Patent ID: 6189727
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
Semi-automated pharmaceutical dispensing arrangement for providing a medical/pharmacy attendant with one or more filled containers to satisfy a prescription order for a patient, comprising:a cabinet having a housing, a front door, and a control mechanism opening the front door for an authorized attendant;an array of linear dispensing modules within the cabinet, each module containing a front-to-back row of containers filled with a particular respective medicament; each module including means at a front end thereof to permit containers to be manually lifted out by the attendant from the front end of the respective row one at a time, means for pushing the containers forward so that when one container is lifted out another container behind it is pushed into position for removal, and means for accounting for the number of containers in the respective module;each of the modules having an associated signalling means that identifies affirmatively to the attendant the module from which a container is to be taken to satisfy the patient prescription order; anda controller processor including means for inputting patient-medication information and providing a signal to the signalling means of the appropriate one of the modules in the cabinet containing the medicament prescribed for the patient.