Method for controlling a drug dispensing system
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing of packaged pharmaceuticals, comprising:
- a remote dispenser that stores a plurality of pharmaceuticals, the dispenser receiving request signals and generating dispense signals and a data entry device operatively linked to the dispenser for entering patient information corresponding to a patient;
a centralized control facility operatively linked to the dispenser, the control facility being operative to match the patient information corresponding to a particular patient with a prescription for a pharmaceutical and to transmit a request signal when a corresponding match is identified; and
a database operatively associated with the centralized control facility that stores information relating to at least one authorized prescription, the dispenser being operative, in response to entry of the patient information, to initiate dispensing by transmitting a signal representative of the patient information to the centralized control facility, such that the dispenser dispenses a pharmaceutical corresponding with the prescription.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing of packaged pharmaceuticals, comprising:
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a remote dispenser that stores a plurality of pharmaceuticals, the dispenser receiving request signals and generating dispense signals and a data entry device operatively linked to the dispenser for entering patient information corresponding to a patient; a centralized control facility operatively linked to the dispenser, the control facility being operative to match the patient information corresponding to a particular patient with a prescription for a pharmaceutical and to transmit a request signal when a corresponding match is identified; and a database operatively associated with the centralized control facility that stores information relating to at least one authorized prescription, the dispenser being operative, in response to entry of the patient information, to initiate dispensing by transmitting a signal representative of the patient information to the centralized control facility, such that the dispenser dispenses a pharmaceutical corresponding with the prescription. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An integrated medication distribution system, comprising:
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a centralized control facility operative to associate at least one of a plurality of unique patient information, each corresponding to a respective patient, with at least one authorized prescription request to supply a drug to a patient and to transmit a request signal when a corresponding match is identified; a database operatively associated with the centralized control facility and adapted to store a respective patient prescription record corresponding to an individual request to fill a prescription and a corresponding unique transaction code; and a plurality of remote control dispensers each remotely located from the centralized control facility and adapted to dispense at least one of a plurality of prepackaged pharmaceuticals contained therein in accordance with an authorized prescription. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of dispensing medication to a patient at a selected drug dispensing unit, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a first location, a request to supply a patient with at least one packaged pharmaceutical containing a drug prescribed by a physician; reading patient information received during said receiving step to ensure the patient is authorized to receive the drug prescribed; providing a patient authorized to receive a prescribed medication with a unique identifier; and in response to entry of the unique identifier at a second location remotely disposed relative to the first location, causing a drug dispensing unit to dispense the medication specified in the request received during the receiving step for distribution to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for unattended dispensing of medications, comprising:
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a remote vending matching (RVM) unit adapted to dispense at least one of a plurality of drugs contained therein in accordance with an authorized prescription Rx, said dispensing unit including a data entry device for entering a patient identification key code (PtID) corresponding to a particular patient; a centralized control facility operative to associate a PtID code with at least one authorized Rx request to supply a drug and to transmit an enabling signal to the RVM unit when a corresponding match is identified; a database operatively associated with said centralized control facility and adapted to store information relating to said at least one authorized Rx-request; wherein said RVM unit is operative, in response to entry of said PtID code, to initiate a vending session by transmitting a signal representative of said PtID code to said centralized control facility; and
wherein said RVM unit is further operative, in response to receipt of the enabling signal to dispense the prescribed medication. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An integrated medication distribution system, comprising:
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a centralized control facility operative to associate at least one of a plurality of unique patient identification (PtID) key codes, each corresponding to a respective patient, with at least one authorized prescription Rx request to supply a drug to a patient; a database operatively associated with said centralized control facility and adapted to store a respective patient prescription record corresponding to an individual request to digitally fill a prescription and a corresponding unique transaction identification key code (RxID); and a plurality of remote vending machine (RVM) units, each remotely located from the remote controller and each adapted to dispense at least one of a plurality of drugs contained therein in accordance with an authorized prescription, said dispensing unit including a data entry device for entering a PtID code to initiate a drug dispensing session, wherein any of said plurality of RVM units is operative to transmit a signal representative of said MD code to said centralized control facility in response to actuation of a corresponding data entry device, and wherein an originating one of said plurality of RVM units is further operative, in response to receipt of an enabling signal, to dispense the prescribed Rx drug. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification