Pharmacy medication verification system
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall having inner and outer surfaces and defining an access opening which extends from the inner surface to the outer surface and is above the filling position;
moving a medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position;
determining with a medication identification sensor which faces toward a space above the access opening whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a machine readable identifier connected to the first medication while holding with a hand the first medication in the space above the access opening;
producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining;
causing entry of the first medication into the medication container after the step of producing by dropping the first medication with the identifier connected thereto into the container by releasing from the hand the first medication while the first medication is in the space above the access opening;
sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container;
determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
wherein the second medication is a different type of medication than the first medication;
producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing related to the second medication;
sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container;
removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall;
providing a lid comprising the wall with the access opening such that the access opening provides access suitable to allow movement of a medication into the container; and
opening the lid to provide access to the container which is distinct from the access provided by the access opening; and
wherein the step of opening comprises the step of moving the lid including the wall and access opening relative to the container;
the step of causing entry of the second medication comprises the step of moving the second medication through the access provided by opening the lid; and
the step of causing entry of the second medication comprises the step of moving the second medication through the access provided by opening the lid without moving the second medication through the access opening formed in the wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pharmacy medication verification system is particularly useful for verifying medications to be dispensed to hospital patients while minimizing or eliminating verification by a pharmacist. Typically, a technician or robot picks the medications from storage bins in accordance with a medical prescription or stocking order and uses various sensors to ensure that the correct medication was picked and enters a medication container. The system typically provides correct and incorrect medication indicators as well as correct and incorrect entry indicators. Error reports may be generated when appropriate to communicate any relevant errors to the pharmacist, who can then verify that the correct medications are in the container. In one aspect, the containers are in the form of patient drawers which fit within a cart for delivery to hospital rooms. A containment device may be used to secure the drawer or other container during the verification process.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall having inner and outer surfaces and defining an access opening which extends from the inner surface to the outer surface and is above the filling position; moving a medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; determining with a medication identification sensor which faces toward a space above the access opening whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a machine readable identifier connected to the first medication while holding with a hand the first medication in the space above the access opening; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into the medication container after the step of producing by dropping the first medication with the identifier connected thereto into the container by releasing from the hand the first medication while the first medication is in the space above the access opening; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
wherein the second medication is a different type of medication than the first medication;producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing related to the second medication; sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; providing a lid comprising the wall with the access opening such that the access opening provides access suitable to allow movement of a medication into the container; and opening the lid to provide access to the container which is distinct from the access provided by the access opening; and wherein the step of opening comprises the step of moving the lid including the wall and access opening relative to the container; the step of causing entry of the second medication comprises the step of moving the second medication through the access provided by opening the lid; and the step of causing entry of the second medication comprises the step of moving the second medication through the access provided by opening the lid without moving the second medication through the access opening formed in the wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall having inner and outer surfaces and defining an access opening which extends from the inner surface to the outer surface and is above the filling position; moving a medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; determining with a medication identification sensor which faces toward a space above the access opening whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a machine readable identifier connected to the first medication while holding with a hand the first medication in the space above the access opening; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into the medication container after the step of producing by dropping the first medication with the identifier connected thereto into the container by releasing from the hand the first medication while the first medication is in the space above the access opening; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
wherein the second medication is a different type of medication than the first medication;producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing related to the second medication; sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; wherein the wall is a first wall; and
the access opening is a first access opening; and
further comprising the step ofproviding a second wall with a second access opening formed therein; wherein the second wall and second access opening are below the first wall and first access opening; and the filling position is under the second access opening; wherein the step of causing entry of the first medication comprises the step of moving the first medication through the first and second access openings into the container while the container is at the filling position; and further comprising, while the container is at the filling position, the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container by moving the second medication through the second access opening without moving the second medication through the first access opening.
-
Specification