Secure medicament dispensing cabinet, method and system
View Patent ↗A medicament dispensing cabinet includes a frame, at least one controller, and a plurality of drawers each movably carried by the frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells. A plurality of dispensing devices is provided with each one carried by one of the dispensing cells. Each of the dispensing cells further comprises a motor for providing rotary motion to one of the removable dispensing devices in response to the controller, a sensor operating in conjunction with the controller for counting medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices, a chute for receiving medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices and a chute gate for controlling access to the chute. The cabinet may additionally comprise a chute gate release responsive to the controller for controlling the chute gate and a chute gate sensor connected to the controller and responsive to the position of the chute gate.
1. A medicament dispensing cabinet, comprising:
a frame;
at least one controller;
a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers movably carried by said frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells, wherein at least one of the drawers is positioned above another one of the drawers;
a plurality of dispensing devices;
wherein each dispensing cell comprises:
one of the plurality of dispensing devices;
a sensor operating in conjunction with said controller for counting medicament dispensed from the one of said dispensing devices;
a dedicated chute for receiving and holding medicament dispensed from the one of said dispensing devices, wherein the dedicated chute has a lower end proximate the dispensing cell; and
a chute gate for controlling access, at the lower end of the dedicated chute, to said medicament received and held in said dedicated chute.
2. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing cell additionally comprises a chute gate release responsive to said controller for controlling said chute gate.
3. The cabinet of claim 2 wherein each dispensing cell additionally comprises a chute gate sensor connected to said controller and responsive to the position of said chute gate.
4. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said chute gate is comprised of a flexible material.
5. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each drawer additionally comprises an electronic lock responsive to said controller,
6. The cabinet of claim 5 wherein each drawer additionally comprises a drawer position sensor connected to said controller and responsive to the position of said drawer.
7. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing device additionally comprises a lid, and wherein each dispensing cell additionally comprises a dispensing device sensor connected to said controller and responsive to said lid of one of said dispensing devices.
8. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each drawer additionally comprises a drawer release switch operable by a user and connected to said controller.
9. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing cell additionally comprises a cell display responsive to said controller.
10. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing cell additionally comprises an annunciator responsive to said controller.
11. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing cell additionally carries a machine readable indicia and wherein each dispensing device additionally carries a machine readable indicia.
12. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein each dispensing device additionally comprises a motor for providing rotary motion to one of said dispensing devices in response to said controller.
13. The cabinet of claim 1 additionally comprising a counterbalance, each of said drawers being responsive to said counterbalance such that only one drawer can be fully open at a time.
14. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said drawers are carried by drawer glides mounted at an angle with respect to said frame.
15. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the lower end of the dedicated chute is at a front portion of the dispensing cell.
16. A medicament dispensing cabinet, comprising:
a frame;
at least one controller;
a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers movably carried by said frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells, wherein at least one of the drawers is positioned above another one of the drawers;
a plurality of dispensing devices;
wherein each dispensing cell comprises:
one of the plurality of dispensing devices;
a sensor operating in conjunction with said controller for counting medicament dispensed from the one of said dispensing devices;
a dedicated chute for receiving and holding medicament dispensed from the one of said dispensing devices, wherein the dedicated chute has a lower end; and
a chute gate disposed in the lower end of the dedicated chute for controlling access, at the lower end of the dedicated chute, to said medicament received and held in said dedicated chute.