# US 10,246,207 B2 · Pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and methods of storing and retrieving pharmaceuticals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,207 B2 - Document ID: US10246207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/888,468 - Filed: 2013-05-07 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-19 - Assignees: Rxsafe LLC - Applicants: RxSafe, LLC - Inventors: William K. Holmes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246207B2 ## CPC - G16H 70/40: relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage - B65B 57/00: Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) - B65G 1/06: with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) - G07F 9/026: {for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty} - G07F 11/165: {using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements} - G07F 11/44: in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a method of accessing and loading the device. The device includes a housing, at least one port with controlled access to inventory stored within the device, a robotic transfer mechanism for moving inventory items to and from the controlled port, software for tracking the inventory and users of the device, and an interface with the pharmacy software system to track and monitor which inventory is authorized for access by each user and which inventory is needed to fill a prescription. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of filling a prescription using a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device including a housing, an interface panel supported by the housing and having an access control device, a shelving system configured to store containers within the housing, an access port supported by the housing, a door supported by the housing to selectively cover the access port, a scanner supported by the housing, and a gantry system positioned within the housing, the gantry system including a gripper assembly and a motor coupled to the gripper assembly to move the gripper assembly within the housing, the method comprising: verifying, by a processor, identification information input into the access control device; obtaining, by the processor, a queue of prescriptions to be filled from a pharmacy computer; receiving a selection of a prescription from the queue of prescriptions to be filled, the selected prescription containing prescription information including a medication type; determining, by the processor, a shelf location in the shelving system of a container expected to have the medication type of the prescription information; retrieving the container from the determined shelf location by engaging the container with the gripper assembly of the gantry system; positioning the container within the access port by moving the gripper assembly and the container to the access port with the motor of the gantry system; scanning, by the scanner, the container to determine an actual medication type within the container; determining, by the processor, whether the actual medication type within the container matches the medication type of the prescription information; when the actual medication type within the container matches the medication type of the prescription information, opening the door to the access port; and when the actual medication type within the container does not match the medication type of the prescription information, returning the container to a shelf location in the shelving system by engaging the container with the gripper assembly and moving the gripper assembly and the container to the shelf location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring an image of the container while positioned in the access port to determine a size of the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming that the label read on the container matches the medication type of the prescription information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining prescription information includes the processor communicating with the pharmacy computer to obtain the prescription information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the shelf location of the container includes accessing from memory an assigned shelf location of the container when the container was loaded, the assigned shelf location being the determined shelf location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information includes a quantity of the medication type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the door closed if the scanned medication type on the container does not match the medication type in the prescription information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising reconciling a reason for the mismatch between the retrieved container and the prescription information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the access port includes a scale, the method further comprising measuring a weight of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein returning the container to the shelf location further includes returning the container to a shelf location that is different from the determined shelf location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the container to determine an actual medication type within the container includes scanning the container when the container is in the access port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the container from the shelf location for a second prescription.