Restocking system using a carousel

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention is directed to a carousel product which can be used in a variety of ways to dispense and improve a restocking process, and can be used for a wide variety of associated tasks, e.g. inventory control, crediting returns, cycle counts, and the like.

#2. Description of the Background

#For the present invention to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present invention will now be described, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a centralized storage location and, among other things, a plurality of storage locations;

#FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process for distributing items and restocking of items based, at least in part, on records created during distribution;

#The specification includes an appendix which includes eight pages of flow charts illustrating the process flow for various functions of the carousel of the present invention, a one page chart illustrating a patient fill process performed by an automation device such as a robot, and a one page chart illustrating a cabinet fill process performed by an automation device such as a robot. The processes are implemented in the presently preferred embodiment by software, stored in any appropriate memory device, which is executed by a computer.

#FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a centralized storage location 10 and various inventory destinations, including a plurality of decentralized storage locations 12-1, 12-2 through 12-n, patients 13, and a remote facility 14. Each of the decentralized storage locations 12-1 through 12-n is capable of dispensing items stored at the location. The items may include medications, controlled medical supplies, medical supplies or items of a nature consistent with the facility in which the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is located. Items may be dispensed directly from centralized storage location 10 to patients 13, or from the centralized storage location 10 to a remote facility 14. Data typically flows from the decentralized storage locations 12-1 through 12-n to the centralized storage location 10. In response to that data, items are typically moved from the central storage location 10 to the decentralized storage locations 12-1 through 12-n or to the remote facility 14 to restock such locations to either replenish dispensed items or to stock new items. Decentralized locations could include satellite pharmacies, computerized medication cabinets, stationary/mobile medication carts, nurse servers, remote hospital pharmacies, supply closets, supply cabinets, etc. Supplies can be reordered from distributors based on levels of stock in the centralized storage location 10.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a process which may begin with a step of dispensing an item at step 16 from one of the decentralized storage locations 12-1 to a patient. A dispensing operation may occur in a variety of ways. In a medical facility, dispenses may be completed from medication orders or they may be completed from inventory lists, to name a few types of dispensing operations. Assuming a medication has been dispensed from decentralized storage location 12-1, the medication may either be administered to a patient or returned as shown by step 18. Medications may be returned for a variety of reasons such as the patient has checked out, been moved, or the patient's medication may have been changed. Medications may be returned to the decentralized storage location 12-1. Certain types of medications may simply be replaced in the decentralized storage location 12-1 so as to be used in another dispensing operation, or may need to be disposed of.