WO1999005943A1

WO1999005943A1 - Catheter storing and dispensing station with slidable catheter racks

Info

Publication number: WO1999005943A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/015786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Chang; Steve Roberts; Catherine Christensen; Claude Mary
Original assignee: Pinnacle Intellectual Property Services-International, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-08-01
Filing date: 1998-07-30
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: AU8671998A

Abstract

A catheter storing and dispensing station (10) for use with a processing unit (24). The station includes a cabinet (12) having a plurality of catheter racks (20) that are slidably movable in and out of the cabinet. The catheter racks include a peripheral edge frame (33), a back wall connected to the peripheral edge frame, a plurality of compartments (40) located within the interior depth of the catheter racks to hold catheter sets (15) in an upright position, and a plurality of actuators (45) secured to the catheter racks and connected to a processing unit (24) to record catheter set inventory data.

Description

CATHETER STORING AND DISPENSING STATION WITH SLIDABLE CATHETER RACKS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a catheter rack for controlling storage and

dispensing packaged catheters.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of devices that dispense pharmaceutical items in a controlled fashion. For example, in many hospitals and nursing homes, medicines are stored under locked storage in medication dispenser stations, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,014,875, where nursing personnel retrieve the medicine from locked storage for

dispensing, simultaneously and automatically updating the patients' records and billing

accounts. These medical stations, which are interfaced to the pharmacy computer system, help minimize or eliminate manual billing and inventory reconciliation. For nurses, these

medical stations eliminate end-of-shift counts, stock-outs, etc.

While these medical dispensing stations deal adequately with small items such as syringes, vials and the like, larger hospital items are generally not amenable to storage in these traditional dispensing stations, and, in addition, have their own inimitable storage problems. Larger items such as packaged catheter sets are often too large and or long to be dispensed from these dispensing cabinets. Catheters come in many different

configurations and lengths. Each catheter set is typically separately packaged in a plastic

package that is about 8-13 cm wide, less than 1 cm thick, and may have varying lengths of 115 cm, 120 cm, 130 cm, 150 cm, etc. Typically, the plastic package will have a hanging

hole at the top thereof.

Packaged catheter sets are comprised of elongated tubing that cannot be kinked or

bent during storage. Without proper handling and storage, many of these catheter sets are folded, bent or otherwise damaged so they are no longer useful. Also, the tracking of the usage of catheter sets for inventory reordering and billing purposes needs to be controlled.

Others have made devices that can store and dispense catheters sets, including U.S. Patent Nos. 4,971,204 (Alsobrook), 5,404,384 (Colburn et al.), and 5,346,297 (Colson, Jr. et al.). OmniCell Technologies, Inc. has a catheter module for storing and dispensing

catheter sets (see Figures 1 and 2). All of these other devices use hooks or rods that go through the hanging hole at the top of the plastic package containing the catheter set and

the catheter sets dangle from the hooks or rods. It is common for the hole to rip through the surrounding plastic of the plastic package and then these catheter sets are no longer

able to be hung from the hooks or rods of these devices. This is a real problem for the nurses, technicians and doctors as to where to store this catheter set and account for it when it can no longer be stored in one of the devices, as well as put the catheter set somewhere so it does not get folded, bent or otherwise damaged.

These devices with hooks or rods also try to use the first in-first out (FIFO) method, but this requires three steps: (1) taking out old catheter stock off of the hooks or rods; (2) placing new catheter stock on the hooks or rods; and (3) placing the old catheter

stock back on the hooks or rods. Since this can be cumbersome, hospital personnel do not

always use this procedure but instead just put the new catheter stock on the hooks or rods in front of the old catheter stock. Therefore, this creates an increased likelihood of

expiration of catheters because older catheter sets remain at the back of the hooks or rods until the catheter sets at the front of the hooks or rods are dispensed. The longer these catheter sets hang on the hooks or rods, the more likely the hanging hole will be torn from the catheter sets "sloshing" back and forth when the rack holding the hooks is moved in and out by users getting catheter sets to be used or by a user accidentally pulling on that

catheter set. The OmniCell device shown in Figures 1 and 2 has hooks that all face toward the front of the catheter module so that only the label on the first catheter set can be seen without having the handle the other catheter sets to pull them sideways to read the label. This increases the likelihood that the hanging holes in the catheter sets will be torn.

The present invention overcomes the problems of prior devices by providing a

catheter rack that can be used without hooks or rods from which the catheter sets dangle,

use the first in-first out (FIFO) technique, and enable a user to easily see the label on a number of catheter sets without having the handle the catheter sets. The present invention simplifies inventory management of catheter sets and provides a level of control and security of hanging catheter sets, which can be relatively expensive (e.g., $20-$ 100). Floor stock of catheters sets and "stock outs" (lack of catheter sets) are reduced by the present

invention because inventories are more accurately maintained.

The present invention is a catheter storing and dispensing station for use with a

processing unit The catheter storing and dispensing station includes a cabinet having side

panels, rear panel, bottom panel, top panel, and an open front defining an interior cavity.

The cabinet has a plurality of rails connected to the cabinet near the top and bottom of the

interior cavity and the rails extend substantially from the front of the interior cavity to the

back of the interior cavity. The cabinet also includes a plurality of catheter racks slidably connected to the rails to enable the catheter racks to move in and out of the interior cavity.

The catheter racks include a peripheral edge frame, a back wall having its edges connected to the peripheral edge frame to collectively define an interior depth of the catheter rack, and a plurality of compartments located within the interior depth of the catheter rack to hold catheter sets in an upright position. The compartments prevent the catheter sets from sloshing when the catheter rack is slidably moved. The catheter racks also include a plurality of actuators secured to the catheter rack that correspond to the compartments. The actuators are connected to a processing unit to record catheter set inventory data that

is updated upon activation of the actuators.

Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art catheter module having hooks from which catheter

sets dangle.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the catheter storing and dispensing station in

accordance with the present invention with some catheter racks slid out of the cabinet.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a catheter rack slid out of the cabinet in

accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a cutout view of the foam insert in a catheter rack that is slid out of the cabinet in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 shows the rails and slide interlock in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should

be understood, however, that the enclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the

invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 3 shows the catheter storing and dispensing station 10 for use with a processing unit 24 of the present invention in conjunction with a

supply dispensing station. The catheter dispensing and storing station 10 includes a cabinet 12 having a plurality of catheter racks 20 that are slidably movable in and out of the cabinet

12 (as shown in Figure 3). The cabinet 12 is preferably comprised of side panels, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a top panel, and an open front defining an interior cavity inside of the cabinet 12. A number of rails 30 are connected to the cabinet 12 near the top and

bottom of the interior cavity inside of the cabinet 12 and the rails 30 preferably extend substantially from the front of the interior cavity to the back of the interior cavity. The rails 30 are parallel to each other and spaced apart about the width of the catheter racks 20 so

that the catheter racks 20 will slide into the cabinet 12 next to each other so that when all of the catheter racks 20 are slid inside of the cabinet 12 and locked, a person will not be able to get access (through the cracks between the outside peripheral edges 33 of the

catheter racks 20) to catheters 15 stored inside of the cabinet 12. The catheter racks 20

have handles 18 to enable the user to pull the catheter racks 20 out of the cabinet 12.

The catheter racks 20 are slidably connected to the rails 30 to enable the catheter

racks to move in and out of the interior cavity of the cabinet 12. A preferred embodiment uses heavy duty steel ball bearing slides on the rails at the top of the cabinet 12 to support the weight of the catheter racks 20 and use lighter weight steel ball bearing slides on the bottom rails that are mainly for horizontal deflection to keep the catheter racks 20 straight

in the cabinet 12. Other suitable means to make the catheter racks 20 slidably connected to the cabinet 12 may also be used without falling outside the scope of the invention. Figure 6 shows an anti-tip slide interlock with the rails 30 which prevents tipping of the cabinet 12 by allowing only one catheter rack 20 to slide out of the cabinet 12 at a time. There are

brackets in the from of the bottom rails/slides that lay on the bottom of the cabinet 12. When one catheter rack 20 is slid out. all other catheter racks 20 are locked via a cam-to-

bracket mechanism.

The catheter racks 20 include a peripheral edge frame 32 and a back wall 35 with its edges connected to the peripheral edge frame 32 to collectively define an interior depth of the catheter rack 20. The catheter racks 20 also include a plurality of compartments 40

located within the interior depth of the catheter racks 20 to hold catheter sets 15 in an upright position. These compartments 40 prevent the catheter sets 20 from sloshing when

the catheter rack 20 is slidably moved in and out of the cabinet 12. The catheter racks 20 further include a plurality of actuators 45 on button bars that are secured to the catheter racks 20 and connected to (preferably hardwired but could also use RF signals or other suitable means of communication) a processing unit 24 to record catheter set inventory data that is updated upon activation of the actuators 45. Applicant filed a patent application on

August 1, 1997 regarding the button bar technology and that application is incorporated

herein by reference.

