Medication storage device usage status notifications

• US 8,593,278 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Churbock, Preeti, Ray, Emilie
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/749,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.29, 340/539.12, 340/5.81, 340/309.16, 340/286.07, 340/10.1, 340/691.1, 340/500, 340/573.1, 600/300, 128/897, 128/903, 128/204.18, 128/202.27, 705/2, 705/3, 705/500, 700/231, 700/239, 700/242, 700/244, 700/236
• US Class Current: 340/539.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A usage status notification method and corresponding medication storage device (e.g., mobile medication dispensing cart, medication cabinet, nurse server, etc.) are provided. To generate the usage status notification, the status of one or more components of the medication storage device may be monitored. An in-use notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is in use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged into the medication storage device). An available notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is available for use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged out of the medication storage device). Other types of usage status signals may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a usage status of a medication storage device, wherein the medication storage device comprises at least one compartment configured to store medication and a display screen to present information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving user identifying information;

authenticating the user identifying information;

in response to authenticating the user identifying information, logging a user into an application running on the medication storage device and determining the medication storage device is in-use;

generating a usage status signal that corresponds with the medication storage device being in-use;

indicating, using a usage indicator located local to the medication storage device, the medication storage device is in use based upon the usage status signal, wherein indicating the medication storage device is in-use occurs while the user is logged into the application; and

indicating, using the display screen that is separate from the usage indicator, the medication storage device is in-use.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the user is logged out of the application; and

in response to determining the user is logged out of the application, indicating the medication storage device is available for use.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the medication storage device is experiencing, a technical error state;

generating an error notification signal; and

indicating, using the usage indicator, the technical error state of the medication storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the medication storage device lacks sufficient supplies;

generating a supply notification signal; and

indicating, using the usage indicator, the medication storage device'"'"'s lack of the sufficient supplies.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing power to the usage indicator that is attached to the medication storage device to indicate the medication storage device is in-use.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending an usage status signal to a remote usage indicator that is located remotely from the medication storage device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein sending the usage status signal to the remote usage indicator further comprises sending data identifying the medication storage device and further comprising configuring the data to be displayed by an electronic poster board, wherein the electronic poster board is the remote usage indicator.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein sending the usage status signal to the remote usage indicator further comprises sending location data identifying a location of the medication storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the medication storage device is in-use causes the usage indicator to disregard a previously sent usage status signal.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a logout event has occurred; and

in response to determining the logout event has occurred;

generating an available notification signal; and

sending the available notification signal to the usage indicator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the logout event has occurred is a result of determining the medication storage device has experienced a period of inactivity that is longer than a predetermined setting.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the logout event has occurred is a result of a user logging out of an application running on the medication storage device.

13. A medication storage device, comprising:

a display screen configured to present information to a user;

at least one drawer configured to store medications;

a usage indicator that is separate from the display screen; and

a processor configured to;

receive a signal indicating a user is logged in to an application running on the medication storage device;

in response to receiving the signal;

generate a usage status signal that corresponds with the usage status of the medication storage device;

provide the usage status signal to the usage indicator to indicate the medication storage device is in-use while the user is logged into the application; and

cause the display screen to indicate the medication storage device is in-use while the user is logged into the application.

14. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the usage indicator to indicate the medication storage device is available in response to determining the user is logged out of the application.

15. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the usage indicator to indicate an error has occurred.

16. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the usage indicator to indicate supplies are needed for the medication storage device.

17. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the usage status signal includes power that illuminates at least a portion of the usage indicator.

18. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the medication storage device further comprises a communications module that is configured to facilitate communicating the usage status signal to a remote usage indicator.

19. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the usage indicator is positioned relative to the display screen to enable a line-of-sight for viewing the usage indicator from a distance farther than which the display screen is viewable when the user is standing in front of the display screen.

20. The medication storage device of claim 13 further comprising a vertical support member, wherein the usage indicator is affixed atop the vertical support member to enable a line-of-sight to the usage indicator from a distance.

21. A medication storage device, comprising:

a display screen configured to present information to a user;

at least one drawer configured to store medications;

a vertical support member;

a usage indicator that is separate from the display screen, wherein the usage indicator is affixed to the vertical support member to enable a line-of-sight to the usage indicator from a distance; and

a processor configured to;

cause the usage indicator to indicate a usage status selected from at least two different usage status options;

generate a usage status signal that corresponds with one of the usage status options, wherein the usage status options include an in-use status option, an available for use status option, a technical error status option, or a need for supply status option; and

provide the usage status signal to the usage indicator.