Medication cabinetry

• US 8,103,379 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Biba, Scott I., Koplin, Randall S., Lee, Daniel J., Soukup, Kathy L., Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/351,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/237, 700241-243, 221/199, 312/319.1
• US Class Current: 700/243
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0002 Guide construction for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/457 operated by electrically-powered actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/463 self-opening
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/467 self-closing
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/57 preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/18 Recessed drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/60 the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable
• 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

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment includes a cabinet having at least one drawer with selectable access for storing items, such as medications. A slidable cover with a first opening allows for closure and/or access to items in an interior of the drawer. The cabinet further includes an actuator coupled to the cover and a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface.

Claims

1. A drawer assembly having at least one drawer with selectable access, the drawer assembly comprising:

at least one drawer housing;

a belt having a first opening;

a drawer unit which is slidable within the drawer housing, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the belt is moveable relative to the drawer unit such that the belt provides a closure for the drawer unit, and the first opening provides access to a portion of the drawer interior;

an electric actuator coupled to the belt; and

a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface;

wherein the drawer unit further includes a roller supported at each end thereof, and the belt is moveably supported relative to the drawer unit by at least the rollers;

wherein the interior of the drawer is divided into a plurality of separate compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to store corresponding articles such as individual medications, unit of use medications or other items for medical use;

wherein the actuator is an electric motor coupled to one of the rollers to selectively move the first opening relative to the compartments in response to the controller;

wherein an interlock is coupled to the controller to prevent operation of the electric motor when a substantial portion of the drawer unit is not located within the drawer housing;

wherein the belt includes a second opening larger than the first opening, the compartments having sizes which correspond to the sizes of the first and second openings, and the controller is configured to actuate the electric motor to align the first and second openings with the compartments to permit selected access to the compartments.

2. The drawer assembly of claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor unit coupled to the controller, wherein the belt includes a plurality of selectively spaced apertures and the sensor unit is supported relative to the apertures to generate a sensor signal representative of a location of the first and second openings relative to the compartments.

3. The drawer assembly of claim 2, wherein the apertures are arranged in a coded sequence.

4. The drawer assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electric drawer latch coupled to the controller, wherein the drawer latch inhibits sliding of the drawer unit.

5. A cabinet having at least one drawer with selectable access, the cabinet comprising:

at least one drawer housing;

a cover having a first opening;

a drawer unit which is slidable within of the drawer housing, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the cover is slidable relative to the drawer unit such that the cover provides a closure for the drawer unit, the first opening provides access to a portion of the drawer interior, and the cover flexibly bends about a portion of the drawer unit;

an electric actuator coupled to the cover; and

a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface;

wherein a roller is supported at an end of the drawer unit, and the cover is moveably supported relative to the drawer walls by the roller;

wherein the drawer interior is divided into a plurality of separate compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to store corresponding articles such as individual medications, unit of use medications or other items for medical use;

wherein an interlock is coupled to the controller to prevent operation of the electric actuator when a substantial portion of the drawer unit is not located within the drawer housing;

wherein the cover includes a second opening larger than the first opening, the compartments have sizes which correspond to the sizes of the first and second openings, and the controller is configured to direct the electric actuator to align the first and second openings with the compartments to permit selected access to the compartments.

6. The cabinet of claim 5, further comprising an electric drawer latch coupled to the controller, wherein drawer latch inhibits sliding of the drawer unit.

7. An automated dispensing system, comprising:

a cabinet including at least one drawer housing, a flexibly bendable cover having a first opening, a drawer unit that is slidable within the drawer housing, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the cover is moveable relative to the drawer unit such that the cover provides a closure for the drawer unit, and the first opening provides access to a portion of the drawer interior;

an electric actuator coupled to the cover;

a controller coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is also coupled to an electronic memory that holds access authorization information, cabinet contents information, and medical patient information; and

a user control interface coupled to the controller, wherein through signals generated from the controller a user controls the actuator which moves the first opening relative to the drawer interior;

wherein the cover comprises a belt and the actuator comprises a motor;

wherein the belt includes a second opening larger than the first opening and the drawer interior is divided into a plurality of separate compartments, wherein the compartments have sizes which correspond to the sizes of the first and second openings, and a user may direct the controller to actuate the motor to align the first and second openings with the compartments to permit selected access to the compartments.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an interlock between the drawer housing and the drawer unit to prevent operation of the electric motor when a substantial portion of the drawer unit is not located within the drawer housing.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an electric drawer latch coupled to the controller, wherein drawer latch prevents sliding of the drawer unit from fully within the drawer housing unless the a user has the controller direct the latch to release.

10. The cabinet of claim 9, further comprising an optical sensor unit coupled to the controller, wherein the belt includes a plurality of selectively spaced apertures and the sensor unit is supported relative to the apertures to generate a sensor signal representative of a location of the first and second openings relative to the compartments, and wherein the apertures are arranged in a coded sequence.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a battery and a set of casters, wherein the cabinetry are supported upon the casters and the battery powers the motor.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the motor includes a forward mode and a reverse mode to drive the belt in a bi-directional manner.