Unit dose dispensing mechanisms
Inventors
Wilson, Edith • Moreno, Gerardo • Trejo, Guillermo • MEHTA, Vikram • Fisher, Herbert Lawson
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12324788-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a unit-dose dispensing system that uses a separable cassette/dispenser architecture for dispensing vials. A cabinet installs a dispensing mechanism defining an opening at the bottom of the dispensing mechanism, and the dispensing mechanism receives electrical signals via a connector from the cabinet.
The cassette includes a set of vertical channels arranged to receive and hold vials in vertical stacks, and a plurality of rotatable receivers driven by an actuator. Each rotatable receiver is positioned under a respective vertical channel and defines a cavity with an open side, with the cavity having a shape and size to receive a vial.
The rotatable receivers have an axis of rotation in a second direction different than the first direction, enabling the cavity to be oriented so the open side can face downward. The system operates by rotating the plurality of rotatable receivers in response to the received electrical signals to receive a vial from one of the vertical channels into the cavity and drop the vial from the cavity through the opening when the open side of the cavity has a downward vertical orientation.
The system is also described as supporting dispensing confirmation and anti-diversion behavior using a separable cassette design that includes automatic cassette detection, passive-cassette memory read/writable via an antenna, and optical light curtain sensing using an emitter/receiver arrangement across the opening.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set provided includes one independent method claim covering electrical-signal-driven vial dispensing using a separable cassette and an actuator-rotated rotatable-receiver mechanism. The main inventive features are the cassette structure, rotatable receivers with open-side cavities oriented for gravity dropping, and bottom opening discharge via received signals through a connector.
Rotatable-receiver cassette with vertical channels for vial stacks
A cassette comprising a set of vertical channels of a shape and size to receive and hold a number of vials in vertical stacks, the set of vertical channels extending in a first direction; and a plurality of rotatable receivers driven by an actuator, each rotatable receiver positioned under a respective vertical channel, each rotatable receiver defining a cavity having an open side to receive a vial.
Open-sided cavity rotated to downward vertical orientation for gravity dropping
A dispensing arrangement where the rotatable receivers have an axis of rotation in a second direction different than the first direction, so that the open side of the cavity can have a downward vertical orientation, enabling dropping of the vial from its cavity through the opening at the bottom of the dispensing mechanism.
Separability of cassette and dispenser with electrical-signal connector control
A dispenser comprising the connector and the actuator, wherein the cassette and dispenser are separable, and wherein the method includes receiving electrical signals at the dispensing mechanism via the connector from a cabinet in which the dispensing mechanism is installed and operating the actuator in response to the received electrical signals.
Across the provided independent claim, the core claim coverage is the method of dispensing vials using a separable cassette/dispenser where electrical signals received via a connector operate an actuator to rotate rotatable receivers positioned under vertical channels, so that an open-sided cavity oriented downward drops each vial through a bottom opening.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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