Method for dispensing medications
First Claim
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1. A method for automated dispensing of unit-based doses of medication from an apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a pre-loadable container having a body defining a plurality of container slots,(1) wherein the plurality of container slots are sized for holding unit-based doses of medication,(2) wherein the pre-loadable container is mountable to the apparatus, and(3) wherein the unit-based doses of medication have been loaded in the pre-loadable container prior to mounting the pre-loadable container to the apparatus;
mounting the pre-loadable container to a vertically extending panel of the apparatus, wherein the vertically extending panel includes a plurality of panel slots that align with the plurality of container slots when the pre-loadable container is mounted to the vertically extending panel,receiving an input associated with a particular unit-based dose of medication to be dispensed;
positioning an effector relative to a particular panel slot based on the input; and
imparting, by the effector, a force through both the particular panel slot and a corresponding container slot, which is aligned with the particular panel slot, and against the particular unit-based dose of medication within the corresponding container slot to induce movement thereof out of the corresponding container slot.
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Abstract
A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring unit-based doses of certain medications to be administered to a patient. The dispenser includes a frame and one or more cartridges that may be mounted onto the frame. A set of slots sized for holding unit-based doses of medication extend through a body portion of the cartridge. A movement device is also positioned relative to the frame and is configured to induce movement of selected unit-based medication doses out of associated slots in the cartridge, so that the dispensed doses may be retrieved.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for automated dispensing of unit-based doses of medication from an apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing a pre-loadable container having a body defining a plurality of container slots, (1) wherein the plurality of container slots are sized for holding unit-based doses of medication, (2) wherein the pre-loadable container is mountable to the apparatus, and (3) wherein the unit-based doses of medication have been loaded in the pre-loadable container prior to mounting the pre-loadable container to the apparatus; mounting the pre-loadable container to a vertically extending panel of the apparatus, wherein the vertically extending panel includes a plurality of panel slots that align with the plurality of container slots when the pre-loadable container is mounted to the vertically extending panel, receiving an input associated with a particular unit-based dose of medication to be dispensed; positioning an effector relative to a particular panel slot based on the input; and imparting, by the effector, a force through both the particular panel slot and a corresponding container slot, which is aligned with the particular panel slot, and against the particular unit-based dose of medication within the corresponding container slot to induce movement thereof out of the corresponding container slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for automated dispensing of unit-based doses of medication from an apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing a pre-loadable container having a front side and a back side and having a body defining a plurality of container slots, (1) wherein each of the plurality of container slots are sized for holding unit-based doses of medication, (2) wherein the pre-loadable container is mountable to the apparatus, and (3) wherein the unit-based doses of medication have been loaded in the pre-loadable container prior to mounting the pre-loadable container to the apparatus; mounting the pre-loadable container to a vertically extending panel, which includes a front side and a back side, wherein mounting the pre-loadable container includes releasably attaching the pre-loadable container to the vertically extending panel, such that the back side of the pre-loadable container abuts the front side of the vertically extending panel and the plurality of container slots align with a plurality of panel slots; receiving an input requesting dispense of a unit-based dose of medication, wherein the input includes a specific medication and dosage; referencing a database that maps the specific medication and dosage to coordinates that identify a particular slot of the plurality of container slots in which the unit-based dose of medication is housed; positioning an effector according to the coordinates, thereby positioning the effector relative to a respective panel slot; and using the effector to impart a force through both the respective panel slot and the particular container slot, which is aligned with the respective panel slot, and against the unit-based dose of medication within the particular container slot to induce movement thereof out of the particular container slot. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for automated dispensing of a unit-based dose of medication from an apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing a pre-loadable container having a front side and a back side, (1) wherein a body of the pre-loadable container defines a plurality of container slots, each of which is sized to hold unit-based doses of medication, (2) wherein the unit-based dose of medication to be dispensed is preloaded in a particular container slot of the plurality of container slots, and (3) wherein the back side of the pre-loadable container comprises a prong and a boss that are insertable into respective recesses of the apparatus; mounting the pre-loadable container to a vertically extending panel, which includes a plurality of panel slots, by inserting the prong into a receiving recesses that is positioned in the vertically extending panel, thereby abutting the back side of the pre-loadable container to the front side of the vertically extending panel and aligning the particular container slot with a corresponding panel slot; inserting the boss into a mating recess that is positioned in the vertically extending panel to ensure that the unit-based dose of medication is properly dispensed when an input associated with the unit-based dose of medication is received; receiving the input associated with the particular unit-based dose of medication to be dispensed; positioning an effector relative to the corresponding panel slot, wherein the vertically extending panel is positioned between the effector and the pre-loadable container; and imparting, by the effector, a force through both the corresponding panel slot and the particular container slot and against the unit-based dose of medication to induce movement thereof out of the particular container slot.
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Specification