Medication dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins located at a plurality of storage locations within the enclosure, each medication storage bin being configured to hold one or more medically related items;
a medication dispensing area having one or more doors in the enclosure for passing a selected medication storage bin through the enclosure, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define an opening of variable size, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define the opening based on a size of the selected medication storage bin, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to match the size of the selected medication storage bin; and
a robot system for moving the selected medication storage bin between a corresponding storage location within the enclosure and the medication dispensing area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes an enclosure providing a secure environment for storing medications in multiple sized medication-storage bins. The medication storage bins are hung in storage racks located within the enclosure. A robot system is also provided within the enclosure for moving bins between the storage racks and a medication dispensing area. The medication dispensing area includes doors configured to open to define an opening for passing a selected bin through the enclosure. In some embodiments, the doors provide a variable-sized opening and, in some instances, the opening matches the size of a bin containing medications selected for dispensing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure; a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins located at a plurality of storage locations within the enclosure, each medication storage bin being configured to hold one or more medically related items; a medication dispensing area having one or more doors in the enclosure for passing a selected medication storage bin through the enclosure, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define an opening of variable size, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define the opening based on a size of the selected medication storage bin, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to match the size of the selected medication storage bin; and a robot system for moving the selected medication storage bin between a corresponding storage location within the enclosure and the medication dispensing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for dispensing medications from a medication dispensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a medically related item; determining a medication storage bin containing the medically related item, the medication storage bin being located at a storage location within the medication dispensing apparatus, the medication dispensing apparatus including a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins; determining the storage location of the medication storage bin within the medication dispensing apparatus; using a robot system within the medication dispensing apparatus to retrieve the medication storage bin from the storage location and move the medication storage bin to a medication dispensing area, the medication dispensing area having one or more doors in an enclosure of the medication dispensing apparatus for passing the medication storage bin through the enclosure; opening the one or more doors to define an opening in the enclosure; and moving the medication storage bin through the opening in the enclosure created by opening the one or more doors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure; a plurality of different-sized medication storage bins located at a plurality of storage locations within the enclosure, each medication storage bin being configured to hold one or more medically related items, wherein each medication storage bin includes one or more rails disposed on a bottom of the medication storage bin to facilitate movement of the medication storage bin within the medication dispensing apparatus; a medication dispensing area having one or more doors in the enclosure for passing a selected medication storage bin through the enclosure, wherein the one or more doors are configured to open to define an opening of variable size, wherein the medication dispensing area includes one or more belt systems for engaging the one or more rails on the selected medication storage bin and moving the selected medication storage bin across the medication dispensing area and through the one or more doors; and a robot system for moving the selected medication storage bin between a corresponding storage location within the enclosure and the medication dispensing area.
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Specification