Pharmaceutical dispensing system and associated method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispenser for dispensing a patient'"'"'s order of multiple different pharmaceutical products, the dispenser comprising:
- a storage arrangement adapted to store a plurality of pharmaceutical products each contained in an individual unit dose package, the storage arrangement comprising a first section and a second section;
a first discharge assembly, having a single mechanized discharge device for multiple different holders of pharmaceutical products, adapted to obtain selected ones of the unit dose packages from the multiple different holders via horizontal and vertical movement and to move the selected ones of the unit dose packages from the first section of the storage arrangement;
a second discharge assembly, having a different designated discharge device for each holder of a pharmaceutical product, that moves selected ones of the unit dose packages from the second section of the storage arrangement; and
a transfer station adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the first discharge assembly and to hold the selected unit dose packages;
a conveyor adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the transfer station and second discharge assembly,a plurality of conveyers moveable between the second section and the first section,wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyers substantially simultaneously receive unit dose packages, andwherein the unit dose packages are received at each of the at least two conveyers from one of the transfer station and the second discharge assembly,wherein the transfer station is further adapted to hold the selected unit dose packages until the conveyer is in registration with the transfer station,wherein the first section stores pharmaceutical products having a first frequency demand meeting a first threshold and the second section stores pharmaceutical products having a second frequency demand meeting a second threshold different from the first threshold,wherein the first and second sections are each located proximate the conveyor, the second section being spaced and positioned upstream from the first section, andwherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing system and associated method provides a turnkey solution for dispensing pharmaceutical products such as solid medications and nutritional supplements to be taken orally in health care settings, including but not limited to long term care (LTC) and assisted living settings.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A dispenser for dispensing a patient'"'"'s order of multiple different pharmaceutical products, the dispenser comprising:
-
a storage arrangement adapted to store a plurality of pharmaceutical products each contained in an individual unit dose package, the storage arrangement comprising a first section and a second section; a first discharge assembly, having a single mechanized discharge device for multiple different holders of pharmaceutical products, adapted to obtain selected ones of the unit dose packages from the multiple different holders via horizontal and vertical movement and to move the selected ones of the unit dose packages from the first section of the storage arrangement; a second discharge assembly, having a different designated discharge device for each holder of a pharmaceutical product, that moves selected ones of the unit dose packages from the second section of the storage arrangement; and a transfer station adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the first discharge assembly and to hold the selected unit dose packages; a conveyor adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the transfer station and second discharge assembly, a plurality of conveyers moveable between the second section and the first section, wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyers substantially simultaneously receive unit dose packages, and wherein the unit dose packages are received at each of the at least two conveyers from one of the transfer station and the second discharge assembly, wherein the transfer station is further adapted to hold the selected unit dose packages until the conveyer is in registration with the transfer station, wherein the first section stores pharmaceutical products having a first frequency demand meeting a first threshold and the second section stores pharmaceutical products having a second frequency demand meeting a second threshold different from the first threshold, wherein the first and second sections are each located proximate the conveyor, the second section being spaced and positioned upstream from the first section, and wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A dispenser for dispensing a patient'"'"'s order of multiple different pharmaceutical products, the dispenser comprising:
-
a storage arrangement adapted to store a plurality of pharmaceutical products each contained in an individual unit dose package, the storage arrangement comprising a first section and a second section; a first discharge assembly, having a single mechanized discharge device for multiple different holders of pharmaceutical products, adapted to obtain selected ones of the unit dose packages from the multiple different holders via horizontal and vertical movement and to move the selected ones of the unit dose packages from the first section of the storage arrangement; a second discharge assembly, having a different designated discharge device for each holder of a pharmaceutical product, that moves selected ones of the unit dose packages from the second section of the storage arrangement; a plurality of conveyers moveable between the second section and the first section; and a conveyor of the plurality of conveyers adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the second discharge assembly, wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyers substantially simultaneously receive unit dose packages, and wherein the first section stores pharmaceutical products having a first frequency demand meeting a first threshold and the second section stores pharmaceutical products having a second frequency demand meeting a second threshold different from the first threshold, wherein the first and second sections are each located proximate the conveyor, the second section being spaced and positioned upstream from the first section, and wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A dispenser for dispensing a patient'"'"'s order of multiple different items, the dispenser comprising:
-
a storage arrangement adapted to store a plurality of items each contained in an individual unit dose package, the storage arrangement comprising a first section and a second section; a first discharge assembly, having a single mechanized discharge device for multiple different holders of items, adapted to obtain selected ones of the unit dose packages from the multiple different holders via horizontal and vertical movement and to move the selected ones of the unit dose packages from the first section of the storage arrangement; a second discharge assembly, having a different designated discharge device for each holder of an item, that moves selected ones of the unit dose packages from the second section of the storage arrangement; and a transfer station adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the first discharge assembly and to hold the selected unit dose packages; a conveyor adapted to receive the selected unit dose packages from the transfer station and second discharge assembly, a plurality of conveyers moveable between the second section and the first section, wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyers substantially simultaneously receive unit dose packages, and wherein the unit dose packages are received at each of the at least two conveyers from one of the transfer station and the second discharge assembly, wherein the transfer station is further adapted to hold the selected unit dose packages until the conveyer is in registration with the transfer station, wherein the first section stores items having a first frequency demand meeting a first threshold and the second section stores items having a second frequency demand meeting a second threshold different from the first threshold, wherein the first and second sections are each located proximate the conveyor, the second section being spaced and positioned upstream from the first section, and wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.
-
Specification