APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING MEDICATIONS

• US 20160259914A1
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pat Iantorno
• Original Assignee: Medifriend, Inc.
• Inventors: Iantorno, Pat, Vander Velden, Kent, D'Ambrogia, Jeff, Foss, Joshua, Aldridge, Russell, Christenson, Austin, Bennett, Joshua, Kanetis, Stefan, Jones, Isaac, Christenson, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 10,181,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus for automated storage and dispensing of medications. Medications are stored in an inventory storage container attached to a frame of the apparatus. Medications are delivered to the apparatus via a locked delivery container. A carrier mechanism retrieves medications from the inventory storage container and delivery container and moves medications to various subsystems of the apparatus. Information related to medications is communicated to a remote pharmacist prior to dispensing the medication. Multiple installations of the apparatus are centrally coordinated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retrieving one or more items stored in a vending machine comprising:

a carriage;

an extendable member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the extendable member is connected to the carriage;

a flipper having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flipper is rotatably connected to the second end of the extendable member;

one or more surfaces connected to the carriage;

wherein the flipper is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position,

wherein the flipper is generally aligned with the extendable member when the flipper is in its first position; and

wherein the flipper is configured to engage the one or more items stored in the vending machine when the flipper is in its second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the extendable member comprises a chain.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the extendable member is rigid when extended.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flipper is configured to engage the one or more items stored in the vending machine when the flipper is in its second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the flipper is configured to move the one or more items onto the one or more surfaces when the extendable member is moved in a first direction, and wherein the flipper is configured to move the one or more items off of the one or more surfaces when the extendable member is moved in a second direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the one or more surfaces are configured to rotate, and wherein such rotation causes the one or more items item positioned on the one or more surfaces to rotate.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking one or more trends in dispensing data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein tracking trends comprises anticipating types of medications to be stocked in the dispenser.

7. A method for securely placing medications in an automated dispenser comprising:

providing a locked delivery container filled with one or more medications;

authenticating a technician to access the automated dispenser;

placing the locked delivery container in the dispenser by the technician;

locking the dispenser; and

automatically removing medications from the delivery container and placing the removed medications in an inventory storage container of the dispenser.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising identifying each medication placed in the inventory storage container.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying each medication comprises reading a barcode positioned on the medication and comparing the barcode with barcodes stored in a database.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing information about each medication placed in the inventory storage container.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information comprises one or more of an identity of the medication, a quantity, and a storage location within the automated dispenser.

12. A method for dispensing a medication from an automated dispenser comprising:

authenticating a patient to interact with the dispenser;

verifying that the patient has a valid prescription for the medication;

verifying that the dispenser contains the medication;

picking the medication from a compartment disposed within the dispenser;

verifying that the medication picked from the inventory storage container matches the prescription;

attaching a label to the medication;

verifying the medication with a pharmacist; and

dispensing the medication to the patient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein verifying that the medication picked from the inventory storage container matches the prescription comprises reading a barcode disposed on the medication and comparing the barcode on the medication to an expected barcode contained in a database.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein verifying the medication with a pharmacist comprises communicating the prescription and at least one image of the medication to a pharmacist.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein verifying the medication with a pharmacist further comprises comparing one or more of the prescription, an image of medication, an image of the label attached to the medication, a barcode of the medication, and an identifying code of the medication.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing software to remote users configured to locate a dispenser containing one or more medications required by the user.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the software is configured to rank dispenser locations based on one or more user-specified criteria.