Medical dispensing drawer and thermoelectric device for cooling the contents therein

A refrigerated, medical dispensing drawer for use in a computerized medicine-dispensing station, said station of the type having a cabinet that houses a plurality of openable drawers in stacked arrangement containing pharmaceutical items in locked storage therein for retrieval following instructions inputted into a computer integrated the station, said drawer comprising:

• a) a drawer including a base plate, spaced-apart side walls, and spaced-apart front and rear walls, all attached together along their respective mating marginal edges to define an interior compartment of a size and shape available for reciprocal movement on a pair of side rails into and out of the cabinet;
• b) a tub reposed in said drawer covered by a tub lid hingedly attached to said drawer to form an air-tight chamber interior thereof and moveable with said drawer into and out of the cabinet;
• c) a plurality of individual baskets, each formed of fenestrated side walls and a bottom plate joined along their respective mating marginal edges, arranged in said tub with their open tops aligned below like-sized openings formed in said tub lid and covered over with openable basket lids held in locked engagement with said tub lid;
• and,
• d) a cooling system powered by a thermoelectric device for cooling the interior and contents of said chamber and maintaining a cool temperature therein, said system completely moveable with said drawer as it is inserted and withdrawn from the cabinet;
• and,
• e) a trolley extending from the rear of said station to said drawer rear wall having articulating arms interengaged therewith for carrying and directing electrical and electronic lines from the rear of said station to said cooling system during its travel into and out of said cabinet;
• f) said cooling system utilizing a totally recirculated stream of cool air without the introduction of ambient air.

A refrigerated, medical dispensing drawer for use in a computerized medicine-dispensing station, said station of the type having a cabinet that houses a plurality of openable drawers in stacked arrangement containing pharmaceutical items in locked storage therein for retrieval following instructions inputted into a computer integrated the station, said drawer comprising:

• a) a drawer including a base plate, spaced-apart side walls, and spaced-apart front and rear walls, all attached together along their respective mating marginal edges to define an interior compartment of a size and shape available for reciprocal movement on a pair of side rails into and out of the cabinet;
• b) a tub reposed in said drawer covered by a tub lid hingedly attached to said drawer to form an air-tight chamber interior thereof and moveable with said drawer into and out of the cabinet;
• c) a plurality of individual baskets, each formed of fenestrated side walls and a bottom plate joined along their respective mating marginal edges, arranged in said tub with their open tops aligned below like-sized openings formed in said tub lid and covered over with openable basket lids held in locked engagement with said tub lid;
• d) a cooling system powered by a thermoelectric device for cooling the interior and contents of said chamber and maintaining a cool temperature therein, said system completely moveable with said drawer as it is inserted and withdrawn from the cabinet;
• and,
• e) means for continually removing all condensate from the interior of said chamber.