US5797515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling a drug dispensing system
Assignee: Telepharmacy Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-03
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2016-05-03
Abstract
Abstract An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold J. Liff
- 👤 Brian T. Hart
- 👤 Robert L. Wallace
- 👤 Arthur A. Berube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/62; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0877; G06Q10/08772; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/60; G06V20/66; G07F17/00; G07F17/0042; G07F17/0092; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/10; G16H20/13; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G06Q10/0872; G06Q10/08776; G16H10/00; G16H10/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for dispensing packages comprising: storing a plurality of coded packaged items in a housing; receiving request signals to dispense a package at a controller; generating dispense signals in response to the received request signals; displaying package information on a computer display; dispensing a package from the housing in response to the dispense signal; delivering said dispensed pharmaceutical to a drop point with a ramp on the housing; reading the code of a dispensed package with a code reader; and verifying that the requested package was dispensed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for dispensing packages comprising: storing a plurality of coded packaged items in a housing; receiving request signals to dispense a package at a controller; generating dispense signals in response to the received request signals; displaying package information on a computer display; dispensing a package from the housing in response to the dispense signal; delivering said dispensed pharmaceutical to a drop point with a ramp on the housing; reading the code of a dispensed package with a code reader; and verifying that the requested package was dispensed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dispensing further comprises dispensing a packaged pharmaceutical with a dual dispenser valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of printing a prescription label at a label printer for attaching to the dispensed package.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of printing a picture of a pharmaceutical pill on the label.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a plurality of multi-dose pills in each package.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing each packaged item in a plastic bottle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a fluid within each package.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a computer connected to the controller with a modem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a method of loading packages in the housing comprising; monitoring an amount of packages within the housing; generating a reload signal; opening the housing; scanning packages with a bar code reader as the packages are loaded into the housing; and recording data in a memory regarding the loaded packages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising scanning the packages with a hand-held bar code reader.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the packages in a bin of the housing with a sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising printing a label having a second code, the label being attached to the dispensed package.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising optically reading a first code on the dispensed package and optically reading a second code on a label attached to the dispensed package.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for dispensing a packaged item for medical treatment comprising: storing a plurality of coded medical treatment packaged items in a housing; dispensing a packaged item from the housing having a first code; forming a second code; optically reading the first code and the second code; and verifying the packaged item by electronically comparing the first code and the second code.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for dispensing a packaged item for medical treatment comprising: storing a plurality of coded medical treatment packaged items in a housing; dispensing a packaged item from the housing having a first code; forming a second code; optically reading the first code and the second code; and verifying the packaged item by electronically comparing the first code and the second code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising printing the second code on a label and attaching the label to the package.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising displaying package information on a computer display and displaying an instruction not to deliver the package if the second code does not match the first code.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of dispensing packaged pharmaceuticals comprising: storing a plurality of coded packaged pharmaceuticals in a housing; displaying patient information on a computer display; performing a plurality of required patient data entry operations; and automatically electronically enabling or disenabling a dispenser controller after completion of the patient data entry operations such that a package dispenser can dispense a coded package only upon receipt by the dispenser controller of an enabling command from the computer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of dispensing packaged pharmaceuticals comprising: storing a plurality of coded packaged pharmaceuticals in a housing; displaying patient information on a computer display; performing a plurality of required patient data entry operations; and automatically electronically enabling or disenabling a dispenser controller after completion of the patient data entry operations such that a package dispenser can dispense a coded package only upon receipt by the dispenser controller of an enabling command from the computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising providing an override command such that a user can enable the dispenser control to dispense a package and recording an override command entry in a computer memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising color encoding displayed patient data files on the display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of storing a plurality of coded packaged pharmaceuticals further comprises storing an encoded plurality of packaged pharmaceuticals in a bin, a plurality of bins being contained in the housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising dispensing a packaged pharmaceutical from a bin in response to the enabling dispense signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising dispensing a packaged pharmaceutical with a dual valve dispenser from a bin in response to the enabling dispense signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of reading the code of a dispensed package with a code reader; and verifying that the requested package was dispensed by comparison of the code read by the code reader to a reference code.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for dispensing packages and of loading packages in the housing comprising; storing a plurality of coded packaged items in a housing; receiving request signals to dispense a package at a controller; generating dispense signals in response to the received request signals; displaying package information on a computer display; dispensing a package from the housing in response to the dispense signal; reading the code of a dispensed package with a code reader; verifying that the requested package was dispensed monitoring an amount of packages within the housing; generating a reload signal; opening the housing; scanning packages with a bar code reader as the packages are loaded into the housing; and recording data in a memory regarding the loaded packages.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for dispensing packages and of loading packages in the housing comprising; storing a plurality of coded packaged items in a housing; receiving request signals to dispense a package at a controller; generating dispense signals in response to the received request signals; displaying package information on a computer display; dispensing a package from the housing in response to the dispense signal; reading the code of a dispensed package with a code reader; verifying that the requested package was dispensed monitoring an amount of packages within the housing; generating a reload signal; opening the housing; scanning packages with a bar code reader as the packages are loaded into the housing; and recording data in a memory regarding the loaded packages.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of printing a prescription label at a label printer for attaching to the dispensed package.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising scanning the packages with a hand-held bar code reader during loading of the housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of delivering the dispensed pharmaceutical to a drop point with a ramp on the housing.
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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) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |