Automated retrieval and delivery of medications

• US 9,031,690 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Cotner
• Original Assignee: Dennis Cotner
• Inventors: Cotner, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/414,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/241
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

This invention relates to a process and a device for automatically delivering and retrieving singular medication from a plurality of containers or product blister packages, storing and recording medication transactions for each patient, and the crushing of designated medications. This invention also relates to medication control, delivery, consumption verification and monitoring within institutional entities.

Claims

1. An automated medication delivery system comprising:

a facility having a plurality of storage bins;

a plurality of med cards each carrying a plurality of medications and each positioned within one of said storage bins, wherein said plurality of medications is a plurality of pills;

a controller in electronic communication with a computer wherein said controller stores information associated with each of said med cards;

at least one scanner positioned within said facility and capable of scanning said med cards before insertion into said storage bins and after removal from said storage bins, said scanner in electronic communication with said controller;

an input station located at said facility and in electronic communication with said controller, said input station for identifying a user at the automated medical delivery system and identifying a patient associated with at least one of said medications and wherein said user is a requestor of said medications and receives the medication from said automatic medical delivery system and said input station interacts with said user so said user can select at least one of said medications;

a retrieval device in electronic communication with said controller and positioned to retrieve said med card from said plurality of storage bins based on said user'"'"'s selection;

a dispensing device positioned to receive said med card from said retrieval device, wherein said dispensing device can dispense one of said medications or one of said plurality of med cards to said user, and said dispensing device comprises;

a punchout system in electronic communication with said controller, said punchout system adapted to receive said med card from said retrieval device, said punchout system including;

a punch; and

a tray sized to hold said med card, said tray having a plurality of holes thereon, wherein said holes are compatible with said plurality of pills positioned on said med card;

a cup positioned below said holes, said cup sized to receive one of said plurality of pills;

an anti-contamination film mounted on and stretched between a first and second spool;

a pill crusher having a crusher head and positioned between said first and second spools, wherein said anti-communication film is positioned between said crusher head and an interior of said cup;

a first conveyor having said cup positioned thereon;

a second conveyor being positioned to receive said med card;

a cup sweeper positioned to move said cup from said first conveyor;

a med card sweeper positioned to move said med card from said second conveyor;

at least one cup dispensing slot, said cup dispensing slot being positioned to receive said cup from said cup sweeper; and

at least one med card dispensing slot, said med card dispensing slot positioned to receive said med card from said med card sweeper.

2. The automated medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein said input station comprises:

an input port for entering said user'"'"'s personal identification data;

a positive identification device to identify said user; and

a display device for interacting with said user and for displaying said medications associated with said patient and said medications available for dispensing.

3. The automated medication delivery system of claim 2 wherein said positive identification device is a biometric device selected from the group consisting of a finger print identification device, a retinal scan identification device, and a voice identification device.

4. The automated medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein said retrieval device comprises:

a track;

an elevation rod moveably mounted in said track such that said track permits lateral movement of the elevation rod;

a picker arm movably mounted on said elevation rod such that said elevation rod provides vertical movement between said storage bins for said picker arm; and

a retriever attached to said picker arm such that said retriever can contact said med card in a manner to enable said retrieval device to remove said med card from said storage bins.

5. The automated medication delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a positive consumption feedback device to monitor said patient'"'"'s use of said automated medication delivery system when said patient is said user and thus ensure compliance with medical protocols, said positive consumption feed back device is in electronic communication with said controller; and

an audio/video communications link with a separate location, said audio/video communications link providing real-time positive consumption feedback of said patient to said separate location.

6. A method for dispensing medication comprising:

entering a unique identifier associated with a requestor into an input station located at an automated delivery system and in electronic communication with a controller, said controller also being in electronic communication with said automated delivery system;

identifying said requestor entering said unique identifier through a security protocol which utilizes said unique identifier;

obtaining information from said requestor through said input station, said information related to medications, comparing said information with a database in said controller;

selecting at least one medication based on said comparison;

directing said automated medical delivery system through said controller such that said automated medical delivery system retrieves a med card containing said at least one medication from a storage bin located in said automated medical delivery system, wherein said med card has information pertaining to said medication;

scanning said med card with a scanner in communication with said controller;

verifying said scanned medication matches said selected medication;

dispensing said medication to said requestor according to pre-selected protocol; and

updating said database;

and wherein said dispensing by said pre-selected protocol comprises;

identifying all medication designated as an individual dose medication;

identifying a location on said med card of said medication to be dispensed next;

delivering said med card to a punchout system, said delivering accomplished by a retrieval device positioned inside said automated medication delivery system;

removing said medication to be dispensed from said med card in said punchout system;

delivering said medication to be dispensed to a slot in said automated medication delivery system;

passing said medication to be dispensed to said requestor through said slot; and

repeating until all medications requested are dispensed;

and wherein the steps of removing said medication to be dispensed from said med card and delivering said medication to be dispensed to a slot further comprise;

positioning said med card on said punchout system where said medication is positioned over a hole in a tray sized to hold said med card;

punching out said medication from said med card using a punch;

receiving said pill in a cup, said cup positioned upon a conveyor;

removing said med card from said punchout system;

returning said med card to said storage bin;

moving said conveyor until said cup is positioned under a pill crusher;

replacing said cup under said punchout system with a new cup;

crushing said medication for those that are prescribed to be crushed;

moving said conveyor until said cup is positioned under a printer;

printing a receipt with said printer;

depositing said receipt into said cup;

moving said conveyor until said cup passes through a slot, thereby dispensing said medication to said requestor; and

repeating until all individual doses requested are dispensed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said dispensing by said pre-selected protocol further comprises:

identifying all medications in said med card designated as being a keep on person medication;

delivering said med card designated as keep on person medications to a slot in said automated medication delivery system;

passing said med card to said requestor through said slot; and

repeating until all med cards requested are dispensed.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of entering a unique identifier includes inputting a biometric identifier using a biometric device, and wherein the step of identifying said requestor, further comprising an additional step of verifying said identity of said patient with said biometric device.

9. A mobile delivery system comprising:

a cart having a secure interior and a conveyance type suitable for movement of said cart through an intended environment;

a plurality of storage bins internally positioned within said secure interior, said storage bins sized to store a med card containing a plurality of medication pills;

an on-board computer in wireless electronic communication with a controller, wherein said on-board computer is attached to said cart and provides local control of said cart;

a wireless communications device providing electronic communication for said on-board computer;

at least one remote input station incorporated with said cart and in electronic communication with said on-board computer, said input station including;

an input portion positioned on said cart for entering personal identification data of a user of the automated medical delivery system and identifying a patient associated with at least one of said medication pills contained in said med card and wherein said user is a requestor of said medication pills and receives the medication from said mobile delivery system;

a positive identification device to identify said user;

a display device having a menu displaying at least one medication pills associated with said patient, and said medication pills available for dispensing, said menu presented on said display device;

a remote retrieval device positioned inside of said cart capable of retrieving said med cards from said storage bins;

a punchout system positioned inside of said cart and adapted to receive said med card from said retrieval device and introduce said medication pills from said med card to a cup, said punchout system including;

a punch; and

a tray sized to hold said med card, said tray having a plurality of holes thereon, wherein said holes are compatible with said medication pills contained in said med card;

a cup slot positioned in a side of said cart, said cup slot adapted to dispense said cup after introduction of at least one of said medication pills; and

a med card slot positioned in said side of said cart, said med card slot adapted to dispense said med card; and

a pill crusher having a crusher head and an anti-contamination film and positioned inside of said storage facility between said punchout system and said cup slot, such that said cup can be aligned with said pill crusher and, when so aligned said anti-contamination film is positioned between said crusher head and an interior of said cup.

10. The mobile delivery system of claim 9, wherein said cart is robotic and has powered wheels.

11. The mobile delivery system of claim 9, wherein said remote retrieval device is positioned adjacent to said storage bins, said remote retrieval device further including:

a track positioned above said storage bins, said track extending along at least a length of said storage bins;

an elevation rod movably positioned in said track such that said track permits lateral movement of the elevation rod;

a picker arm movably positioned on said elevation rod such that said elevation rod provides vertical movement between said storage bins for said picker arm; and

a retriever attached to said picker arm such that said retriever can contact said med card in a manner to enable said retrieval device to remove said med card from said storage bin.

12. The mobile delivery system of claim 11, wherein said retriever is a clamp.

13. The mobile delivery system of claim 11, wherein said retriever is a spatula.

14. The mobile delivery system of claim 9, wherein said positive identification device includes a biometric identification device.

15. The mobile delivery system of claim 9, wherein said cart has at least one secure access panel.

16. The mobile delivery system of claim 9, further comprising a scanner positioned within said cart, and capable of scanning said med cards before and after insertion into said storage bins.