified medicament information parameter; and

an indicator configured to be activated by the control logic when the specified medicament information parameter corresponds to the medicament information in the storage device;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

22. The medicament container of claim 21, further comprising a communication device configured to provide communications between the external device and the control logic.

23. The medicament container of claim 22, wherein the communication device is further configured to receive medicament information regarding medicament units for storage in the information storage device when the medicament units container is loaded with the medicament units.

24. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the control logic comprises a software, firmware or hardware.

25. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the indicator is a a multi-color display, a character display, a light emitting diode or a strobe light.

26. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the indicator is activated for a predetermined period of time to identify the medicament units container containing the medicament units specified by the inventory signal.

27. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the externally generated signal is an RFID, Smart card, Bluetooth or infrared signal.

28. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the information storage device further stores information pertaining to patient information or caregiver information.

29. The medicament units container of claim 21, wherein the medicament information further comprises a prescription name;

a sub-name class;

a bar code ID;

a customer ID;

a distributor name;

an intended use for the medicament;

drug interaction precautions;

side effects;

an identification of the medicament units;

dosage information;

a manufacturing date;

a packaging date;

a color image of the medicament units;

inventory data regarding the medicament units;

an expiration date of the medicament units;

drug interaction information;

supplement interaction information;

manufacture information regarding the medicament units;

a lot number;

an ID code for the medicaments container;

quality control data;

or recall information.

30. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the information storage device is further configured to accept data from a network device during transit, while in storage, or while in a dispensing machine.

31. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the communication device a wired or a wireless communication device.

32. The medicament container of claim 21, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

33. The medicament container of claim 32, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

34. The medicament container of claim 21, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

35. The medicament container of claim 21, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

36. The medicament container of claim 21, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

37. The medicament container of claim 36, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

38. A medicaments dispensing container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments dispensing medicament container comprising:

a housing configured for insertion into a medicaments dispensing machine and having an outlet for dispensing medicament units;

an information storage device collocated with the housing and configured to maintain medicament information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the container;

a communication device configured to receive an externally generated inventory signal identifying a specified medicament unit;

control logic coupled to the communication device and the information storage device and configured to compare the specified medicament unit parameter with the medicament information to determine whether the chamber contains the specified medicament; and

an indicator configured to be activated by the control logic upon a determination that the chamber contains the specified medicament unit, thereby identifying the medicaments container as housing the specified medicament unit.

39. The medicament container of claim 38, wherein the medicament information comprises information regarding an identification of medicament unit contained in the container, information regarding a dosage of medicament unit contained in the container and information regarding a quantity of medicament units contained in the container.

40. The medicament container container of claim 38, wherein the control logic comprises software, firmware or hardware.

41. The medicament container of claim 38, wherein the indicator comprises a multi-color display, a character display, a light emitting diode or a strobe light.

42. The medicament container of claim 38, wherein the indicator is activated to identify the medicament container containing the medicament units specified by the inventory signal.

43. The medicament container of claim 38, wherein the communication device comprises a wired or a wireless communication device.

44. The medicament container of claim 38, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

45. The medicament container of claim 44, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

46. The medicament container of claim 38, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

47. The medicament container of claim 38, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

48. A medicaments dispensing medicament container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments dispensing container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to maintain first information indicating an identification and dosage of medicament units contained in the container;

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to receive a query from an external device, the query comprising second information specifying an identification and dosage of medicament units being sought, and further configured to compare the first information with the second information to determine whether the dispensing container contains the medicament units being sought; and

an indicator configured to be activated upon a determination that the container contains the medicament units being sought;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into a medicament dispensing machine, and wherein the medicament dispensing machine is configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

49. The medicament container of claim 48, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

50. The medicament container of claim 49, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

51. The medicament container of claim 48, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

52. The medicament container of claim 48, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

53. A medicaments dispensing container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments dispensing medicament container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to store a first code identifying the container

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to receive a query from an external device, the query comprising a second code identifying a medicament container being sought, and further configured to compare the first code with the second code to determine whether the dispensing container is the container being sought; and

an indicator coupled to the control logic and configured to be activated upon a determination that the dispensing container is the container being sought;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

54. The medicament container of claim 53, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

55. The medicament container of claim 54, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

56. The medicament container of claim 53, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

57. The medicament container of claim 53, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

58. A medicaments dispensing medicament container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments dispensing container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to maintain first information identifying medicament units contained in the container;

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to receive a query from an external device, the query comprising second information identifying medicament units being sought, and further configured to compare the first information with the second information to determine whether the dispensing container contains the medicament units being sought; and

an indicator configured to be activated upon a determination that the medicament container contains the medicament units being sought;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

59. The medicament container of claim 58, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

60. The medicament container of claim 58, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

61. A medicaments dispensing medicament container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments dispensing container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to maintain information identifying a first medicaments parameter identifying a characteristic of the medicament units contained in the container

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to receive a query from an external device, the query comprising a second medicaments parameter specifying a characteristic of medicament units being sought, and further configured to compare the first parameter with the second parameter to determine whether the medicament container contains medicament units having the identified characteristic; and

an indicator configured to be activated upon a determination that the medicament container contains the medicament units having the specified characteristic;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

62. The medicament container of claim 61, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

63. The medicament container of claim 62, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

64. The medicament container of claim 61, wherein the indicator is further configured to be deactivated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

65. The medicament container of claim 61, further comprising means for transmitting medicament container inventory data to an external device.

66. The medicament container of claim 61, wherein said characteristic comprises recall information, lot number, manufacture date, packaging date, medicament identification, medicament dosage, medicament ID, expiration date or status, a quantity of medicament units contained in the container, or an identification of a patient for whom the medicament units are prescribed.

67. A medicaments dispensing medicament container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to maintain first information identifying medicament units contained in the container;

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to determine whether the medicament container contains particular medicaments units as identified by second information received from an external device; and

an indicator on the medicament container configured to be activated by the control logic upon a determination that the container contains the medicament units identified by the second information;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

68. The medicament container of claim 67, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

69. The medicament container of claim 68, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

70. A medicaments container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments container comprising:

an information storage device within the container configured to maintain first information identifying a characteristic of medicament units contained in the container;

control logic coupled to the storage device and configured to determine whether the medicaments container contains medicaments units of a particular characteristic as identified by second information received from an external device; and

an indicator on the medicaments container configured to be activated by the control logic upon a determination that the medicaments container contains medicament units having the characteristic identified by the second information;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

71. The medicaments container of claim 70, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

72. The medicaments container of claim 71, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

73. The medicaments container of claim 70, wherein the characteristic comprises recall information, lot number, manufacture date, packaging date, medicament identification, medicament dosage, medicament ID, expiration date or status, a quantity of medicament units contained in the container, or an identification of a patient for whom the medicament units are prescribed.

74. A medicaments container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the medicaments container comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a signal from an external device specifying a characteristic of a medicaments unit of interest;

control logic coupled to the receiver and configured to determine whether the medicaments container contains medicaments units having the specified characteristic; and

an indicator on the medicaments container configured to be activated by the control logic upon a determination that the medicament container contains medicament units having the specified characteristic;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

75. The medicaments container of claim 74, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a medicament unit from the medicament container.

76. The medicaments container of claim 75, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises an active dispensing mechanism.

77. The medicaments container of claim 74, wherein the characteristic comprises recall information, lot number, manufacture date, packaging date, medicament identification, medicament dosage, medicament ID, expiration date or status, a quantity of medicament units contained in the container, or an identification of a patient for whom the medicament units are prescribed.

80. The medicaments container of claim 75, wherein the dispensing step comprises actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

78. A method of inventory identification for a medicament container comprising the steps of:

maintaining first information in a storage device at the medicament container, the first information indicating an identification and dosage of medicament units contained in the container;

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal comprising second information indicating an identification and dosage of medicament units of interest; and

activating an indicator associated with the medicament container when the second information indicates an interest in the medicament units contained in the medicament units container;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising a step of dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein the step of activating the indicator identifies the medicament container as containing the medicament units of interest.

82. The method of claim 78, wherein the step of activating an indicator associated with the medicament container comprises a step of activating a visual indicator.

83. A method of inventory identification for a medicament container comprising the steps of:

maintaining first information in a storage device at the medicament container, the first information identifying the medicament container in the container;

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal comprising second information identifying medicament units of interest; and

activating an indicator associated with the medicament container when the second information indicates interest in the medicament units contained in the medicament container;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising a step of dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

85. The medicaments container of claim 84, wherein the dispensing step comprises actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

86. A method of facilitating inventory identification for a medicament units container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining first information in a storage device at the medicament container, the first information identifying the medicament container;

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal comprising second information specifying a medicament container of interest; and

activating an indicator on the medicament container when the second information indicates interest in the medicament units contained in the medicament container

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

87. A method of facilitating inventory identification for a medicament units container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining first information in a storage device at the medicament container, the first information identifying a characteristic of medicament units contained in the container

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal comprising second information specifying a characteristic of medicament units of interest; and

activating an indicator on the medicament container when the second information indicates that the medicament container contains a medicament unit having the specified characteristic;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the characteristic comprises recall information, lot number, manufacture date, packaging date, medicament identification, medicament dosage, medicament ID, expiration date or status, a quantity of medicament units contained in the container, or an identification of a patient for whom the medicament units are prescribed.

89. The method of claim 87, further comprising a step of dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

90. The medicaments container of claim 89, wherein the dispensing step comprises actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

91. A method of facilitating inventory identification for a medicament units container configured to contain a plurality of medicament units, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining first information in a storage device at the medicament container, the first information identifying a characteristic of medicament units contained in the container;

receiving at the medicament container an externally generated signal comprising second information specifying a characteristic of medicament units being sought by a health care worker;

determining by the medicament container whether the medicament container contains medicament units having the specified characteristic; and

activating an indicator associated with the medicament container when the second information indicates that the medicament container contains a medicament unit having the specified characteristic;

wherein the medicament container is configured to be inserted into an apparatus configured to accept a plurality of medicament containers.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the characteristic comprises recall information, lot number, manufacture date, packaging date, medicament identification, medicament dosage, medicament ID, expiration date or status, a quantity of medicament units contained in the container, or an identification of a patient for whom the medicament units are prescribed.

93. The method of claim 91, further comprising a step of dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.

94. The medicaments container of claim 93, wherein the dispensing step comprises actively dispensing a medicament unit from the medicament container.