# US 9,436,803 B2 · Automatic prescription drug dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,803 B2 - Document ID: US9436803B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/287,637 - Filed: 2014-05-27 - Published: 2015-01-22 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-08 - Assignees: InstyMeds Corporation - Applicants: InstyMeds Corporation - Inventors: Ken Rosenblum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436803B2 ## CPC - G16H 20/10: relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G06Q 40/08: Insurance - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An automatic prescription drug dispenser including a remote dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. The remote dispenser transmits and receives information from the communications network and dispenses prescription drugs to the patient. The prescription entry system transmits and receives information from the communications network and provides an input system for the prescriber to electronically enter individual prescriptions for each patient. The communications network coordinates communications between the doctor, insurance carrier, and the remote dispenser. The remote dispenser stores, retrieves, and labels prescription drug and over-the-counter products directly to patients through a remote automated dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of dispensing therapeutic products to a patient, comprising: providing a remote dispenser containing an inventory of the therapeutic products; authorizing the dispensing of at least a portion of a prescription out of the inventory in the remote dispenser if the prescription includes at least one therapeutic product available in the inventory of the remote dispenser; the remote dispenser receiving a unique authorization code, which is unique to the patient and the prescription; the dispenser labeling the therapeutic product with information unique to the prescription, and providing the available therapeutic product to the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a formulary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the dispenser verifying a container of the therapeutic product before labeling the therapeutic product. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the dispenser automatically verifying the labeled therapeutic product prior to dispensing the therapeutic product. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring with respect to the remote dispenser at least one of temperature, interruption to normal line voltage power supply, and physical access. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one of images, animation and audiovisual works. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: providing a dispenser having a housing holding a plurality of therapeutic products in containers, wherein at least some of the containers are labeled with a first code indicating the product in the container; after a therapeutic product is selected, the dispenser verifying that a container is the proper container for the therapeutic product, wherein verifying includes scanning the first code while the therapeutic product is still in the housing; the dispenser labeling the verified container with a patient-specific label having at least one bar code printed in the dispenser, wherein the dispenser labels the verified container while it is still in the housing and wherein the patient-specific label includes patient-specific information; scanning the patient-specific label on the verified container to check the verified container prior to releasing the verified container from the housing, and rejecting the verified container so as to prevent the verified container from being released from the housing if the patient-specific label does not check correctly; and dispensing the labeled container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of therapeutic products include one or more products which require a prescription. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein scanning the patient-specific label includes verifying the at least one bar code of the patient specific label prior to dispensing the labeled container. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: providing a dispenser having a housing holding a plurality of pre-packaged therapeutic products in containers, wherein at least some of the containers are labeled with a first code indicating the product in the container; information being received by the dispenser to dispense one of the plurality of therapeutic products; the dispenser retrieving a given container presumed to contain the selected therapeutic product; the dispenser verifying that the container is the proper container for the selected therapeutic product, wherein verifying includes scanning the first code while the therapeutic product is still in the housing; the dispenser labeling the verified container with a patient-specific label having at least one bar code printed in the dispenser, wherein the dispenser labels the verified container while it is still in the housing and wherein the patient-specific label includes patient-specific information; scanning the patient-specific label on the verified container to check the verified container prior to releasing the verified container from the housing, and rejecting the verified container so as to prevent the verified container from being released from the housing if the patient-specific label does not check correctly; and dispensing the labeled container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein scanning the patient-specific label includes verifying the at least one bar code of the patient-specific label prior to dispensing the labeled container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the dispenser verifies the container by scanning a manufacturer's bar code on the container.