Unit dose dispensing mechanisms
View Patent ↗Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.
1. A system for detecting items, the system comprising:
one or more light emitters directed across an opening;
one or more light receivers, each of the light receivers generating a signal indicating the intensity of light received by the respective light receiver;
a dispensing mechanism that contains one or more items to be dispensed, and is configured to cause the items to be dispensed one at a time through the opening, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a housing for storing the items to be dispensed, and wherein the dispensing mechanism includes an actuator that moves in response to electrical signals to cause items to be dispensed from the housing;
circuitry that compares each of the signals from the one or more light receivers with a respective reference signal and generates an electrical detection signal based on the result of the comparisons, wherein the detection signal indicates one or more conditions selected from the group of conditions consisting of a) any one or any number of the one or more light receivers is producing an output signal that is below one of the reference signals, and b) any one or any number of the one or more light receivers is producing an output signal that is above one of the reference signals; and
a controller that receives the detection signal, wherein the controller is configured to:
command the dispensing of an item;
monitor the output of the circuitry for a detection signal produced in conjunction with the dispensing of the item; and
during a time when no dispensing is required, monitor the output of the circuitry for a detection signal that is not produced in conjunction with the dispensing of any item.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light emitters are positioned to emit light toward a reflective surface, and wherein the detection signal indicates a decrease in the intensity of the light reflected from the surface and received by one or more of the one or more light receivers.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light emitters are positioned to emit light toward a non-reflective surface, and wherein the detection signal indicates an increase in the intensity of the light received by one or more of the one or more light receivers.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light receivers are positioned to receive light directly from the one or more light emitters, and wherein the detection signal indicates a decrease in the intensity of the light received directly by one or more of the one or more light receivers.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the signals output by at least one of the light receivers is compared against both an upper reference signal and a lower reference signal, and wherein the detection signal is generated when the output signal exceeds the upper reference signal or falls below the lower reference signal.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a warning upon receipt of a detection signal that is not produced in conjunction with the dispensing of any item.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the warning indicates the possibility of a diversion attempt.