Computerized method and system for loading and/or unloading a tray having a light grid over a surface thereof

• US 20060129272A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Blair, Jerry, Kirsch, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method and system for loading a tray, e.g., a multi-compartment tray, with at least one medication, the tray having a light grid over a surface thereof is provided. Further provided is a computerized method and system for delivering medication to at least one individual from a tray, e.g., a multi-compartment tray, having a light grid over a surface thereof. If desired, the tray may further include a scanner over a surface thereof which is capable of scanning an identification code coupled with the medication being loaded and/or removed from the tray.

Claims

1. A method in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing a tray having a light grid over a surface thereof;

receiving an indicator that at least one medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the light grid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more types of individuals for whom the at least one medication is likely to be prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting user instructions including at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be loaded into the particular compartment.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is determined to be a compartment other than the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual discrepancy indicator and an audio discrepancy indicator.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is determined to be the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual accuracy indicator and an audio accuracy indicator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein upon providing the at least one of the visual accuracy indicator and the audio accuracy indicator, the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment is incremented.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into the tray comprises receiving a plurality of indicators, each associated with a single one of the at least one medication, wherein each single one of the at least one medication is loaded into the tray individually.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tray identification device comprises a bar code.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the tray identification device is capable of having information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medications in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, stored therein and retrieved therefrom.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tray identification device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component; and

generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tray-receiving component comprises a drawer.

21. A method in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing a medication supply container having a first light grid over a surface thereof;

providing a tray having a second light grid over a surface thereof, the first light grid and the second light grid being in communication with one another through a network;

receiving an indicator that a medication is removed from the medication supply container;

receiving an indicator that the medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the medication is loaded.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the indicator that the medication is removed from the medication supply container comprises detecting an interruption in the first light grid.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the indicator that the medication is loaded into the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the second light grid.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the particular compartment of the tray into which the medication is loaded comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

25. A method in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing a tray having a light grid over a surface thereof;

receiving an indicator that at least one medication is removed from the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

determining a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is removed from the tray comprises detecting an interruption in the light grid.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed comprises determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more types of individuals for whom the at least one medication is likely to be prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising outputting user instructions including at least one of one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be loaded into the particular compartment.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is determined to be a compartment other than the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual discrepancy indicator and an audio discrepancy indicator.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is determined to be the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output in the user instructions, the method further comprises providing at least one of a visual accuracy indicator and an audio accuracy indicator.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein upon receiving the at least one of the visual accuracy indicator and the audio accuracy indicator, the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment is decremented.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the indicator that the at least one medication is removed from the tray comprises receiving a plurality of indicators, each associated with a single one of the at least one medication, wherein each single one of the at least one medication is removed from the tray individually.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the tray identification device comprises a bar code.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein the tray includes a tray identification device coupled therewith.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the tray identification device is capable of having information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medications in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, stored therein and retrieved therefrom.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the tray identification device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

43. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component; and

generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the tray-receiving component comprises a drawer.

45. A computer system, comprising:

a providing module for providing a tray having a light grid over a surface thereof;

an indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that at least one medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

a determining module for determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded.

46. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the light grid.

47. The computer system of claim 46, wherein the determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

48. The computer system of claim 45, further comprising a medication profile receiving module for receiving a medication profile to be associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

49. The computer system of claim 45, further comprising a user instruction outputting module for outputting user instructions including at least one of one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising a first outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be loaded into the particular compartment.

51. The computer system of claim 50, further comprising an output indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is to be loaded.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising a second outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

53. The computer system of claim 49, further comprising a discrepancy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual discrepancy indicator and an audio discrepancy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is other than the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output from the user instruction outputting module.

54. The computer system of claim 52, further comprising an accuracy indicator module for providing at least one of a visual accuracy indicator and an audio accuracy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray into which the at least one medication is loaded is the particular compartment into which the at least one medication is to be loaded output from the user instruction outputting module.

55. The computer system of claim 54, further comprising an incrementing module for incrementing the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment output from the user instruction outputting module upon providing the at least one of the visual accuracy indicator and the audio accuracy indicator.

56. The computer system of claim 48, further comprising a storage and retrieval module for storing and retrieving information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medications in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, from a tray identification device associated with the tray.

57. The computer system of claim 45, further comprising:

a tray receipt indicator module for receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component; and

a grid generating module for generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined.

58. A computer system, comprising:

a first providing module for providing a medication supply container having a first light grid over a surface thereof;

a second providing module for providing a tray having a second light grid over a surface thereof, the first and second light grids being in communication with one another through a network;

a first indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that a medication is removed from the medication supply container;

a second indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that the medication is loaded into the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

a determining module for determining a particular compartment of the tray into which the medication is loaded.

59. The computer system of claim 58, wherein the first indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the first light grid.

60. The computer system of claim 58, wherein the second indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the second light grid.

61. The computer system of claim 60, wherein the determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

62. A computer system, comprising:

a providing module for providing a tray having a light grid over a surface thereof;

an indicator receiving module for receiving an indicator that at least one medication is removed from the tray, the tray having at least one compartment; and

a determining module for determining a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed.

63. The computer system of claim 62, wherein the indicator receiving module includes a detecting module for detecting an interruption in the light grid.

64. The computer system of claim 63, wherein the determining module is capable of determining a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

65. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising a medication profile receiving module for receiving a medication profile associated with the tray, the medication profile comprising information identifying at least one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a dosage of the at least one medication.

66. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising a user instruction outputting module for outputting user instructions including at least one of one of one or more individuals for whom the at least one medication was prescribed, an identity of the at least one medication, and a particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising a first outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication to be removed from the particular compartment.

68. The computer system of claim 67;

further comprising an output indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual location indicator and an audio location indicator in association with the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is to be removed.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising a second outputting module for outputting a quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment.

70. The computer system of claim 66, further comprising a discrepancy indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual discrepancy indicator and an audio discrepancy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is other than the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output from the user instruction outputting module.

71. The computer system of claim 69, further comprising an accuracy indicator module for outputting at least one of a visual accuracy indicator and an audio accuracy indicator if the particular compartment of the tray from which the at least one medication is removed is the particular compartment from which the at least one medication is to be removed output from the user instruction outputting module.

72. The computer system of claim 71, further comprising a decrementing module for decrementing the quantity of the at least one medication in the particular compartment output from the user outputting module upon providing the at least one of the visual accuracy indicator and the audio accuracy indicator.

73. The computer system of claim 65, further comprising a storage and retrieval module for storing and retrieving information comprising at least one of the medication profile associated with the tray, any medication in the tray, and into which compartments of the tray any medications are loaded, from a tray identification device associated with the tray.

74. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising:

a tray receipt indicator module for receiving an indicator that the tray is received into a tray-receiving component; and

a grid generating module for generating the light grid over the surface of the tray such that when the light grid is interrupted, a location of such interruption and a corresponding location within the tray are capable of being determined.

75. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into a tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a light grid over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the light grid; and

determining into which compartment of the tray the at least one medication is loaded based upon a location of the interruption.

76. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that at least one medication is removed from a medication supply container, the medication supply container having a first light grid over a surface thereof;

receiving an indicator that the at least one medication is loaded into a tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a second light grid over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the second light grid; and

determining into which compartment of the tray the at least one medication is loaded based upon a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.

77. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that at least one medication is removed from a tray, the tray having at least one compartment and a light grid over a surface thereof;

detecting an interruption in the light grid; and

determining from which compartment of the tray the at least one medication is removed based upon a location of the interruption and a corresponding location within the tray.