Computer controlled and monitored medical storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976801-B2
Application number	US-201615381384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 6, 2010
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A system is disclosed for monitoring and controlling a refrigerated medical storage unit. The system may include a control station. The control station may receive temperature information from the refrigerated medical storage unit and may cause at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored. The control station may determine whether the temperature is outside a predefined range and may causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range. The control station may receive user authentication information from a user, and upon verification of the user authentication information, send unlock instructions to the refrigerated medical storage unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
receives temperature information from a refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information includes a temperature of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular item;
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular item when the particular item has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range;
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored;
determines whether the temperature is outside a predefined range; and
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed at predefined intervals when the temperature is outside the predefined range, until the temperature is back within the predefined range.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bulletin comprises:
an identification of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
a date and time;
a temperature; and
an acknowledgement or signature line or field for a user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control station further:
receives information identifying what items are stored in the refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying what items are withdrawn from the refrigerated medical storage unit; and
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of each item in the refrigerated medical storage unit versus time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the particular action comprises:
causing a warning to be presented to a user attempting to withdraw the particular item from the refrigerated medical storage unit; or
causing access to the refrigerated medical storage unit to be prohibited.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
whether the warning is presented or access is prohibited is based at least in part on an algorithm which is a function of time spent by the particular item outside the particular temperature range and the temperature of the particular item during the time outside the particular range.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system further comprises the refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the refrigerated medical storage unit comprises:
a reversible locking mechanism to secure a door of the refrigerated medical storage unit while in a closed position; and
a visual indicator which changes from a first state to a second state when the refrigerated medical storage unit is unlocked; and

the control station further:
receives instructions from a user to test the visual indicator; and
causes the visual indicator to change from the first state to the second state in response to the instructions to test the visual indicator.

7. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
receives temperature information from a refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information includes a temperature of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular item;
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular item when the particular item has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range;
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored;
determines whether the temperature is outside a predefined range; and
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the temperature is outside the predefined range, wherein the bulletin comprises:
an identification of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
a date and time;
a temperature; and
an acknowledgement or signature line or field for a user.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the bulletin is printed or displayed at predefined intervals until the temperature is back within the predefined range.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control station further:
receives information identifying what items are stored in the refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying what items are withdrawn from the refrigerated medical storage unit; and
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of each item in the refrigerated medical storage unit versus time.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the particular action comprises:
causing a warning to be presented to a user attempting to withdraw the particular item from the refrigerated medical storage unit; or
causing access to the refrigerated medical storage unit to be prohibited.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
whether Previously Presented warning is presented or access is prohibited is based at least in part on an algorithm which is a function of time spent by the particular item outside the particular temperature range and the temperature of the particular item during the time outside the particular range.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the system further comprises the refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the refrigerated medical storage unit comprises:
a reversible locking mechanism to secure a door of the refrigerated medical storage unit while in a closed position; and
a visual indicator which changes from a first state to a second state when the refrigerated medical storage unit is unlocked; and

the control station further:
receives instructions from the user to test the visual indicator; and

causes the visual indicator to change from the first state to the second state in response to the instructions to test the visual indicator.

13. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
receives temperature information from a refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information comprises temperature versus time information;
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular item;
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular item when the particular item has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range;
determines whether the temperature is outside a predefined range;
causes temperature versus time information to be stored only when the temperature is outside the predefined range; and
causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed at predefined intervals when the alarm is generated, until the temperature is back within the predefined range.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control station further:
receives information identifying what items are stored in the refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying what items are withdrawn from the refrigerated medical storage unit; and
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of each item in the refrigerated medical storage unit versus time.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the particular action comprises:
causing a warning to be presented to a user attempting to withdraw the particular item from the refrigerated medical storage unit; or
causing access to the refrigerated medical storage unit to be prohibited.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
whether the warning is presented or access is

Assignees

• Omnicell Inc

Inventors

• Paydar Akbar
• Kim Stanley
• Chai Andrew

Classifications

• G07F9/002

  Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines · CPC title

• G01K3/005

  Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00) · CPC title

• G07F17/0092

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

• G08B21/18 Primary

  Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01K3/04

  in respect of time · CPC title