Managing medications at the bedside

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10813841-B2
Application number	US-201815962299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2018
Priority date	Oct 30, 2007
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

Modular automated dispensing systems for dispensing secured medications in a medical environment are provided. The system includes a compact enclosure configured to be disposed in a medical treatment area without taking up valuable floor space. The system includes lockable drawers having one or more compartments for storing and dispensing medications or medical supplies. The system is unlocked by use of an access control interface internally or externally connected directly to the system, or networked to the system through a medical center network.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular automated dispensing system for dispensing secured medications in a medical environment, the modular automated dispensing system comprising:
a compact enclosure configured to be disposed on a support surface above a floor in a medical treatment area, wherein the compact enclosure does not require floor space in the medical treatment area, the compact enclosure comprising two side walls, a back wall, a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface;
a drawer lock assembly;
one or more drawers for storing medications, each drawer configured to be secured in the compact enclosure when locked by the drawer lock assembly, and each drawer configured to be slideably openable from the compact enclosure when unlocked by the drawer lock assembly;
a plurality of compartments disposed within an unlidded first drawer, the plurality of compartments comprising one or more first compartments, each first compartment having no individual compartment lock and a compartment interior that is accessible upon slideably opening the first drawer, and a plurality of second compartments, each second compartment having an individual compartment lid with a lock with the individual compartment lid coupled only to that second compartment, and a compartment interior that is not accessible upon initial opening of the first drawer; and
a built in biometric input device disposed within the top surface of the compact enclosure, wherein the entirety of the biometric input device is recessed below the top surface of the compact enclosure, the biometric input device operatively coupled to the drawer lock assembly and the compartment lock, the biometric input device configured to provide a first unlock signal to the drawer lock assembly to unlock the first drawer and a second unlock signal to the individual compartment lock of one of the plurality of second compartments to unlock that individual compartment lock of the corresponding second compartment, based on received authorization input,
wherein the first drawer is fully openable to expose all of the plurality of compartments when unlocked by the first unlock signal.

2. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments is removable, wherein the removable compartment is configured to be replaced with a similarly sized removable compartment pre-loaded with medications.

3. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 2 , further comprising an external scanning device configured to scan and enter information associated with the removable compartment upon removing or adding the removable compartment from or to the at least one of the drawers.

4. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the biometric input device comprises one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner and a voice recognition device.

5. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 4 , further comprising a key lock assembly configured to provide access to the compact enclosure if the biometric input device is not operable.

6. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 4 , further comprising a key lock assembly, wherein access to the compact enclosure requires successful operation of both the biometric input device and the key lock assembly.

7. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the access control interface comprises a network interface configured to unlock the drawer lock assembly and the compartment lock upon receiving authentication from a mobile device of an authorized user.

8. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of compartments is a return compartment configured to receive and store previously dispensed medications.

9. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote management device interface, wherein the remote management device interface is configured to communicate with a remote management device on a storage cabinet.

10. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a mobile device interface configured to provide access to a dispensing queue of the modular automated dispensing system on a display of a mobile device.

11. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is a secure compartment configured to provide access to a single medication dose upon unlocking the compartment lock.

12. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is a controlled compartment configured to provide access to a plurality of medication doses upon unlocking the compartment lock.

13. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a return bin disposed on an external side surface of the compact enclosure, wherein the return bin includes a bin lock to secure access to contents of the return bin, and wherein the return bin includes a slot disposed on an outer side surface, the slot configured to receive previously dispensed medications when all drawers are closed and secured within the compact enclosure.

14. The modular automated dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket secured to a top surface of the support surface, the bracket comprising a base disposed parallel to the support surface and a single securing tab projecting upward from the base, the single securing tab configured to engage with a bottom surface of the compact enclosure.

15. A system for dispensing secured medications in a medical environment, the system comprising:
a plurality of modular automated dispensing devices, each modular dispensing device comprising:
a compact enclosure configured to be disposed on a support surface above a floor in a medical treatment area, wherein the compact enclosure does not require floor space in the medical treatment area, the compact enclosure comprising two side walls, a back wall, a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface;
a drawer lock assembly;
one or more drawers for storing medications, each drawer configured to be secured in the compact enclosure when locked by the drawer lock assembly, and each drawer configured to be slideably openable from the compact enclosure when unlocked by the drawer lock assembly;
a plurality of compartments disposed within an unlidded first drawer, the plurality of compartments comprising a first compartment that is readily openable without further authorization after slideable opening of the first drawer and a plurality of second compartments each having an individual compartment lid and lock with the individual compartment lid coupled only to that second compartment and requiring further authorization to be unlocked and accessible after slideable opening of the first drawer; and
a built in biometric input device disposed within the top surface of the compact enclosure, wherein the entirety of the biometric input device is recessed below the top surface of the compact enclosure, the biometric input device operatively coupled to the drawer lock assembly and the individual compartment lock, the biometric input device configured to provide a first unlock signal to the drawer lock assembly and a second unlock signal to one or more of the individual second compartment locks based on received authorization input,
wherein each modular automated dispensing device is configured to unlock one or more of the drawers based on an authenticated dispensing request, and
wherein the first drawer is fully openable to expose all of the plurality of compartments when unlocked by the first unlock signal.

16. The system of claim 15 , furthe

Assignees

• Carefusion 303 Inc

Inventors

• Latorraca Gary
• Larrabee Kelly
• Utech Thomas
• Urankar Jitendra
• Eldredge Guy
• Burgess Brendan
• Jaskela Maria
• Heffron David

Classifications

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title

• G16H20/13

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G07F17/0092

  for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00) · CPC title

• G07C9/00563

  using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns · CPC title

• G07C9/00912

  for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like · CPC title