Combination disposal and dispensing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing and disposing medical items, comprising:
- a dispensing portion comprising;
a plurality of dispensing compartments, each of said dispensing compartments configured to hold at least one medical item;
a dispensing data entry device configured to receive at least one dispensing instruction; and
a dispensing control system,wherein said dispensing control system is configured to process said at least one dispensing instruction to select a medical item based on said dispensing instruction, andwherein said dispensing control system is configured to allow access to said selected medical item; and
a disposal portion comprising;
a plurality of waste containers, wherein each of said waste containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories;
wherein at least one of said waste containers is configured to receive at least one of said selected medical items that is dispensed by said dispensing portion after said selected medical item is at least partially used or expired;
a waste item identification device configured to receive identification data for a waste item, wherein said waste item identification device comprises a scanner;
a waste database comprising waste item classification information, said waste item classification information being derived from applicable rules regarding disposal; and
a disposal control system configured to compare identification data received by the waste item identification device with information contained in the database,wherein the disposal control system is configured to assign a waste item to at least one waste category, and wherein the disposal control system is configured to identify one of the waste containers based on the waste category;
wherein the disposal control system is configured to allow access to the identified waste container while preventing access to other waste containers of the disposal portion to ensure proper disposal; and
wherein said dispensing portion and said disposal portion are coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method related to dispensing and disposing medical items is provided. The dispensing portion is generally configured to dispense medical items stored within compartments based on dispensing instructions. The disposal portion is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container.
661 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing and disposing medical items, comprising:
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a dispensing portion comprising; a plurality of dispensing compartments, each of said dispensing compartments configured to hold at least one medical item; a dispensing data entry device configured to receive at least one dispensing instruction; and a dispensing control system, wherein said dispensing control system is configured to process said at least one dispensing instruction to select a medical item based on said dispensing instruction, and wherein said dispensing control system is configured to allow access to said selected medical item; and a disposal portion comprising; a plurality of waste containers, wherein each of said waste containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories; wherein at least one of said waste containers is configured to receive at least one of said selected medical items that is dispensed by said dispensing portion after said selected medical item is at least partially used or expired; a waste item identification device configured to receive identification data for a waste item, wherein said waste item identification device comprises a scanner; a waste database comprising waste item classification information, said waste item classification information being derived from applicable rules regarding disposal; and a disposal control system configured to compare identification data received by the waste item identification device with information contained in the database, wherein the disposal control system is configured to assign a waste item to at least one waste category, and wherein the disposal control system is configured to identify one of the waste containers based on the waste category; wherein the disposal control system is configured to allow access to the identified waste container while preventing access to other waste containers of the disposal portion to ensure proper disposal; and wherein said dispensing portion and said disposal portion are coupled. - 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 and disposing a plurality of medical items, comprising:
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a disposal portion comprising; a plurality of waste containers, wherein each of said waste containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories; and a waste item identification device configured to receive identification data for a waste item, wherein said waste item identification device comprises a scanner; wherein the system is configured to identify at least one of the waste containers based on the identification data received by the waste item identification device; a disposal control system configured to compare identification data received by the waste item identification device to a waste database, said waste database comprising waste item classification information derived from, at least in part, applicable rules regarding disposal; wherein the disposal control s stem is configured to classify the waste item into one of the plurality of waste categories and to allow access to one of the waste containers based on, at least in part, the identification data and the waste item classification information, while preventing access to other waste containers of a waste sorting station to ensure proper disposal; a dispensing portion comprising; a plurality of dispensing compartments, each of said dispensing compartments configured to hold at least one dispensable item; a data entry device configured to receive a dispensing instruction; and a dispensing control system configured to process a dispensing instruction and allow access to an interior of a corresponding dispensing compartment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification