Patent ID: 8195328

Claim:
A system for dispensing and disposing medical items, comprising: a dispensing portion comprising: a plurality of dispensing compartments, each of said dispensing compartments configured to hold at least one medical item; a dispensing data entry device configured to receive at least one dispensing instruction; and a dispensing control system, wherein said dispensing control system is configured to process said at least one dispensing instruction to select a medical item based on said dispensing instruction, and wherein said dispensing control system is configured to allow access to said selected medical item; and a disposal portion comprising: a plurality of waste containers, wherein each of said waste containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories; wherein at least one of said waste containers is configured to receive at least one of said selected medical items that is dispensed by said dispensing portion after said selected medical item is at least partially used or expired; a waste item identification device configured to receive identification data for a waste item, wherein said waste item identification device comprises a scanner; a waste database comprising waste item classification information, said waste item classification information being derived from applicable rules regarding disposal; and a disposal control system configured to compare identification data received by the waste item identification device with information contained in the database, wherein the disposal control system is configured to assign a waste item to at least one waste category, and wherein the disposal control system is configured to identify one of the waste containers based on the waste category; wherein the disposal control system is configured to allow access to the identified waste container while preventing access to other waste containers of the disposal portion to ensure proper disposal; and wherein said dispensing portion and said disposal portion are coupled.