Medicament inventory system and method

• US 7,630,790 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Original Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Inventors: Handfield, Michael, Laliberte, Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/056,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236
• US Class Current: 700/236
• 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: a housing; an information storage device that maintains inventory information regarding medicament units in the tray; and a communication device to transfer the inventory information between the information storage device and an external computing apparatus to facilitate inventory maintenance. In a further embodiment, the smart tray includes a mechanism to determine a quantity of medicament units dispensed from the tray to facilitate inventory tracking.

Claims

1. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein said information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container is automatically communicated to an insurance agency to facilitate automatic claim processing; and

a communication device communicatively coupled to the information storage device and configured to allow communication of the inventory information between the information storage device and an external computing device to facilitate automated inventory tracking for the plurality of medicament units.

2. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 1, further comprising an indicator communicatively coupled to the information storage device and configured to be activated when a quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container reaches a predetermined amount.

3. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 2, wherein said indicator comprises at least one of a luminous indicator, an audible indicator and a radio frequency indicator.

4. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 2, further comprising an indicator communicatively coupled to the information storage device and configured to be activated upon a determination by the inventory control logic that the quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container has reached a predetermined amount.

5. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 1, wherein said communication device is at least one of a wired and a wireless communication device.

6. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprise inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

logic configured to update the inventory information, determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said logic is configured to send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, and wherein said logic is further configured to cause a communication to be sent to at least one of a patient and a caregiver if it is determined that the additional medicament units are to be reordered.

7. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said logic is further configured to process payment information for the reorder.

8. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said logic is further configured to cause a communication to be sent to at least one of a patient and a caregiver if payment information is needed for the reorder.

9. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein the information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container comprises patient information and the logic is further configured to remove the patient information from the information storage device when there are no more medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container.

10. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to the external computing device indicating a quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container.

11. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to the external computing device indicating a quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container when the updated inventory level reaches a predetermined amount.

12. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said logic is further configured to determine whether a patient for whom the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container were prescribed is authorized to receive a refill of a prescription.

13. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said information storage device is further configured to receive said information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container from medicament loading equipment.

14. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said external computing device comprises a computing device associated with loading equipment and said communication device is configured to allow communication of at least one of a quantity of medicament units, a type of medicament units, patient information, and transit information between the information storage device and the external computing device.

15. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said external computing device comprises at least one of a loading equipment computing device, a shipping equipment computing device, a computing device of a dispenser, and a server.

16. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container further comprises at least one of a group consisting of patient information, caregiver information, and medicament information.

17. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 16, wherein said external computing device is a server, and further comprising logic configured to retrieve said information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container from the server.

18. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 17, wherein said logic comprises logic configured to determine whether said information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container is in the information storage device, and to provide an identification code of the medicaments dispensing container to the server.

19. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 16, wherein said medicament information comprises at least one of a group consisting of:

an intended use for the medicament;

drug interaction precautions pertaining to the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

side effects of the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

an identification of the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

the dosage the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

the date the medicament units were packaged in the medicaments dispensing container;

a color image of the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

inventory data regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

an expiration date of the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

drug interaction information regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

supplement interaction information regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

manufacture information regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

a lot number for regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

recall information regarding the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container.

20. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 19, further comprising inventory update logic, communicatively coupled to said information storage device and configured to determine a quantity of medicament units dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container;

and to determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on said medicament information when a quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container reaches a predetermined level.

21. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 16, wherein said patient information comprises at least one of a group consisting of:

an identification of a recipient of the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

a number of refills authorized for the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

an authorized caregiver for said patient;

patient insurance information;

payment information;

patient medical history;

patient vital signs;

patient reaction to the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

instructions for administering the medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

patient contact information; and

patient biometric information.

22. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 21, further comprising inventory update logic, communicatively coupled to said information storage device and configured to determine a quantity of medicament units dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container;

and to determine whether to reorder medicament units based on said patient information when a quantity of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container reaches a predetermined level.

23. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said information storage device is further configured to accept updates from a dispensing machine by way of the communication device.

24. The medicaments dispensing container of claim 21, wherein said information storage device is further configured to accept said updates, wherein said updates are entered by a caregiver.

25. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprise inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

logic configured to update the inventory information, determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, and send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units;

wherein said logic is further configured to process payment information for the reorder.

26. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprise inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

logic configured to update the inventory information, determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, and send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, wherein said logic is further configured to cause a communication to be sent to at least one of a patient and a caregiver if payment information is needed for the reorder.

27. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprise inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

logic configured to update the inventory information, determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, and send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, wherein the information pertaining to said plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container comprises patient information and the logic is further configured to remove the patient information from the information storage device when there are no more medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container.

28. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information; and

logic contained within the housing, communicatively coupled to the information storage device and configured to sense a quantity of medicament units dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container and update the inventory information to reflect the quantity of medicament units dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container, thereby to maintain an updated inventory of medicament units remaining in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the logic is configured to determine whether to order additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container are provided under a prescription, and wherein the logic is further configured to determine a number of refills remaining under the prescription.

29. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

logic configured to update the inventory information and determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, and wherein said logic is further configured to cause a communication to be sent to at least one of a patient and a caregiver if it is determined that the additional medicament units are to be reordered; and

a sensor unit contained within the housing and communicatively coupled to the information storage device, wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a medicament unit being dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container.

30. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

logic configured to update the inventory information and determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, and wherein said logic is further configured to process payment information for the reorder; and

a sensor unit contained within the housing and communicatively coupled to the information storage device, wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a medicament unit being dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container.

31. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container;

logic configured to update the inventory information and determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, and wherein said logic is further configured to cause a communication to be sent to at least one of a patient and a caregiver if payment information is needed for the reorder; and

a sensor unit contained within the housing and communicatively coupled to the information storage device, wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a medicament unit being dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container.

32. A medicaments dispensing container for containing a plurality of medicament units, comprising:

a housing configured to contain the plurality of medicament units;

an information storage device configured to maintain information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container, wherein the information pertaining to the plurality of medicament units comprises inventory information for the plurality of medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container and patient information;

logic configured to update the inventory information and determine whether to reorder additional medicament units based on the updated inventory information, wherein said logic is further configured to send a signal to an external computing device to reorder additional medicament units, and wherein the logic is further configured to remove the patient information from the information storage device when there are no more medicament units in the medicaments dispensing container; and

a sensor unit contained within the housing and communicatively coupled to the information storage device, wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a medicament unit being dispensed from the medicaments dispensing container.