Apparatuses, systems, and methods for anticipating and delivering medications from a central pharmacy to a patient using a track based transport system

• US 9,150,119 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henderson, Cody C., Brayford, Paul A., Elsener, Stefan Michael, Zarich, Michael P., Kolozs, James
• Primary Examiner(s): KUHFUSS, ZACHARY L
• Application Number:
  US13/835,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 191/22.R, 191/23.R, 191/28, 191/22.DM, 104/107, 238/14.4, 238/14.5, 238/175, 238/176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/305 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/346 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting medication within a healthcare facility. An example system for connecting sections of a track having an electrically conductive bus bar may include a first end cap including an alignment ridge, where the first end cap is received at the end of a first track section having a first bus bar, and a second end cap having an alignment channel, where the second end cap is received at the end of a second track section having a second bus bar. The alignment ridge may be configured to be received within the alignment channel when the first track section and the second track section are out of alignment, and in response to the first track section being brought into alignment with the second track section, the alignment ridge and alignment channel cooperate to draw the first and second bus bar into contact.

Claims

1. A system for connecting sections of a track comprising an electrically conductive bus bar, the system comprising:

a first end cap comprising an alignment ridge, wherein the first end cap is received at the end of a first track section having a first bus bar;

a second end cap comprising an alignment channel, wherein the second end cap is received at the end of a second track section having a second bus bar;

wherein the alignment ridge is configured to be received within the alignment channel when the first track section and the second track section are out of alignment, and in response to the first track section being brought into alignment with the second track section, the alignment ridge and alignment channel cooperate to draw the first bus bar into contact with the second bus bar; and

an alignment plate received within a groove of the first track section, a groove of the first end cap, a groove of the second end cap, and a groove of the second track section.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first bus bar extends along a length of the first track section and is received within the first end cap at substantially a ninety degree angle from the length of the first track section.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second bus bar extends along a length of the second track section and is received within the second end cap at substantially a ninety degree angle from the length of the second track section.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are configured such that the first bus bar and the second bus bar contact one another along a portion of each of their lengths that is disposed at substantially a ninety degree angle from the length of the first track section and the length of the second track section.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lock plate defining a first through hole and a second through hole, wherein the alignment plate defines a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole, wherein a first threaded fastener is received through the first through hole and into the first threaded hole, and a second threaded fastener is received through the second through hole and into the second threaded hole.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein in response to the first and second threaded fasteners being secured within the first and second threaded holes, respectively, at least a portion of the first section of track and a portion of the second portion of track are secured between the alignment plate and the lock plate.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end cap and second end cap each comprise an identification surface configured to receive therein demarcations indicative of a position along a series of connected track sections.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the identification surface is configured to receive a location identifying tape comprising demarcations indicative of the position along the track system.

9. A track section configured to be secured to adjacent track sections by interlocking end caps, the track section comprising:

four surfaces extending along a length of the track section, wherein each of the four surfaces is configured to be engaged by a roller of a bogie;

an identification surface configured to receive thereon a series of demarcations indicative of a position along the track section;

a channel configured to receive therein a bus bar insulator, wherein the bus bar insulator is configured to receive one or more bus bars;

at least one recess configured to receive an end cap configured to connect the track section to an adjacent track section; and

a grooved channel extending along the length of the track section, wherein the grooved channel is configured to be engaged by the threads of a threaded fastener at any point along the length of the grooved channel.

10. The track section of claim 9, wherein the identification surface is configured to receive a location identifying tape comprising demarcations indicative of the position along the track section.

11. The track section of claim 9, wherein the bus bar insulator is configured to receive therein one or more bus bars, and wherein the bus bar insulator is configured to mechanically engage the channel configured to receive the bus bar insulator and be held securely within the channel without adhesive or separate fasteners.

12. An interconnected track system for guiding cars thereon, the system comprising:

a first track section comprising an elongate body, a first end, and a second end;

a second track section comprising an elongate body, a first end, and a second end;

a first end cap comprising a width and configured to be received in the first end of the first track section wherein the width is perpendicular to the elongate body of the first track section;

a second end cap comprising a width and configured to be received in the second end of the second track section wherein the width is perpendicular to the elongate body of the second track section;

a first bus bar extending along the elongate body of the first track section and at least partially across the width of the first end cap; and

a second bus bar extending along the elongate body of the second track section and at least partially across the width of the second end cap;

wherein the first end cap is configured to be interlocked with the second end cap to create a continuous track between the second end of the first track section and the first end of the second track section, and wherein the first bus bar is configured to be engaged with the second bus bar at least partially across the width of the first end cap and the second end cap,

wherein each of the first track section, the second track section, the first end cap, and the second end cap comprise a profile, and wherein the profile of each of the first track section, the second track section, the first end cap, and the second end cap comprise at least two surfaces configured to be engaged by rollers of a bogie riding along the track system.

13. The interconnected track system of claim 12, wherein each of the first track section, the second track section, the first end cap, and the second end cap comprise an identification surface configured to receive thereon demarcations indicative of a position along the track system.

14. The interconnected track system of claim 13, wherein the identification surfaces are each configured to receive a location identifying tape comprising demarcations indicative of the position along the track system.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first end cap comprises at least one deformable member configured to be deformed in response to being received at the end of the first track section.

16. The interconnected track system of claim 12, wherein the first end cap comprises at least one deformable member configured to be deformed in response to being received at the first end of the first track section.

17. The interconnected track system of claim 12, further comprising a first bus bar insulator extending along the elongate body of the first track section and configured to insulate the first bus bar from the first track section.