System and method of monitoring the door of a secure cabinet for holding pharmaceutical products

• US 8,339,261 B1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KNOX & Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: KNOX & Associates LLC
• Inventors: Wolski, Keith T.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/496,575
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/545.6, 340/573.1, 340/586.1, 340/5.2, 340 53- 532, 700/231, 700/242, 700/244, 702/66, 702/67, 702/781
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/00 Time locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical cabinet comprises sensors positioned within the frame and door of the cabinet, and the sensors are arranged in a predetermined orientation when the door is closed and a lock is actuated. The sensors are configured to communicate with one another when brought into the predetermined orientation to confirm that the door is closed and the lock is actuated. One or both of the sensors may transmit an identifier to the other sensor, and the communication between the sensors may be encoded. The cabinet also includes a sensor on the lock that indicates if the lock is engaged. The cabinet may generate a record of the times the sensors are moved into or out of communication and the times that the lock is engaged.

Claims

1. A storage container for medical pharmaceuticals, the container comprising:

a frame that defines a partially enclosed space that is configured to receive medical pharmaceuticals, wherein the frame defines an opening;

a door mounted to the frame so as to be movable between an open position, whereby access to the medical pharmaceuticals can be obtained, and a closed position whereby the medical pharmaceuticals can be secured within the partially enclosed space;

a locking mechanism that secures the door to the frame in the closed position; and

a lock verification system that includes a first component mounted on the door and a second component mounted on the frame, wherein the first component and the second component are inductively coupled so that when the first component and the second component are positioned in a first orientation relative to each other with the door in the closed position a first signal indicating that the door is closed is generated and wherein the second component transmits a first identifier to the first component when the first component and the second component are positioned in the first orientation, the first component compares the first identifier to a second identifier and generates the first signal if the first identifier corresponds to the second identifier.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the door and frame comprise metal.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second components generates a second signal indicative of when the components have been moved from the first orientation thereby indicating that the door has been opened.

4. The container of claim 3, further comprising a controller that receives the first signal, wherein the controller determines if the door was opened or closed based on at least the first signal and generates a record indicating the time the door was opened or closed in order to facilitate inventory control of the medical pharmaceuticals.

5. The container of claim 4, further comprising a sensor coupled to the locking mechanism, wherein the sensor generates a third signal indicating if the locking mechanism is engaged, and wherein the controller determines if the locking mechanism is engaged or disengaged based on the third signal and generates a record indicating the time the locking mechanism was engaged or disengaged.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein

the controller determines if the door is secure based on at least the first and third signals;

and

the controller generates a record indicating the time during which the door was secure.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier both comprise 32 bits and the first identifier is encoded when transmitted by the second component.

8. A storage container comprising:

a frame that defines a partially enclosed space that is configured to receive medical pharmaceuticals, wherein the frame defines an opening;

a door mounted to the frame so as to be selectively movable between an open position and a closed position; and

a first sensor mounted on the door and a second sensor mounted on the frame, wherein the first sensor comprises

a first signal source configured to generate a first signal;

a first interface coupled to the signal source, wherein the first interface is configured to inductively transmit the first signal and receive a second signal when positioned in a first orientation relative to the second sensor; and

wherein the second sensor comprises

a second signal source configured to generate a second signal;

a second interface coupled to the second signal source, wherein the second interface is configured to receive the first signal and inductively transmit the second signal when positioned in the first orientation and wherein the first sensor is further configured to add the first signal to the second signal to create a combined signal, and wherein the first sensor further comprises a filter that receives the combined signal and removes the first signal from the combined signal.

9. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first signal powers the second sensor.

10. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first interface receives the second signal as an interference pattern on the first signal.

11. The storage container of claim 10, wherein the second sensor further comprises an encoding component configured to encode binary data into the second signal, wherein the binary data is indicated by a transition between a low state and a high state in a center of a bit period.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the first sensor further comprises a decoding component that extracts encoded binary data from the second signal.

13. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first signal is about 200 to 300 volts peak-to-peak.

14. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first signal has an amplitude modulation frequency of about 125 KHz and the second signal has an amplitude modulation frequency of about 1000 Hz.

15. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first and second sensors are in the first orientation if they are positioned within about 25 mils of being aligned along the X and Y axes.

16. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the first and second sensors are in the first orientation if they are positioned within about 200 mils of each other along the Z axis.

17. A lock audit system comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to lock a door to a frame in a closed position when the door is in the closed position and the locking mechanism is engaged;

a lock sensor coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to generate a locking signal that indicates if the locking mechanism is engaged;

means for detecting if the door and the frame are in the closed position;

means for generating a second closed signal if the door and frame are in the closed position;

a controller configured to receive the lock signal and the closed signal and determine if the door is locked and closed based on the lock signal and the closed signal, and wherein the controller generates a record of the times that the door is locked and the times that the door is closed wherein the controller receives the closed signal as an interference pattern of the lock signal.

18. The lock audit system of claim 17, further comprising a lock interface that controls the engagement of the lock mechanism, wherein the lock interface requires a user to provide a user identifier to disengage the locking mechanism, and wherein the controller adds the user identifier and the time the user identifier was provided to the record.