Pharmaceutical dispensing system with coordinate guidance
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the method comprising:
- identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor;
entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet;
comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access;
unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item;
opening the unlocked door;
withdrawing the desired drawer;
activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove;
activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove;
identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and
removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, wherein access to the pocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes a pre-recorded sound file to be played to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention describes improved methods and mechanisms for providing secure access to pharmaceutical and supply items in a clinical setting. In one version of the invention, a dispensing unit has an interior housing one or more drawers. Each drawer has one or more storage locations. The fronts of the drawers are covered with one or more locking doors, preventing access to a particular drawer, unless the covering door is unlocked. Indicators are mounted on the side of the enclosure, to guide the user to a drawer covered by an associated unlocked door. The unit further includes indicators on the sides of the drawers, to guide the user to the right storage receptacles or pockets within the drawer. Some pockets may have lids. Some of the lids may have locks. Sensors associated with at least some of the individual pocket lids may be provided to detect the lifting of a lid. Means to automatically detect the entry of a hand or fingers into a pocket may be provided. One or more loudspeakers may be mounted on the unit, to provide auditory guidance and confirmation of correct access, by sounds and voice prompts. One or more video cameras may be mounted on the unit. A processor is mounted in the unit, or, in the case of an auxiliary unit, the auxiliary unit is connected to the processor on the main unit. The processor is connected to receive signals from sensors in the dispensing unit, from the video camera, and to send signals to the indicators, and to send auditory information to loudspeakers which are designed to focus the sound specifically to the user. Modular locking drawers may be mounted in this unit also, dispensing individual doses using a method where the drawer has to be fully closed for each unit dose of medication taken.
102 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the method comprising:
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identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; opening the unlocked door; withdrawing the desired drawer; activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, wherein access to the pocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes a pre-recorded sound file to be played to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the system comprising:
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identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; opening the unlocked door; withdrawing the desired drawer; activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and
,removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, where access to the rocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes a pre-recorded sound file to be played to the user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the method comprising:
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identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; opening the unlocked door; withdrawing the desired drawer; activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, wherein access to the pocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes text to speech to be played to the user. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the system comprising:
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identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; opening the unlocked door; withdrawing the desired drawer; activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and
,removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, where access to the pocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes text to speech to be played to the user. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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Specification