Patent · US Expired

Pharmaceutical dispensing system

US5907493A · kind A · utility

282Cited by
13References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 1997
Grant dateMay 25, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG16H40/20
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention features a pharmaceutical dispensing system including a plurality of standardized or universal-type cells disposed in a large array called a module. One or more modules may be disposed in a given pharmacy, and one or more pharmacies may be monitored by a central computer. The system for filling prescriptions includes a graphical interface processing system for monitoring operations of each cell, wherever located, and for sequentially and interactively prompting an operator to perform appropriate; predetermined steps. The system for filling prescriptions sequentially prompts a technician or operator to perform predetermined steps, dependent upon verification of the completion of a prior or previously completed step in the sequence. In a semi-automatic mode, the pharmacist is directed, by suitable prompts on the computer display screen, as to the necessary steps and locations in filling each prescription. The main computer stores information of a plurality of drugs in predetermined, separately-addressable cells, and arranges that information to provide optimum efficiency of pharmacy operations, dependent upon certain parameters: (1) a proximity to a predetermine…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.