Pharmacy automation using autonomous robot
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pharmacy automation system having a robot having a hardware device and a software for internal mapping is configured 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, 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 hands the container with the prescribed medication over to the patient or proxy.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- the robot communicates autonomously with a physician or an assistant directly or via an intermediary;
-
9. A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to conduct pharmacy automation, comprising robotically assisting a patient or a proxy using a robot to obtain a prescribed medication from a pharmacy, wherein the robot is configured to carry out at least the following different interactions:
- 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 internal mapping to fill a container with the prescribed medication, and store the container;
when the patient or the 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- 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 internal mapping to fill a container with the prescribed medication, and store the container;
-
12. A method for conducting pharmaceutical automation, comprising assisting a plurality of customers of one or more pharmacies using an autonomous robots for storage and retrieval of a prescription medications deposited in a medical cache, wherein, during said storage and retrieval of the prescription medications by the robot:
- (a) each of the plurality of the customers maintains their identity in privacy within a customer database, accessible by the robot;
(b) the plurality of the customers are able to retrieve prescription medication simultaneously or sequentially, and in different locations; and
(c) identification of each of the plurality of the customers is verified by the robot with an identification key, further comprising mapping at least a portion of the pharmacy, wherein the mapping is done by the robot, and wherein the mapping includes determining a shortest distance between one or more of a plurality of individuals and one or more locations of the prescription medication. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- (a) each of the plurality of the customers maintains their identity in privacy within a customer database, accessible by the robot;
- 16. A method for delivery of a good, comprising gathering information regarding a time and location for delivery of the good and mode of pick-up, creating a matrix of all delivery locations and modes of pick-up for each location and verifying each mode as a safe and secure pick-up mode, and delivering the good, further comprising mapping the delivery locations, wherein the mapping is done by a robot, and wherein the mapping includes determining a shortest distance between one or more of a plurality of delivery locations and one or more locations of the good.
Specification