Medication dispensing cart
First Claim
1. A medication dispensing cart comprising:
- a base having wheels that allow the medication dispensing cart to be moved within a facility;
a computing device configured to receive input from a user;
a display device communicatively coupled with the computing device for displaying information to the user;
a post that attaches the display device with the base so that the post, display device, and base are moveable within the facility as a single/stand-alone unit, the post comprising an outer post member that slidingly receives an inner post member in a manner that enables vertical adjustment of the post, the outer post member including an electrical backplane having a plurality of communication ports positioned along a longitudinal length thereof, wherein each communication port is communicatively coupled with the computing device; and
a plurality of cassettes or drawers that each have at least one bin within which medical supplies are stored, wherein each cassette or drawer is removably coupled with the outer post member, and wherein each cassette or drawer includes a connector that is insertable within a respective communication port of the outer post member to communicatively couple the respective cassette or drawer with the computing device so that electrical signals may be transmitted between the cassette and the computing device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide medication dispensing carts and methods. The medication dispensing carts may include a base having wheels that allow the carts to be transported within a facility, a computing device configured to receive input from a user, a display device communicatively coupled with the computing device for displaying information to the user, a post that couples the display device with the base, and a plurality of cassettes that have one or more bins within which medical supplies are stored. The plurality of cassettes may be coupled with the post and the post may include a plurality of communication ports that communicatively couple one or more of the cassettes with the computing device to perform or provide various functions.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A medication dispensing cart comprising:
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a base having wheels that allow the medication dispensing cart to be moved within a facility; a computing device configured to receive input from a user; a display device communicatively coupled with the computing device for displaying information to the user; a post that attaches the display device with the base so that the post, display device, and base are moveable within the facility as a single/stand-alone unit, the post comprising an outer post member that slidingly receives an inner post member in a manner that enables vertical adjustment of the post, the outer post member including an electrical backplane having a plurality of communication ports positioned along a longitudinal length thereof, wherein each communication port is communicatively coupled with the computing device; and a plurality of cassettes or drawers that each have at least one bin within which medical supplies are stored, wherein each cassette or drawer is removably coupled with the outer post member, and wherein each cassette or drawer includes a connector that is insertable within a respective communication port of the outer post member to communicatively couple the respective cassette or drawer with the computing device so that electrical signals may be transmitted between the cassette and the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing a medication dispensing cart comprising:
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providing a medication dispensing cart comprising; a cassette system controller; a base having wheels that allow the medication dispensing cart to be moved within a facility; a display device that displays information to a user; and a post that attaches the display device with the base so that the post, display device, and base are moveable within the facility as a single unit, the post including an electrical backplane having a plurality of communication ports positioned along a longitudinal length thereof, wherein each communication port is communicatively coupled with the cassette system controller; providing a plurality of cassettes that each include a top surface, a bottom surface, two sides extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a back that includes a recess defining a vertical channel that extends through at least a portion of the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each cassette further includes at least one bin configured to store medical supplies and a plug or connector; coupling each cassette with the post by positioning the post within the recess of the respective cassette so that the post extends vertically through the vertical channel and so that at least a portion of the post is recessed relative to the back of the respective cassette; and communicatively coupling each cassette with the cassette system controller by inserting the plug or connector of the cassette into a respective communication port of the backplane so that electrical signals may be transmitted between the cassette and the cassette system controller, wherein the post, display device, and base are moveable within the facility as the single unit while the plug or connector of each cassette or drawer is inserted within the respective communication port of the backplane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A medication dispensing cart comprising:
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a base having wheels that allow the medication dispensing cart to be moved within a facility; a computing device configured to receive input from a user; a display device communicatively coupled with the computing device for displaying information to the user; a plurality of cassettes or drawers that each have at least one bin within which medical supplies are stored, wherein at least one of the plurality of cassettes or drawers is communicatively coupled with the computing device via a communication port; and a battery housing coupled with the base, the battery housing including a pair of slots within which a battery is inserted, wherein each slot faces upward from the base to allow a respective battery to be inserted within a respective slot from above the base. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification