Patent Abstract:
A dispensing system has a cartridge with a body having a plurality of bins and a plurality of attached lids that cover the respective bins when the lids are closed. The body has an external connector and the lids are opened by receipt of a command signal through the connector. The system also includes a cabinet with a docking location configured to accept a cartridge. The cabinet has a docking connector that connects to the cartridge connector when the cartridge is placed on the docking location. The cabinet also has a controller that sends the command signal through the docking connector to the cartridge to open one or more of the lids.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/828,124, filed Jun. 30, 2010, and currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for dispensing items and, in particular, systems having individually actuated lidded compartments suitable for single-item dispensing of items. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Automated dispensing of medications using Automated Dispensing Machines (ADMs) has become common in hospitals around the world. The benefits include a reduction in the amount of pharmacist labor required to dispense the medications as well as enabling nurses to obtain the medications faster as many ADMs are located at the nursing stations. ADMs also provide secure storage of medications, particularly controlled substances, as users must typically identify themselves and the patient to whom the medication will be administered before the ADM will dispense the medication. 
         [0006]    One of the challenges of ADMs is the method of restocking. ADMs that have fixed drawers require the pharmacist to transport medications to the ADM and load the medications, which both consumes pharmacist time and makes the ADM unavailable to the nurses during the loading process. Another challenge is providing the ability to dispense a single dose of medication, particularly controlled substances, without providing access to a larger stock of the same medications. Existing single-dose dispensing products can be complex, unreliable, or inefficient in space usage. 
         [0007]    The technology of ADMs is applicable to a wide range of non-medical applications, such as dispensing of consumable cutting tools in a machine shop or tracking of tools while working on an aircraft engine where it is critical to ensure that no tool has been left in the engine. Applications where inventory control is a concern or where the identity of the user must be authenticated prior to allowing access to the contents of the storage system are candidates for the use of ADM technology. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The multi-lidded cartridge and the dispensing system disclosed herein provide an elegant and secure method of dispensing items such as medications. The cartridge may be loaded at a remote location such as a pharmacy and securely transported to the ADM by a non-pharmacist and quickly loaded into the ADM, saving pharmacist time and improving the availability of the ADM to nurses. The cartridges provide single-dose dispense capability in a space-efficient manner. 
         [0009]    A cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge comprises a body having an exterior and a plurality of bins, each bin having an opening. There are a plurality of lids movably attached to the body. Each lid is configured to cover the opening of a bin and each lid has a fastening element. A release mechanism is movably attached to the body. The release mechanism is movable along an axis. A plurality of latches are movably attached to the body. Each of the plurality of latches is configured to engage the respective fastening element of the plurality of lids when in a first position and to release the respective fastening element when in a second position. The latches and release mechanism are configured such that the release mechanism will not cause a latch to move to the second position when the release mechanism is moving along the axis in a first direction and the release mechanism will cause a single latch to move to the second position while leaving the remaining latches in the first position when the release mechanism is moving along the axis in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. 
         [0010]    A dispensing system is disclosed. The dispensing system comprises a cartridge and a cabinet. The cartridge comprises a body having an exterior and a plurality of bins, with a plurality of lids movably attached to the body, and a connector having contacts exposed on the exterior of the body. The lids have closed positions wherein the lids cover the respective bins. The cartridge is configured such that the lids cannot be opened except by receipt of a command signal by the cartridge through the connector. The cabinet comprises a housing having a docking location configured to accept a cartridge, a docking connector attached to the housing, and a controller coupled to the docking connector. The housing is configured such that the docking connector connects to the cartridge connector when the cartridge is placed on the docking location. The controller is configured to send the command signals to the cartridge via the docking connector to open one of the lids. 
         [0011]    A method of providing access to a single bin of a cartridge having a plurality of bins is disclosed. The method includes the step of moving a latch driver along an axis of motion. The latch driver has an actuation mode and a bypass mode. The latch driver will not actuate a latch while moving in a first direction while in the actuation mode but will actuate the latch to open a lid covering the bin while moving in a second direction while in the actuation mode, the second direction being opposite of the first direction. The latch driver will not actuate the latch when moving in either the first or second direction while in the bypass mode. The method also includes the steps of switching the latch driver to bypass mode upon reaching a first end of a range of motion while moving in the first direction along the axis of motion, moving the latch driver in the second direction over the entire range of motion, switching the latch driver to actuation mode upon reaching a second end of the range of motion while moving in the second direction along the axis of motion, moving the latch driver in the first direction until the latch driver passes the latch, and moving the latch driver in the second direction until the latch driver displaces the latch sufficient to disengage the latch from the lid, allowing the lid to open and allowing access to the bin. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an ADM used in medical facilities. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a dispensing cartridge insertion into an ADM drawer according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an ADM drawer containing dispensing cartridges according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate an exemplary configuration of a cartridge lid-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate a cartridge lid latch according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A-6F  illustrate an operational sequence to release a cartridge lid latch according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate an alternate embodiment of a cartridge lid latch and lid-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 8A-8G  illustrate an operational sequence for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 7A-7B  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the latch release system of a cartridge according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 10A-10H  illustrate an operational sequence for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 9A-9B  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the latch release system of a cartridge according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 12A-12H  illustrate an operational sequence to release a lid for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 11A-11D  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 13A-13E  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a latch-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a latch-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Pharmacists are under increasing pressure to manage the medications that are provided to nurses and other caregivers in a medical facility. There is an increasing level of regulation, particularly for controlled substances, related to the handling and tracking of medications. Many of these regulations require a pharmacist to perform certain checks on medications, increasing the workload of a pharmacist. Controlled substances, which may include medications listed on Schedules I-V of the Controlled Substances Act. In addition, many hospitals are finding that they cannot locate pharmacists to fill open positions, placing greater burdens on the pharmacists that are on the hospital staff. There is therefore a need to manage medications with a reduced amount of pharmacist time. 
         [0028]    The disclosed cartridge, system, and method enable a pharmacist to make medications in an ADM available to nurses at a reduced level of pharmacist effort. A cartridge can be filled and verified by a pharmacist in the pharmacy and then securely transported to an ADM and loaded into the ADM by a non-pharmacist employee such as a pharmacy technician. Alternately, the medications can be verified in the pharmacy by a pharmacist and then transported to the ADM by a pharmacy technician who then loads the mediations into the cartridge. As the compartments cannot be opened when the cartridge is not installed in an ADM or equivalent loading station in the pharmacy, the pharmacist does not need to inspect the cartridge again at the ADM. 
         [0029]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include a cartridge having a plurality of bins with individually openable lids. This cartridge is suitable for single-dose dispensing as a single dose of medication may be placed in each compartment. Opening a single lid provides the caregiver with access to that single dose without providing the caregiver access to other doses. This eliminates the need for periodic verification counts of the medications, as the opportunity for undetected removal of the medication from the bins has been eliminated. 
         [0030]    While the discussion of the cartridge, system, and method is directed to the dispensing of medications in a hospital, the disclosed methods and apparatus are applicable to dispensing of medications in other environments as well as the dispensing of other types of items in a variety of fields. For example, machine shops frequently have a tool crib staffed by an individual to provide cutters, drills, and other consumable supplies to the machinists without providing uncontrolled access to the stock of tools and parts. An ADM may be stocked with these consumables and used in place of the tool crib to provide these items to the machinists in a controlled and traceable manner. Similarly, items such as an expensive specialty tool may be removed by an individual for use and returned to the same compartment after use, enabling the tool to be tracked and making a single tool available to multiple people. 
