Method, computer program product and dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments according to a refill strategy

A method for dispensing discrete medicaments with a dispensing device,

• wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section for dispensing the medicaments, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein each feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units comprises a container for holding medicaments with a composition specific to said respective feeder unit, an outlet for dispensing the medicaments and a dispensing mechanism between the container and the outlet for controlled feeding of the medicaments from the container into the outlet wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• predicting a depletion time in the future when the medicaments in the container of a first feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units will be depleted;
• providing a notification ahead of said depletion time that a second feeder unit holding medicaments with the same composition as the first feeder unit needs to be presented to the dispensing device, together with a due time for presenting said second feeder unit to the dispensing device;
• determining a refill strategy for the first feeder unit based on determining a category of a plurality of refill categories based on the medicaments in first feeder unit;
• providing a refill notification based on the refill strategy;
• and
• continuing to dispense medicaments from the first feeder unit at least until the due time;
• wherein the notification and/or the refill notification is adapted as operating instructions and provided to a system external to the dispensing device;
• and wherein the system external to the dispensing device is one or more of:
• a (re) fill station, an inventory and/or storage management system and a transport system.

A dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section for dispensing the medicaments, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein each feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units comprises a container for holding medicaments, an outlet for dispensing the medicaments and a dispensing mechanism between the container and the outlet for controlled feeding of the medicaments from the container into the outlet,

• wherein the dispensing device further comprises a user interface and a control unit for controlling the graphical user interface and the plurality of feeder units, wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium holding instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to:
• predict a depletion time of a first feeder unit,
• provide a notification of said depletion time, together with a due time on the graphical user interface, the due time representing the time a second feeder unit needs to be presented to the dispensing device;
• determine a refill strategy for the first feeder unit based on determining a category of a plurality of refill categories based on the medicaments in first feeder unit,
• provide a refill notification based on the refill strategy;
• and
• control the plurality of feeder units to continue dispensing from the first feeder unit until at least the due time;
• wherein the refill notification is adapted as operating instructions and provided to a system external to the dispensing device;
• and wherein the system external to the dispensing device is one or more of:
• a (re) fill station, an inventory and/or storage management system and a transport system.

A method for dispensing discrete medicaments with a dispensing device,

• wherein the dispensing device comprises:
• a dispensing section to dispense medicaments and defining an array of feeder positions distributed along an collection path for holding a plurality of feeder units, and manual loading positions for receiving a plurality of medicine transport plates,
• a collection section for collecting the medicaments from the dispensing section, and,
• a packaging section for packaging the medicaments received from the collection section, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• predicting an initial depletion time in the future of one or more dispensing resources used by the dispensing device to dispense the discrete medicaments;
• providing initial instructions ahead of said initial depletion time to present one or more of the dispensing resources, together with the initial due time for presenting one or more of the dispensing resources;
• predicting an updated depletion time of one or more dispensing resources during the dispensing of discrete medicaments,
• providing updated instructions and/or an updated due time;
• and
• continuing the dispensing of medicaments at least until the updated due time of the one or more dispensing resources;
• wherein the initial and/or updated instructions and due time are adapted as machine operating commands and are provided to one or more systems external to the dispensing device presenting one or more of the dispensing resources, wherein the dispensing resources are one or more of:
• feeder units, and packaging material.

A dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the dispensing device comprises:

• a dispensing section for dispensing the medicaments, and defining an array of feeder positions distributed along an endless collection path for holding a plurality of feeder units, and manual loading positions for receiving a plurality of medicine transport plates
• a collection section for collecting the medicaments from the dispensing section,
• a packaging section for packaging the medicaments received from the collection section, and
• a control unit for receiving a state of dispensing resources used by the dispensing device to dispense the discrete medicaments, wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium holding instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to:
• predict an initial depletion time in the future of the dispensing resources;
• provide initial instructions ahead of said depletion time together with a due time for presenting one or more of the dispensing resources to the dispensing device;
• predict an updated depletion time of one or more dispensing resources during the dispensing of discrete medicaments;
• provide updated instructions and/or an updated due time;
• and
• continue the dispensing of the medicaments at least until the due time of one or more of the dispensing resources;
• wherein the initial and/or updated instructions and due time for presenting one or more of the dispensing resources are adapted as machine operating commands provided to one or multiple systems external to the dispensing device presenting the one or more of the dispensing resources, wherein the dispensing resources are one or more of:
• feeder units, and packaging material.