Systems and methods for dispensing sterile items

1. A cartridge system containing items to be dispensed from a dispensing system comprising a main housing assembly defining a dispensing opening and a drive system, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a carrier reel;

distal and proximal take-up reels;

a main guide post;

a first strip guide post;

a second strip guide post; and

a packaging strip supported by the carrier reel, the packaging strip comprising first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers, where at least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers; wherein

the carrier reel is adapted to store the packaging strip;

the distal take-up reel is operatively connected to the first strip portion;

the proximal take-up reel is operatively connected to the second strip portion;

the proximal and distal take-up reels are configured to be rotated by operation of the drive system; and

rotation of the distal and proximal take-up reels unwinds the packaging strip from the carrier reel such that

the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel,

the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel, and

the items are dispensed through the dispensing opening.

2. A cartridge system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a cartridge housing; and

a cartridge plate adapted to support the carrier reel and the distal and proximal take-up reels.

3. A cartridge system as recited in claim 1 , in which:

a carrier reel projection of the carrier reel extends through a carrier reel opening in the cartridge housing;

a distal take-up reel projection of the distal take-up reel extends through a first take-up reel opening in the cartridge housing; and

a proximal take-up reel projection of the proximal take-up reel extends through a second take-up reel opening in the cartridge housing.

4. A cartridge assembly for storing items to be dispensed, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge plate,

a cartridge housing that engages the cartridge plate to define a cartridge chamber,

a carrier reel supported by the cartridge plate within the cartridge chamber, the carrier reel defining a carrier reel projection adapted to engage the first bearing assembly;

distal and proximal take-up reels supported by the cartridge plate within the cartridge chamber, where

the distal take-up reel defines a distal take-up reel projection adapted to engage the second bearing assembly, and

the proximal take-up reel defines a proximal take-up reel projection adapted to engage the third bearing assembly;

a main guide post;

a first strip guide post; and

a second strip guide post; and

a packaging strip supported by the carrier reel, the packaging strip comprising first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers, where at least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers; wherein

the carrier reel is adapted to store the packaging strip;

the distal take-up reel is operatively connected to the first strip portion;

the proximal take-up reel is operatively connected to the second strip portion; and

rotation of the distal and proximal take-up reels causes

the packaging strip to be unwound from the carrier reel,

the first strip portion to be wound onto the distal take-up reel,

the second strip portion to be wound onto the proximal take-up reel, and

the items to be dispensed.

5. A cartridge assembly system as recited in claim 4 , in which:

a carrier reel projection of the carrier reel extends through a carrier reel opening in the cartridge housing,

a distal take-up reel projection of the distal take-up reel extends through a first take-up reel opening in the cartridge housing, and

a proximal take-up reel projection of the proximal take-up reel extends through a second take-up reel opening in the cartridge housing.