Abstract: In certain embodiments, a lockable canister for retaining and selectively dispensing medications is disclosed. To prevent drug diversion, a plurality of doses of medication may be loaded into the locking canister at a central pharmacy and then the canister may be locked to prevent unauthorized removal of medication in transit to a remote automated dispensing unit that may be located in a remote pharmacy. The lockable canister may include a canister housing and a canister cover that may be locked to the canister housing to enclose the plurality of doses of medication. The canister cover may include tamper evident or tamper resistant features. The canister may include one or more locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to the medication in the canister in transit or before it is specifically authorized for dispensing.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a remote automated dispensing unit (ADU) may include an enclosed cabinet, one or more locking mechanisms to keep the cabinet secure, one or more doors on the cabinet to allow access to the internal components, and a computer system that manages the dispensing of inventory. The ADU may include a mechanism for the dispensing of medications for individual patients including: one or more canisters for storing medications, one or more canister base stations for securing the one or more canisters to the ADU, and a chute and funnel system for the guidance of medications as they fall from the canisters into a packaging station for packaging medications into packages for particular patients. One or more sensors may be used to detect misdispensing of medications, and a combination of sensors and operating sequences may be used to reduce the amount of misdispensed medication.

Abstract: An error identifying device of a tablet medicine packing apparatus is disclosed. The error identifying device according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, which is prepared below a plurality of tablet cassettes containing each different kind of tablet, includes a tablet assembly space where tablets discharged from at least a part of the plurality of the tablet cassettes assembles, an error detecting unit detecting whether the kind and the number of the tablets assembled in the tablet assembly space are in accordance with a prescription or not, a first path and a second path guiding the tablets assembled in the tablet assembly space into each different direction, and a path selecting unit guiding the tablets assembled in the tablet assembly space into the first path if the kind and the number of the tablets are in accordance with the prescription, if not, guiding the tablets assembled in the tablet assembly space into the second path.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a remote automated dispensing unit (ADU) may include an enclosed cabinet, one or more locking mechanisms to keep the cabinet secure, one or more doors on the cabinet to allow access to the internal components, and a computer system that manages the dispensing of inventory. The ADU may include a mechanism for the dispensing of medications for individual patients including: one or more canisters for storing medications, one or more canister base stations for securing the one or more canisters to the ADU, and a chute and funnel system for the guidance of medications as they fall from the canisters into a packaging station for packaging medications into packages for particular patients. One or more sensors may be used to detect misdispensing of medications, and a combination of sensors and operating sequences may be used to reduce the amount of misdispensed medication.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a lockable canister for retaining and selectively dispensing medications is disclosed. To prevent drug diversion, a plurality of doses of medication may be loaded into the locking canister at a central pharmacy and then the canister may be locked to prevent unauthorized removal of medication in transit to a remote automated dispensing unit that may be located in a remote pharmacy. The lockable canister may include a canister housing and a canister cover that may be locked to the canister housing to enclose the plurality of doses of medication. The canister cover may include tamper evident or tamper resistant features. The canister may include one or more locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to the medication in the canister in transit or before it is specifically authorized for dispensing.