Medication dispensing cart

Abstract

A medication dispensing cart ( 10 ) having a computer and monitor ( 12 ), a work surface ( 16 ) with pull out keyboard ( 18 ), and plural drawers ( 30 ) arranged as a vertical series of cassettes that can be added as needed. The battery powered device uses software and pass codes for controlling access to each drawer, and requires a second pass code for any drawer designated to contain narcotics. Records can be kept of who dispenses what medication and when for each cart in a system of carts. The cart in the system is in wireless communication with a system administrator. Emails alerting the system administrator of low battery power, of a cart switching to off, of an attempted break-in, and of inventory and usage data are sent automatically by email.

1 . A apparatus, comprising: a medication dispensing cart having a computer with a computer monitor and a computer controller, a power system with a battery and a power system controller, and a cassette drawer system with a cassette drawer manager, a cassette drawer controller and a cassette drawer, wherein said computer controller, said power system controller, and said cassette drawer controller are interfaced with said medication dispensing cart, wherein said computer controller receives computer controller input and generates computer controller output, wherein said power system controller receives power system input and generates power system output, and wherein said cassette drawer controller receives cassette drawer input and generates cassette drawer output;
 wherein said cassette drawer system is modularized, wherein said cassette drawer is a first cassette drawer. wherein said cassette drawer system includes a second cassette drawer, wherein the underside of said cassette drawer manager includes a first means for latching said first cassette drawer to said cassette drawer manager, and wherein the underside of said cassette drawer includes a second means for latching a second cassette drawer to said first cassette drawer.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said cassette drawer manager is carried below said work surface. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the top side of said cassette drawer manager is bolted beneath said work surface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said power system controller input comprises at least one of height of said mast, status of said battery status, and weight of said computer and said work surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said power system controller output comprises at least one of commands to said mast and status of said battery status. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer controller input comprises at least one of user information, medication information, status of said cassette drawer system, and status of said power system. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said user information comprises at least one of identity of user, a pass code, and location of user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer controller output comprises at least one of commands to said cassette drawer system and electronic messages relating to the status of said cassette drawer system, the status of said power system, and the location of said medication dispensing carts. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second cassette drawer is a utility drawer having an electric lock controlled by said cassette drawer controller, wherein cassette drawer controller generates output to said electric lock when said utility drawer is connected to said cassette drawer system, and wherein said output is a command to remain unlocked when said utility drawer is latched to said first cassette drawer. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cassette drawer controller generates output to said computer controller when said second cassette drawer is connected to said first cassette drawer, wherein said output is a notification that said second drawer has been added to said cassette drawer system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cassette drawer controller generates output to said computer controller when said second cassette drawer is disconnected from said first cassette drawer, and wherein said output is a notification that said second drawer has been removed from said cassette drawer system. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said mast is vertically adjustable through means for adjusting. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said power system controller includes a height actuator, and wherein said adjusting means is a button that is connected to electrical switch that is connected to said height actuator. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said height actuator is connected to a weight sensor, wherein said weight sensor trips said height actuator if the weight of said work surface, said computer, and said computer monitor exceeds a preset, desired weight. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said battery is connected to said medication dispensing cart using a “Y” electrical connector. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said battery can be charged separately from said medication dispensing cart. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cassette drawer manager houses said cassette drawer controller, and wherein said cassette drawer controller monitors said cassette drawer. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cassette drawer includes a first compartment having a first lock and a first sensor, and a second compartment having second lock and a second sensor, wherein said second compartment contains narcotics, wherein said computer controller provides input to said cassette drawer controller about said first lock and said second lock, wherein said cassette drawer controller locks and unlocks said first lock and said second lock independently based on said input, and wherein said cassette drawer controller generates output to said computer controller about the status of said first lock and said second lock. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said first sensor and said second sensor determine if said first compartment and said second compartment are open, closed, left open, or not fully closed, respectively, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor independently provide input to said cassette drawer controller, and wherein said cassette drawer controller generates output to said computer controller about the status of said first compartment and said second compartment. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said cassette drawer controller requires a first pass code from said computer controller to unlock said first compartment, and wherein said cassette drawer controller requires a second pass code from said computer to unlock said second compartment. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer is connected through a wireless communication link to a central administrator, wherein said computer includes an electronic mail system, and wherein said computer can automatically send electronic mail messages to said central administrator through SMTP about the status and whereabouts of said medication dispensing cart. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said battery provides power to said medication dispensing cart sufficient to operate said cart for about 8 to about 10 hours. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus, comprising: a medication dispensing cart having a computer with a computer monitor and a computer controller, a power system with a battery and a power system controller, and a cassette drawer system with a cassette drawer manager, a cassette drawer controller and a cassette drawer, wherein said computer controller, said power system controller, and said cassette drawer controller are interfaced with said medication dispensing cart, wherein said computer controller receives computer controller input and generates computer controller output, wherein said power system controller receives power system input and generates power system output, and wherein said cassette drawer controller receives cassette drawer input and generates cassette drawer output;
 wherein said mast is vertically adjustable through means for adjusting;   wherein said power system controller includes a height actuator, and wherein said adjusting means is a button that is connected to electrical switch that is connected to said height actuator; and   wherein said height actuator is connected to a weight sensor, wherein said weight sensor trips said height actuator if the weight of said work surface, said computer, and said computer monitor exceeds a preset, desired weight.   
     
     
         33 . An apparatus, comprising: a medication dispensing cart having a computer with a computer monitor and a computer controller, a power system with a battery and a power system controller, and a cassette drawer system with a cassette drawer manager,
 a base;   a mast extending vertically up from the base;   work surface disposed below the computer monitor and coupled to the mast;   wherein the cassette drawer manager is coupled to the work surface so as to be positioned beneath the work surface;   wherein the cassette drawer system further comprises a first drawer housing that is configured to be removably coupled beneath the cassette drawer manager, wherein the first drawer housing defines an interior;   at least one pull-out drawer disposed in the interior; and   a second drawer housing that is configured to be removably coupled beneath the first drawer housing and to hold another pull-out drawer.   
     
     
         34 . An apparatus, comprising: a medication dispensing cart having a computer with a computer monitor and a computer controller, a power system with a battery and a power system controller, and a cassette drawer system with a cassette drawer manager,
 a base;   a mast extending vertically up from the base;   work surface disposed below the computer monitor and coupled to the mast;   wherein the cassette drawer manager is coupled to the work surface so as to be positioned beneath the work surface;   a drawer housing having a front, a back and sides, wherein the front defines an opening and wherein the back includes a recess through which the mast vertically passes when the drawer housing is coupled to the cassette drawer manager; and   at least a first pull-out drawer held within the opening of the drawer housing.   
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as in  claim 34 , wherein the drawer housing defines a pair of openings that are positioned on opposing sides of the mast, and wherein a pull-out drawer is disposed in each opening.