1014 results about "Dispensing medications" patented technology

The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338) which is connected through a network (82, 328) to at least one remote computer (84, 324) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348) which is connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527) connected to the data terminal. A report generating device (384) generates reports (388) which include machine readable indicia corresponding to patients and/or medical items. Users may select patients and dispense medications by reading the indicia from the reports using the reading device. Certain storage locations are also labeled with machine readable indicia which may be read to indicate the taking of items therefrom as well as to indicate inventory status information. One such dispensing device in the system is a cabinet (550). The cabinet may be configured with various configurations of drawers or shelves by supporting connecting members in apertures which extend in the interior walls of the cabinet.

An apparatus for dispensing medication having a canister containing medication to be dispensed to a user. The canister is movable in both a first and a second direction. The apparatus also includes a mouthpiece that provides a point of egress for the medication. The medication is dispensed to the user when the canister is moved in the first direction. Also included in the apparatus is a switch for completing an electrical circuit. The switch is activated when the canister is moved in the first direction closing the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is opened when the canister moves in the second direction. A counter module is disclosed for performing a count upon the closure of the electrical circuit. The counter module also and displays a dispensation history of the medication in the canister. The apparatus also includes a seal for isolating the counter module from the mouthpiece and the canister.

This invention provides a system and method for dispensing medication and a dispensing apparatus that comprises a plurality of compartments in an array within a housing, the compartments having respective lids, each of the lids being movable from a closed position to an open position, the respective lids each having a latch that secures the lid in a locked configuration in the closed position. The apparatus has an actuator mechanism that selectively unlocks the latch of each of the lids at a predetermined time so as to place the unlocked lid in an unlocked configuration that enables the lid to be moved to the open position. The compartments of the medication dispenser each receive a removable cup therein that is accessible when a respective of the lids associated therewith is in the open position. Other features, such as communication and messaging and/or audible/visual displays can also be provided.

A method of tracking and dispensing the dispense of medical items for use by patients associated with a health care institution includes storing in a data store in connection with a computer data representative of patients and medical items prescribed for the patients. Authorized users such as a nurse, are enabled to dispense prescribed items for patients through medical item dispensers. A record is included in the data store that the medical items have been dispensed. In an exemplary system (650) medical items that have been dispensed are tracked to the point of giving the item to the patients using portable terminals (662) that are carried to the bedside of the patients. The activity of giving the appropriate medical item to each respective patient is recorded in the portable terminal as medical items are given to a plurality of patients. The data stored in the portable terminal concerning the giving of medical items to patients is communicated through the system and stored in the data store to provide a record that the medical items which were dispensed for a patient were actually administered. In an alternative form of the system (700) patients are enabled to dispense medications on an outpatient basis through a self service medical item dispenser (718). In a method of operating such a system a benefit plan associated with the patient is determined from rules stored in connection with data representative of the benefit plan. Payment for dispensed medications is provided by the benefits provider associated with the patient's benefits plan and a co-payment is made by the patient from a credit or debit card account.

A customizable container is used with a method of filling, storing, and dispensing medication. The method employs a medication database and analyzes medication storage requirements to determine a customized container size and configuration for an individual pill-user. Container preparation instructions are generated to computer-tailor the customized container based upon the determined needs of the individual pill-user. A pharmacist uses the container preparation instructions to organize medications in the proper dosage administration sequence in separate reconfigurable compartments of the pill pack container. The pill pack container is individually customized for each individual pill taker to organize, store, and dispense correctly a supply of pills of multiple types, sizes, and shapes for a predetermined time period.

The invention discloses a full-function liquid medicine preparation intelligent robot and a medicine preparation method thereof. The full-function liquid medicine preparation intelligent robot comprises a shell, a medicine rack, a bottle taking mechanical arm, a liquid pumping mechanical arm, a bottle clamping mechanism and a liquid medicine shaking device, and is characterized in that: the shellis provided with an operating door with a seal; the medicine rack is arranged in the shell and corresponds to the operating door; the medicine rack has a rotary structure with more than two side faces; and each side face of the medicine rack is provided with accommodating areas for different medicines, and an indoor constant temperature and disinfecting cotton ball accommodating area. The intelligent robot has the property of full functions of preparing medical liquid, nutrient solution and chemical therapy medicines, radically changes the traditional mode of preparing cytotoxic medicines andthe manual preparation environment, has the characteristics of accurate liquid preparation, sterile preparation process and no cross-infection, protects the health safety of medical workers, avoids the leakage of the cytotoxic medicines, is environment-friendly, and saves cost of hospital medication and labor cost.

A prescription drug monitoring/dispensing device ensures prescription medication housed within is taken only as directed, and not abused or sold on the streets. The device serves as an intricately guarded casing that may only dispense the preprogrammed dosage amounts at preset times, as directed by a prescribing physician. The device may include a housing having a biometric finger scanner and a display screen in communication therewith, a loading tube capable of holding a pill therein, a rotating hub in communication with the loading tube, a rotating disc in communication with the loading tube, and an exit port capable of dispensing the pill out from the housing.

Apparatus and method for storing medicaments in bulk and individually dispensing solid medicaments, such as medicine in tablet or pill form, including a rotatable carousel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart upwardly opening storage compartments, each receiving a plurality of identical medicaments in bulk different than the medicaments in each other compartment. Disposed on the carousel between each alternate pair of compartments is a vertical discharge chute which is rotated into alignment with a dispensing station after one of the medicaments is removed from one of the compartments. A vacuum operated probe is pivotally mounted on the frame opposite the dispensing station for swinging movement between a lower position, in which a terminal end of the probe is inside the compartments in engagement with a medicament therein, and a raised position above the carousel, allowing the carousel to rotate to a position in which the adjacent discharge chute is aligned with the terminal probe end. A control system selectively couples a vacuum source to the vacuum operated probe when the probe is in any selected compartment causing the terminal end to sealingly engage in airtight relation to a single medicament whereby the single medicament is carried by the terminal end to a position above the discharge chute where it is released for passage through the discharge chute to an underlying container.

An apparatus, method and system for dispensing medication in a personal health management system are described. The apparatus for dispensing medication is shown. The apparatus includes one or more storage compartments for storing-one or more medications, an input device for inputting data related to the medications, a data storage device configured to store at least the data, an output device operable to message information related to the medications, and a computing device configured to respond to the data, select one or more of the storage compartments for dispensing of the medication, provide information for the output device, and record quantity and frequency of the dispensing in the data storage device. A method is also provided for dispensing medication in accordance with an aspect of the invention. A system utilizing the apparatus in a personal health management system is also shown.

A portable medication cartridge allows for both manual and automated dispensing of tablets or capsules of virtually all sizes through a radial dispensing apparatus. The cartridge may be sealed and encoded with medication and patient identification. A microprocessor controlled medication dispensing apparatus includes a cartridge magazine capable of holding a plurality of cartridges for the same or different patients. The portable medication dispensing apparatus and method detects patient identification data and activates a radial dispensing medication cartridge in response to verification of patient identification data. The radial dispensing medication cartridge may include, for example, a tablet carrier tape having a plurality of tablet packets with at least a partially open side. The tablet carrier tape accommodates different sizes and types of tablets or capsules and is sealed with a cover tape having an identification of the tablets. The cover tape is removed after the carrier tape is inserted into the dispensing medication cartridge. The medication is sequentially advanced and allowed to radially dispense through the open side of the tablet carrier tape from the medication cartridge.

A medication dispensing apparatus having an actuator that is laterally squeezable to dispense medication. The apparatus includes a supply of medication that is dispensed when a piston is advanced by a drive member. A dose to be dispensed is selectively set by operation of a dosing member, which operation causes the actuator to shift in a direction transverse to the direction the piston is advanced to dispense medication. The actuator shifts in this traverse direction from a ready position a distance that is a function of the selectively set dose. When the actuator is squeezed back to its ready position, the drive member is shifted to advance the piston to dispense the medication.

A portable medication compliance device (10) having a body (12) and compartments (22) formed in the body. A microprocessor (120) is disposed in the body (12) and is coupled to each of the compartments (22). The microprocessor (120) is programmable to determine relative time intervals for dispensing medication from each of the compartments, to notify the user when a dose of medication is to be taken from each of the compartments, and to record the opening of each of the compartments in a memory. Programming buttons (24) are positioned proximate the body and are coupled to the microprocessor (120). The programming buttons (24) enable a user to program the microprocessor. The device may also be programmed via a remote computer through communication means (47A). A display means (16) such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is positioned on the body and is coupled to the microprocessor (120). The LCD (16) displays data including the relative time intervals for dispensing medication determined by the microprocessor (120).

The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338) which is connected through a network (82, 328) to at least one remote computer (84, 324) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348) which is connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527) connected to the data terminal. A report generating device (384) generates reports (388) which include machine readable indicia corresponding to patients and/or medical items. Users may select patients and dispense medications by reading the indicia from the reports using the reading device. Certain storage locations are also labeled with machine readable indicia which may be read to indicate the taking of items therefrom as well as to indicate inventory status information. One such dispensing device in the system is a refrigerator (450) which is retrofit with a refrigerator lock module (452) which selectively enable access to medical items stored in an interior area thereof.

The present invention relates to a medication management system that is simple, reliable and extremely easy to use. It comprises a label having a plurality of raised tabs that are depressed upon taking a medication to provide a tactile and a visual record of medication use. It can be secured to the medication container, and thus is not subject to being misplaced or forgotten. The system can be integrated with a pharmacy's computerized pharmaceutical record and prescription label printing system or it can be a stand-alone paste-on label. Alternatively, it can be used in combination with blister packs to dispense medication while maintaining a record of use. The label can be in the form of an overlay, which is placed over a preprinted container or a container having a prescription label. The use of a pressure sensitive releasable adhesive permits the removal of the overlay label in the event that is it necessary to read information on the underlying label. The underlying label is provided with a plurality of raised tabs that correspond to the number of doses to be taken per day and the number of days for which the medication is to be taken.

A medication storage/dispenser unit comprises a processor connected to medication package storage compartments. The storage compartments comprise a medication package, and preferably may also include a content reader, a medication information reader, and a medication package indicator. The processor receives a medication request from the medical information system, receives content and other medication from the storage compartments, processes the information and automatically opens the appropriate compartment with the correct medication.

A convenience kit assembled and organized to measure, fill and dispense medication and flush solutions to patients through connections to patient lines and catheters while improving safety and efficacy of such procedures by requiring fewer post-sterilization makes and breaks when compared to similar filling and dispensing methods using conventional components. Further the kit improves flush compliance by facilitating dispensing of flush solutions and decreases likelihood of infections by providing for flushing of patient lines and catheter connecting fittings without any additional line breaks. The kit is provided in resealable, tamper evident kit packaging which permits sealed transport of kit parts after initial opening and follow-on parts use. Convenience of operation is provided by a two syringe assembly which is operable by a single hand by which selective dispensing is accomplished from either of the two syringes while obstructing flow from the other syringe. The kit comprises a clip for the stabilizing the two syringe assembly for use by a single hand.