Storage devices, systems, and methods for dispensing medications

• US 8,588,964 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Garda, Laurie K., Armstrong, Wendy, Rao, Jyotsna, Blew, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/075,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 700/235, 700/236, 700/237, 700/240, 700/232, 700/242
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Storage devices, systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for dispensing medication. The storage devices include a container dispensing device for providing users with containers that can be used to securely transport (i.e., in a closed, identifiable container) medications dispensed from the storage device for a single selected patient. In this way, a single user may be able to dispense medications for multiple patients during a single user interaction with a storage device, while keeping medications for different patients separate and easily identifiable so as to provide secure transport between the storage device and the different patients'"'"' bedsides. Thus, a printing device may be provided for printing a summary of details, such as in the form of a label and/or a receipt. A sensor may also be provided for detecting the receipt of medications into the container as a check that the correct medications were dispensed by the user.

Claims

1. A storage device for dispensing medications, wherein the storage device is configured to dispense medications during multiple dispensing transactions conducted for a single user during a single interaction, wherein each dispensing transaction is associated with a particular selected patient, the storage device comprising:

a plurality of drawers defined by the storage device and configured to store a plurality of medications;

a display device associated with the storage device and configured to present medication dispensing information related to a selected patient;

a user input device associated with the storage device and configured to receive input from a user regarding at least one dispensing transaction; and

a container dispensing device supported by the storage device and configured to store and dispense containers, wherein each container is configured to receive a plurality of dispensed medications for administering to a single selected patient,

wherein each container is configured to allow secure transport of the dispensed medications received therein between the storage device and the selected patient.

2. The storage device of claim 1 further comprising a printing device configured to print a summary of a selected dispensing transaction, wherein the summary comprises at least one detail relating to the selected dispensing transaction.

3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the at least one detail relating to the selected dispensing transaction is selected from the group consisting of a name of the selected patient, a birth date of the selected patient, a location of the selected patient, a date of the selected dispensing transaction, a time of the selected dispensing transaction, and a listing of the dispensed medications received within the container.

4. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the summary is embodied by a label comprising a printed surface and an adhesive surface, and wherein the adhesive surface is configured to be applied to an outer surface of the container.

5. The storage device of claim 4, wherein each container comprises a bag, and wherein the label is configured to be applied to the bag so as to seal the medications received therein.

6. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the summary is embodied by a receipt, and wherein each container is configured to receive the receipt therein.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each container is made of a translucent material.

8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each container defines an open end, and wherein the open end is sealable onto itself.

9. The storage device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to detect receipt of the dispensed medications within the container.

10. The storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the dispensed medications is a medical accessory.

11. A system for dispensing medications comprising:

a processor configured to direct the dispensing of medications from a storage device during at least one dispensing transaction conducted for a single user during a single interaction, wherein each dispensing transaction is associated with a particular selected patient, wherein the processor is further configured to access medication dispensing information related to the selected patient;

a display device in communication with the processor and configured to present to the user at least one detail from the accessed medication dispensing information;

a user input device in communication with the processor and configured to receive input from the user regarding the accessed medication dispensing information; and

a sensor in communication with the processor and configured to detect receipt of at least one dispensed medication within a container, wherein each container is configured to receive a plurality of dispensed medications for administering to the selected patient,

wherein each container is configured to allow secure transport of the dispensed medications received therein from a storage device, from which the medication was dispensed, to the selected patient, and

wherein the processor is configured to determine an accuracy of the dispensing transaction based on the receipt of the at least one dispensed medication detected by the sensor.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a printing device in communication with the processor and configured to print a summary of a selected dispensing transaction, wherein the summary comprises at least one detail relating to the selected dispensing transaction.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the summary is embodied by a label comprising a printed surface and an adhesive surface, and wherein the adhesive surface is configured to be applied to an outer surface of the container.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each container comprises a bag, and wherein the label is configured to be applied to the bag so as to seal the received medications therein.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the summary is embodied by a receipt, and wherein each container is configured to receive the receipt therein.

16. A method of dispensing medications comprising:

receiving input regarding medication dispensing information related to a selected patient via a user input device;

providing access to a container configured to receive a plurality of dispensed medications for administering to the selected patient; and

providing a user with access to dispense at least one medication stored in a storage device and prescribed to the selected patient such that the user is able to place at least some of the dispensed medications into the container for administering to the selected patient,

wherein each container is configured to allow secure transport of the dispensed medications received therein from the storage device to the selected patient, and

wherein the step of providing access to a container comprises prompting the user to dispense one of a plurality of containers from a container dispensing device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of printing a summary of the medication dispensing information related to the selected patient.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of sensing the receipt of the dispensed medications into the container.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of determining an accuracy of the dispensing transaction based on the sensed receipt of the dispensed medications.

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

a first executable portion configured for receiving input regarding medication dispensing information related to a selected patient via a user input device;

a second executable portion configured for providing access to a container configured to receive a plurality of dispensed medications for administering to the selected patient;

a third executable portion configured for providing a user with access to dispense at least one medication stored in a storage device and prescribed to the selected patient such that the user is able to place at least some of the dispensed medications into the container for administering to the selected patient;

a fourth executable portion configured for sensing the receipt of the dispensed medications into the container; and

a fifth executable portion configured for determining an accuracy of the dispensing transaction based on the sensed receipt of the dispensed medications,

wherein each container is configured to allow secure transport of the dispensed medications received therein from the storage device to the selected patient.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the second executable portion is configured for prompting the user to dispense one of a plurality of containers from a container dispensing device.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising a fourth executable portion configured for printing a summary of the medication dispensing information related to the selected patient.