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

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frederick, David T., Michael, James A., McGrady, R. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/031,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 220/264, 221 1-312 C, 312/209
• US Class Current: 700/243
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• 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

The system for controlling and tracking medical items (830) includes a plurality of medical item storage cabinets (878). Each cabinet includes a plurality of doors (888-894). The doors control access to shelves (902, 904) and support modules (1210). Shelves and support modules include user interfaces (938, 1214). Authorized users desiring to take medical items from storage locations in cabinets for use in treating patients are enabled to provide inputs through a display terminal (880) adjacent to cabinets and/or interfaces to indicate the taking of medical items. Storage cabinets include visual indicators so that users may be guided to find a selected medical item for which information is input at an associated display terminal. Alternatively, authorized users gain access to the interior of the cabinet and indicate through appropriate inputs through interfaces on the shelves the types and quantities of items being taken.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of self-adhesive labels in overlying relation of at least some but not all of the plurality of buttons on the module, and wherein data is caused to be stored in the at least one data store representative of taking of a medical item, responsive to actuation of at least one button including a label.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of medical item supports comprises a hook adapted to engage an aperture in a medical item.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising at least one hinge mounting the door in movable supporting connection with the cabinet, and wherein the hinge is changeable to enable mounting the door to be left or right hand opening relative to the first area, and wherein the module interface is enabled to be positioned on the left hand side of the module when the at least one hinge is positioned on the right hand side of the door, and vice versa.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of supports comprise a plurality of hooks each adapted to engage an aperture of a medical item.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one hinge mounting the door in movable supporting connection with the cabinet, and wherein the at least one hinge is changeable to enable mounting the door in left or right hand opening relation with regard to the first area, and wherein when the module interface is positioned on the left hand side of the module, the hinge is positionable on the right hand side relative to the opening of the door, and vice versa.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of label members, wherein each label member is associated with a respective medical item support.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of label members, wherein each label member is in supporting connection with a respective medical item support and includes indicia identifying a medical item enabled to be supported on the respective support.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of medical item supports includes a hook, and further comprising a plurality of label members, wherein each of the label members includes indicia identifying a medical item, and wherein each label member is releasably movably engaged with a respective hook.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 and farther comprising a plurality of label members, wherein each label member is in supporting connection with a respective medical item support, and wherein each label member includes machine-readable indicia corresponding to a medical item adapted to be positioned in engagement with a respective medical item support, and further comprising a reading device adapted to read machine-readable indicia, wherein the reading device is in operative connection with the terminal, and wherein reading the indicia with the reading device is operative to cause to be stored in the at least one data store, at least one of data associating a medical item with a respective medical item support, data indicating the taking of a medical item associated with the medical item support, and data associated with positioning a medical item on a medical item support.

11. 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 electrically controlled 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 at least one electrically controlled lock to change from a locked to an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition at least one door including at least one access door is enabled to be opened, wherein the at least one access door controls access to the interior area;

at least one module, wherein each module is movably mounted in supporting connection with a respective slide mount and is enabled to be moved to extend in an outward direction from the interior area when the at least one access door is opened, wherein each module comprises a plurality of supports extending therefrom, wherein each support is adapted to hangingly support a medical item, wherein each support is selectively rotationally positionable relative to the outward direction;

at least one module interface, wherein each module interface is supported by a respective module, wherein each module interface includes a plurality of selectively actuatable buttons corresponding to locations in which medical items may be stored, 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 a medical item from a particular support;

and wherein each module interface is selectively positionable on either a first or second side of the respective module relative to the outward direction.

12. 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 electrically controlled 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 at least one electrically controlled lock to change from a locked to an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition at least one door including at least one access door is enabled to be opened, wherein the at least one access door controls access to the interior area;

at least one module, wherein each module is movably mounted in supporting connection with a respective slide mount and is enabled to be moved to extend in an outward direction from the interior area when the at least one access door is opened, wherein each module comprises a plurality of supports extending therefrom, wherein each support is adapted to hangingly support a medical item;

a plurality of label members, wherein each label member is in supporting connection with a respective medical item support, and wherein each respective label member is selectively angularly positionable in supporting connection with the medical item support to facilitate viewing from either the left front or the right front of the interior area;

at least one module interface, wherein each module interface is supported by a respective module, wherein each module interface includes a plurality of selectively actuatable buttons corresponding to locations in which medical items may be stored, 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 a medical item from a particular support;

and wherein each module interface is selectively positionable on either a first or second side of the respective module relative to the outward direction.

