US5502944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medication dispenser system
Assignee: CareFusion 303 Inc
•
Filing: 1993-12-03
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2013-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A medication dispenser for use in a hospital or other medical setting comprises a plurality of containers for holding medication units, packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package and robotics for manipulating a selected container to transfer one or more medication units from the container directly to said package. Since medication is directly transferred from the container to the package, no cross-contamination occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L. Kraft
- 👤 Lisa W. Rogers
- 👤 Van Hoskins
- 👤 Lou Waters
- 👤 Robert Meyers
- 👤 Kenneth E. Reynolds
- 👤 Stuart S. Crader
- 👤 David Loebig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:09
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0092; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/10; G16H20/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for dispensing medication in a hospital comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units; a plurality of holders for holding one or more medication units from associated containers; an imaging system for generating an image of the medication units in a selected holder to determine whether a desired number of medication units are present; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and robotics for manipulating a holder to transfer one or more medication units from the container directly to said package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for dispensing medication in a hospital comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units; a plurality of holders for holding one or more medication units from associated containers; an imaging system for generating an image of the medication units in a selected holder to determine whether a desired number of medication units are present; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and robotics for manipulating a holder to transfer one or more medication units from the container directly to said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a storage module for holding a plurality of said containers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said storage module comprising a rotating carousel having a plurality of receptacles disposed thereon for receiving respective containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each holder is coupled to an associated container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising control circuitry for controlling said robotics to manipulate said containers to place said desired number of medication units in the associated holder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said packaging apparatus comprises: holding means for holding packaging material; and apparatus for opening a pocket in said packaging material into which said one or more medication units are transferred.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an interface to a hospital pharmacy system for retrieving data therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a user interface for receiving instructions from a user and issuing instructions to cause transfer of said medication units from said containers to said packaging apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising control circuitry coupled to said user interface, said packaging apparatus and said robotics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 and further comprising a printer coupled to said user interface for printing reports.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
A system of dispensing medications throughout a hospital comprising: circuitry for maintaining a database of information associated with patient medication orders; and a plurality of medication dispensers for dispensing medication responsive to said database of information, each dispenser comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units; a plurality of holders for holding one or more medication units from associated containers; an imaging system for generating an image of the medication units in a selected holder to determine whether a desired number of medication units are present; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and robotics for manipulating a holder to transfer one or more medication units from the container directly to said package.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
A system of dispensing medications throughout a hospital comprising: circuitry for maintaining a database of information associated with patient medication orders; and a plurality of medication dispensers for dispensing medication responsive to said database of information, each dispenser comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units; a plurality of holders for holding one or more medication units from associated containers; an imaging system for generating an image of the medication units in a selected holder to determine whether a desired number of medication units are present; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and robotics for manipulating a holder to transfer one or more medication units from the container directly to said package.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11 wherein each dispenser further comprises a rotating carousel having a plurality of receptacles disposed thereon for receiving respective containers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein each holder is coupled to an associated container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising control circuitry for controlling said robotics to manipulate said containers to place said desired number of medication units in the associated holder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said packaging apparatus comprises: holding means for holding packaging material; and apparatus for opening a pocket in said packaging material into which said one or more medication units are transferred.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus for forming a pocket comprises first and second arms for applying a vacuum to respective first and second sides of the packaging material, at least one of said first and second arms being movable to displace a portion of said first side from a portion of said second side to form an opening to the pocket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said packaging apparatus further comprises a printer for printing patient and medication administration information on said packaging material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for dispensing medication in a hospital comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units, said containers having a holding area for temporarily holding one or more medication units; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and an imaging subsystem for detecting the presence of a single medication unit in said holding area; robotics for manipulating a selected container to transfer medication unit from the container directly to said package.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for dispensing medication in a hospital comprising: a plurality of containers for holding medication units, said containers having a holding area for temporarily holding one or more medication units; packaging apparatus for containing one or more medication units in a package; and an imaging subsystem for detecting the presence of a single medication unit in said holding area; robotics for manipulating a selected container to transfer medication unit from the container directly to said package.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said subsystem detects the absense of any medication units in said holding area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said subsystem detects the presence of more than a single medication unit in said holding area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said subsystem comprises imaging circuitry for generating an image of the contents of said holding area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said subsystem further comprises processing circuitry for identifying a cusp in said image and generating a control signal in response thereto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said subsystem further comprises processing circuitry for comparing said image with pill-specific information to determine whether a single pill is present in said holding area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23 and further comprising a database coupled to said processing circuitry for storing said pill-specific information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said pill-specific information includes pill dimension and shape information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said subsystem includes a plurality of imaging circuits to provide images of the holding area from different angles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |