Automated pharmacy system for dispensing unit doses of pharmaceuticals and the like
First Claim
1. A method of storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:
- (a) providing a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, the system comprising;
a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with first and second windows;
multiple storage locations positioned within the housing rearwardly of the front wall;
a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing; and
a plurality of bins, each of the bins having an open front end and a storage volume rearwardly of the front end and residing in one of the storage locations;
(b) loading a pharmaceutical dose package into a first bin, the open end of the first bin extending partially forwardly of and captured by one of the first and second windows, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing;
(c) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin with the pharmaceutical dose package from the first or second window to a first one of the storage locations;
(d) using the carrier assembly, depositing the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package in the first storage location;
(e) using the carrier assembly, retrieving the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package from the first storage location responsive to a user request;
(f) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package to the first or second window, such that the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first or second window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; and
(g) removing the pharmaceutical dose package from the first bin as the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first or second window.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals includes: a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with first and second windows; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing; and a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing. The carrier assembly is configured to receive a pharmaceutical dose package loaded into either the first or second window and convey the pharmaceutical dose package to one of the storage locations for storage therein, and is further configured to retrieve a pharmaceutical dose package from one of the storage locations and return the pharmaceutical dose package to the first or second window for dispensing therefrom.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:
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(a) providing a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, the system comprising; a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with first and second windows; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing rearwardly of the front wall; a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing; and a plurality of bins, each of the bins having an open front end and a storage volume rearwardly of the front end and residing in one of the storage locations; (b) loading a pharmaceutical dose package into a first bin, the open end of the first bin extending partially forwardly of and captured by one of the first and second windows, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; (c) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin with the pharmaceutical dose package from the first or second window to a first one of the storage locations; (d) using the carrier assembly, depositing the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package in the first storage location; (e) using the carrier assembly, retrieving the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package from the first storage location responsive to a user request; (f) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package to the first or second window, such that the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first or second window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; and (g) removing the pharmaceutical dose package from the first bin as the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first or second window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:
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(a) providing a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, the system comprising; a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with a first window; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing rearwardly of the front wall; a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing; and a plurality of bins, each of the bins having an open front end and a storage volume rearwardly of the front end and residing in one of the storage locations; (b) loading a pharmaceutical dose package into a first bin, the open end of the first bin extending partially forwardly of and captured by the first window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; (c) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin with the pharmaceutical dose package from the first window to a first one of the storage locations; (d) using the carrier assembly, depositing the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package in the first storage location; (e) using the carrier assembly, retrieving the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package from the first storage location responsive to a user request; (f) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package to the first window, such that the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; and (g) removing the pharmaceutical dose package from the first bin as the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first window. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:
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(a) providing a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, the system comprising; a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with a first window; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing rearwardly of the front wall; a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing; and a plurality of bins, each of the bins having an open front end and a storage volume rearwardly of the front wall and residing in one of the storage locations; (b) loading a pharmaceutical dose package into a first bin, the open end of the first extending partially forwardly of and captured by the first window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; (c) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin with the pharmaceutical dose package from the first window to a first one of the storage locations; (d) scanning a bar code on the pharmaceutical dose package with a bar code scanner located on the carrier assembly; (e) using the carrier assembly, depositing the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package in the first storage location; (f) using the carrier assembly, retrieving the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package from the first storage location responsive to a user request; (g) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package to the first window, such that the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first window, the open end of the bin being generally parallel to the front wall of the housing; and (h) removing the pharmaceutical dose package from the first bin as the open end of the first bin extends partially in front of the first window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, comprising:
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(a) providing a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals, the system comprising; a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with a first window; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing; a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing; and a plurality of bins, each of the bins having an open front end and residing in one of the storage locations; (b) loading a pharmaceutical dose package into a first bin extending partially forwardly of and captured by the first window; (c) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin with the pharmaceutical dose package from the first window to a first one of the storage locations; (d) using the carrier assembly, depositing the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package in the first storage location; (e) using the carrier assembly, retrieving the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package from the first storage location responsive to a user request; (f) using the carrier assembly, conveying the first bin and the pharmaceutical dose package to the first window, such that the first bin extends partially in front of the first window; and (g) removing the pharmaceutical dose package from the first bin as it extends partially in front of the first window; wherein the pharmaceutical dose package extends through the open front end of the bin during steps (c)-(f).
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Specification