Storage device for health care facility

Abstract

A device is provided for controlling access to medical items. At least one ratcheting drawer is provided having a plurality of bins adapted to hold the medical items and disposed to become exposed sequentially as the drawer is opened. A latching mechanism engages the ratcheting drawer to prevent the drawer from opening. A sensor detects the position of the drawer relative to the bins and, when access to the contents of a particular bin is authorized, the latching mechanism disengages until the specific bin is exposed, as determined by the sensor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items held in the storage device, comprising: 
 a drawer having a ratcheting member, a latching mechanism controllably engaging the ratcheting member, a sensor for determining a position of the drawer, and a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the latching mechanism, the controller receiving a position signal from the sensor, and the controller providing a control signal to the latching mechanism to manipulate the latching mechanism for controlling movement of the drawer.    
     
     
         2 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the ratcheting member has a plurality of unidirectional teeth.  
     
     
         3 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the teeth of the ratcheting member are one-way teeth.  
     
     
         4 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one divider in the drawer, the at least one divider separating the drawer into a plurality of bins.  
     
     
         5 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises a solenoid having an engaging member, the engaging member contacting the ratcheting member to prevent exterior movement of the drawer.  
     
     
         6 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising markings on the drawer, the sensor sensing the markings to determine the position of the drawer, and the sensor providing signals to the controller of the position of the drawer.  
     
     
         7 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises a linear ratcheting gear.  
     
     
         8 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer has a first member that slidingly engages a mating member for providing sliding movement of the drawer.  
     
     
         9 . The storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the mating member is connected to a framework.  
     
     
         10 . The storage device of  claim 9 , further comprising a drawer module, and wherein the framework is a component of the drawer module.  
     
     
         11 . The storage device of  claim 10 , wherein the drawer module in removably secured in a cabinet, the cabinet being moveable.  
     
     
         12 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising an interchangeable module, and wherein a plurality of drawers are positioned in the module.  
     
     
         13 . The storage device of  claim 12 , further comprising a cabinet, the interchangeable module being removably mounted in the cabinet.  
     
     
         14 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is moveable.  
     
     
         15 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising a stationary cabinet housing the drawer, and wherein the stationary cabinet is adapted to be connected in series to at least one additional stationary cabinet.  
     
     
         16 . A storage device for controlling access to one or more medical items in the storage device, comprising: 
 a cabinet, a ratcheting drawer fitted within the cabinet, the ratcheting drawer having a ratcheting member, a latching mechanism engaging the ratcheting mechanism, and the ratcheting member adapted to resist opening and allow closing of the drawer when engaged by the latching mechanism.    
     
     
         17 . The storage device of  claim 16 , further comprising a controller operatively connected to the latching mechanism, the controller controlling engagement of the ratcheting member by the latching mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . The storage device of  claim 17 , further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the latching mechanism, the sensor sending a signal to the controller of the position of the ratcheting drawer.  
     
     
         19 . The storage device of  claim 18 , further comprising optical markings on the ratcheting drawer, the sensor sensing the markings.  
     
     
         20 . The storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the ratcheting drawer has a plurality of bins adapted to hold the medical items and disposed to become exposed sequentially as the drawer is opened.  
     
     
         21 . The storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the ratcheting drawer has a plurality of bins, wherein the controller receives authorization for access to the medical items in the ratcheting drawer, wherein the controller tracks which bins have been accessed and the position of the ratcheting drawer, and wherein the controller allowing access to the first bin of the ratcheting drawer containing one of the medical items.  
     
     
         22 . The storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the ratcheting drawer has a framework, wherein the latching mechanism is connected to the cabinet through the framework, and wherein the ratcheting drawer and the framework are removably secured in an aperture of the cabinet.  
     
     
         23 . The storage device of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of ratcheting drawers in the cabinet, each of the ratcheting drawers having a ratcheting member engaging a separate latching mechanism to independently resist opening and allow closing of the drawer when engaged by the separate latching member.  
     
     
         24 . The storage device of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of ratcheting drawers comprise a module that can be interchangeably installed in the cabinet.  
     
     
         25 . The storage device at  claim 16 , wherein the latching mechanism is stationary within the cabinet, and wherein the latching mechanism does not move with the ratcheting drawer.  
     
     
         26 . The storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the ratcheting member is a unidirectional ratcheting member having a plurality of one-way teeth.  
     
     
         27 . A storage device for containing and controlling distribution of medical items stored in the storage device, comprising: 
 a cabinet having at least one ratcheting drawer with a plurality of bins, each bin extending substantially about a width of the drawer, and the bins extending in series from a front of the drawer to a rear of the drawer, wherein the bins are adapted to hold medical items and disposed to become exposed sequentially as the drawer is opened, the ratcheting drawer having a ratcheting member with a plurality of one-way teeth, the ratcheting drawer further having a plurality of position indicators thereon, the position indicators being positioned on the drawer relative to the plurality of bins in the drawer;    a sensor adjacent the position indicators on the ratcheting drawer, the sensor providing a signal of the indicator adjacent the sensor to assist in determining a current position of the ratcheting drawer relative to the plurality bins;    a latching mechanism configured to engage the ratcheting member any of a plurality of positions to prevent the ratcheting drawer from opening a controlled distance beyond the current position, while allowing the drawer to be closed at any time; and,    a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the latching mechanism, wherein the ratcheting member is normally engaged by the latching mechanism to resist opening of the ratcheting drawer beyond the current position, and wherein when the controller obtains authorization for access to the one or more medical items stored in a particular bin the controller provides a signal to the latching mechanism to disengage the ratcheting member to expose the particular bin of the particular drawer.    
     
     
         28 . The storage device of  claim 27 , wherein the ratcheting member is mounted to the ratcheting drawer.  
     
     
         29 . The storage device of  claim 27 , wherein the ratcheting drawer is mounted in a module that is removably secured in the cabinet.  
     
     
         30 . The storage device of  claim 29 , wherein a plurality of ratcheting drawers are mounted in the module, and wherein the removable module is adapted to be removably inserted within a cabinet.  
     
     
         31 . The storage device of  claim 27 , wherein as a signal is provided to access a bin of a particular drawer, the controller provides a signal to the latching mechanism to disengage the ratcheting member to expose the next occupied bin in the series of bins in the particular drawer.  
     
     
         32 . The storage device of  claim 27 , wherein one of the drawers is a return drawer, wherein the controller obtains a signal that a medical item is to be returned, and wherein the controller provides a signal to the latching mechanism to disengage the ratcheting member to expose the next empty bin in series adjacent the front of the drawer for placement of a medical item to be returned therein, and after the medical item to be returned is placed in the next empty bin and the bin is returned to an unexposed position, the controller does not allow exposure of the contents of that bin until the controller receives a signal by an authorized user.  
     
     
         33 . The storage device of  claim 27 , further comprising a return depot connected to the cabinet, the return depot comprising a housing having an interior, the housing having an aperture providing access to the interior of the housing, and a locking door covering the aperture to control access to the interior of the housing through the aperture, a return bin secured in an interior of the housing, the return bin having a cavity with an opening, the return bin being movable into a plurality of positions, another aperture in the housing mating with the opening in the return bin when the return bin is positioned in a first position, a cover secured to the housing and overlaying the another aperture in the housing, the covering providing controlled access to the return bin inside the housing, an actuator connected to the return bin, the actuator manipulating movement of the return bin, and a controller electrically connected to the actuator to provide the actuator with a signal for manipulating the return bin.  
     
     
         34 . A storage device for controlling access to returned medical items in a medical facility, comprising: 
 a housing having an interior;    a return bin secured in the interior of the housing, the return bin having a cavity with an opening, the return bin being movable to a plurality of positions;    a first aperture in the housing, the first aperture mating with the opening in the return bin when the return bin is positioned in a first position;    a cover secured to the housing and overlaying the first aperture in the housing, the covering providing controlled access to the cavity of the return bin inside the housing;    an actuator connected to the return bin, the actuator manipulating movement of the return bin; and,    a controller electrically connected to the actuator to provide the actuator with a signal for manipulating the return bin.    
     
     
         35 . The storage device of  claim 34 , further comprising a moveable medical item distribution cart, wherein the housing is mounted to the moveable medical item distribution cart.  
     
     
         36 . The storage device of  claim 34 , further comprising a second aperture in the housing providing access to the interior of the housing, and a locking door covering the second aperture to control access to the interior of the housing through the second aperture.  
     
     
         37 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the return bin is moveable to a second position, wherein an exterior of the return bin mates with the first aperture in the housing to operatively close the first aperture when the return bin is in the second position, and wherein the cavity of the return bin is open to the interior of the housing to allow the contents of the cavity to be expelled into the interior of the housing when the return bin is located in the second position.  
     
     
         38 . The storage device of  claim 34 , further comprising a weight in the return bin, the weight assisting manipulation of the return bin from the second position to the first position.  
     
     
         39 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the first aperture is positioned in a first location on the housing, and wherein the second aperture is positioned in a second location on the housing below the first location.  
     
     
         40 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the first aperture in the housing is located in a upper portion of the housing, and wherein the second aperture in the housing is located in an lower portion of the housing.  
     
     
         41 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the actuator is engaged to manipulate movement of the return bin when the cover is opened.  
     
     
         42 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the actuator has a linkage which rotates the return bin from the first position to the second position.  
     
     
         43 . The storage device of  claim 42 , wherein the return bin rotates from the second position to the first position when the cover is allowed to open.  
     
     
         44 . The storage device of  claim 41 , further comprising a solenoid to open the cover.  
     
     
         45 . The storage device of  claim 36 , wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the cover such that as the cover opens the actuator manipulates the return bin to have the opening in the cavity of the return bin mate with the first aperture in the housing, and when the cover is closed the actuator manipulates the return bin to have the exterior of the return bin operatively close the first aperture in the housing.  
     
     
         46 . The storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the return bin is a cylindrical drum that rotates within the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         47 . The storage device of  claim 34 , further providing a lock to override the controller for opening and closing the cover.  
     
     
         48 . The storage device of  claim 35 , further providing a lock to open and close the locking door to control access to the interior of the housing for removing the medical items therein.  
     
     
         49 . A method for securing access to medical items in a container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a drawer having a unidirectional ratcheting member;    providing a latching mechanism;    providing a controller operatively connected to the latching mechanism;    sending a signal from the controller to the latching mechanism to manipulate the latching mechanism for controlling engagement of the latching mechanism with the ratcheting member.    
     
     
         50 . The method for securing access to medical items in a container of  claim 49 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sensor, the sensor being operatively connected to the controller;    sensing a position of the drawer; and,    sending a signal from the sensor to the controller of the position of the drawer.    
     
     
         51 . The method for securing access to medical items in a container of  claim 50 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one divider in the drawer, the at least one divider separating the drawer into a plurality of bins;    receiving authorization from the controller to access a particular bin;    disengaging the latching mechanism to expose the particular bin; and,    engaging the latching mechanism when the particular bin exposed.    
     
     
         52 . A method of returning a medical item to the storage device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a drawer having a unidirectional ratcheting member operatively engaging the unidirectional ratcheting member;    providing a latching mechanism;    providing a controller operatively connected to the latching mechanism;    providing a command to the controller that a medical item is to be returned;    sending a signal from the controller to the latching mechanism to manipulate engagement of the latching mechanism with the ratcheting member for providing controlled opening of the drawer;    depositing the medical item to be returned in the open drawer; and,    closing the drawer.    
     
     
         53 . The method of returning a medical item to the storage device of  claim 52 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one divider in the drawer, the at least one divider separating the drawer into a plurality of bins;    providing a sensor, the sensor being operatively connected to the controller;    receiving authorization from the controller to access a particular bin for returning a medical item, the particular bin to be accessed being the next available bin positioned sequentially closer to a front of the drawer;    sending a signal from the sensor to the controller of the position of the drawer;    disengaging the latching mechanism to expose the next available bin positioned sequentially closer to the front of the drawer;    engaging the latching mechanism when the particular bin exposed;    depositing the medical item to be returned in the open bin of the drawer; and,    closing the drawer.    
     
     
         54 . A method of returning a medical item to the storage device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing having an interior, the housing having a first aperture;    providing a return bin secured in the interior of the housing, the return bin having a cavity with an opening, the return bin being movable to a plurality of positions, the opening of the cavity mating with the first aperture of the housing when the return bin is positioned in a first position;    providing a cover controllably overlaying the first aperture in the housing;    providing an actuator connected to the return bin, the actuator manipulating movement of the return bin;    providing a controller electrically connected to the actuator;    providing a command to the controller that a medical item is to be returned;    opening the cover;    depositing the medical item to be returned within the cavity of the return bin; and,    closing the cover.    
     
     
         55 . The method of returning a medical item to the storage device of  claim 54 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing the actuator with a signal for manipulating the return bin;    having the actuator manipulate the return bin from a second position, wherein an exterior of the return bin mates with the first aperture in the housing, to a first position, wherein the opening of the cavity of the return bin mates with the first aperture in the housing; and,    having the actuator manipulate the return bin from the second position to the first position when the cover is opened.    
     
     
         56 . The method of returning a medical item to the storage device of  claim 55 , further comprising the steps of: 
 having the actuator manipulate the return bin from the first position to the second position when the cover is closed, to expel the contents of the items in the cavity.    
     
     
         57 . The method of returning a medical item to the storage device of  claim 54 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a solenoid engaging the cover;    providing a signal from the controller to the solenoid to charge the solenoid;    having the charged solenoid unlock the cover.    
     
     
         58 . The method of returning a medical item to the storage device of  claim 54 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a second aperture in the housing;    providing a locking door covering the second aperture;    unlocking the locking door and opening the locking door;    emptying the contents of the interior of the housing; and,    closing and locking the locking door.