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Medical item storage cabinet and method

  • US 7,596,427 B1
  • Filed: 01/07/2005
  • Issued: 09/29/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:

  • a medical item holding cabinet including at least one electrically controlled lock adapted to control access to an interior area of the cabinet;

    a terminal in operative connection with the at least one lock, wherein the terminal includes a user interface accessible from outside the cabinet, wherein the user interface includes at least one input device operative to receive user-identifying inputs and patient-identifying inputs from users, and wherein the terminal is operative responsive to input data corresponding to an authorized user, to cause a first lock to change from a locked to an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition a first door is enabled to be opened, wherein the first door controls access to a first area within the interior of the cabinet;

    a movably mounted module,wherein the module is removably mounted relative to and supported by a slide mount positioned in the first area, wherein the slide mount includes a longitudinal axis extending in an axial direction,wherein when the first door is opened, the module is movable in the axial direction away from the first area to extend outward from the first area,wherein the module is movable from being extended outward to being returned to the first area, enabling the first door to be closed,wherein the module includes a first end and a second end,wherein the module includes a first side and a second side,wherein both the first side and the second side extend in the axial direction,wherein the second side faces opposite the first side,wherein the module comprises a plurality of supports extending therefrom, wherein each support is adapted to support a medical item by engaging a medical item in hanging supported relation,wherein the module includes a module interface extending on the first side of the module,wherein the module interface includes a plurality of finger actuatable buttons corresponding to locations in which medical items may be stored, wherein the buttons are selectively actuatable to indicate the taking of a medical item from a particular support for use in treating a patient identified through at least one input to the terminal, and wherein the terminal is operative responsive to button actuation to cause data to be stored in at least one data store, corresponding to the taking of the medical item for treatment of the patient,wherein the module is selectively reversibly positionable relative to the slide mount, enabling the module interface to be selectively positioned on either a left or a right hand side of the module relative to the cabinet,wherein the module is positionable in a first mounted position relative to the slide mount,wherein in the first mounted position the module interface is positioned on a right hand side of the module relative to the cabinet,wherein in the first mounted position the first end extends further outward than the second end when the module is extended outward from the first area,wherein in the first mounted position the module extends in the axial direction,wherein the module is positionable in a second mounted position relative to the slide mount,wherein in the second mounted position the module interface is positioned on a left hand side of the module relative to the cabinet,wherein in the second mounted position the second end extends further outward than the first end when the module is extended outward from the first area,wherein in the second mounted position the module extends in the axial direction.

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