US 5,431,299 AGranted

Medication dispensing and storing system with dispensing modules

AssigneeAndrew E. Brewer

InventorsAndrew E. Brewer, Gary P. Maul, Mark A. Battisti

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Abstract

A system for the controlled dispensing and storing of medication and more particularly, a programmable system with medication dispensing modules having a dedicated programmable processor to dispense medication, according to patient requirements that are programmed into the system. The modules incrementally dispense unit doses of medication in a highly controlled manner for a particular patient. The programmable processor of each module is independently capable of receiving and storing information about the respective type, quantity and medication information of each of the unit doses of medication loaded onto an assigned shelf of the module. The information in the programmable processor is automatically updated when a unit dose of medication is dispensed from the module so that the programmable processor contains information about the remaining inventory in the module at any given time.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A medication dispensing and storing module, to be used in a medication administration system to store and dispense unit doses of medication in a highly controlled manner without allowing a user of the module to dispense more medication than requested without having the inventory automatically updated, said module comprising:

a housing having a top, bottom, front, back, and two sides, said top having an opening to allow medication containers to be inserted therein and said bottom having an opening to allow medication containers to be dispensed therefrom;
a first shaft having first and second ends with each of said ends of said first shaft rotatably secured within said housing;
a second shaft having first and second ends with each of said ends of said second shaft rotatably secured within said housing;
a plurality of shelves arranged along a conveyor-type continuous loop, said loop passing over said first and second shafts;
a motor operably connected to one of said shafts to rotate one of said shafts along its axis, the rotation of said shaft causing the plurality of shelves to move along said loop;
and
a first programmable processor connected to said motor of said module to enable said module to be loaded in a controlled manner, and to enable said module to dispense unit doses of medication in a controlled manner for a particular patient, said first programmable processor being capable of receiving and storing information about the respective type, quantity and medication information of each of the unit doses of medication loaded onto an assigned shelf of said module, the information in said first programmable processor being automatically updated when a unit dose of medication is dispensed from said module and said first programmable processor containing information about the remaining inventory in said module at any given time.

4 more elements

A medication dispensing and storing system comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of drawers and compartments;
at least one medication dispensing module located in at least one of the compartments or drawers, said dispensing module being modular and removable from said system, said medication dispensing module comprising:
a housing having a top, bottom, from, back, and two sides, said top having an opening to allow medication containers to be inserted therein and said bottom having an opening to allow medication containers to be dispensed therefrom;
a first shaft having first and second ends with each of said ends of said first shaft rotatably secured within said housing;
a second shaft having first and second ends with each of said ends of said second shaft rotatably secured within said housing;
a plurality of shelves arranged along a conveyor-type continuous loop, said loop passing over said first and second shafts;
a motor operably connected to one of said shafts to rotate one of said shafts along its axis, the rotation of said shaft causing the plurality of shelves to move along said loop;
and
a first programmable processor connected to said motor of said module to enable said module to be loaded in a controlled manner, and to enable said module to dispense unit doses of medication in a controlled manner for a particular patient, said first programmable processor being capable of receiving and storing information about the respective type, quantity and medication information of each of the unit doses of medication loaded onto an assigned shelf of said module, the information in said first programmable processor being automatically updated when a unit dose of medication is dispensed from said module, and said first programmable processor containing information about the remaining inventory in said module at any given time;
and
a second programmable processor in said cabinet, said second programmable processor being operatively connected to said first programmable processor and to at least one of said drawers or compartments.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/187,175Filed 26 Jan 1994
Granted: 11 Jul 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G07F 11/58
From movable storage containers or supports: the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
B65G 1/127
With separate article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the articles being books,…:…
G07F 17/0092
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus