Vending apparatus and method for providing training for a medicinal product or medical device or combination product

• US 9,111,404 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Bode, Andreas, Heger, Serpil, Stroessenreuther, Laurin
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/637,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20130197692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vending apparatus for at least one medicinal product, comprising of a housing, storage means adapted to store the at least one medicinal product, an input means adapted to process a costumer request for a medicinal product, processing means adapted to process the costumer request and being adapted to execute an interactive product-related training procedure to the customer, and delivery means for handing out the medicinal product to the costumer after passing the training procedure, wherein access to the medicinal product is only approved by the processing means if the customer successfully passes the training procedure.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus for at least one medicinal product, comprising:

a housing,

storage means adapted to store the at least one medicinal product,

an input means adapted to process a costumer request for a medicinal product,

processing means adapted to process the costumer request and being adapted to execute a product-related training procedure with the customer, and

delivery means for handing out the medicinal product to the costumer after passing the training procedure, wherein

access to the medicinal product is only approved by the processing means if the customer successfully passes the training procedure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authorization module for checking the identity of the customer and/or its authorization to receive the requested medicinal product.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage module is adapted to be refrigerated.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with a product-supply entity.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a leaflet printing module for printing of a customer-specific product-related leaflet.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input means comprises a touch-screen-display, a keypad and/or a speech dialog system.

7. A method of vending at least one medicinal product by means of an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of:

processing a costumer request for a medicinal product,

selecting a product-related training procedure and executing said training procedure with the customer,

providing access to the product and handing out the product to the customer after having successfully passed the training procedure.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identity of the customer and/or its authorization to receive the requested medicinal product is checked prior to execution of the training procedure.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein a product-related leaflet is printed on-site in response to a language selection of the costumer.

10. A computer program product for operating a vending apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

computer program means for processing a costumer request for a medicinal product,

program means for selecting a product-related training procedure and executing said training procedure with the customer,

program means for delivering the product to the customer after having successfully passed the training procedure.