Method and apparatus for onsite distribution of medications and medical supplies
First Claim
1. A method for selectively distributing a plurality of medical items stored in a secure access distribution machine including a housing enclosing a plurality of bins behind at least one access door and a controller with a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
- receiving first identification data associated with a user from an input device located at the distribution machine;
in response to receiving the first identification data, comparing with the processor the first identification data with information stored in the memory to confirm that the user is authorized to distribute medical items from the distribution machine;
receiving second identification data associated with a patient from the input device;
in response to receiving the second identification data, displaying a patient record stored in the memory and associated with the patient on a display located at the distribution machine, the patient record including a list of medical items previously prescribed or approved for distribution to the patient;
receiving item selection data from the input device that identifies, from the list of medical items previously prescribed or approved, at least one medical item that is selected for distribution to the user and administration to the patient;
in response to receiving the item selection data, distributing a first medical item identified in the item selection data by rotating a bin holding the first medical item to a position behind a corresponding one of the access doors and unlocking the corresponding access door so that the access door opens and provides access for the user to reach into the bin to manually retrieve the first medical item from the bin;
verifying with the processor that the user received the first medical item that was identified in the item selection data after the first medical item has been manually retrieved from the bin;
repeating the distributing and verifying steps for each other medical item identified in the item selection data such that the user is provided access to the at least one medical item individually on an bin-by-bin basis; and
updating the patient record to assign to the patient the at least one medical item that has been distributed to the user for administration to the patient,wherein the plurality of bins is mounted on a plurality of carousels mounted on carousel drive axles collectively centered at a central drive axle, and distributing the first medical item to the user further comprises;
rotating all of the plurality of carousels around the central drive axle with a first motor to move the carousel having the bin holding the first medical item to a position adjacent the access door; and
rotating each of the plurality of carousels simultaneously around their carousel drive axles with a second motor to move the bin holding the first medical item into the position behind the corresponding access door.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Secure access distribution machines and methods for distributing a plurality of medical items to an authorized user. The distribution machine includes a housing enclosing a plurality of bins for storing medical items mounted on carousels. Once the distribution machine has been provided with user identification data, patient identification data, and an item selection, the plurality of carousels is actuated to move a bin holding a selected medical item to a location behind an access door in the housing. The user can then reach into the housing to manually retrieve and then verify the removal of the selected medical item. Only one access door into the housing is opened at any time, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of medical items stored in any other bins within the housing.
169 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for selectively distributing a plurality of medical items stored in a secure access distribution machine including a housing enclosing a plurality of bins behind at least one access door and a controller with a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
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receiving first identification data associated with a user from an input device located at the distribution machine; in response to receiving the first identification data, comparing with the processor the first identification data with information stored in the memory to confirm that the user is authorized to distribute medical items from the distribution machine; receiving second identification data associated with a patient from the input device; in response to receiving the second identification data, displaying a patient record stored in the memory and associated with the patient on a display located at the distribution machine, the patient record including a list of medical items previously prescribed or approved for distribution to the patient; receiving item selection data from the input device that identifies, from the list of medical items previously prescribed or approved, at least one medical item that is selected for distribution to the user and administration to the patient; in response to receiving the item selection data, distributing a first medical item identified in the item selection data by rotating a bin holding the first medical item to a position behind a corresponding one of the access doors and unlocking the corresponding access door so that the access door opens and provides access for the user to reach into the bin to manually retrieve the first medical item from the bin; verifying with the processor that the user received the first medical item that was identified in the item selection data after the first medical item has been manually retrieved from the bin; repeating the distributing and verifying steps for each other medical item identified in the item selection data such that the user is provided access to the at least one medical item individually on an bin-by-bin basis; and updating the patient record to assign to the patient the at least one medical item that has been distributed to the user for administration to the patient, wherein the plurality of bins is mounted on a plurality of carousels mounted on carousel drive axles collectively centered at a central drive axle, and distributing the first medical item to the user further comprises; rotating all of the plurality of carousels around the central drive axle with a first motor to move the carousel having the bin holding the first medical item to a position adjacent the access door; and rotating each of the plurality of carousels simultaneously around their carousel drive axles with a second motor to move the bin holding the first medical item into the position behind the corresponding access door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A secure access distribution machine for distributing a plurality of medical items, comprising:
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a housing enclosing an interior and including at least one access door and an input device; a plurality of carousels located within the interior, wherein each carousel includes a plurality of bins for storing the plurality of medical items; a drive mechanism configured to rotate each of the plurality of carousels such that each of the plurality of bins may be positioned adjacent to the at least one access door; and a controller including a processor and a memory, the controller operatively coupled to the access door, the input device, and the drive mechanism, and the controller configured to perform a series of operations to distribute medical items from the housing including (i) determining that an user is an authorized user permitted to distribute medical items, (ii) display a patient record stored in the memory, the patient record including a list of medical items previously prescribed or approved for distribution to the patient, (iii) receive item selection data which identifies from the list of medical items previously prescribed or approved a first medical item that is selected for distribution, (iv) identifying a bin holding the first medical item that is selected for distribution to the user from the list of pre-approved or prescribed medical items associated with a patient record, (v) actuating the drive mechanism to move the bin holding the first medical item to a position behind a corresponding access door, (vi) unlocking and opening the corresponding access door to enable the user to reach into the bin and manually retrieve the first medical item, (vii) verifying that the first medical item that was selected for distribution was removed by the user, and (viii) updating the patient record to assign to the patient the first medical item that has been distributed, wherein the plurality of carousels are mounted on carousel drive axles collectively centered at a central drive axle, and the drive mechanism further comprises; a first motor that rotates all of the plurality of carousels around the central drive axle in order to move the carousel having the bin holding the first medical item to a position adjacent the access door; and a second motor that rotates each of the plurality of carousels simultaneously around their carousel drive axles in order to move the bin holding the first medical item into the position behind the corresponding access door.
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16. A method for selectively distributing a plurality of medical items stored in a secure access distribution machine including a housing enclosing a plurality of bins behind at least one access door and a controller with a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
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receiving first identification data associated with a user from an input device located at the distribution machine; in response to receiving the first identification data, comparing with the processor the first identification data with information stored in the memory to confirm that the user is authorized to distribute medical items from the distribution machine; receiving second identification data associated with a patient from the input device; in response to receiving the second identification data, displaying a patient record stored in the memory and associated with the patient on a display located at the distribution machine, the patient record including a list of medical items previously prescribed or approved for distribution to the patient; receiving item selection data from the input device that identifies, from the list of medical items previously prescribed or approved, at least one medical item that is selected for distribution to the user and administration to the patient; in response to receiving the item selection data, distributing a first medical item identified in the item selection data by rotating a bin holding the first medical item to a position behind a corresponding one of the access doors and unlocking the corresponding access door so that the access door opens and provides access for the user to reach into the bin to manually retrieve the first medical item from the bin; verifying with the processor that the user received the first medical item that was identified in the item selection data after the first medical item has been manually retrieved from the bin; repeating the distributing and verifying steps for each other medical item identified in the item selection data such that the user is provided access to the at least one medical item individually on an bin-by-bin basis; updating the patient record to assign to the patient the at least one medical item that has been distributed to the user for administration to the patient; and during a restocking process for the distribution machine, receiving a scan of a machine readable indicia on a purchase or shipping order with a scanner located at the housing, the purchase or shipping order being associated with a plurality of medical items to be stocked inside the housing; receiving a verification scan of machine readable indicia on a first item to be stocked; rotating a first available bin configured to receive the first item to a position adjacent one of the access doors; unlocking and opening the one of the access doors to provide the user access to manually place the first item in the first available bin; locking the one of the access doors in a closed position when the one of the access doors is closed by the user; capturing an image of the first available bin to verify the manual placement of the first item into the first available bin; and repeating the receiving a verification scan, rotating, opening, locking, and scanning steps for each other item associated with the purchase or shipping order. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification