A medication management system

Abstract

The disclosure regards a medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or information of a plurality of medications, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

Description

[0001] A medication management system

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a novel medication management system and method directed to dispensing and delivering medications to a plurality of patients in a more reliable and cost effective manner than is possible with state of the art solutions.

[0003] Background

[0004] The current systems and processes used for institutional medication management and delivery of prescribed medications to inpatients, and the documentation thereof, is time consuming, disjointed, and sensitive to various potential error creating events as their design and functionalities are primarily technology-driven rathe rather than user-driven. Additionally, hospitals and healthcare institutions are -on a worldwide scale- becoming under-staffed and in combination with an ever-increasing elderly population, a shortness of nurses and pharmacists is a challenge that creates a variety of problems in the normal operation of healthcare facilities. The task of delivering prescribed medications to a plurality of patients is a highly time-consuming task with approximately 23.7% of nurses time spent on medication management and delivery and approximately 21.1% on documentation according to studies in the field of medication management. The same studies emphasized the multitasking nature of nursing within a limited time with the potential negative effect on patient care and safety, including faulty medication deliveries to patients. Medication errors are one of the most common causes of adverse events in healthcare, which occur at the rate of 10%-40% at the various stages of medication management and delivery of the medication to an inpatient, according to studies. To address such problems, the state of the art in the field of medication management systems relates to automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) and medication dispensing cart solutions, which can carry or store a number of medications and may be equipped with a computer displaying relevant information regarding the patients and their medications. A nurse can use such a system to manually scan and check-out certain medications from the ADCs and the cart, in order to place such medications in a medication cup to be given to a patient. Even though such a process is simple, it is very repetitive, sensitive to disturbance within the busy hospital environment, and it requires constant attention to detail. Therefore, such a process is prone to mistakes when a nurse must deliver a plurality of different medications to a large number of patients at various times of the day. Additionally, frequent changes of medication prescriptions, changes in nursing staff between shifts and relocations of patients are all potential risk factors for medication management errors.

[0005] To address the above challenges, certain solutions have been developed, which automate certain aspects of the medication dispensing process. However, such solutions need user involvement and still depend on the nurses’ delivery and verification of the medications to the correct patients and are prone to errors, as they depend on manual inspection by a nurse of the medications that are to be delivered to a plurality of patients. Centralized patient specific pre-packaging as well as various pharmacy-based technologies have been shown to only marginally improve the dispensing error rate and only partially address errors occurring in the nurses’ delivery process.

[0006] Hence, a new system for managing medications should be developed, which can automate certain tasks and reduce the manual labour needed to dispense and deliver medications to patients, while at the same time the system can minimize the errors that may be generated in the process.

[0007] Summary

[0008] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a medication management system focused on reducing the workload of nurses in patient care facilities, by speeding up certain processes and automating others. This is achieved by the integration of a drug inventory system and a drug preparation and dispensing systems for medication delivery to a plurality of patients. Hence, it is possible to minimize the errors that can occur at multiple stages during dispensing and delivering of medications to a number of patients in a patient care facility, such as a hospital. Therefore, the present disclosure relates to a medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display, preferably configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or information of a plurality of medications. The medication management system may further comprise a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is preferably associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications. Advantageously, the tray is configured to be placed, over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match and / or frame the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications shown on the display. In addition, the medication management system may comprise a processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. In an embodiment, the tray may incorporate the interactive display. The plurality of compartments may also be written as medicinal compartments, or medicinal holding compartments herein.

[0009] In an embodiment, the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts are each arranged adjacently, such is in contact, or abutting to a compartment for holding a medication.

[0010] It should be noted that in an embodiment, the presently disclosed system comprises a tray that both comprises 1) a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and 2) a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is preferably associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications. The plurality of compartments for holding a medication and the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts are separate distinct features of the medication management system. Prior art documents relate to trays having perforated compartments for holding a medicament, but a main difference of the presently disclosed system is that these two are distinct elements. The present disclosure is advantageous compared to prior art solutions, as it enables an easier and faster process of filling the tray with medication and subsequently administering the medication to patients by a nurse, since each medication compartment is associated with a specific partially transparent and / or perforated part that shows the corresponding information of a patient, thereby physically linking the two based on a digital link. Therefore, the present disclosure allows for the dual purpose of dispensing of medication to the tray and the subsequent administering / delivery of the medication to the patients, reducing errors and the time required to perform such tasks by a nurse. Furthermore, the system described herein enables a plurality of information to be visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts, allowing a user to rapidly receive any relevant information for e.g. a patient, a medication, doses of a medication, or any other relevant data that may be necessary. In addition, the system described herein allows documenting the various steps of the process by simply touching the screen within the patient specific / dedicated frame in a partially transparent and / or perforated part of the interactive display.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the system may assist and guide its users by interacting with their visual senses in a coordinated manner via the medication management system and workflow. For example, the interactive display can guide a user to fill in medications on specific compartments. Such a feature can make the whole process of medication delivery to inpatients -and the documentation thereof- much faster and at the same time more secure and streamlined, decreasing both clinical and procedural errors in institutional medication treatments. The system can be fully compatible with central pharmacy technologies, providing efficient and more economical hospital medication inventory management, including accommodation of more environmentally friendly medication packaging.

[0012] For example, a user may place a tray on the device, and each compartment of the tray can be associated with a specific patient. The display, via the processing circuitry, can provide information about the patient, said information will be visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray, thereby preventing the user having to take his / her eyes off the display to a separate display while dispensing or administering medication on / from the tray, as is the case in state of the art solutions . Such information may be the name of the patient, the medication prescribed to the patient, age of the patient, room number of the patient, as well as any relevant information that may be useful to the user to securely deliver the correct medication to the correct patient. The user may then fill in each compartment with the corresponding medication, wherein each compartment may be associated with a partially transparent and / or perforated part of the tray. After a tray has been filled, the user may place a next tray on or over the interactive display, repeating the process of dispensing medications on each compartment. Such a process allows a user to fill in a plurality of medications at high speed, reliably and with minimal errors.

[0013] In another embodiment the medication management system comprises a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or a plurality of medications, and a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket. The central pocket can be used for the placement of the display. The tray may be configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged, or nested on the central pocket of the tray. The medication management system may further comprise a communication unit installed on the device and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications. The medication management system may further comprise a processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

[0014] As described above, one purpose of the present disclosure is to partially automate and guide the user in the process of dispensing and administering medications on / from a plurality of trays. Specifically, a user may dispense medications on a tray guided by the interactive display that shows information of the plurality of medications. For example, such a solution may be used in a medication inventory facility, allowing a user to extract useful information of each medication, such as dosage, expiry dates or next delivery, and allowing the user to fill in medications in the corresponding compartments of the tray. In this embodiment, the information shown on the interactive display may not be associated with a patient, but solely associated with information of a plurality of medications. The present disclosure may both be applied in a medication inventory facility, assisting a user in filling in medications in a plurality of compartments, and in a patient care facility, assisting a user in filling in medications in a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment is associated with a specific patient.

[0015] Furthermore, an advantage of the medication management system is that it enables to effectively display various relevant information to a user, wherein such information can be e.g. a name, type of patient, type of medication, or any other relevant information that may be required in order to fill a medication tray or to administrate medication to patients form the tray and the documentation thereof. The tray system may display different type of information for each patient, depending on the various parameters such as type of disease or treatment required. In addition, it is possible to display photo of a person or of a medication. As a result, a nurse filling the tray can accelerate the process, while at the same time minimizing the errors performed, as the compartment that can hold a medicament can be placed directly adjacent to the visible information from the interactive display, and optionally through the partially transparent and / or perforated part. In addition, the medication management system enables to digitally label patients and medicaments, revolutionizing the obsolete practises that relate to printing physical labels for such tasks.

[0016] Moreover, the system may be configured, such that the system comprises a communication unit configured to assign or identify when a tray is placed on or over the interactive display. In an embodiment, the communication unit is a wired unit or a wireless unit. For example, an RFID tag can be installed on a tray, allowing the system to assign or identify a tray when positioned on or over the interactive display. Such a process can allow each compartment of the tray to be temporarily assigned to a specific patient, facilitating in a simple and fast dispensing of medication on the tray and delivery of medication to a plurality of patients.

[0017] Furthermore, the processing circuitry can be configured to provide on the display a plurality of information related to each patient, such as the name of patients or the prescription corresponding to each patient. Additional details regarding this functionality are provided in the detailed description of the present disclosure.

[0018] In an embodiment, the system can be configured such that the display comprises a plurality of touch-sensitive buttons, configured to signal the device when pressed by a user that a medication is dispensed on a compartment of the tray or removed from a compartment of the tray. For example, a user can use such touch-sensitive buttons in order signal that a certain medication has been dispensed in a compartment corresponding to a specific patient and then subsequently again when delivered to the patient.

[0019] The present disclosure further relates to a medication management method, the method comprising the steps: obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with and physically linked to a patient and his / her medication from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match and / or frame the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications. The medication management method further comprises the step of providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0020] Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a medication preparation system comprising a medication management system according to the features of the present disclosure, and a medication cabinet comprising a single or plurality of interactive displays and trays, configured for storing and / or transporting a plurality of medications on a plurality of trays stored in a plurality of interactive tray storage slots.

[0021] Description of Drawings

[0022] Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The drawings are examples of embodiments and are intended to illustrate some of the features of the presently disclosed medication management system and are not limiting to the presently disclosed system and method.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a medication management system.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a schematic of a display used in a medication management system.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a schematic of a tray.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows an example of a tray positioned on a display.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows an example of information of a patient being visible through a part of a tray.

[0028] Fig. 6 shows an example of a compartment of a tray, said compartment comprising a closable lid.

[0029] Fig. 7 shows the steps of a medication management method.

[0030] Fig. 8 shows an example of a tray and an interactive display.

[0031] Fig. 9 shows an example of a tray and an interactive display.

[0032] Fig. 10 shows an example of information of a medication being visible through a part of a tray. Fig. 11 shows a schematic of a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication and a central pocket.

[0033] Fig. 12 shows a schematic of a medication management system where an interactive display is arranged on a tray.

[0034] Fig. 13 shows a schematic of a medication management system comprising a drawer. Fig. 14 shows a schematic of a medication management system comprising a plurality of drawers.

[0035] Detailed description

[0036] As described in the summary, one purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system to be used in healthcare facilities, allowing a simpler, faster, more secure and reliable process of dispensing and delivering medications to a plurality of patients. Such a system can lead to a decrease in medication errors compared to other technologies and methods in the field. An additional purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can be used in a medication inventory setting, allowing a simple and more secure process of dispensing medications on a plurality of trays. Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, and a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication. The tray further comprises a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, each arranged adjacently to, or abutting to a compartment for holding a medication, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on, or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients and / or information of the plurality of medications. The medication management system further comprises a processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0037] For example, Fig. 1 shows a medication management system 100 in a perspective view comprising a device 101 and a tray 102. The tray is depicted to be displaced from the device for visualisation purposes. The applied medication management system relates to the tray positioned on, over or around the device, thereby encompassing the device. The device comprises an interactive display 103, said interactive display may show information of a plurality of patients 104. Such information of a plurality of patients may be any kind of relevant information that may be useful in a healthcare institution. For example, the information of a plurality of patients may be names of patients, age of patients, ward, room or bed of a patient, prescribed medications of patients, patient IDs, photographs of patients, dose timings of patients, or other specific messages relevant for individual patients. The tray 102 comprises a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts 105, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated parts can be associated with a specific patient, when the tray is positioned on or over the interactive display. A partially transparent and / or perforated part can be associated with a compartment 106, said compartment can be used to hold the medication of the associated patient. A user may place such a tray on the interactive display of the device, and the process of filling in the medications for each patient can be simple and straightforward, minimizing any possible errors that can be made. A topview of the interactive display can be seen in Fig. 2. The interactive display may show a plurality of patients, providing information of the patients 201 as well as an interactive button 202 that a user may press to interact with the display. The interactive display may further comprise an indicator 203 under the medicinal holding compartment 204 to be lid up in a synchronized manner with the medication dispensing process. For example, the indicator 203 may be a pattern of illumination light under a medicinal compartment, such as a ring of light below said compartment. Any other types of indications that can draw the attention of a user may be applied, such as flashing lights, lights of certain colours, or illumination of the frame below the patient or medication information. In an embodiment, the interactive display may show information of a plurality of medications, and the information may not necessarily be associated with a plurality of patients. Fig. 3 shows a top-view of a tray comprising of 21 units, where each unit comprises two perforated parts 301 and a compartment for holding a medication 302. In this example, the two perforated parts can be designed such that the information of the patients 201 and the interactive button 202 can be accessed by a user when the tray is placed on, over or around the interactive display. Fig. 4 shows a top-view of a tray 400 positioned on an interactive display, wherein information of a plurality of patients 401 is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts. An example of what can be written in the information of a patient can be seen in Fig. 5. In an embodiment, the system can be configured such that display forms an adjustable angle with the surface of the ground of preferably less than 45° degrees, more preferably less than 30° degrees, most preferably less than 15° degrees. The system may comprise an adjustable module, allowing a user to change the angle of the interactive display in order to provide a comfortable working position / environment for the user. In an embodiment, the adjustable angle can be 0° degrees, having the display parallel to the surface of the floor. Such a configuration may be beneficial when dispensing medications on the compartments of the tray, as it can reduce the chance that the medications fall off. In another case where a user browses the interactive display to extract various information about the patients, a different angle may be preferred. Therefore, a user may adjust the angle of the interactive display depending on the task and the user’s height or preferences.

[0038] In an embodiment, the medication management system may be modified to accommodate the arrangement of the interactive display in an alternative method compared to the method described above. Specifically, the medication management system may comprise a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or a plurality of medications, and a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket. The central pocket may be understood as a compartment, slot or receptable. The central pocket can have customizable dimensions and size depending on the type of medication management system, in order to accommodate any interactive display. The tray may be configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket. The medication management system may further comprise a communication unit installed on the device and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications. The medication management system may further comprise a processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment. In any of the embodiments described herein, the interactive display may comprise interactive buttons on each area associated with a patient / medication, where a user can push each interactive button to execute an action. For example, when a medication compartment is filled, the user can push the interactive button to indicate the medication is filled.

[0039] An advantage of the medication management system is the use of the communication unit that enables the identification of a tray when a tray is positioned in proximity to the interactive display. For example, when an interactive display is arranged on a tray, an NFC tag or other forms of wireless or wired communication may identify the ID of the tray, and associated the displayed information to each compartment of the tray. Such a process significantly simplifies and accelerates the process of filling medications on a tray and administering medication off the tray to patients thereby reducing the time required by a user to perform such a task, and also reducing the errors done.

[0040] For example, Fig. 11 shows a schematic of a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication 1100 and a central pocket 1101 which can house an interactive display. A communication unit may be installed in the tray or in the display in order to enable communication with the interactive display, enabling the interactive display to identify the tray ID.

[0041] Fig. 12 shows a schematic of a medication management system 1200 comprising an interactive display 1201 which is arranged on a tray 1202. The interactive display can be positioned on the central pocket of the tray. The tray and interactive display may each be equipped with a communication unit in order to enable identification of the tray by the interactive display. For example, an RFID tag can be installed on the tray, and the interactive display can be configured to read the RFID tag, thereby identifying the patients and / or medications that are associated with each compartment of the tray, and displaying on the display the relevant information for each patient and / or medication in close proximity to the corresponding compartment.

[0042] In an embodiment, the central pocket may be a partially transparent and / or perforated part.

[0043] Moreover, the system can be configured, such that the tray and / or the interactive display comprise at least one orientation object configured to align the interactive display on the tray. The orientation object may include, but is not limited to, one or more mechanical features such as protrusions, recesses, grooves, ridges, magnets, pins, sockets, detents, or rail systems that are arranged between the tray and the interactive display. In some embodiments, the orientation object is asymmetrically shaped to ensure unambiguous orientation, preventing incorrect placement or alignment. In other embodiments, visual or electronic markers may also be used.

[0044] The inclusion of orientation objects provides numerous advantages, including ensuring reliable and repeatable positioning of the interactive display on the tray, which is can be beneficial on reducing errors during medication distribution. The use of orientation objects can simplify the setup process, allowing users to quickly and intuitively align components without manual adjustment, thereby reducing setup time and user error. Additionally, such orientation aids enable automatic identification between the tray and display, allowing the system to adjust settings or content dynamically based on context. Overall, these features enhance usability, safety, and can reduce errors during operation.

[0045] In addition, the system can be configured such that the tray comprises a location configured to host a label, wherein the label can be used to identify the tray. For example, a tray may comprise a location that can host a physical or digital label, such as a printed label. Alternatively, the location may host an auxiliary display, wherein the auxiliary display can be configured to show relevant information corresponding to the tray. For example, the auxiliary display or the printed label can show the department and patient room numbers, such nurses do not need to scan the trays for identifying the one they are looking for.

[0046] Moreover, the system can be configured such that the at least one orientation object is selected from the group of: protrusions, recesses, grooves, ridges, magnets, pins, sockets, detents, and rail systems. A variety of orientation objects can be used depending on the type of application, the size of the tray and the environment where the medication management system is applied. In an embodiment, the orientation objects can be positioned in an asymmetric configuration, in order to visually simplify on the alignment process of the interactive display with the tray.

[0047] Furthermore, the device of the system can be configured to align the orientation of the display with respect to the tray. For example, if the interactive display is arranged on a false orientation with respect to the tray, the device can identify that, and the device can rotate the displayed information such that it aligns with the tray.

[0048] Moreover, the system may further comprise a communication unit configured to assign or identify a tray when a tray is placed on or over the interactive display. The communication unit may be a wired or wireless unit selected from the group of: NFC communication unit, Wi-Fi communication unit, ethernet communication unit, a camera scanning unit, or Bluetooth communication unit. Such a functionality can minimize the manual labour required by a user in a healthcare facility, as each tray may be automatically assigned to a list of patients, and a nurse can easily fill in the corresponding medications for the patients and deliver the medications. Depending on the application, different methods for assigning or identifying a tray may be used. A wired communication may comprise a cable connecting the device to a tray, thereby transmitting information related to a plurality of patients. In another embodiment, each tray may comprise a tag, such as an RFID tag, allowing short-range communication between the device and each tray. Such a functionality may allow the tray to not be placed on the interactive display, but simply over the interactive display at a finite distance. The camera scanning unit can be configured to scan a barcode, such as a QR code. For example, a QR code can be installed on the tray, and the interactive display can scan the QR code to identify the tray and the information that should be displayed on the display in order to be paired with the identified tray.

[0049] Furthermore, the processing circuitry can be configured to provide on the display the name of patients and / or the prescription corresponding to each patient and / or information on the corresponding medication assigned to the tray. Moreover, the information of the plurality of patients showed by the interactive display may comprise the name of each patient, and / or a photograph of each patient, and / or the medication treatment of each patient, and / or timing of medication doses for each patient, and / or the age of each patient, and / or the form of the medication for each patient, and / or the hospitalisation and / or treatment reasons of each patient. In addition, specific messages may also be displayed, such as a message to a nurse indicating that a certain patient needs assistance with taking the medication. Generally, any kind of information which may be relevant for the administration of medications to patients may be displayed by the device. For example, Fig. 5 shows a unit 500 of a tray wherein a first partially transparent part fits on a frame of the interactive display 501, showing relevant information of a patient, such as patient name, patient photograph, ward, room and bed of the patient, diagnosis, treatment and other relevant information. In addition, the timings and the doses of the prescribed medication are also shown. A second partially transparent part frames an interactive button 502, wherein a user may press that button to signal that the corresponding prescribed medication has been dispensed on the compartment 503 of the tray or removed from compartment. A text may also be displayed on the button, depending on the type action taken, or stage of the medication preparation or delivery process when the medication management system is used, along with coordinated color changes of the button. For example, a text may be displayed on a red button writing: “press to confirm dispensing of medication into compartment” or “press to confirm medication being delivered to patient”. An additional button may be pressed, such as an orange button, which subsequently changes the color of the red button to green as the system is at the same time alerted that a medication has been placed on the corresponding compartment or removed and delivered to the patient, respectively. The color choices of the buttons may be also be customizable, according to the preferences of each user or healthcare facility.

[0050] In addition, the system can be configured, such that the information of the plurality of medications comprises information selected from the group of: trade names of the medications, names of the manufacturers / suppliers, active ingredients / generic name of the medications, the pharmaceutical IDs / ATC codes, a photograph of each doseable unit of the medications, amounts of the active ingredients, expiration dates of each of the medications, number of remaining units for each medication, number of forecasted days / doses till finished, ordering dates and delivery statuses, ward inventory status of the medications, pharmacy availability of the medications, lead time for delivery, or last refill date for each medication. Any of the above information can be beneficial for the process of keeping inventory of the list of medications in a healthcare facility, as well as allow a user to dispense and keep track of medications in a plurality of trays. For example, Figure 10 shows an example of information of a medication 1000 visible through a part of a tray 1001. A user may utilize such information of the medication to assign the correct dose of the medication on a medication compartment 1002 and to press an interactive button 1003 to confirm possible restocking of said medication or alternatively sending a signal to the processing circuitry that said medication has been dispenses to a medication compartment. As shown in the example of Figure 10, the information of the medication may comprise the last refill date, number of patients prescribed with said medication, expected runout of the medication, expiration date, delivery lead time, manufacturer, main indications or side effects, and medication class. Additional information may also be displayed, depending on the type of medication.

[0051] In an embodiment, the type of information that can be displayed by the interactive display may comprise information of each patient’s medical record or notes that are assigned by a doctor or a nurse of a given patient. Such information may include, for example, diagnostic details, treatment plans, medication schedules, allergies, or realtime updates entered during ongoing care. By allowing this type of information to be displayed directly on the interactive display, clinical workflows may be streamlined, as caregivers may access relevant data at the point of care without needing to consult separate systems or records. This may reduce the likelihood of medical errors, support timely and well-informed decision-making, and enhance coordination between medical staff.

[0052] Moreover, the system can be configured, such that the information of the plurality of patients comprises lists of patients that are on the same type of medication. Such a feature can be advantageous, as it can allow a nurse to fill in the compartments of a tray that are linked to the same type of medication, before continuing with a next type of medication. Therefore, it is possible to increase the productivity of nurses in healthcare facilities while at the same time minimize the errors when dispensing medications.

[0053] In an embodiment, the system may comprise at least one racks configured to carry a plurality of trays and / or medications. For example, a rack may be an integral part of the medication management system, and the racks may hold a plurality of trays. A nurse may select a first tray, fill the compartments of the tray with medications, and then continue with a second tray. As a result, it is possible to fill in a plurality of trays and deliver the medications to a large number of patients, by moving the system with the rack to different locations in a healthcare facility. A rack, which may also be a drawer in a drawer cassette, may also be used to provide access to the correct / respective medication to be subsequently manually placed by the user in the correct compartments of a tray or hold medications that do not fit on the tray, such as filled syringes with injectable medication. Such items may be assigned or labelled for a specific patient, for which all the necessary information is provided in the respective frames on the tray-display configuration. In an embodiment, the system further comprises one or more drawer for storing items, each drawer comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each drawer can be identified by the communication unit.

[0054] Fig. 13 shows an example of a medication management system comprising a drawer 1300 that is positioned beneath the tray. The drawer can be utilized to hold various items, for example in the case of hospitals using medication like ointment tubes and inhalers that do not fit with the tablets. The drawer may also be identified by the interactive display, and the drawer may comprise a plurality of compartments, where a user can store certain items on each compartment corresponding to a specific patient.

[0055] In the schematic of Fig. 13 a single drawer is shown. Depending on the type of application, a plurality of drawers can be used and be individually mountable on the system, enabling a user to build a medication management system with the number of drawers that fit customizable needs. Such a functionality can be beneficial, as it can expand the usability of the medication management system in hospitals, pharmacies and in other item storage facilities.

[0056] Fig. 14 shows an example where a plurality of drawers 1400 can be assembled beneath a tray.

[0057] Moreover, the system may comprise a communication module configured to connect the device and the rack to the processing circuitry. For example, it may be possible to assign or identify a plurality of trays, by connecting the rack to the device of the system. Therefore, such a feature can accelerate the process of dispensing and delivering medications to a plurality of patients.

[0058] In addition, the processing circuitry can be configured to store data related to information of patients, and / or inventory of medications, and / or medication information, such as prescribed medications. The processing circuitry may store any data that may be relevant for the medication dispensing process in a healthcare facility. Such data may be from the list of information of a plurality of medications, such as trade names of the medications, names of the manufacturers / suppliers, active ingredients / generic name of the medications. For example, the processing circuitry may store data related to the names of patients, related to the prescription and diagnosis of each patient, and related to the stock of each medication in the healthcare facility. The medication management system may also be paired with a medication prescription unit, where the system may extract information regarding the medications that are available in a healthcare facility. In addition, the inventory of medications may comprise information related to expiration dates of medications, quantity of medications stored, type of medications stored and / or registry of accessed medications. The inventory of medications may also comprise data related to trade names of the medications, names of the manufacturers / suppliers, active ingredients / generic name of the medications, the pharmaceutical IDs / ATC codes, a photograph of each doseable unit of the medications, amounts of the active ingredients, expiration dates of each of the medications, number of remaining units for each medication, number of forecasted days / doses till finished, ordering dates and delivery statuses, ward inventory status of the medications, pharmacy availability of the medications, lead time for delivery, or last refill date for each medication.

[0059] The compartments on each tray where a user may place medications may have various shapes and geometries depending on the type of medication. For example, if the medication is in liquid form, the compartments can be configured to host a cup with a closable lid. In an embodiment, the system can be configured, such that the tray comprises a plurality of medicinal cup containers, optionally each medicinal cup container comprises a closable lid. An example of a medicinal cup container with a closable lid can be seen in Fig. 6, where a medicinal cup container 600 is a part of the tray or can be placed in a compartment 601 of the tray. Such a cup-container may also comprise a removable medicinal cup 602. Furthermore, the compartments of a tray may be advantageously used for storing multiple medications, for example by holding multiple unit of a medication with a specific medicinal product ID number. The multiple medications may be chosen for example when a specific patient should get a plurality of doses over a period of time.

[0060] As described at a previous section of the present disclosure, the system can be configured, such that the display comprises a plurality of touch-sensitive buttons, configured to signal the device when pressed by a user that a medication is dispensed on a compartment of the tray or removed from a compartment of the tray. The tray may also have different geometry and configuration, depending on the healthcare facility. The tray may comprise a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts. In an embodiment, one or more partially transparent and / or perforated parts may not be assigned to a specific medication container, but they can be used for various displays and for inserting data into other systems connected to the medication management system. Various configurations may be realized, depending on the type of application and the facility that the tray is used on. For example, there may be two partially transparent parts on each unit of the tray, wherein the first can be used to show patient information via the display, while the second can be used to activate an interactive button, which can transmit signals to the processing circuity of the device. For example, if a medication is successfully dispensed on a compartment, a nurse can press the corresponding button, signalling that the medication to the corresponding patient has been placed on the compartment. In an embodiment, other types of information can be visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts, and a different number of such partially transparent and / or perforated parts may be designed on a tray.

[0061] In certain occasions, the prescription of a patient may be modified by a doctor at any time. Therefore, it can be beneficial that the system can notify a user when a tray needs to be updated with different medication prescriptions and / or with a different information of patients or medications. For example, a nurse may have filled a tray with medications, and before delivering the medications, a doctor of a given patient may modify the patient’s prescription. A notification can then be sent on the medication management system, alerting the nurse of the modification in the prescription as the nurse places the corresponding tray on, or over the display. Therefore, the nurse may modify the medication accordingly, and prevent a wrong medication or a missed medication to be administered / not administered to a patient. In another example, a specific medication may be out of stock at a healthcare facility, triggering a notification sent by the system and shown in the interactive display. Hence, a user may note that the medication is out of stock, and order a new delivery of medication from the supplier as soon as possible.

[0062] In order to assist a user in the process of dispensing medications on a tray, a colourcoding module can be implemented in the medication management system. Such a system may highlight compartments in a tray that correspond to the same medication, thereby allowing an easier process of filling-in medications, while at the same time assisting in minimizing errors. Specifically, the system can be configured, such that the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate at least a part of the display, thereby illuminating a compartment of the tray when a medication is to be dispensed to said compartment or removed from said compartment. Such a feature can be beneficial, as it allows a user to fill in the compartments of a tray in an efficient way, while at the same time correct medicinal allocations and deliveries are enhanced. For example, if a first medication is the same for a number of patients assigned on a tray, then the corresponding compartments can be illuminated with the same color, by either having a constant illumination or a flashing illumination of the respective data frames or medicinal holders on the display. Therefore, a nurse can visualize fast which of the patients should be administered with that medication and fill in the compartments efficiently. Then, the process can be repeat for another medication, up until the whole tray is filled. Such a feature provides higher productivity while at the same time minimizes possible errors that may occur during the medication delivery process. As described above, the system may be configured such that the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate a plurality of compartments, corresponding to the same type of medication, with the same colour. For example, the display may illuminate at the same time all of the compartments of the tray, each compartment having a specific colour depending on the type of medication. Alternatively, the display may be illuminated gradually. A user may configure the type of the illumination according to preferences or according to the variety of medications on a given tray. The colour-coding module may also be paired with the use of the touch-sensitive buttons on the interactive display. For example, when a user activates the touch-sensitive button to signal that a medication is placed on a compartment corresponding to a patient, then the colour on the background of the corresponding information of the patient or of the respective push-button may change to another colour or it may also stop being illuminated. For example, the colour may change from red to yellow, when a medication is placed on the corresponding compartment and to green when delivered to the patient. Additionally, as the prescriptions to patients may be continuously updated by their physicians, an updated prescription on a medication compartment may be indicated by a specific color in the interactive display. For example, if the prescription of a patient changes from 2 pills to 1 pill, the corresponding area on the interactive display may be illuminated with a red color, and the touch- sensitive button may display a “-1” symbol, prompting a nurse to remove one pill from the corresponding medication compartment. Accordingly, such a feature can be used to add more medications. Furthermore, the illuminated parts may hint a user to take a certain action, such as fill in a mediation or remove a medication from a compartment.

[0063] In an embodiment, the system can be configured such that the plurality of compartments are filled by a robot and / or a person. For example, a healthcare facility may have a nurse fill in the various compartments with medications. Alternatively, it may be possible to assign a programmable robot, such as a robotic arm, or a specifically designed tray filling kiosk, to conduct such a process.

[0064] Furthermore, the system can be configured, such that the device comprises a computing unit selected from the group of: desktop computer, portable computer, or tablet computer. Such a computing unit may be used to execute the software of the interactive display, as well as the software of assigning or identifying a tray and its assigned patients and / or medication, including the specific tray location corresponding to specific patients and / or medication. In an embodiment, a central server-based computer may be utilized, which may control a plurality of medication management systems, providing the information of the plurality of patients, and providing the software necessary for the system to function. The medication management system may be connected to a server of the healthcare facility via internet or via an intranet configuration, allowing the system to access any relevant information about the patients.

[0065] Moreover, the system can be configured such that the device is continuously updated with information of a plurality of patients, such as names of patients, and / or medications, prescriptions of patients or locations of patients. Such a feature can be advantageous, as it may notify a user when certain information have been modified, such as information about a patient’s condition or a prescribed medication. Therefore, the interactive display may be updated in real-time, and a user may adjust a medication accordingly. The device may be continuously updated with information regarding names of patients or names of medications, changes in medication orders for patients, as well as availability and remaining amounts of medications.

[0066] In addition, the system can be installed on a mobile platform configured to move the system to a plurality of locations, thereby distributing medication to patients. Such a feature may allow the system to be mobile, and it may allow a user take the system to a plurality of locations, such as different rooms of a hospital ward, in order to deliver the medications that have been placed in a plurality of trays.

[0067] Moreover, the medication management system may comprise a medication delivery confirmation software that may integrate the medication management system to a central database of a healthcare facility, forwarding a message to medical record system that a given prescribed medication has been delivered to a patient. For example, when a nurse presses the push-sensitive button on the interactive display signalling that a medication has been delivered to a patient, the medication management system may send a message to the medical record of the patient that the patient has received the correct medication. Such a signal may also comprise other details such as the time that the medication has been delivered or the dose of the medication.

[0068] The medication management system may also comprise a barcode scanner configured to be used by a user to check-out a medication when said medication is removed from a medication cabinet or any storage facility and placed to a compartment of a tray. The barcode scanner may also be used to confirm the delivery to the correct patient by scanning the patients hospital wrist band or an identification code on the patient’s bed.

[0069] The present disclosure relates to the use of the medication management system according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein, for assisting a user in delivering medication to a plurality of patients in a patient care facility.

[0070] Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a medication management method, the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, and obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts. The tray may be configured such that each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match and frame the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications. The method further comprises the step of providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that will be or already are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. Fig. 7 shows the steps of the method. At first, the method relates to the step of obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications 700, followed by obtaining a tray 701 comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts. Then, the method relates to the step of providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that will be or already are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray 702.

[0071] Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a medication management method , the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket, wherein the tray is configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket, obtaining a communication unit installed on the interactive display and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications, and providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

[0072] The method may further comprise the step of dispensing medications on each compartment of the tray according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications that is, if applicable, visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. As described herein, various modifications may be performed on the interactive display in order to facilitate a simpler process. For example, a colour-coding module may be utilized in order to assist a user to dispense medications on each compartment of a tray.

[0073] Additionally, the method may further comprise the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients that is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. Furthermore, the method may comprise the step of replenishing and extracting medications from a plurality of compartments. It may be beneficial that a display illumination feature may be used to illuminate the respective containers such that the information on the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. Therefore, it may be easier for a user to dispense or remove medications from a tray, as the illumination feature can be a colour-coding function that simplifies such a process.

[0074] Moreover, the method may comprise the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment. The information may comprise patient-specific data such as identification, prescribed dosage, timing, administration route, and any contraindications or allergies, as well as medication-specific data such as type, batch number, expiry date, and compartment location. Therefore, guided delivery of medications can be achieved, thereby reducing errors and increase efficiency. Each compartment may be associated with a unique identifier or orientation feature that facilitates matching with the correct patient profile, such that the delivery process is carried out with improved accuracy and safety.

[0075] The method may be configured such that the method is executed by means of the system according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0076] The present disclosure further relates to a medication preparation system, comprising a medication management system according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and a medication cabinet optionally comprising a single or plurality of interactive displays and trays, configured for storing and / or transporting a plurality of medications on a plurality of trays stored in a plurality of interactive tray storage slots.

[0077] The medication preparation system may further comprise a processing circuitry configured to correlate the medications stored in a medication cabinet to the medications dispensed on a tray of the medication management system, thereby updating the medication cabinet when a medication is removed from the medication cabinet. The medication cabinet may also be understood as a storage and / or inventory system. For example, as the device has the information of patients and their prescribed medications, such information can be linked to the cabinet. Therefore, if a user makes an error and takes a different medication for a patient, the discrepancy can detected and an error message can be displayed to the user. Hence, errors related to dispensing the wrong medication to a patient can be minimized using such a feature.

[0078] Moreover, the medication preparation system can be configured, such that the information of the plurality of medications and the plurality of medications stored in the medication cabinet are continuously updated according to the information of the plurality of patients, such as the number of patients or the prescribed medications to the patients. The present disclosure further relates to the use of the medication preparation system for assisting a user in identifying and accessing medications in a medication cabinet and maintaining / monitoring a medication inventory for plurality of medications.

[0079] The medication management system disclosed herein may also be used to dispense any kind of objects in the compartments of a tray. The present disclosure relates to an item management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of items, and a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding an object. The tray may further comprise a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with an item from the plurality of items, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of plurality of items. The item management system may further comprise processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of items that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of items is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0080] For example, the item management system may be applied to any kind of field where objects need to be sorted in specific compartments or identified and collected in a specific order. The interactive display may display relevant information depending on the type of field or the type of objects.

[0081] In an embodiment, the item management system may comprise a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality items, and a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding an item, and a central pocket. The central pocket can be used for the placement of the display. The tray may be configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged, or nested on the central pocket of the tray. The item management system may further comprise a communication unit installed on the device and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of items. The item management system may further comprise a processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of items that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of items are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

[0082] The term "processing circuitry" as used herein may refer to any electronic circuit or combination of circuits that perform data processing functions. This may include, but is not limited to, microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or any other type of integrated circuit capable of executing instructions or processing data.

[0083] The processing circuitry may be configured to execute software, firmware, or hardware instructions to perform specific tasks. These tasks can include, but are not limited to, arithmetic operations, logical operations, data manipulation, control functions, communication protocols, and any other operations necessary to carry out the functions of the invention.

[0084] In various embodiments, the processing circuitry may include one or more processing units (e.g., central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs)), memory elements (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory), and other peripheral devices (e.g., input / output interfaces, communication interfaces). The processing circuitry may also be connected to various sensors, actuators, or other components to gather input data, process the data, and generate output signals based on the processed data.

[0085] The processing circuitry may operate in conjunction with other hardware components, such as power supply circuits, clock generation circuits, and data storage devices, to ensure reliable and efficient operation. The specific configuration of the processing circuitry can be tailored to meet the requirements of the particular application, whether it involves real-time processing, high-speed data computation, low-power operation, or any other specialized need.

[0086] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry may include multiple processing cores or units that operate in parallel to increase processing speed and efficiency. These multi-core configurations can be used to perform complex computations, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, or improve fault tolerance by providing redundancy.

[0087] Furthermore, the processing circuitry may be integrated into a single chip or distributed across multiple chips or modules, depending on the design requirements and constraints. The integration of processing circuitry into a single chip, commonly known as a system on a chip (SoC), can reduce size, power consumption, and cost while improving performance and reliability.

[0088] Overall, the processing circuitry may provide the necessary computational power and control logic to implement the functionalities described in the present disclosure.

[0089] Examples

[0090] Figures 8, 9 show two different embodiments of the medication management system, wherein the trays 800, 900 relate to different geometries. In these embodiments, the interactive display is positioned on top of the tray, on a partially perforated and / or transparent part of the tray. A communication unit which can be installed on the tray or on the interactive display can pair the interactive display with the tray, such that relevant information are displayed on the display. For example, after pairing, the display identifies that the tray is associated with specific patients, and the display can therefore show information of each patient, medication, doses that can be arranged adjacently to the corresponding compartment of each patient. For example information of a patient and the medication that are assigned on that patient 802 can be displayed next to the compartment 801 that corresponds to that patient.

[0091] Different geometries of the trays as well as different configurations of the interactive display may be utilized, in order to match the needs of each healthcare facility. For example, larger trays may be used for larger healthcare facilities, while for smaller healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes, a smaller tray configuration may be utilized. The type of medication may also be a factor that can adapt the shape of the compartments of a tray. For example, if certain medications are in liquid form, the compartments may be designed accordingly to accommodate for that.

[0092] Items

[0093] 1. A medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, each arranged adjacently to a compartment for holding a medication, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients and / or information of the plurality of medications, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0094] 2. The medication management system according to item 1, wherein each of the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts is in contact to a compartment for holding a medication.

[0095] 3. The medication management system according to any one of items 1-2, wherein each of the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts are arranged to abut to a compartment for holding a medication.

[0096] 4. A medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or a plurality of medications, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket, wherein the tray is configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket, and a communication unit installed on the device and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment. The medication management system according to item 4, wherein the central pocket is a partially transparent and / or perforated part. The system according to any one of the items 1-3, further comprising a communication unit configured to assign or identify a tray when a tray is placed on or over the interactive display. The system according to any one of the items 2-6, wherein the communication unit is a wired unit or a wireless unit. The system according to any one of the items 2-7, comprising a communication unit selected from the group of: NFC communication unit, Wi-Fi communication unit, ethernet communication unit, a camera scanning unit, or Bluetooth communication unit. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide on the display the name of patients and / or the prescription corresponding to each patient, and / or the information of the corresponding medication assigned to the tray. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the information of the plurality of patients comprises the name of each patient, and / or a photograph of each patient, and / or the medication treatment of each patient, and / or timing of medication doses for each patient, and / or the age of each patient, and / or the hospitalisation reason of each patient.

[0097] 11. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the information of the plurality of medications comprises information selected from the group of: trade names of the medications, names of the manufacturers or suppliers, active ingredients of the medications, generic name of the medications, pharmaceutical IDs / ATC codes, a photograph of each doseable unit of the medications, amounts of the active ingredients, expiration dates of each of the medications, number of remaining units for each medication, number of remaining days / doses of each medication, ordering dates and delivery statuses, ward inventory status of the medications, pharmacy availability of the medications, lead time for delivery, or last refill date for each medication.

[0098] 12. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the information of the plurality of patients comprises lists of patients that are on the same type of medication.

[0099] 13. The system according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising a rack configured to carry a plurality of trays and / or medications.

[0100] 14. The system according to item 13, further comprising a communication module configured to connect the device and the rack to the processing circuitry.

[0101] 15. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to store data related to information of patients, and / or inventory of medications, and / or medication information, such as prescribed medications.

[0102] 16. The system according to item 15, wherein the inventory of medications comprises information of expiration dates of medications, quantity of medications stored, type of medications stored and / or registry of accessed medications. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of medicinal cup containers, optionally each medicinal cup container comprises a closable lid. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the display comprises a plurality of touch-sensitive buttons, configured to signal the system when pressed by a user that a medication is dispensed on a compartment of the tray or removed from a compartment of the tray. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the system notifies a user when a tray needs to be updated with different medication prescriptions and / or with a different information of patients or medications. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the display forms an adjustable angle with the surface of the ground of preferably less than 45° degrees, more preferably less than 30° degrees, most preferably less than 15° degrees. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate at least a part of the display, thereby illuminating a compartment of the tray when a medication has been dispensed to said compartment or removed from said compartment. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate a plurality of compartments, corresponding to the same type of medication, with the same colour. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the device comprises a computing unit selected from the group of: desktop computer, portable computer, or tablet computer. 24. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the device is continuously updated with information of a plurality of patients and / or medications, such as names of patients, prescriptions of patients or locations of patients.

[0103] 25. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the plurality of compartments are filled by a robot and / or a person.

[0104] 26. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the system can be installed on a mobile platform configured to move the system to a plurality of locations, thereby distributing medication to patients.

[0105] 27. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the tray and / or the interactive display comprise at least one orientation object configured to align the interactive display on the tray.

[0106] 28. The system according to item 27, wherein the orientation objects are placed in an asymmetric configuration.

[0107] 29. The system according to any one of the items 27-28, wherein the at least one orientation object is selected from the group of: protrusions, recesses, grooves, ridges, magnets, pins, sockets, detents, and rail systems.

[0108] 30. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the device is configured to align the orientation of the display with respect to the tray.

[0109] 31. The system according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising one or more drawer for storing items, each drawer comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each drawer can be identified by the communication unit.

[0110] 32. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the tray comprises a location configured to host a label, wherein the label is used to identify the tray. Use of the system according to any one of the preceding items for assisting a user in delivering medication to a plurality of patients in a patient care facility. A medication management method, the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications, and providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray. A medication management method, the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket, wherein the tray is configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket, obtaining a communication unit installed on the interactive display and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications, and providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

[0111] 36. The method according to item 34, further comprising the step of dispensing medications on each compartment of the tray according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications that is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0112] 37. The method according to item 35, further comprising the step of dispensing medications on each compartment of the tray according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications.

[0113] 38. The method according to any one of the items 34-37, further comprising the step of replenishing and extracting medications from a plurality of compartments.

[0114] 39. The method according to any one of the items 34-37, further comprising the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients that is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

[0115] 40. The method according to item 35, further comprising the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

[0116] 41. The method according to any one of the items 34-40, wherein the method is executed by means of the system according to any one of the items 1-32

[0117] 42. A medication preparation system, comprising a medication management system according to any one of the items 1- a medication cabinet comprising a single or a plurality of interactive displays and trays, configured for storing a plurality of medications.

[0118] 43. The medication preparation system according to item 42, further comprising a processing circuitry configured to correlate the medications stored in the medication cabinet to the medications dispensed on a tray of the medication management system, thereby updating the medication cabinet when a medication is removed from the medication cabinet.

[0119] 44. The medication preparation system according to any one of the items 42-43, wherein the information of the plurality of medications and the plurality of medications stored in the medication cabinet are continuously updated according to the information of the plurality of patients, such as the number of patients or the prescribed medications to the patients.

[0120] 45. Use of the medication preparation system for assisting a user in identifying and accessing medications in a medication cabinet and maintaining and monitoring a medication inventory for plurality of medications.

[0121] 46. An item management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of items, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding an object, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with an item from the plurality of items, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of plurality of items, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of items that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of items is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

Claims

Claims1. A medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, each arranged adjacently to a compartment for holding a medication, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients and / or information of the plurality of medications, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

2. The medication management system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts is in contact to a compartment for holding a medication.

3. The medication management system according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein each of the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts are arranged to abut to a compartment for holding a medication.

4. A medication management system comprising a device comprising an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or a plurality of medications, a tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, anda central pocket, wherein the tray is configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket, and a communication unit installed on the device and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications, and processing circuitry configured to provide on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

5. The medication management system according to claim 4, wherein the central pocket is a partially transparent and / or perforated part.

6. The system according to any one of the claims 1-3, further comprising a communication unit configured to assign or identify a tray when a tray is placed on or over the interactive display.

7. The system according to any one of the claims 2-6, wherein the communication unit is a wired unit or a wireless unit.

8. The system according to any one of the claims 2-7, comprising a communication unit selected from the group of: NFC communication unit, Wi-Fi communication unit, ethernet communication unit, a camera scanning unit, or Bluetooth communication unit.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide on the display the name of patients and / or the prescription corresponding to each patient, and / or the information of the corresponding medication assigned to the tray.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information of the plurality of patients comprises the name of each patient, and / or a photograph of each patient, and / or the medication treatment of each patient, and / or timing of medication doses for each patient, and / or the age of each patient, and / or the hospitalisation reason of each patient.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information of the plurality of medications comprises information selected from the group of: trade names of the medications, names of the manufacturers or suppliers, active ingredients of the medications, generic name of the medications, pharmaceutical IDs / ATC codes, a photograph of each doseable unit of the medications, amounts of the active ingredients, expiration dates of each of the medications, number of remaining units for each medication, number of remaining days / doses of each medication, ordering dates and delivery statuses, ward inventory status of the medications, pharmacy availability of the medications, lead time for delivery, or last refill date for each medication.

12. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information of the plurality of patients comprises lists of patients that are on the same type of medication.

13. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a rack configured to carry a plurality of trays and / or medications.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a communication module configured to connect the device and the rack to the processing circuitry.

15. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to store data related to information of patients, and / or inventory of medications, and / or medication information, such as prescribed medications.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the inventory of medications comprises information of expiration dates of medications, quantity ofmedications stored, type of medications stored and / or registry of accessed medications.

17. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of medicinal cup containers, optionally each medicinal cup container comprises a closable lid.

18. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display comprises a plurality of touch-sensitive buttons, configured to signal the system when pressed by a user that a medication is dispensed on a compartment of the tray or removed from a compartment of the tray.

19. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system notifies a user when a tray needs to be updated with different medication prescriptions and / or with a different information of patients or medications.

20. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display forms an adjustable angle with the surface of the ground of preferably less than 45° degrees, more preferably less than 30° degrees, most preferably less than 15° degrees.

21. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate at least a part of the display, thereby illuminating a compartment of the tray when a medication has been dispensed to said compartment or removed from said compartment.

22. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a colour-coding module, configured to illuminate a plurality of compartments, corresponding to the same type of medication, with the same colour.

23. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a computing unit selected from the group of: desktop computer, portable computer, or tablet computer.

24. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is continuously updated with information of a plurality of patients and / or medications, such as names of patients, prescriptions of patients or locations of patients.

25. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of compartments are filled by a robot and / or a person.

26. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system can be installed on a mobile platform configured to move the system to a plurality of locations, thereby distributing medication to patients.

27. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray and / or the interactive display comprise at least one orientation object configured to align the interactive display on the tray.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the orientation objects are placed in an asymmetric configuration.

29. The system according to any one of the claims 27-28, wherein the at least one orientation object is selected from the group of: protrusions, recesses, grooves, ridges, magnets, pins, sockets, detents, and rail systems.

30. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is configured to align the orientation of the display with respect to the tray.

31. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more drawer for storing items, each drawer comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each drawer can be identified by the communication unit.

32. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray comprises a location configured to host a label, wherein the label is used to identify the tray.

33. Use of the system according to any one of the preceding claims for assisting a user in delivering medication to a plurality of patients in a patient care facility.

34. A medication management method, the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts, wherein each partially transparent and / or perforated part is associated with a patient from the plurality of patients and / or with a medication from the plurality of medications, and wherein the tray is configured to be placed on, or over the interactive display such that the plurality of partially transparent and / or perforated parts match the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications, and providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such that the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

35. A medication management method, the method comprising the steps obtaining an interactive display configured to show information of a plurality of patients and / or of a plurality of medications, obtaining a tray, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments for holding a medication, and a central pocket, wherein the tray is configured to be placed beneath the interactive display such that the interactive display is arranged on the central pocket, obtaining a communication unit installed on the interactive display and / or on the tray, the communication unit configured to identify a tray when a tray is in proximity to the interactive display, thereby associating the tray with information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications, and providing on the display the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are associated with the tray, such thatthe information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of dispensing medications on each compartment of the tray according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications that is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

37. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of dispensing medications on each compartment of the tray according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or the information of the plurality of medications.

38. The method according to any one of the claims 34-37, further comprising the step of replenishing and extracting medications from the plurality of compartments.

39. The method according to any one of the claims 34-37, further comprising the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients that is visible through the partially transparent and / or perforated parts of the tray.

40. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of delivering medications to a plurality of patients according to the information of the plurality of patients and / or of the plurality of medications that are each arranged adjacently to a corresponding compartment.

41. The method according to any one of the claims 34-40, wherein the method is executed by means of the system according to any one of the claims 1-26.

42. A medication preparation system, comprising a medication management system according to any one of the claims 1- 32, anda medication cabinet comprising a single or plurality of interactive displays and trays, configured for storing a plurality of medications.

43. The medication preparation system according to claim 42, further comprising a processing circuitry configured to correlate the medications stored in the medication cabinet to the medications dispensed on a tray of the medication management system, thereby updating the medication cabinet when a medication is removed from the medication cabinet.

44. The medication preparation system according to any one of the claims 42-43, wherein the information of the plurality of medications and the plurality of medications stored in the medication cabinet are continuously updated according to the information of the plurality of patients, such as the number of patients or the prescribed medications to the patients.

45. Use of the medication preparation system for assisting a user in identifying and accessing medications in a medication cabinet and maintaining and monitoring a medication inventory for plurality of medications.

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