Method, system and apparatus for dispensing drugs
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing a drug at an automated dispensary comprising:
- (a) presenting, at the automated dispensary a script for a drug prescribed to a user, the script having a plurality of data elements describing the drug and the user, the data elements including human readable data elements and, optionally, machine readable data elements;
(b) operating the automated dispensary to scan the data elements;
(c) reading the scanned data elements to obtain user and drug data;
(d) retrieving, using the drug data;
a graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user;
a graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and
validation data for the drug prescribed to the user;
(e) performing a validation process based on a comparison of;
the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and
information about a drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user;
(f) authorizing the dispensing of the drug in the automated dispensary based on a successful result of the validation process; and
(g) conditional on the authorizing;
printing a report that includes;
a result of the comparison of;
the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and
the information about the drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user;
the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user;
the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and
instructions to the user to compare;
the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user to the actual shape of a pill in the automated dispensary that is dispensed;
the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills to the actual shape of a package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed;
anddispensing from the automated dispensary;
the package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed; and
the printed report.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a tele conferencing or video conferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing a drug at an automated dispensary comprising:
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(a) presenting, at the automated dispensary a script for a drug prescribed to a user, the script having a plurality of data elements describing the drug and the user, the data elements including human readable data elements and, optionally, machine readable data elements; (b) operating the automated dispensary to scan the data elements; (c) reading the scanned data elements to obtain user and drug data; (d) retrieving, using the drug data; a graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user; a graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; (e) performing a validation process based on a comparison of; the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and information about a drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user; (f) authorizing the dispensing of the drug in the automated dispensary based on a successful result of the validation process; and (g) conditional on the authorizing; printing a report that includes; a result of the comparison of; the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and the information about the drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user; the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user; the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and instructions to the user to compare; the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user to the actual shape of a pill in the automated dispensary that is dispensed; the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills to the actual shape of a package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed; and dispensing from the automated dispensary; the package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed; and
the printed report. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for dispensing a drug to a user comprising:
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(a) an automated dispensary; (b) a presentation station at the automated dispensary for the presentation of a script for a drug prescribed to the user, the script having a plurality of data elements describing the drug and the user, the data elements including human readable data elements and, optionally, machine readable data elements; (c) a scanning module at the automated dispensary to scan the data elements; (d) a reading sub-system for reading the scanned data elements to obtain user and drug data; (e) a retrieving module for using the drug data to retrieve; a graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user; a graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; (f) a validation module for performing a validation process based on a comparison of; the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and information about a drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user; (g) an authorization module for authorizing the dispensing of the drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user based on a successful result of the validation process; (h) a printing module for printing a report that includes; a result of the comparison of; the validation data for the drug prescribed to the user; and the information about the drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user; a graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug prescribed to the user; a graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and instructions to the user to compare; the shape of the package on the report to the actual shape of the package to be dispensed to the user; and the shape of the pill on the report to the shape of the pill containing the drug in the automated dispensary to be dispensed to the user; and a dispensing module for dispensing to the user at the automated dispensary conditional on the authorizing; the package containing the plurality of the pills containing the drug prescribed to the user; and the printed report. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving at an automated dispensary a script for a drug, the script having a plurality of data elements describing the drug (b) using the plurality of data elements describing the drug to retrieve; a graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug in the scrip; a graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and validation data for the drug in the script; (c) performing a validation process based on a comparison of; the validation data for the drug in the scrip; and information about a drug in the automated dispensary; (e) authorizing the dispensing of the drug in the automated dispensary based on a successful result of the validation process; and (f) conditional on the authorizing; rendering a report that includes; a result of the comparison of; the validation data for the drug in the script; and the information about the drug in the automated dispensary; the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug in the scrip; the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills; and instructions to compare; the graphical representation of a shape of a pill containing the drug in the scrip to the actual shape of a pill in the automated dispensary that is dispensed; the graphical representation of a shape of a package containing a plurality of the pills to the actual shape of a package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed; and dispensing from the automated dispensary; the package in the automated dispensary that is pending to be dispensed; and the rendered report.
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Specification