Method for combined disposal and dispensing of medical items
First Claim
1. A method of dispensing and disposing medical items, the method comprising:
- receiving a dispensing instruction associated with a first medical item to be dispensed;
dispensing said first medical item based on said dispensing instruction;
receiving an identifier associated with a second medical item to be disposed using a scanner;
wherein said second medical item comprises the first medical item after it has been at least partially used or emptied;
retrieving, based on the identifier, information from a database, wherein the information is derived from applicable rules regarding disposal;
assigning the second medical item to a disposal category based on the information retrieved from the database;
wherein the disposal category is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste containers of a waste sorting station;
wherein a control system associated with the database is configured to allow access to one of the waste containers based, at least in part, on the waste category, while preventing access to other waste containers of a waste sorting station to ensure proper disposal;
tracking the date on which the first medical item was dispensed; and
tracking the date on which the second medical item was disposed.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing and disposing medical items, the method comprising:
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receiving a dispensing instruction associated with a first medical item to be dispensed; dispensing said first medical item based on said dispensing instruction; receiving an identifier associated with a second medical item to be disposed using a scanner; wherein said second medical item comprises the first medical item after it has been at least partially used or emptied; retrieving, based on the identifier, information from a database, wherein the information is derived from applicable rules regarding disposal; assigning the second medical item to a disposal category based on the information retrieved from the database; wherein the disposal category is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste containers of a waste sorting station; wherein a control system associated with the database is configured to allow access to one of the waste containers based, at least in part, on the waste category, while preventing access to other waste containers of a waste sorting station to ensure proper disposal; tracking the date on which the first medical item was dispensed; and tracking the date on which the second medical item was disposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of dispensing and disposing medical items in a combined system, comprising:
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providing a plurality of dispensing compartments, each of said dispensing compartments configured to hold at least one medical item; receiving a dispensing instruction; processing said dispensing instruction to select a medical item based on said dispensing instruction, and allowing access to said selected medical item; and providing a plurality of waste containers, wherein each of said waste containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories, and wherein each of said waste containers is configured to receive at least one of said selected medical items that is dispensed after said selected medical item is at least partially used or expired; receiving identification data for a waste item by positioning a barcode of a waste item near an identification device, wherein said waste item comprises said selected medical item after said selected medical item is at least partially used or expired; classifying said waste item into a waste category based at least in part on said identification data; allowing access to one of the waste containers based on the waste category, while preventing access to other waste containers to ensure proper disposal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification