Method, computer program product and apparatus for facilitating storage and/or retrieval of unit dose medications

• US 8,527,090 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Monto, David, Tylenda, Ben, Sarangan, Anandhi, Leng, Mark, Greyshock, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/750,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 221/122, 700/57, 700/58, 700/59, 700/192, 700/236, 700/240, 700/242, 700/243
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method for facilitating storage and/or retrieval of unit dose medications may include receiving an indication that a medication receptacle is positioned proximate to an alignment pin, determining a position of the alignment pin relative to an alignment guide disposed in the medication receptacle, and providing an output indicative of an alignment state of the medication receptacle based on the position determined. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a medication receptacle is positioned proximate to an alignment pin;

determining a position of the alignment pin relative to an alignment guide disposed at the medication receptacle; and

providing an output indicative of an alignment state of the medication receptacle based on the position determined.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the position of the alignment pin comprises transmitting a signal from the alignment pin toward the alignment guide and measuring at least a portion of the signal to determine the position based on a result of the measuring.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting an electrical signal or an optical signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the position of the alignment pin comprises extending the alignment pin into the alignment guide.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing position information indicative of a position of the alignment pin extended into the alignment guide.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising utilizing the position information stored to locate the medication receptacle after storage for subsequent movement of the medication receptacle by an automated device.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising employing an algorithm to measure alignment information responsive to a series of lateral movements of the alignment pin followed by corresponding vertical movement of the alignment pin to attempt to seat the alignment pin within the alignment guide to substantially determine a predefined position of the alignment guide.

8. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising:

program code instructions for receiving an indication that a medication receptacle is positioned proximate to an alignment pin;

program code instructions for determining a position of the alignment pin relative to an alignment guide disposed in the medication receptacle; and

program code instructions for providing an output indicative of an alignment state of the medication receptacle based on the position determined.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein program code instructions for determining the position of the alignment pin include instructions for transmitting a signal from the alignment pin toward the alignment guide and measuring at least a portion of the signal to determine the position based on a result of the measuring.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein program code instructions for transmitting the signal include instructions for transmitting an electrical signal or an optical signal.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein program code instructions for determining the position of the alignment pin include instructions for extending the alignment pin into the alignment guide.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising program code instructions for storing position information indicative of a position of the alignment pin extended into the alignment guide.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising program code instructions for utilizing the position information stored to locate the medication receptacle after storage for subsequent movement of the medication receptacle by an automated device.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising program code instructions for employing an algorithm to measure alignment information responsive to a series of lateral movements of the alignment pin followed by corresponding vertical movement of the alignment pin to attempt to seat the alignment pin within the alignment guide to substantially determine a predefined position of the alignment guide.

15. An apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to:

receive an indication that a medication receptacle is positioned proximate to an alignment pin;

determine a position of the alignment pin relative to an alignment guide disposed in the medication receptacle; and

provide an output indicative of an alignment state of the medication receptacle based on the position determined.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the position of the alignment pin by transmitting a signal from the alignment pin toward the alignment guide and measuring at least a portion of the signal to determine the position based on a result of the measuring.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit the signal including transmitting an electrical signal or an optical signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the position of the alignment pin by extending the alignment pin into the alignment guide.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to store position information indicative of a position of the alignment pin extended into the alignment guide.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to utilize the position information stored to locate the medication receptacle after storage for subsequent movement of the medication receptacle by an automated device.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to employ an algorithm to measure alignment information responsive to a series of lateral movements of the alignment pin followed by corresponding vertical movement of the alignment pin to attempt to seat the alignment pin within the alignment guide to substantially determine a predefined position of the alignment guide.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a signal emitter disposed at the alignment pin to transmit a signal toward the alignment guide; and

a signal receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the signal transmitted by the signal emitter to determine the position of the alignment pin relative to the alignment guide based on the portion of the signal received.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signal receiver is disposed at the alignment pin and is in communication with the processing circuitry, the signal receiver being configured to receive reflected portions of the signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the signal receiver is disposed at an opposite side of the alignment guide with respect to the alignment pin and is in communication with the processing circuitry, the signal receiver being configured to receive portions of the signal that pass through the alignment guide.