Scriptpro LLC

Michael E Coughlin

Lawrence E Guerra

Shane P Coughlin

Ronald A Leonard

Keith W Kudera

Stacy D Orr

Timothy Surgeon

Claire P Coughlin

David E Schloemer

Bernhard P Knutsen

Christopher J Thomsen

Hamid Massali

David M McDonald

Michael E Skaggs

Timothy A Giebler

Tracy I Thomas

Fred T Steinbach

Tim Surgeon

Bradley G Lockard

Arpita Banerjee

A system and method for securely storing and retrieving prescriptions. The system may include storage containers into which the prescriptions may be placed, a storage matrix with an outer housing and compartments for the storage containers, a transport system, scanners, and a control system. The transport system within the outer housing may selectively move the storage containers attached to the attachment device to locations or coordinates of any of the compartments. The control system may command the transport system to relocate any of the storage containers from one of the compartments to another of the compartments and may track locations of the prescriptions based on information from the scanners or other sensors for later retrieval by authorized user.

Prescription storage and retrieval system

A system for storing a plurality of solid objects and dispensing the solid objects into a plurality of containers. The system comprises non-automated dispensing cells, physically actuated to dispense solid objects one at a time into one of the containers, and automated dispensing cells, electrically actuated to dispense solid objects from a holding tank simultaneously in bulk into one of the containers. The automated dispensing cells may independently dispense objects into the holding tank one at a time while a manipulator arm of the system simultaneously brings a container to one of the non-automated or automated dispensing cells. Then, when the manipulator arm brings a container to one of the automated dispensing cells, the solid objects may be dispensed into the container in bulk by simply opening a gate mechanism.

Medicament dispensing system

An identification tag () facilitates use of a secure computer system (). The tag () is adapted to be worn on a user's wrist and includes an identification and registration circuit () that includes an identification component (), an affiliation component (), and a light-emitting diode (). The computer system includes an RF identification tag registration device () operable to acquire user physical information and communicate the physical information to a computer (), wherein the computer verifies that a valid user is wearing the tag (). The identification and registration device () ensures that the physical information communicated to the computer pertains to the user wearing the tag by comparing pulse signals acquired from the user's hand and wrist as the device () is acquiring physical information. The computer () uses the identification information and the affiliation information to log the user into and out of the system (), and to associate the identification information with a particular user.

RFID tag and method of user verification

RFID rag and method of user verification

A collating unit () for use with a control center () cooperating with an automatic dispensing system ('ADS') () for automatic storage of prescription containers dispensed from the ADS (). The collating unit () broadly comprises an infeed conveyor () for transporting the prescription containers from the ADS () to the collating unit (); a base () housed within the control center () and positioned generally adjacent to the infeed conveyor (); a collating unit conveyor () mounted on the base (); a frame () substantially surrounding and covering the infeed conveyor () and the base (); a plurality of holding areas () formed within the frame (); a plurality of guide arms () mounted on the base () between the infeed conveyor () and the collating unit conveyor () and operable to maneuver the containers from the infeed conveyor () into the plurality of holding areas (); a plurality of sensors () to sense the presence of the containers within the collating unit (); and a control system () for controlling operation of the infeed conveyor (), the collating unit conveyor (), the guide arms (), and the sensors ().

Collating unit for use with a control center cooperating with an automatic prescription or pharmaceutical dispensing system

A vial gripping mechanism () includes a pivotally mounted swing arm (). A sensor receiving array () is mounted to a sensor end () on an inward edge () of the arm (). A channel () protecting a cable () follows an outside edge () from the receiving array () to a cam end (). A torsion spring () forces the cam end () against a cam () which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism () adjacent the arm (). By action of the mechanism (), the arm () is moved relative to the cam () such that in a sensing position, the receiving array () is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array (), and in a shielded position, the receiving array () is housed within a shield (). The shield () is fixedly mounted to the mechanism () and protects the receiving array () while in transit.

Vial gripping mechanism for automatic medicament dispensing machine

A storage and dispensing system () for storing and dispensing pre-packaged pharmaceutical products () and other products. The system includes a cabinet (); a plurality of product conveyors () mounted within the cabinet and each configured for holding at least one product; an infeed conveyor () for receiving products that are to be stored in the cabinet; an outfeed conveyor () for receiving products that are to be dispensed from the cabinet; and a transporter () moveable within the cabinet for transporting products between the product conveyors and the infeed and outfeed conveyors for storing products in or dispensing products from the cabinet.

Automatic dispensing system for unit medicament packages

A pill count sensor ( ) comprises an electromagnetic energy emitting array ( ) and an electromagnetic energy receiving array ( ), with a pill detection zone ( ) defined therebetween; a sensor amplifier ( ); a control board ( ) interfaced with a computing device ( ); and interconnecting cabling ( ). The electromagnetic energy emitting and receiving arrays ( ) emit and receive, respectively, beams of electromagnetic energy ( ) across the zone ( ) such that any pill ( ) entering the zone ( ) is detected by a resulting disruption in received electromagnetic energy at the receiving array ( ). The sensor amplifier ( ) is operable to automatically self-calibrate in order to compensate for detected electromagnetic energy levels, and to generate a pill sense signal in response to a detected pill ( ). The control board ( ) is operable to increment a pill count.

Pill count sensor for automatic medicament dispensing machine

A vial gripping mechanism ( ) includes a pivotally mounted swing arm ( ). A sensor receiving array ( ) is mounted to a sensor end ( ) on an inward edge ( ) of the arm ( ). A channel ( ) protecting a cable ( ) follows an outside edge ( ) from the receiving array ( ) to a cam end ( ). A torsion spring ( ) forces the cam end ( ) against a cam ( ) which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism ( ) adjacent the arm ( ). By action of the mechanism ( ), the arm ( ) is moved relative to the cam ( ) such that in a sensing position, the receiving array ( ) is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array ( ), and in a shielded position, the receiving array ( ) is housed within a shield ( ). The shield ( ) is fixedly mounted to the mechanism ( ) and protects the receiving array ( ) while in transit.

A preferred medicament dispensing station (,) includes a computer (,) with a bar code reader (,) and a printer (,) coupled therewith. When filling a prescription from a supply container (,) of a medicament, the bar code reader (,) scans the bar code (,) on the container (,) and a computer (,) compares the bar code data with prescription data to determine a match before activating a printer (,) to print a prescription label (,) for the prescription. The preferred station (,) also includes databases (,) including an attribute database and a language database. The computer (,) activates the printer (,) to print medicament indicia on the prescription label (,) representative of physical attributes of the medicament including a word description (,) such as the shape, color pattern, color, scoring and form and an image (,). The computer (,) is operable also to prompt the printer (,) to print prescription data on the same label or on a second label in a second language.

Medicament dispensing station

A preferred medicament dispensing station (10) includes a computer (16) with a bar code reader (18) and a printer (20) coupled therewith. When filling a prescription from a supply container (12) of a medicament, the bar code reader (18) scans the bar code (28) on the container (12) and a computer (16) compares the bar code data with prescription data to determine a match before activating a printer (20) to print a prescription label (30) for the prescription. The preferred station (10) also includes databases (26) including an attribute database and a language database. The computer (16) activates the printer (20) to print medicament indicia on the prescription label (30) representative of physical attributes of the medicament including a word description (32) such as the shape, color pattern, color, scoring and form and an image (34). The computer (16) is operable also to prompt the printer (20) to print prescription data on the same label or on a second label in a second language.

A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A resilient, flexible bushing having outwardly extending fingers encloses the hub of the platen for conveying medicament through the passage. The platen includes a plurality of spirally configured conveying members defined on the surface thereof and the dispensing assembly includes a selectively adjustable passage wall for adjusting the breadth of the passage.

Medicament dispensing cell

A medicine vial labeler includes a dispenser for printing and dispensing pressure sensitive labels and a label applicator assembly including a rotary drum and a pair of positioning arms. The positioning arms are shiftable from a release position to a holding position for positioning a vial in rotary contact with the drum in order to receive a label in the nip therebetween applying the label to the vial upon rotation of the drum. The positioning arms include a plurality of rollers of different diameters configured and spaced for holding and positioning vials of different diameters in rotary contact with the drum.

Medicine vial labeler

A system for dispensing medicaments such as pills and capsules includes a plurality of medicament dispensing cells, a manipulator arm for moving to a cell and receiving medicament dispensed therefrom into a vial, and a controller for controlling the operation of the manipulator arm. In one embodiment of the invention, each cell includes indicia thereon such as a bar code indicating the medicament contained therein and the system includes an indicia reader such as a bar code reader attached to the manipulator arm. When the system receives dispensing instructions such as a prescription to be filled, the controller moves the manipulator arm to a selected cell location of a cell having the medicament to be dispensed, as indicated by cell data included in the controller memory. The indicia reader reads the indicia on the cell at the selected location and the controller determines whether the medicament indicated by the indicia matches the medicament of the prescription. If there is a match, the medicament is deemed verified and dispensing proceeds. If there is no match, the controller prevents dispensing of medicament from the selected cell.

Growing community of inventors

Mission Hills, KS, United States of America

Michael E Coughlin