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Pharmacy automation using autonomous robot

  • US 9,043,012 B2
  • Filed: 08/14/2012
  • Issued: 05/26/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A pharmacy automation system comprising a robot comprising a hardware device and a software for internal mapping to perform simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), wherein the robot is configured to use a SLAM technique to carry out at least the following different interactions:

  • the robot communicates autonomously with a physician or an assistant directly or via an intermediary;

    the robot interacts with an inventory of goods and browses the inventory of goods to determine if a prescribed medication is available in the pharmacy;

    if the prescribed medication is available in the pharmacy, the robot interacts with a medication dispenser, internal mapping at least a portion of the pharmacy, wherein the internal mapping is done by the robot, using the internal mapping to fill a container with the prescribed medication, and store the container;

    when a patient or a proxy arrives to pick up the prescribed medication, the robot checks and approves an identification of the patient or the proxy; and

    when the patient or proxy presents a prescription containing the prescribed medication, the robot retrieves the container with the prescribed medication and hands the container with the prescribed medication over to the patient or proxy, wherein the internal mapping includes determining a shortest distance between one or more of a plurality of individuals and one or more locations of the prescription medication.

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