| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080257901 | CONTROLLED DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH MODULAR CAROUSEL - A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement relative to the housing. The tray is configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of the tray. An access control mechanism is configured to locate the tray relative to the housing to generally align a selected one of the plurality of segments with the opening and also to limit opening movement of the door to limit a size of the access portion to a size of the selected segment if a corresponding position of the door is less than the maximum open position of the door. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20100327001 | WEIGHT-BASED DISPENSING SYSTEM - A weight-based dispensing system is disclosed. The system includes a platform and a container, coupled to the platform, including a lid configured to move between a closed state restricting access to items in the container and an open state allowing access to the items in the container. The system also includes at least two weight sensors, wherein each of the weight sensors is coupled to the platform and is configured to determine a change in weight on the platform, and a controller configured to determine a change in the number of items in the container based on the state of the lid and the change in weight on the platform. A method for dispensing items is also disclosed. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110016026 | PORTABLE INVENTORY TRACKING SYSTEM - A system for tracking the quantity of an item is disclosed. The system includes a portable terminal, a client, and a cabinet. The portable terminal is configured to receive information indicating a change in the quantity of the item in a container. The portable terminal includes a unique identifier, an input device configured to be actuated to indicate the change in the quantity of the item in the container, and a transceiver configured to transmit the information indicating. The client is configured to associate the portable terminal with the item based on the unique identifier, and includes a transceiver configured to receive and transmit the information. The cabinet includes the container and a controller configured to change a value indicating a quantity of the item based on the information transmitted from the client. A method for tracking the quantity of an item is also provided. | 01-20-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090008447 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING INVENTORY IN A HEALTHCARE FACILITY - A method and system for managing inventory in a healthcare facility, in which it is determined whether a machine-readable tag affixed to at least one of a used item and a container of the used item is deposited in a receptacle. It is automatically communicated to a centralized database that the machine-readable tag has been deposited in the receptacle. A demand signal may be automatically generated demanding a replacement for the used item, when it is determined that the machine-readable tag is deposited in the receptacle. Also, a charge for the used item may be automatically generated on a patient bill stored in the database, when it is determined that the machine-readable tag is deposited in the receptacle. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090134997 | ACTIVE-TAG BASED DISPENSING - A method of sensing dispensation of a product from a storage device having an antenna is provided. The method comprises providing a product with a wireless tag within a service area of the antenna, establishing wireless communication between the wireless tag and the antenna, monitoring the wireless communication, and determining, responsive to the monitoring, when the wireless communication has ceased to establish when the product has been dispensed from the storage device. A dispensation-sensing system is also provided. The system comprises a securable storage area, an antenna operable to receive and transmit signals within the securable storage area, and a processor. The processor is configured to establish wireless communication between the antenna and a wireless tag of a product disposed within the securable storage area, monitor the wireless communication, and determine, responsive to the monitoring, when the wireless communication has ceased to establish when the product has been dispensed from the securable storage area. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20100082458 | ADAPTIVE CRITICAL LOW LEVEL MANAGEMENT - An adaptive critical low level management system is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a configuration module configured to receive a service level setting and a storage module configured to receive usage information for at least one inventory of at least one type of medical item. The system also includes a processor configured to adaptively determine a critical low level based on the usage information and the service level setting, and an analysis module configured to determine when the critical low level has been reached by the at least one inventory of the at least one type of medical item, and to produce an output indication that the critical low level has been reached. | 04-01-2010 |