         [0031]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of the specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an ADM used in medical facilities. This example ADM  10  includes a plurality of drawers  12 , some of which may be configured to receive dispensing cartridges (not shown). This configuration of an ADM can be referred to as a cabinet, which includes the housing  11 , the drawers  12 , a variety of electronics and controls (not shown), and the user interface. The user interface of the ADM  10  includes a display  16  and a keyboard  14  so that a user, such as a nurse, may identify which medication they wish to remove from the ADM. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing how a dispensing cartridge  20  fits into an ADM drawer  12  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this view, a drawer  12  has been removed from the housing  11  of the ADM for clarity. Dispensing cartridges  20  may be provided in a variety of widths. In this example, cartridges  20  are of a width that may be defined as “unit width,” “single width,” or “1×” with a certain number of equal-size compartments  22 . Cartridge  24  is of the same width as cartridge  20  with a reduced number of compartments, such that the compartments are larger and can hold larger items. Cartridge  26  is wider than cartridge  20  and has four large compartments, enabling each compartment to hold a large single item or a larger quantity of a small item. In some embodiments, wider cartridges are provided in incremental widths that are integer multiples of the 1× width. This enables a user to install a variable configuration of cartridges. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the drawer  12  has five 1× spaces  28 , with three 1× cartridges  20  and one 2× cartridge  26  installed. Other widths of cartridges may be installed up to, in this example, a single 5× cartridge. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an ADM drawer  12  containing dispensing cartridges according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 3 , the drawer  12  of  FIG. 2  is installed in housing  11  and is shown in a state after a user has requested a medication that was contained in one of the cartridges placed in drawer  12 . One compartment of cartridge  20  has been opened by the ADM controller (not shown), revealing lid  30  that covered bin  32  of the compartment containing the desired medication. In this example, lid  30  is attached by a hinge to the body of cartridge  20 . The lid  30  has a hook or other fastening element (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) that enables a latch or other mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) within the cartridge to retain the lid  30  in the closed position. The remaining lids  30  remain closed and locked, preventing access to the contents of the other compartments. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate an exemplary configuration of a cartridge lid-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4A  shows a dispensing cartridge  20  having a plurality of lids  30  attached to a body  34 .  FIG. 4B  shows a side view of cartridge  20  where a side panel has been removed from body  34  to show the release mechanism  36  and latches  38 . Distal and proximal directions are herein defined relative to the cartridge  20  for discussion of operation in later sections.  FIG. 4C  is an enlarged view of a section of  FIG. 4B . Lid  30  is shown in  FIG. 4C  in the closed position and has an attached hook  38  as an example fastening element. Latch  40  is engaged with hook  38  and retains lid  30  in the closed position. The details of the construction and operation of this example latch  40  are discussed below. This embodiment of release mechanism  36  includes an endless belt  42  passing over a pulley  44  at each end of the cartridge body  34 , as shown in  FIG. 4C .  FIG. 4C  is shown with a split across the body between pulley  44  and latch  40  to indicate that this same configuration of lid  30  and latch  40  are repeated at each lid along the cartridge  20 . The endless belt  42  has an attached latch driver  46  that is discussed in more detail below. The endless belt  42  has an upper or first path  42 A and a lower or second path  42 B, and the latch driver  46  may travel the full circumference of the endless belt, traveling along either first path  42 A or second path  42 B in either the proximal or distal direction. In this example, the endless belt  42  is moved in either direction by rotation of one of the pulleys  44  as driven by a motor (not shown). 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate the construction of a cartridge lid latch  40  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5A  is a side view of the latch  40  showing the upper latch arm  52  and lower latch arm  54 , both of which pivot about an axle  53 . Axle  53  may be a part of the body to which the latch  40  is attached or may be a separate item. The distal and proximal directions of  FIG. 4B  are repeated for the example embodiment shown herein.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective and exploded view of latch  40 , wherein a stop bar  55  of upper latch arm  54  is visible. In operation, a biasing element (not shown), such as a torsional spring, urges the upper latch arm  52  to rotate counterclockwise about axle  53  to the position shown in  FIG. 5A . Similarly, a biasing element (not shown) urges lower latch arm  54  to rotate clockwise about axle  53  to the position shown in  FIG. 5A . In some embodiments, a single biasing element may provide both functions while multiple biasing elements may be used in alternate embodiments. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5C  shows one degree of freedom of motion of latch  40 , wherein upper latch arm  52  rotates clockwise about axle  53  while lower latch arm  54  remains in its original position.  FIG. 5D  shows a second degree of freedom of motion of latch  40  wherein lower latch arm  54  rotates counterclockwise while the upper latch arm  52  remains in its original position.  FIG. 5E  shows another degree of freedom wherein lower latch arm  54  rotates clockwise and stop bar  55  engages the upper latch arm  52 , causing upper latch arm  52  to also rotate clockwise. It can be seen that the motions of  FIGS. 5C-5E  are all opposed by the action of the respective biasing elements, so that each element will return to the position of  FIG. 5A  in the absence of an applied force. The points where these motions occur during operation of release mechanism  36  will be discussed below. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6A-6F  illustrate an operational sequence to release a cartridge lid latch according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 6A  shows a starting position wherein latch  40  is in a stable configuration and engaged with hook  38 . Latch driver  46  is attached to endless belt  42  and is positioned on the distal side of latch  40 . It can be seen that latch driver  46  and latch  40  have matching inclined surfaces. In  FIG. 6B , latch driver  46  is moving in the proximal direction, as indicated by the arrow, forcing lower latch arm  54  to rotate counterclockwise. It can be seen that this motion does not release hook  38 .  FIG. 6C  shows latch driver  46  as having passed lower latch arm  54  and stopped on the proximal side of latch  40 , wherein lower latch arm  54  has returned to the position of  FIG. 6A . In  FIG. 6D , belt  42  has reversed direction and latch driver  46  is moving in the distal direction and is forcing lower latch arm  54  to rotate clockwise, which causes upper latch arm  52  to also rotate clockwise. Clockwise rotation of upper latch arm  52  releases hook  38 . In this example, there is a biasing element (not shown) urging the lid to which hook  38  is attached to open, whereupon hook  38  moves upward and out of engagement position for upper latch arm  52 . In  FIG. 6E , latch driver  46  has again moved to the proximal side of latch  40  and allowed latch  40  to return to the position of  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6F  shows how hook  38  moves downward and engages upper latch arm  52  as the lid (not shown) is closed, as upper latch arm  52  rotates clockwise to allow hook  38  to pass the engagement feature of upper latch arm  52  and move to the engagement position of  FIG. 6A , whereupon upper latch arm  52  will rotate counterclockwise under the urging of the biasing element (not shown) and the system will return to the configuration of  FIG. 6A . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate an alternate embodiment of a cartridge lid latch and lid-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7A  shows a dispensing cartridge  60  having the same release mechanism  36  as shown in  FIGS. 4A-B , with a different latch (not shown).  FIG. 7B  shows an enlarged view of the distal end of cartridge  60 , wherein two latches  62  are visible. The proximal latch  62  is shown engaged with hook  38  of lid  30 . It can be seen that latch  62  does not rotate about a fixed axle and, instead, slides and rotates within a partial cavity  64  formed in the body  34 . A biasing element  66 , which is a spring in this example, applies force to latch  62  in the downward and proximal direction. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 8A-8G  illustrate the operations sequence for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 7A-B  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8A  depicts a starting position where latch  62  is in the fully down position and engaged with hook  38  with latch driver  46  positioned to the distal side of latch  62 .  FIG. 8B  shows latch driver  46  pushing latch  62  upwards as it passes under the latch  62 , with latch  62  remaining engaged with hook  38 .  FIG. 8C  shows latch driver  46  stopped on the proximal side of latch  62  that has returned to its fully down position. In  FIG. 8D , latch driver  46  is moving in the distal direction and forcing latch  62  in the distal direction as well, causing latch  62  to disengage from hook  38 .  FIG. 8E  shows the lid  30  fully opened by its biasing element (not shown).  FIG. 8F  shows latch driver  46  moved distally out of the way of the open lid  30  and associated latch  62 , which has returned to its fully down position. Hook  38  is visible as close to but not yet in contact with latch  62 . It can be seen that there are mating inclined surfaces on both hook  38  and latch  62  that will force latch  62  to move distally as the hook  38  descends.  FIG. 8G  shows the lid  30  fully closed and hook  38  engaged with latch  62 , which has returned to the original position of  FIG. 8A . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the latch release system of a cartridge according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Cartridge  70  is similar to the cartridges  20  and  40  of  FIGS. 4A and 7A , respectively, except that the release mechanisms have been replaced by release mechanism  72 .  FIG. 9B  shows an enlarged side view of the distal end of two components of release mechanism  72 , inner slide  74  and outer slide  76 . Inner slide  74  has an attached post  78  that protrudes towards the outer slide  76  and fits through the shaped hole  80 . The shaped hole  80  has detent positions  82  and  84  at the distal and proximal ends, respectively, with a centerline path  86  connecting the two detent positions. The two slides  74 , 76  are positioned adjacent to each other when installed in cartridge  70 , with post  78  protruding through shaped hole  80 . Inner slide  74  may move parallel to outer slide  76  along a path defined by the motion of post  78  along centerline path  86 . Inner slide  74  also includes latch driver  46  as a shaped element that is an integral part of the slide. The equivalence of this shaped element to the latch driver of previous embodiments is discussed below. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 10A-10H  illustrate the operational sequence for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 9A-9B  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10A  shows a starting position where post  78  is located in detent  82 . In this configuration, inner slide  74  is at it lowest position relative to outer slide  76  and it can be seen that the tip of latch driver  46  is lower than the lowest part of latch  86  and will pass under without touching latch  86 . This is a “bypass mode” of this embodiment. Latch  86  again is a sliding latch with a biasing element  64  forcing it down and in a proximal direction. In  FIG. 10B , outer slide  76  has been moved distally until the end of inner slide  74  comes into contact with distal travel stop  88 .  FIG. 10C  shows outer slide  76  continuing to move in a distal direction, forcing post  78  to move out of detent  82  and follow the shaped path upwards, which forces inner slide  74  to move upwards as well.  FIG. 10D  shows that outer slide  76  has moved distally far enough that post  78  has reached detent  84 , stopping the motion of outer slide  76 . As detent  84  is higher than detent  82 , latch driver  46  is now higher relative to latch  86  and can be seen to be high enough to engage latch  86  as it passes under latch  86 . 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 10E , outer slide  76  is moving in the proximal direction. Latch driver  46  is forcing latch  86  upwards as latch driver  46  passes under latch  86  without causing latch  86  to disengage hook  38 . Outer slide  76  could continue to move proximally and latch driver  46  could pass under additional latches  86  such that a single latch driver could selectively open any of a plurality of latches. In  FIG. 10F , outer slide  76  has moved further proximally such that latch driver is now on the proximal side of latch  86 .  FIG. 10G  shows how outer slide  76  again moves in a distal direction. Latch driver  46  is now in its “actuation mode”, i.e. in the higher position of shaped hole  80 , and so latch driver  46  pushes latch  86  in the distal direction, which causes latch  86  to disengage from hook  38 .  FIG. 10H  shows lid  30  fully open. This embodiment will re-engage upon closure of lid  30  in much the same way as shown in  FIGS. 8F-8G  for the prior embodiment. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the latch release system of a cartridge according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 11A  shows a dispensing cartridge  90  having a different latch and release mechanism than the previous cartridge embodiments.  FIG. 11B  is a close-up view of the distal end of cartridge  90 , showing a latch  94  and a sliding carrier  96  having flexible arms  98 . Latch  94  and sliding carrier  96  are shown at an even larger scale in  FIG. 11C  and  FIG. 11D , respectively. In  FIG. 11C , it can be seen that latch  94  has a shaped cavity  100  and a diverter path  102 , the function of which will be discussed below. In  FIG. 11D , it can be seen that flexible arms  98  have tips  104 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 12A-12H  illustrate the operations sequence to release a lid for the lid latch configuration of  FIGS. 11A-11D  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 12A  shows the sliding carrier  96  in an initial position where tip  104  is not in contact with latch  94 . This embodiment of latch  94  moves only along a distal-proximal axis and engages hook  38  at the distal end of travel, as shown in  FIG. 12A . Biasing element  64 , which is a spring in this embodiment, can be seen to be urging latch  94  to move in a distal direction. In  FIG. 12B , sliding carrier  96  has moved distally such that tip  104  is in contact with the outer surface of latch  94 , forcing the flexible arm  98  to bend outward.  FIG. 12C  shows the sliding carrier as having moved further distally such that tip  104  is now in contact with shaped cavity  100 . The shaped cavity  100  has a sloped surface on the distal side such that, if sliding carrier  96  continues to move in distal direction then tip  104  will ride up and out of shaped cavity  100 . Shaped cavity  100  has a straight or undercut edge on the proximal side such that tip  104  will not ride out of the shaped cavity  100  but will, instead, engage the edge.  FIG. 12D  shows this situation, where sliding carrier  96  has reversed direction such that tip  104  has reached the proximal edge of shaped cavity  100  and engaged, or snagged, the proximal edge of shaped cavity  100 . As sliding carrier  96  continues to move proximally, tip  104  will pull latch  94  in the proximal direction, releasing the hook  38  as shown in  FIG. 12D . 
         [0046]      FIG. 12E  continues from the configuration of  FIG. 12C  where the tip  104  is in contact with the shaped cavity  100 . The shaped cavity  100  has a sloped surface on the distal side such that, if sliding carrier  96  continues to move in distal direction then tip  104  will ride up and out of shaped cavity  100 .  FIG. 12E  shows tip  104  riding on the outer surface of latch  94  on the distal side of shaped cavity  100 , having followed the sloped surface up out of shaped cavity  100 .  FIG. 12F  shows the configuration after the sliding carrier  96  has moved further distally such that tip  104  is not in contact with latch  94 . In  FIG. 12G , sliding carrier  96  has reversed direction and is traveling in a proximal direction. As tip  104  comes into contact with the outer surface of latch  94 , approaching from the distal side of the latch  94 , tip  104  follows diverter path  102 . As tip  104  follows diverter path  102 , flexible arm  98  bends upwards. Diverter path  102  continues around shaped cavity  100  and tip  104  will not engage latch  94 .  FIG. 12H  shows the configuration after tip  104  is no longer in contact with the outer surface of latch  94 , which is identical to  FIG. 12A . 
         [0047]      FIGS. 13A-13E  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a latch-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 13A  shows a distal portion of inner slide  74  of the release mechanism of  FIGS. 11A-11D  and five identical, evenly spaced latches  86 A- 86 E at the distal end of a cartridge  70 . Inner slide  74  includes three latch drivers  46 A- 46 C within the portion of inner slide  74  shown in  FIG. 13A . The latch drivers  46 A- 46 C are spaced at an interval slightly less than twice the interval of the latches. In  FIG. 13A , latch driver  46 A is touching the proximal edge of latch  86 A such that a slight distal movement of inner slide  74  will cause latch  86 A to release its respective hook  38 . At the same time, latch drivers  46 B and  46 C are pushing latches  86 C and  86 E, respectively, upward and the distal movement of inner slide  74  will not cause either latch  86 C or  86 E to release their respective hooks  38 . Thus, inner slide  74  is positioned such that a small distal movement, i.e. a movement that is a fraction of the interval between latches, of inner slide  74  will release the lid over latch  86 A while not releasing the other four lids over latches  86 B- 86 E. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 13B , inner slide  74  has moved proximally to a position where latch driver  46 B is in contact with latch  86 C such that a small distal movement of inner slide  74  will cause latch  86 C to release its respective hook. At the same time latch driver  46 C is pushing latch  86 E upwards and a distal movement of inner slide  74  will not cause latch  86 E to release its respective hook. Thus, inner slide  74  is positioned such that a small distal movement of inner slide  74  will release the lid over latch  86 C while not releasing the other four lids over latches  86 A- 86 B and  86 D- 86 E. 
         [0049]    Similarly, it can be seen that in  FIG. 13C , inner slide  74  is positioned to release latch  86 E without releasing the other latches.  FIG. 13D  shows inner slide  74  positioned to release latch  86 B and  FIG. 13E  shows inner slide  74  positioned to release latch  86 D.  FIGS. 13A-13E  collectively show how a release mechanism, embodied as inner slide  74  in this example, can selectively release one of a plurality of lids without releasing the remaining lids by selection of a spacing, or pitch, between latch drivers that is less than an integral multiple of the spacing of the latches. This same approach may be applied to the flexible arms  98  and tips  104  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 11A-11D . 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a latch-release system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, inner slide  74  has a plurality of latch drivers  46  that can each release two latches when operated according to the procedure illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-13E . The separation, or pitch, of adjacent latch drivers  46 A and  46 B is slight less than the separation of latches  86 A and  86 C. In this example, latch drivers  46 A and  46 B are separated by 72.950 millimeters whereas latches  86 A and  86 C are separated by 78.339 millimeters. 
         [0051]    It can be seen that the disclosed embodiments of the multi-lidded dispensing cartridge enable the dispensing of one or more items from a single compartment without allowing access to the contents of other compartments. If a single item is placed in each compartment, this enables single-item dispensing of items such as high-value medications or supplies and controlled substances. The use of a single release mechanism to selectively release all the lids of a cartridge allows a simpler and less expensive system. Cartridges may be provided in a variety of widths, enabling a user to easily configure a drawer to provide a variety of compartment sizes such that large items may be handled in some compartments while the remaining compartment may be efficiently used to dispense smaller items. 
         [0052]    The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms “a set” and “some” refer to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention. 
         [0053]    It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
         [0054]    Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. 
         [0055]    A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. 
         [0056]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. 
         [0057]    All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6