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US 8,412,375 B2Granted
Medication dispensing apparatus
AssigneeCerner Innovation, Inc.
InventorsEdward J. Schifman, Matthew J. Beck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications or supplies to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes one or more modules housing one or more compartmentalized drawers. Access to each drawer is controlled by a lockable door, and each the drawer may only be slid from the module housing the drawer in response to a signal. A series of lights direct the user to the appropriate drawer and the appropriate compartment of the relevant drawer to remove the appropriate medication or supply.
Claims18
A method for dispensing medical items, wherein medical items comprise medications and supplies, the method comprising:
- providing a dispensing unit that includes a plurality of stackable modules arranged in a vertical stack, each of the plurality of stackable modules having a top, a bottom, a rear wall, side walls, and a lockable door with a transparent window disposed therein, wherein a first one of the plurality of stackable modules is aligned to a second one of the plurality of stackable modules by a series of locating pins extending from the top of the first module and being received within the bottom of the second module, and wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises an environment in which medical items can be stored;
- and further wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises at least one drawer having a signal light attached to a front side of the drawer so that the signal light is visible through the transparent window when the door is in a closed position, and at least one compartment defined within each drawer;
- receiving a user selection of a medical item, the user selection comprising an item identifier corresponding to the selected medical item;
- determining a location identifier associated with the item identifier, wherein the location identifier corresponds to a compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- illuminating the signal light associated with the drawer containing the compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- and
- providing access to the compartment in which the selected medical item is located, wherein providing access comprises unlocking the module door.
4 more elements
A method for dispensing medical items, wherein medical items comprise medications and supplies, the method comprising:
- providing a dispensing unit comprising a plurality of stackable modules arranged in a vertical stack and a computing device, each of the plurality of stackable modules having a top, a bottom, a rear wall, side walls, and a lockable door with a transparent window disposed therein, wherein a first one of the plurality of stackable modules is aligned to a second one of the plurality of stackable modules by a series of locating pins extending from the top of the first module and being received within the bottom of the second module, and wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises an environment in which medical items can be stored;
- and further wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises at least one drawer having a signal light attached to a front side of the drawer so that the signal light is visible through the transparent window when the door is in a closed position, and at least one compartment defined within each drawer;
- receiving a user selection of a medical item, the user selection comprising an item identifier corresponding to the selected medical item, wherein the user selection is received from a server that is communicatively coupled to the computing device, and further wherein the user selection is entered into the server via a remote computer;
- determining a location identifier associated with the item identifier, wherein the location identifier corresponds to a compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- illuminating the signal light associated with the drawer containing the compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- and
- providing access to the compartment in which the selected medical item is located, wherein providing access comprises unlocking the module door.
4 more elements
A method for dispensing medical items, wherein medical items comprise medications and supplies, the method comprising:
- providing a dispensing unit comprising a plurality of stackable modules arranged in a vertical stack and a computing device, each of the plurality of stackable modules having a top, a bottom, a rear wall, side walls, and a lockable door with a transparent window disposed therein, wherein a first one of the plurality of stackable modules is aligned to a second one of the plurality of stackable modules by a series of locating pins extending from the top of the first module and being received within the bottom of the second module, and wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises an environment in which medical items can be stored;
- and further wherein each of the plurality of stackable modules comprises at least one drawer having a signal light attached to a front side of the drawer so that the signal light is visible through the transparent window when the door is in a closed position, and a compartment defined within each drawer, wherein a first bar code is associated with the compartment;
- placing a medical item in the compartment, wherein the medical item includes a package having a second bar code;
- reading the second bar code to identify the medical item to the computing device;
- reading the first bar code to identify the compartment to the computing device, wherein the computing device associates the compartment with the medical item;
- receiving a user selection of the medical item, the user selection comprising an item identifier corresponding to the selected medical item;
- determining a location identifier associated with the item identifier, wherein the location identifier corresponds to the compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- illuminating the signal light associated with the drawer containing the compartment in which the selected medical item is located;
- and
- providing access to the compartment in which the selected medical item is located, wherein providing access comprises unlocking the module door.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.