Patent ID: 7693603
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: G07C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for dispensing pharmaceutical or medical supply items from a unit comprising a cabinet having a processor and a plurality of retractable drawers, which are covered by one or more lockable doors at least some of the drawers having one or more pockets for holding items, the method comprising: identifying a user that is requesting access to the pharmaceutical or medical supply items held in the dispensing cabinet by receiving user identification information into the processor; entering pharmaceutical or medical supply item identification information into the processor to identify the items the user wishes to remove from the cabinet; comparing the user identification information with an access list having information as to which of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items to which the user may be given access based on the previously entered user identification information to determine one or more of the locked doors to which the user may be given access; unlocking one of the doors having have the drawer behind it that contains at least one of the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply items if the access list indicates that the user may have access to the door having the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item; opening the unlocked door; withdrawing the desired drawer; activating an indicator at the side of the drawer to indicate which row contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; activating an indicator along the front of the drawer to indicate which column contains the pocket which holds the pharmaceutical or medical supply items that the user has requested to remove; identifying the right pocket by observing the pocket at the intersection of the indicated row and indicated column; and removing the requested pharmaceutical or medical supply item from the pocket, wherein access to the pocket is detected by a sensor or other measurement which causes a pre-recorded sound file to be played to the user.