Apparatus for dispensing medical items
View Patent ↗A dispenser ( 10 ) for dispensing medical items ( 68, 70, 72 ) includes dispenser modules ( 28, 30 ) movably mounted thereon. The dispenser modules are selectively operative to dispense medical items therefrom into a path ( 54 ) which is connected to a delivery area ( 20 ) of the dispenser. The dispenser and the dispenser modules therein are configured to provide security against unauthorized access thereto. However an authorized user is enabled to readily access the dispenser modules and the medical items therein by unlocking a lock ( 22 ), opening a door ( 16 ) and extending the dispenser modules through an opening ( 18 ). With the dispenser modules in the extended position the medical items therein may be replenished. Alternatively, the dispenser modules may be disconnected from the dispenser and replaced with substitute dispenser modules.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising:
a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area,
at least two medical item holder support locations,
wherein a first holder support location is operative to support a first medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size,
wherein the first holder support location is further operative to support a second medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size,
a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location,
wherein the reference surface has three rows of human readable indicia thereon,
wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation,
wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising
a medical item holder, wherein the medical item holder is operative to hold a plurality of medical items,
a moving device, wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the holder comprises a helix, and wherein the helix is selectively rotatable by the moving device, and wherein the helix comprises a plurality of turns, and wherein indicia is viewable through at least one turn of the helix.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the locations of the indicia in a row correspond to a first spacing between the turns of the helix.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicia rows include a plurality of aligned numerals.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein indicia spacing in the three indicia rows respectively correspond with the pitch of the turns of three different sized helixes.
7. A method of operating the medical item dispenser of claim 1 , comprising:
(a) positioning a plurality of medical items adjacent the reference surface;
(b) operating the medical item dispenser to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
8. A medical item dispenser module comprising:
at least two medical item holder support locations,
wherein a first medical item holder support location is adapted to support a first helix in engagement with a helix rotator device, wherein the first helix is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, and wherein the first helix is of a first size,
wherein the first medical item holder support location is further adapted to support a second helix in engagement with the helix rotator device, wherein the second helix is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second helix is of a second size, and wherein the second size differs from the first size,
a reference surface adjacent the first medical item holder support location
rows of human readable indicia associated with the reference surface,
wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned relation,
wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized helix
wherein indicia locations in a first indicia row correspond to turns of the first helix, wherein when the first helix is engaged with the helix rotator device the first indicia row indicates a number associated with a medical item quantity held with the first helix,
wherein indicia locations in a second indicia row correspond to turns of the second helix, wherein when the second helix is engaged with the helix rotator device the second indicia row indicates a number associated with a medical item quantity held with the second helix.
9. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising:
a medical item holder, wherein the medical item holder is adapted to hold a plurality of medical items,
a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area,
at least two medical item holder support locations,
wherein a first holder support location is adapted to support a first medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size,
wherein the first holder support location is further adapted to support a second medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size,
a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location,
wherein the reference surface has rows of human readable indicia thereon,
wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation,
wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location
wherein a second indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
an enclosure, wherein the reference surface is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure,
a moving device wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom,
wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the reference surface is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure through a pair of disposed guides.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the moving device is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure through the pair of guides.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the moving device is in operative connection with a retractable wiring harness including a releasable connector.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein after releasing the releasable connector the reference surface, moving device, and helix are disengageable from supporting connection with the enclosure as part of a module.
14. Apparatus comprising:
a medical item dispenser comprising:
a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area,
at least two medical item holder support locations,
wherein a first holder support location is adapted to support a first medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size,
wherein the first holder support location is further adapted to support a second medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size,
a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location,
wherein the reference surface has rows of human readable indicia thereon,
wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation,
wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is adapted to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
a moving device,
a medical item holder adapted to hold a plurality of medical items,
wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom,
wherein the holder comprises a helix,
wherein the helix is selectively rotatable by the moving device,
wherein the helix comprises a plurality of turns,
wherein indicia is viewable through at least one turn of the helix,
a holder guide,
wherein the helix is secured in position by the holder guide,
wherein the holder guide includes a first portion that extends in a longitudinal direction through a plurality of turns of the helix,
wherein the dispenser is selectively operative to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the holder guide comprises a generally U-shaped holder guide.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising a guide extending in the longitudinal direction and in supporting connection with the reference surface, wherein the reference surface includes a plurality of transversely disposed slots, and wherein the guide includes at least one engaging portion releasably engageable in a plurality of the transversely disposed slots.
17. A method comprising:
(a) providing a medical item dispenser comprising:
a delivery area, wherein dispensed medical items are accessible to a user in the delivery area,
at least two medical item holder support locations,
wherein a first holder support location is operative to support a first medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the first medical item holder is of a first size,
wherein the first holder support location is further operative to support a second medical item holder operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the second medical item holder is of a second size, wherein the second size differs from the first size,
a reference surface adjacent the first holder support location,
wherein the reference surface has three rows of human readable indicia thereon,
wherein the indicia rows are spaced in aligned side by side relation,
wherein each indicia row respectively corresponds to a different sized medical item holder,
wherein a first indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a first sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location,
wherein a second indicia row is operative to indicate the quantity of medical items in a second sized medical item holder supported at the first holder support location;
(b) positioning a plurality of medical items adjacent the reference surface;
(c) operating the medical item dispenser to dispense at least one medical item from adjacent the reference surface to the delivery area.
18. The method according to claim 17
wherein (a) includes providing a medical item holder adjacent the reference surface and providing a moving device, wherein the medical item holder is operative to hold a plurality of medical items, wherein the moving device is selectively operative to cause the medical item holder to release at least one medical item therefrom,
wherein (b) includes holding a plurality of medical items with the medical item holder,
wherein (c) includes operating the moving device to cause the removal of at least one medical item from the medical item holder, and further comprising
(d) determining the quantity of medical items remaining held by the medical item holder by reading indicia in the indicia row corresponding to the size of the medical item holder.