Anesthetic dispensing station and method of using same

A dispensing station for individually dispensing tubular members comprising:

• a housing having an aperture therein, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• an actuator protruding from said housing, wherein a force exerted on the actuator in a first direction causes a tubular member to dispensed through the aperture in the housing in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
• a ramped surface, located inside the housing, used to guide said tubular members toward said aperture;
• and,
• a dispensing lever, located inside the housing, used to push the tubular member through the aperture, wherein the dispensing lever has a roller attached thereto and wherein the roller moves in a direction opposite to that of tubular member when said tubular member is being dispensed from said housing.

A dispensing station for individually dispensing tubular members comprising:

• a housing having an aperture therein, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• an actuator protruding from said housing, wherein a force exerted on the actuator in a first direction causes a tubular member to dispensed through the aperture in the housing in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
• a ramped surface, located inside the housing, used to guide said tubular members toward said aperture;
• and,
• a singulating wall used to singulate tubular members as they move down the ramped surface towards the aperture.

A method of individually dispensing tubular members comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an aperture, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• providing an actuator which protrudes from said housing;
• and,
• exerting a force in a first direction upon said actuator causing a tubular member to be dispensed in a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction, wherein the force is exerted using something other than a user's hands.

A method of individually dispensing tubular members comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an aperture, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• providing an actuator which protrudes from said housing;
• exerting a force in a first direction upon said actuator causing a tubular member to be dispensed in a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction;
• and,
• providing a dispensing lever, located inside the housing, used to push the tubular member through the aperture, wherein the dispensing lever has a roller attached thereto and wherein the roller moves in a direction opposite to that of tubular member when said tubular member is being dispensed from said housing.

A method of individually dispensing tubular members comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an aperture, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• providing an actuator which protrudes from said housing;
• and,
• exerting a force in a first direction upon said actuator causing a tubular member to be dispensed in a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction,
• wherein the actuator includes an arm for agitating at least one other tubular member, while another tubular member is being dispensed.

A method of individually dispensing tubular members comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an aperture, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• providing an actuator which protrudes from said housing;
• exerting a force in a first direction upon said actuator causing a tubular member to be dispensed in a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction;
• providing a ramped surface, located inside the housing, is used to guide said tubular members toward said aperture;
• and,
• providing a singulating wall used to singulate tubular members as they move down the ramped surface towards the aperture.

A method of individually dispensing tubular members comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an aperture, said tubular members being stored within said housing;
• providing an actuator which protrudes from said housing;
• exerting a force in a first direction upon said actuator causing a tubular member to be dispensed in a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction,
• wherein the tubular member is an anesthetic cartridge and wherein the dispensing station further includes means for dispensing gauze and means for storing a topical anesthetic container.