Medical cart, medication module, height adjustment mechanism, and method of medication transport

Abstract

A medical cart is described and includes a work platform having a work surface and at least one compartment, a base, and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the work platform relative to the base. A medication module is described and includes a plurality of compartments. The medical cart can be joined with a medication module. In addition, a plurality of medication modules can joined to form a train. The medical cart and medication module can be used collectively and individually in a variety of methods for transferring medicine.

1 . A cart system comprising:
 a first cart including:
 at least one compartment; and 
 a base having rolling members to permit movement of the first cart; 
   a second cart including:
 a plurality of compartments; and 
 a base having rolling members to permit movement of the second cart, 
   wherein the first and second cart including linking structure that permits the first and second carts to be connected together for movement.   
   
   
       2 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cart further includes a work platform having a work surface and that houses the at least one compartment. 
   
   
       3 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cart includes a plurality of compartments. 
   
   
       4 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the first cart is configured to nest with the base of the second cart. 
   
   
       5 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the second cart further includes a housing for supporting the plurality of compartments and the rolling members are disposed on the base outside of the sidewalls. 
   
   
       6 . A method of medication transport comprising the steps of:
 (a) loading, at a first location, medication into first and second carts;   (b) connecting the first and second carts to form a cart train;   (c) moving the cart train to a second location when loaded with medication;   (d) separating the first and second carts after moving the cart train to the second location;   (e) moving the first cart from the second location to a third location;   (f) removing medication from the at least one cart at the third location; and   (g) returning the first and second carts to the first location.   
   
   
       7 . A method of medication transport comprising the steps of:
 (a) loading, at a first location, medication into a compartment in a medication module;   (b) moving the medication module to a second location;   (c) transferring medication from the medication module to a medical cart; and   (d) administering medicine from the medical cart to a patient.   
   
   
       8 . A cart comprising:
 at least one movable compartment including a notch;   a housing for supporting the movable compartment such that the movable compartment can be moved in and out relative to the housing;   a hinge having a stationary side connected to the housing and an active side biased toward an engagement position in which the active side is disposed in the notch of the movable compartment to prevent the movable compartment from being moved out relative to the housing; and   a driver configured to move the active side of the hinge to a disengagement position in which the active side is not disposed in the notch of the movable compartment.   
   
   
       9 . The cart of  claim 8 , wherein the movable compartment includes a sloped surfaced positioned behind the notch such that, when the movable compartment is moved in relative to the housing while the active side of the hinge is in the engagement position, the sloped surface will temporarily engage the active side and force it into the disengagement position to permit the movable compartment to continue to move in relative to the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The cart of  claim 8 , wherein the hinge is a piano hinge. 
   
   
       11 . The cart of  claim 8 , wherein the driver includes:
 an actuating lever that engages the active side of the hinge and pivots about an axis to move the active side of the hinge to the disengagement position; and   a solenoid that drives the actuating lever.   
   
   
       12 . The cart of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a circuit configured to control the driver; and   a keypad connected to the circuit,   wherein, when a user enters an unlock code on the keypad, the keypad is configured to send an unlock signal to the circuit which is configured to cause the driver to move the active side of the hinge to the disengagement position.   
   
   
       13 . The cart of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a timer configured to count to a predetermined time count after the hinge is moved to the disengagement position, wherein, after the predetermined time has been counted, the timer is configured to instruct the driver to allow the active side of the hinge to move to the engagement position.   
   
   
       14 . The cart of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of movable compartments that can each be maintained in positioned by the hinge.