Pharmacy medication verification system
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining;
causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing;
sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container;
further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps ofdetermining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication;
causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and
sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and
further comprising the steps ofproviding a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container;
positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position;
opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position;
dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication;
closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position;
reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position;
dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container;
removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall;
wherein the step of determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a first machine readable identifier connected to the first medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening;
the step of dropping the first medication comprises dropping the first medication with the first identifier connected thereto through the opened access opening into the container;
the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a second machine readable identifier connected to the second medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening; and
the step of dropping the second medication comprises dropping the second medication with the second identifier connected thereto through the reopened access opening into the container.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pharmacy medication verification system is particularly useful for verifying medications to be dispensed to hospital patients while minimizing or eliminating verification by a pharmacist. Typically, a technician or robot picks the medications from storage bins in accordance with a medical prescription or stocking order and uses various sensors to ensure that the correct medication was picked and enters a medication container. The system typically provides correct and incorrect medication indicators as well as correct and incorrect entry indicators. Error reports may be generated when appropriate to communicate any relevant errors to the pharmacist, who can then verify that the correct medications are in the container. In one aspect, the containers are in the form of patient drawers which fit within a cart for delivery to hospital rooms. A containment device may be used to secure the drawer or other container during the verification process.
66 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and
further comprising the steps ofproviding a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; wherein the step of determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a first machine readable identifier connected to the first medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening; the step of dropping the first medication comprises dropping the first medication with the first identifier connected thereto through the opened access opening into the container; the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a second machine readable identifier connected to the second medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening; and the step of dropping the second medication comprises dropping the second medication with the second identifier connected thereto through the reopened access opening into the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising the steps of:
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determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and
further comprising the steps ofproviding a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; providing a plurality of storage bins each containing a plurality of medications; picking with a robotic arm or one of a person'"'"'s hands the first medication from one of the storage bins; before the step of dropping the first medication, moving the picked first medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the first medication, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening to adjacent one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; picking with the robotic arm or one of the hands the second medication from the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; before the step of dropping the second medication, moving the picked second medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the second medication, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening; providing a box defining an interior chamber which extends over the wall; wherein the storage bin from which the first medication was picked is outside the box; wherein the storage bin from which the second medication was picked is outside the box; wherein the step of moving the picked first medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening comprises inserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box through an opening formed in a wall of the box; dropping the first medication from the inserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; wherein the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening to adjacent the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored comprises withdrawing the inserted robotic arm or one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; wherein the step of moving the picked second medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening comprises reinserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; dropping the second medication from the reinserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container; and wherein the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening after the step of dropping the second medication comprises withdrawing the robotic arm or one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method comprising the steps of:
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determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and
further comprising the steps ofproviding a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication from one of a person'"'"'s hands through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication from one of the hands through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; providing a box defining an interior chamber which extends over the wall; picking the first medication with one of the hands from a location outside the box; while holding the picked first medication in one of the hands, inserting the one of the hands holding the picked first medication into the box through an opening formed in a wall of the box; dropping the first medication from the inserted one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; after dropping the first medication, withdrawing the inserted one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; picking the second medication with one of the hands from a location outside the box; while holding the picked second medication in one of the hands, inserting the one of the hands holding the picked second medication into the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; dropping the second medication from the inserted one of the hands holding the picked second medication to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container; and after dropping the second medication, withdrawing from the box the one of the hands which dropped the second medication through the opening formed in the wall of the box. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification