Medical products storage device including access control

• US 9,579,245 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helmer Scientific LLC (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Helmer, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Edwards, James R., Larkner, Thomas J., Ferrer, David A., Smith, Jesse M., Smith, Dennis H., Cloud, Adam A., Lockwood, Mark D., Loeffelholz, Mark G.
• Primary Examiner(s): CICCHINO, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US14/341,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 700/242
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/00 Castors in general; Anti-clogging castorscastors for large containers B65D90/18
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0037 Powered actuators with automatic return to the neutral position by non-powered means, e.g. springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by other non-mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/00 Locks or fastenings for special use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0064 for processing of food articles cooking vessels A47J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0071 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

An apparatus and method for storing medical products such as pharmaceutical and medical products in climate controlled storage devices includes climate control systems in communication with inventory access and tracking systems.

Claims

1. A storage device for medical products comprises

a control system,

a cabinet enclosing a plurality of storage spaces,

a plurality of storage containers, each storage container associated with one of the storage spaces, each storage space including an arm movable between a first position in which the arm secures a respective storage container and a second position in which the arm releases the respective storage container, and

an actuation assembly including an array of actuators, each of the actuators of the array being associated with a respective storage container, each of the actuators being independently actuable to secure or release the respective storage container with which the respective actuator is associated,

wherein each of the arms engage a release mechanism operable to simultaneously move the plurality of arms to the second position.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each arm includes a hook that engages the respective storage container when the arm secures the storage container and disengages the respective storage container when the arm releases the respective storage container.

3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein each respective actuator of the actuation assembly is operable to move a respective arm between the first and second positions.

4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein the storage device further includes a detector to detect the position of the arm.

5. The storage device of claim 3, wherein each actuator has an associated sensor for detecting the position of an arm adjacent the respective actuator.

6. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

7. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

8. The storage device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is positioned on the actuation assembly.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein each arm is pivotable about a pivot axis between the first and second positions.

10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein each actuator comprises a solenoid actuated plunger that engages a respective arm when the solenoid is energized to thereby move the arm between the first and second positions.

11. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the control system compares a state of the solenoid of a respective actuator to a signal from the associated sensor to determine if the arm is properly positioned.

12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the arm is formed to include a push rod which acts on the respective storage container as the arm is moved to the second position to cause the storage container to be moved in the storage space such that a portion of the storage container extends outwardly from the storage space.

13. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is manually operable.

14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the release mechanism includes a security device to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated.

15. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the security device is a lock that is only moveable by operation of a key.

16. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the release device further includes a mechanical structure that moves to an indicator position when the release device has been actuated.

17. The storage device of claim 16, wherein the mechanical structure does not return from the indicator position when the release device is returned to permit the arms to return to their respective first positions.

18. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the storage device includes a re-set actuator that is operable, under the control of the control system, to move the mechanical structure from the indicator position after the release device has been moved to allow the arms to return to their respective first positions.

19. The storage device of claim 18, wherein the release device automatically locks when returned to a home position.

20. The storage device of claim 19, further comprising a climate control system operable to monitor and control the climate in the cabinet.

21. The storage device of claim 20, wherein the storage device further comprises a positioning assembly in communication with the control system, wherein the positioning assembly moves the actuation assembly under the control of the control system, such that each actuator is adjacent a respective first one of the storage containers in a first position and a respective second one of the storage containers in a second position.

22. The storage device of claim 21, wherein the storage device includes at least one detector for detecting the position of the actuation assembly, the detector for detecting the position of the actuation assembly being supported on the actuation assembly.

23. The storage device of claim 22, wherein the detector for detecting the position of the actuation assembly determines the position of the actuation assembly by detecting a characteristic of a fixed component adjacent the actuation assembly.

24. The storage device of claim 23, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor providing a signal responsive to a characteristic of a respective fixed component adjacent the actuation assembly, the control system determining the position of the actuation assembly by comparing the signals from the plurality of sensors to a known arrangement of fixed components to identify the particular position of the actuation assembly.

25. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage device further comprises an indicator assembly operable to provide an indication to a user of a storage location where the storage container has been released.

27. The storage device of claim 12, wherein the storage device further comprises an indicator assembly operable to provide an indication to a user of a storage location where the storage container has been released.

26. A storage device for medical products comprises

a control system,

a cabinet enclosing a plurality of storage spaces,

a plurality of storage containers, each storage container associated with one of the storage spaces, each storage space including an arm, which includes a hook that is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first arm position in which the arm secures a respective storage container and a second arm position in which the arm releases the respective storage container,

an actuation assembly including an array of actuators, each of the actuators of the array being associated with a respective storage container, each of the actuators being independently actuable to secure or release the respective storage container with which the respective actuator is associated, and

a positioning assembly in communication with the control system, wherein the positioning assembly moves the actuation assembly under the control of the control system, such that each actuator is adjacent a respective first one of the storage containers in a first actuation assembly position and a respective second one of the storage containers in a second actuation assembly position,

wherein each of the arms engages a release mechanism operable to simultaneously move the plurality of arms to the second position,

wherein a respective actuator of the actuation assembly is operable to move a first respective arm between the first and second arm positions when the actuation assembly is in a first actuation position assembly and a second respective arm between the first and second arm positions when the actuation assembly is in a second actuation assembly position, and each actuator has an associated sensor for detecting the position of the respective arm adjacent the respective actuator, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and is positioned on the actuation assembly and movable therewith,

wherein each actuator comprises a solenoid actuated plunger that engages a respective arm when the solenoid is energized to thereby move the arm between the first and second positions,

wherein the control system compares the state of the solenoid to the signal from the associated sensor to determine if the arm is properly positioned.