Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the automated dispensing of and packaging of articles
Granted: January 4, 2022
Patent Number:
11214391
Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging…
Multi-camera imaging for IV compounding
Granted: April 27, 2021
Patent Number:
10991264
Systems and methods for compounding pharmaceuticals, for example for intravenous delivery. The devices include an infrared camera and an infrared light source, and can backlight and photograph items such as syringes in infrared light for enhanced clarity. A visible light camera may also be provided, for example a color digital camera, for documenting other parts of the compounding process. The device may have other sensors, for example a bar code scanner and a weight sensor, for…
Compounding device system
Granted: April 6, 2021
Patent Number:
10967125
A system for compounding medications. The system includes one or more compounding devices, and a central computer system. The central computer system receives requests, at least some of which require the compounding of one or more medications, and pushes assignments of respective compounding tasks to the one or more compounding devices. The assignments are made in accordance with a set of rules designed to promote efficient use of compounding resources.
Storage cabinet with multiple RFID readers
Granted: January 5, 2021
Patent Number:
10885494
An RFID cabinet system is provided for monitoring items having an RFID tag. System includes cabinet having open interior where items are stored and at least one door providing access to items. Static RFID system is provided for reading and identifying data embedded on RFID tag located on at least some of the items placed within cabinet. Static RFID system is configured to monitor substantially all items located within the interior of cabinet when door is closed. Transaction RFID system…
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting medications from a central pharmacy to a patient in a healthcare facility
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10850926
Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one…
Medication dispensing cabinet systems and methods
Granted: November 17, 2020
Patent Number:
10839952
A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and…
Facility-wide medication management systems
Granted: November 10, 2020
Patent Number:
10832207
A system for managing medications facilitates documentation of medication returned from remote dispensing units to a central storage location such as a pharmacy vault. The system may be especially useful in facilitating the tracking of controlled substances. The system receives an indication that a medication previously removed from the remote dispensing units has been designated for return to the medication management system. The system computes an estimated return amount of the…
Relay tray
Granted: October 20, 2020
Patent Number:
10806676
A relay tray for securely transporting items includes a lockable transportable container for holding items to be transported, and an electronic controller including a processor. The relay tray receives electric power through a power interface, and includes a commination interface through which the controller can communicate electronically. The relay tray includes a mechanism operable under control of the controller to make items in the locked container accessible in response to…
System and method for managing inventory at dispensing units
Granted: September 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10762173
Dispensing units or stations for dispensing items, such as in a healthcare facility, are linked in a network. The dispensing stations are arranged in groups. Inventory data for all the stations in a group is combined together, and displayed at a graphical view or widget. Multiple widgets may be displayed on a dashboard screen of a user system, for use in managing inventory.
Unit dose dispensing mechanisms
Granted: June 9, 2020
Patent Number:
10675223
Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the…
Dispensing system with temperature controlled drawers
Granted: May 26, 2020
Patent Number:
10663218
A device for dispensing items includes a cabinet, and a drawer within the cabinet. The drawer includes one or more compartments for storing items and a refrigeration system within the drawer. The refrigeration system is configured to maintain the one or more compartments in the drawer at a temperature below the temperature of the environment surrounding the cabinet. The drawer further includes thermal insulation at sides of the drawer and thermal insulation beneath the one or more…
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the automated dispensing of articles
Granted: March 10, 2020
Patent Number:
10586418
Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing of articles. Systems may include: a robotic arm; an end-of-arm tool attached to the robotic arm; a scanning device proximate the end-of-arm tool; and a controller to control the robotic arm and the end-of-arm tool. The end-of-arm tool may include a body and two or more vacuum cups extending from the body, where the controller controls a level of suction provided to each of the two or more vacuum cups individually. Each of the two or…
System and method for managing inventory at dispensing units
Granted: March 10, 2020
Patent Number:
10586022
Dispensing units or stations for dispensing items, such as in a healthcare facility, are linked in a network. The dispensing stations are arranged in groups. Inventory data for all the stations in a group is combined together, and displayed at a graphical view or widget. Multiple widgets may be displayed on a dashboard screen of a user system, for use in managing inventory.
Unit dose dispensing mechanisms
Granted: December 31, 2019
Patent Number:
10517799
Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the…
Medical equipment with diversion mechanism
Granted: December 24, 2019
Patent Number:
10515722
A method for identifying medical diverters includes identifying users having similar job functions. Use data indicative of user access to a medication dispensing system is retrieved and is analyzed to identify periods of use of the system for users. Boundaries of work shifts are determined and users are organized into work shifts based on periods of use. A comparison period is determined. Diversion data indicative of behavior associated with diversion for each user is identified. A…
Relay box
Granted: October 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10460546
A relay box for securely transporting medications or other items. The relay box includes a main enclosure defining a hollow interior space, and a lockable lid. The lockable lid has a closed position that encloses the hollow interior space and an open position that provides access to the hollow interior space. The relay box further includes a display area and a memory storing a globally unique electronically readable identifier. The relay box may optionally include a battery and wireless…
Management of patient transfer systems, methods, and devices
Granted: August 27, 2019
Patent Number:
10395327
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign…
Unit dose dispensing systems and methods
Granted: August 20, 2019
Patent Number:
10388102
Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the…
Unit dose dispensing mechanisms
Granted: June 25, 2019
Patent Number:
10327996
Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the…
Medication dispensing cabinet systems and methods
Granted: April 23, 2019
Patent Number:
10268804
A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and…
