Prescription control system

A prescription control system comprising:

• a medication filling device configured to sort and count one or more medications;
• a tray configured to engage the medication filling device, wherein a selected medication is sorted, counted and loaded onto the tray;
• and
• a medication dispensing device for dispensing a dosage of the selected medication to a patient, the dosage being dispensed to the patient upon receipt of a valid request, the valid request including an authorized patient identification input and a dosage availability determined in accordance with a medical professional's prescription, the medication dispensing device comprising:
• i) a case defining a medication holding area and a dosage holding area, the dosage holding area including an entry end and a dispensing end, the case including a tray shutter operable to selectively open to allow loading of the tray within the medication holding area;
• ii) a first gate located at the entry end between the medication holding area and the dosage holding area, the first gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the medication holding area to the dosage holding area;
• iii) a second gate located at the dispensing end, the second gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the dosage holding area to a retrieval area accessible to the patient;
• iv) a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the case and including a memory, wherein the dosage availability is stored in memory;
• and
• v) a patient authentication device in communication with the CPU, the patient authentication device configured to receive the authorized patient identification input,
• wherein, upon receipt of the valid request, the CPU operates to:
• i) open the first gate to pass the dosage to the dosage holding area;
• ii) close the first gate after the dosage has passed to the dosage holding area;
• iii) open the second gate after the first gate has closed to dispense the dosage to the retrieval area;
• and iv) close the second gate after the dosage has been dispensed to the retrieval area.

A medication dispensing device for dispensing a dosage of a medication to a patient, the dosage being dispensed to the patient upon receipt of a valid request, the valid request including an authorized patient identification input and a dosage availability determined in accordance with a medical professional's prescription, the medication dispensing device comprising:

• a case defining a medication holding area and a dosage holding area, the dosage holding area including an entry end and a dispensing end, the case including a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel includes a first sidewall, wherein the second panel includes a second sidewall, wherein each of the first and second sidewalls include at least one pair of corresponding case contacts that form a completed circuit when the first and second panels are disposed together;
• a first gate located at the entry end between the medication holding area and the dosage holding area, the first gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the medication holding area to the dosage holding area;
• a second gate located at the dispensing end, the second gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the dosage holding area to a retrieval area accessible to the patient;
• a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the case and including a memory, wherein the dosage availability is stored in memory;
• and
• a patient authentication device in communication with the CPU, the patient authentication device configured to receive the authorized patient identification input,
• wherein, upon receipt of the valid request, the CPU operates to:
• i) open the first gate to pass the dosage to the dosage holding area;
• ii) close the first gate after the dosage has passed to the dosage holding area;
• iii) open the second gate after the first gate has closed to dispense the dosage to the retrieval area;
• and iv) close the second gate after the dosage has been dispensed to the retrieval area, and
• wherein the CPU operates to secure at least one of the first and second gates in the closed position upon severing of the completed circuit.

A medication dispensing device for dispensing a dosage of a medication to a patient, the dosage being dispensed to the patient upon receipt of a valid request, the valid request including an authorized patient identification input and a dosage availability determined in accordance with a medical professional's prescription, the medication dispensing device comprising:

• a case defining a medication holding area and a dosage holding area, the dosage holding area including an entry end and a dispensing end;
• a first gate located at the entry end between the medication holding area and the dosage holding area, the first gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the medication holding area to the dosage holding area;
• a second gate located at the dispensing end, the second gate operable to selectively open to allow the dosage to pass from the dosage holding area to a retrieval area accessible to the patient;
• a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the case and including a memory, wherein the dosage availability is stored in memory;
• a patient authentication device in communication with the CPU, the patient authentication device configured to receive the authorized patient identification input;
• a retrieval shutter operable to selectively open to allow the patient to remove the dosage from the retrieval area;
• and
• a retrieval shutter locking pin to secure the retrieval shutter in a closed position, wherein the retrieval shutter locking pin is retractable to allow the retrieval shutter to open,
• wherein, upon receipt of the valid request, the CPU operates to:
• i) open the first gate to pass the dosage to the dosage holding area;
• ii) close the first gate after the dosage has passed to the dosage holding area;
• iii) open the second gate after the first gate has closed to dispense the dosage to the retrieval area;
• and iv) close the second gate after the dosage has been dispensed to the retrieval area.