Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for tracking and controlling inventory with a container. A container that defines a cavity may include an access detection system configured to detect when the cavity of the container is accessed, a radio frequency identification reader configured to be activated in response to the access detection system detecting that the cavity has been accessed, and a communications interface configured to transmit a signal identifying the contents of the cavity in response to the radio frequency identification reader identifying a change in contents of the cavity. The container may also include a lid movable between an open position in which the cavity is accessible, and a closed position in which the cavity is inaccessible, where the access detection system is configured to detect when the lid is moved to the open position.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may provide an efficient method of identifying unit doses of medication, and more specifically, to dispensing, identifying, packaging, and labeling unit doses of medication for distribution. In particular, methods may include receiving medication information, causing identifying information related to the medication information to be printed to a web of material, where the identifying information is printed at regular intervals, and preparing a medication unit dose to be dispensed to a container. Methods may further include verifying that the medication unit dose corresponds to the identifying information printed to the web of material, and joining the web of material to the container in response to the dispensed unit dose corresponding to the identifying information.

Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for storing and dispensing medications to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. A storage and dispensing system may include a housing defining a cavity, a door movable between an open and a closed position to provide access to the cavity, two or more receivers disposed within the cavity, a lock to lock the door in the closed position, and a user interface configured to receive a request for medications stored within the cavity. The medications may be configured to be presented to a user in response to a request for the medications, while unrequested medications remain inaccessible.

Abstract: A medication dispensing cabinet, a computing device and an associated method are provided to measure the force applied to a drawer of a medication dispensing cabinet. By measuring the force applied to the drawer of a medication dispensing cabinet, certain predefined condition(s) may be detected, such as the closure of a drawer of a medication dispensing cabinet with an excessive amount of force. In this regard, a medication dispensing cabinet is provided that includes a cabinet body defining an internal cavity and a plurality of drawers disposed within the internal cavity of the cabinet body. The drawers are configured to be slidably opened and closed relative to the cabinet body. The medication dispensing cabinet also includes a force sensor carried by at least one of the cabinet body or one or more of the drawers and configured to measure force applied to a drawer of the medication dispensing cabinet.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for controlling access to intravenous bags. A system may include a cabinet including a vertically oriented drawer configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the cabinet, where the contents of the vertically oriented drawer are configured to be accessible from two opposing sides of the vertically oriented drawer when the drawer is in the open position. Systems of example embodiments may include a plurality of overpacks configured to be received within the vertically oriented drawer of the cabinet, where each of the plurality of overpacks is configured to receive therein a single intravenous bag, where each of the plurality of overpacks may include a retention feature, and where the retention feature of each overpack may be configured to be received by a complementary retention feature in the vertically oriented drawer.

Abstract: Storage units are described for storing articles. The storage units include a number of compartments, and the compartments include a receptacle, a lid, and a holding member. The receptacle receives the article via an opening, and the lid may move into and out of engagement with the opening so as to define an open position and a closed position. The holding member may be disposed on the lid and may be configured to releasably secure the article to the lid. Thus, in the closed position, the holding member and an article secured to the lid via the holding member may be received within the receptacle, whereas in the open position the article may be at least partially removed from the receptacle. Thus, when the lid is opened, the article is automatically presented to the user for dispensing the article from the compartment.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may provide an efficient method of identifying unit doses of medication, and more specifically, to dispensing, identifying, packaging, and marking unit doses of medication for distribution. In particular, methods may include receiving a plurality of unit dose medications, dispensing one of the plurality of unit dose medications, and capturing an image of the one of a plurality of unit dose medications. The method may also compare the captured image to a database of known medications, where each known medication includes a medication type and a medication dose. In response to the captured image satisfying a confidence threshold match to one of the known medications, the one of the plurality of unit dose medications may be identified. Dispensing one of the plurality of unit dose medications may include dispensing one of the plurality of unit dose medications to a unit dose package.

Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. A system for transporting medication in a healthcare facility may include: a carrier; a plurality of clips disposed on the carrier; a shuttle configured to receive the carrier; and a track on which the shuttle is configured to advance. The shuttle may be configured to transport the carrier along the track from a first location to a second location proximate a patient. The system may include a loading device disposed at the first location configured to receive the carrier and load the carrier onto the shuttle. The carrier may include a plurality of receivers, each configured to receive a clip.

Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Medications that are anticipated to be needed may be predicted based on a number of factors. The medications may be gathered, transported, stored, staged, and dispensed using one or more of the components described herein. Combinations of the components may be implemented for a system to automate or partially automate the dispensing of medications from a central pharmacy of a healthcare facility to a patient.

Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining a path or route in which a robot may be guided to perform a task(s) and avoiding one or more obstacles or obstructions. The apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor configured to receive origin location information via a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag associated with a key in an instance in which the key is positioned in an origin location. The processor is also configured to receive target location information via the NFC tag associated with the key in an instance in which the key is positioned in a target location, at which a task is performed by a robot and may generate a route for the robot to traverse in order to complete the task based in part on the origin location information and the target location information. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A cabinet, a drawer assembly and an associated method are provided for controllably limiting the slideable extension of a drawer relative to a cabinet body. The cabinet is configured to store a plurality of medications and includes a cabinet body and a drawer assembly that, in turn, includes a drawer slideably disposed within the cabinet body and an extension control rod. The drawer may include a plurality of pockets for storing respective medications. The drawer may also include an outwardly extending engagement member. The extension control rod may include a plurality of outwardly extending projections that are arranged helically about the rod. As such, engagement of a projection of the extension control rod with the engagement member of the drawer limits further slideable extension of the drawer relative to the cabinet body.

Abstract: A medication bin is provided that includes a bin housing configured to carry medication and other medical supplies, an electronic display, such as a liquid crystal display or electronic paper, carried by the bin housing and a processor carried by the bin housing and configured to control the electronic display. The processor is configured to receive information relating to a destination of the medication or other medical supplies to be carried by the medication bin. The processor is also configured to direct the electronic display to present a representation of the destination. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided. The storage apparatus defines a storage cavity having an opening at the upper surface of the storage apparatus with a substantially planar flange extending outwardly from the opening of the storage cavity and defines a plurality of support structures, each support structure (a) having an opening at the upper surface of the storage apparatus and (b) adapted to support the storage apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating cutting of unit dose blisters from a blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a platform, a clamp, a blade and a sensor. The blister card may be positionable on the platform for cutting. The clamp may be positionable to hold a portion of the blister card in contact with the platform for cutting when the clamp is seated. The clamp may be operatively coupled to a guillotine head. The blade may also be operatively coupled to the guillotine head. The guillotine head may be configured to move the blade through a range of motion that intersects a plane of the platform. The sensor may be positioned to detect a seating status of the clamp to enable control of movement of the guillotine head based on the seating status.

Abstract: A unit dose package is provided that facilitates the automated picking of the package. The unit dose package includes a plurality of individually packaged unit dose medications separated by perforations. The unit dose package also defines a hole that may be located along at least one perforation, such as at an intersection of at least two perforations, to permit the package to be stored by being suspended by a rod. A robotic dispensing system and method are also provided that facilitate the selective dispensation of unit dose packages having different numbers of individually packaged unit dose medications. The system includes first and second storage locations for storing first and second unit dose packages which have different numbers of individually packaged unit dose medication(s). The system also includes a controller to direct picking of the first or second unit dose packages dependant upon a requested number of individually packaged unit dose medication(s).

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for detecting that an object has been accessed. A system may include a first surface carrying a first signaling tag and a second surface carrying a second signaling tag. The first and second signaling tags may be positioned such that when the second surface is in a first position, the first signaling tag and the second signaling tag are sufficiently proximate to each other such that a coupling between the first signaling tag and the second signaling tag results in a first signal state being emitted by at least one of the signaling tags. When the second surface is transitioned from the first position to a second position, a decoupling between the first signaling tag and the second signaling tag may in a second signal state being emitted by at least one of the signaling tags.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a modular conveyor that includes a conveyor frame including an access opening, a plurality of conveyor buckets configured to move along a continuous path within the conveyor frame, and an access station where the contents of a conveyor bucket disposed at the access station may be accessible through the access opening. Each of the plurality of conveyor buckets may be configured to be substantially enclosed by the conveyor frame when not at the access station. The conveyor frame may include at least one channel disposed about a perimeter of the continuous path, where each of the plurality of conveyor buckets include at least one projection configured to engage the at least one channel. The conveyor buckets may be driven along the continuous path by a drive mechanism disposed outside of the conveyor frame.

Abstract: A tool for separating material layers may include a first arm including a first end and a second end; a second arm including a first end and a second end; a first material contact pad carried by the first arm proximate the first end of the first arm; and a second material contact pad carried by the second arm proximate the first end of the second arm. The second end of the first arm may be joined to the second end of the second arm, and the first material contact pad and the second material contact pad may be movable with respect to one another along two substantially orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A usage status notification method and corresponding medication storage device (e.g., mobile medication dispensing cart, medication cabinet, nurse server, etc.) are provided. To generate the usage status notification, the status of one or more components of the medication storage device may be monitored. An in-use notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is in use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged into the medication storage device). An available notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is available for use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged out of the medication storage device). Other types of usage status signals may also be provided.