13. Apparatus comprising:

a medical item holding cabinet including at least one electrically controlled lock adapted to control access to an interior 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 lock to change from a locked to an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition a door is enabled to be opened, wherein the door controls access to an area within the interior of the cabinet,

a movably mounted module, wherein the module is movably mounted in supporting connection with a slide mount positioned in the area wherein the module is enabled to be moved to extend in an outward direction from the area when the door is opened, and 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,

a plurality of label members, wherein each label member includes indicia corresponding to a medical item, and wherein each label member is movably mounted in supporting connection with a respective medical item support, and wherein each label member and the module each respectively includes at least one of an interengaging projection and recess, and wherein each label member is releasably fixable in a left or right angled position by engagement of the at least one projection and recess,

wherein the module includes a module interface extending on a side of the module in the outward direction, and wherein the module interface includes a plurality of finger actuatable buttons corresponding to locations in which medical items may be stored, and wherein the buttons are selectively actuated to indicate the talking 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,

and wherein the module is selectively positionable relative to the cabinet such that the module interface may be selectively positioned on either a left or a right hand side of the module relative to the outward direction.

14. Apparatus comprising:

a medical item holding cabinet including at least one electrically controlled lock adapted to control access to an interior 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 lock to change from a locked to an unlocked condition wherein in the unlocked condition a door is enabled to be opened, wherein the door controls access to an area within the interior of the cabinet,

a movably mounted module, wherein the module is movably mounted in supporting connection with a slide mount positioned in the areas wherein the module is enabled to be moved to extend in an outward direction from the area when the door is opened, and wherein the module comprises a plurality of supports extending therefrom, wherein each support comprises a hook adapted to support a medical item by engaging an aperture in a medical item in hanging supported relation, wherein each hook is selectively rotatably positionable relative to the module,

wherein the module includes a module interface extending on a side of the module in the outward direction, and wherein the module interface includes a plurality of finger actuatable buttons corresponding to locations in which medical items may be stored, and wherein the buttons are selectively actuated 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,

at least one hinge mounting the door in movable supporting connection with the cabinet, and wherein the hinge is changeable to enable mounting the door to be left or right hand opening relative to the area, and wherein the module interface is enabled to be positioned on the left hand side of the module when the at least one hinge is positioned on the right hand side of the door and vice versa,

a plurality of sell-adhesive labels in overlying relation of at least some but not all of the plurality of buttons on the module and wherein the terminal is operative responsive to button actuation to cause data to be stored in at least one data store, representative of a taking of a medical item for treatment of a patient, responsive to actuation of at least one button including a label,

and wherein the module interface is selectively positionable relative to the cabinet such that the module interface may be selectively positioned on either a left or a right hand side of the module relative to the outward direction.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising a plurality of label members, wherein each label member is in supporting connection with a respective hook, and wherein each label member includes indicia corresponding to a medical item adapted to be placed in supporting connection with the respective hook.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein each label member is rotationally movable in supporting connection with the respective hook, wherein each label is enabled to be moved between positions wherein the respective label member is readily viewable from a left front and a right front position relative to the first area.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each label member includes a snap-in aperture, and wherein each hook comprises a vertically extending portion, and wherein the snap-in aperture engages a vertically extending portion of a respective hook.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 and further comprising for each label member, at least one interengaging projection and recess, wherein the respective at least one of the projection and recess is associated with a respective label member and the other of the at least one projection and recess is associated with the module, and wherein engagement of the at least one respective projection and recess releasably holds a respective label member in an angular position relative to the module.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 and further comprising a bar code reader in operative connection with the terminal, and wherein a plurality of label members each include at least one bar code corresponding to a medical item adapted to be positioned on a respective hook member, wherein the respective medical item corresponds to the bar code on the respective label member.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein scanning with the bar code reader a respective bar code on a label member on a hook, is operative to cause to be stored in the at least one data store, data corresponding to at least one of a medical item corresponding to the scanned bar code being taken from the respective hook and the medical item corresponding to the scanned bar code being stored on the respective hook.