Figures 3-5 show some catheter racks 20 slid out of the cabinet 12 of the catheter

dispensing and storing station 10. The catheter racks 20 are slid out of the cabinet 12 to allow the dispensing of catheter sets 15. With the present invention, it is easy for a user to view the labels 27 on the catheter sets 15 to dispense the proper catheter sets 15. When the catheter dispensing and storing station 10 is not being used to dispense or load catheter sets

15, the catheter racks 20 are slidably moved into the cabinet 12. In a preferred embodiment, these catheter racks 20 can be locked shut inside of the cabinet 12 to not allow unauthorized users to have access to catheter sets 15 in the catheter dispensing and storing station 10. This can be done by suitable locks or solenoids connected to the processing unit 24 that do not allow the catheter racks to be unlocked until an authorized user logs into the processing unit, provides a correct password, and requests the dispensing of a catheter set 15 from the catheter racks 20. As used herein, "processing unit" refers to any kind of computer, central processing unit, data processor, programmable processor and

the like.

The catheter racks 20 have compartments 40 that are preferably formed collectively by the back wall 35, one or more compartment dividers 50 extending perpendicularly from the back wall 35, one or more compartment floors 52 extending perpendicularly from the back wall 35, and a front compartment wall 55 spaced from the back wall 35 within the interior depth of the catheter rack 20. The front compartment wall 55 is preferably

connected to or abuts the compartment dividers 50 and compartment floors 52 to form the compartments 40 in the catheter rack 20.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the compartments in the catheter racks

20 are formed in two tiers. The first tier 60 of compartments 40 is preferably formed collectively by the back wall 35 of the catheter rack 20, first compartment dividers 50

extending perpendicularly from the back wall 35, one or more first compartment floors 52

extending perpendicularly from the back wall 35, and a first front compartment wall 55 spaced from the back wall 35. The first front compartment wall 55 is preferably connected to or abuts the first compartment dividers 50 and first compartment floors 52 to form the first tier 60 of compartments in the catheter rack 20. The second tier 62 of compartments

40 is preferably formed by the first front compartment wall 55 of the catheter rack 35, one or more second compartment dividers 64 extending perpendicularly from the first front compartment wall 55, one or more second compartment floors 66 extending

perpendicularly from the first front compartment wall 55, and a second front compartment wall 68 spaced from the first front compartment wall 55 The second front compartment wall 68 preferably is connected to or abuts the second compartment dividers 64 and second compartment floors 66 to form the second tier 62 of compartments 40 in the catheter rack 20, wherein the first tier 60 and second tier 62 of compartments 40 are formed within the interior depth of the catheter rack 20.

In a preferred embodiment, the compartments are adjustable to hold different sizes and lengths of catheter sets. One important feature of the invention is having adjustable compartment floors 66 to accommodate all lengths of catheter sets 15. In another

preferred embodiment, a foam insert 21 is inserted into the bottom of the compartments to

fill up the space and essentially "shorten" the compartment length so that shorter catheter sets are accommodated in the compartment. This is a lower cost alternative to having adjustable compartment floors, because the compartment depth is in effect adjustable by the length of the foam inserts 21. Numerous lengths of foam inserts 21 are available so that the hospital can use the same catheter rack 20 to store and dispense all lengths of catheters 15.

These foam inserts 21 may be marked in length and/or color-coded for ease of use for

certain lengths of catheters 15.

Another preferred feature of the catheter storage and dispensing station 10 of the

present invention is each catheter rack 20 having a microprocessor 23 connected to the actuators 45 on the catheter rack 20 and also connected to the processing unit 24. The microprocessor 23 is preferably designed to be capable of receiving and storing information about the quantity and type of catheter sets 15 stored in each compartment 40 of that particular catheter rack 20. In a preferred embodiment, the actuators 45 are push-button actuators along a bar extending across the compartments with a push-button actuator corresponding to a particular compartment 40. It is preferred that the actuator 45 is a set

of two push-button actuators with each set having a "take" push-button and a "return" push-button, wherein each set of push-button actuators 45 corresponds to a particular

compartment 40 to enable a user to update the catheter set inventory in each compartment 40 of the catheter rack 20. Another feature of the present invention includes LEDs (light emitting diodes) 77 on the compartments that light up when a user requests a catheter stored in a particular compartment or is adding catheters to a particular compartment, the LEDs 77 being electrically connected to the processing unit 24 and/or the microprocessor on the catheter rack 20.

In another embodiment, the compartments 40 include hooks 75 to hang the catheter sets 15 while retaining the catheter sets 15 in the compartments 40 to prevent the catheter

sets from sloshing when the catheter rack 20 is slidably moved in and out of the cabinet 12.

In accordance with the present invention, the hooks 75 extend perpendicular to the plane of the back wall 35 of the catheter rack 20, thereby enabling a user to slide the catheter

rack 20 out of the interior cavity of the cabinet 12 and view labels 27 on the catheter sets

15 in the front of each of the compartments 40 without handling or moving the catheter sets 15.

Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that,

given the present disclosure, modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept herein described. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific and preferred embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of the invention be determined by the

appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter storing and dispensing station for use with a processing unit, said station

comprising: a cabinet having side panels, rear panel, bottom panel, top panel, and an open front defining an interior cavity;

a plurality of rails connected to said cabinet near the top and bottom of said interior cavity, said rails extending substantially from the front of said interior cavity to the back of said interior cavity; and a plurality of catheter racks slidably connected to said rails to enable said catheter racks to move in and out of said interior cavity, said catheter racks comprising:

a peripheral edge frame; a back wall having its edges connected to said peripheral edge frame to

collectively define an interior depth of said catheter rack;

a plurality of compartments located within the interior depth of said catheter rack to hold catheter sets in an upright position, said compartments preventing the

catheter sets from sloshing when the catheter rack is slidably moved; and a plurality of actuators secured to said catheter rack and corresponding to said compartments, said actuators being in communication with a processing unit to record catheter set inventory data that is updated upon activation of said

actuators.

2. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein said catheter racks are

slidably connected to said rails by roller mechanisms connected to said catheter rack, said roller mechanisms interfacing with said rails to enable the catheter racks to move in and out of said interior cavity of said cabinet.

3. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein said compartments are

formed by said back wall of said catheter rack, one or more compartment dividers extending perpendicularly from said back wall, one or more compartment floors extending perpendicularly from said back wall, and a front compartment wall spaced from said back wall within the interior depth of said catheter rack, said front compartment wall being connected to said compartment dividers and compartment floors to form said compartments in said catheter rack.

4. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein said compartments are

formed in two tiers, said first tier of compartments being formed by said back wall of said catheter rack, one or more first compartment dividers extending perpendicularly from said back wall, one or more first compartment floors extending

perpendicularly from said back wall, and a first front compartment wall spaced from said back wall, said first front compartment wall being connected to said first compartment dividers and first compartment floors to form said first tier of compartments in said catheter rack, said second tier of compartments being formed by said first front wall of said catheter rack, one or more second compartment dividers extending

perpendicularly from said first front wall, one or more second compartment

floors extending perpendicularly from said first front wall, and a second front

compartment wall spaced from said first front wall, said second front compartment wall being connected to said second compartment dividers and second compartment floors to form said second tier of compartments in said catheter rack, wherein said first and second tiers of compartments are formed

within the interior depth of said catheter rack.

5. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 3 wherein said floors of said compartments are adjustable to accommodate different lengths of catheter sets.

6. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 4 wherein said floors of said compartments are adjustable to accommodate different lengths of catheter sets.

7. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising an insert that fits in the bottom of said compartments to accommodate different lengths of catheter

sets.

8. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein each of said catheter racks has a microprocessor connected to said actuators on said catheter rack and

connected to said processing unit, said microprocessor being capable of receiving and storing information about the quantity and type of catheter sets stored in said catheter

rack.

9. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein said actuators are

push-button actuators in an elongated strip of material with each push-button actuator corresponding to a particular compartment, said push button actuators being connectable to the processing station via a cable or wires to send predetermined signals to said processing station when the push-button actuators is pressed by a user, thereby enabling the processing station to determine which push-button actuator was pressed and update the catheter

inventory in that compartment.

10. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein said plurality of

actuators are sets of two push-button actuators with each set having a take push-button and a return push-button, wherein each set of push-button actuators corresponds to a particular compartment to enable a user to update the catheter set inventory in each compartment of

said catheter rack.

11. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 1 wherein one or more of said

compartments includes a hook to hang the catheter sets while retaining the catheter sets in said compartments to prevent the catheter sets from sloshing when the catheter rack is

slidably moved.

12. The catheter storing and dispensing station of claim 10 wherein said hooks extend perpendicular to the plane of said back wall of said catheter rack, thereby enabling a user to slide the catheter rack out of the interior cavity of said cabinet and view labels on the catheter sets in the front of each of said compartments without handling or moving the catheter sets.

13. The catheter set storing and dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising LEDs on the compartments that light up when a user requests a catheter stored in a particular

compartment or is adding catheters to a particular compartment, said LEDs being

electrically connected to said processing unit.

14. A catheter rack that can be slidably connected to rails in a cabinet to enable said catheter rack to move in and out of the cabinet, said catheter rack comprising:

a peripheral edge frame; a back wall having its edges connected to said peripheral edge frame to collectively define an interior depth of said catheter rack; a plurality of compartments located within the interior depth of said catheter

rack to hold catheter sets in an upright position, said compartments preventing the

catheter sets from sloshing when the catheter rack is slidably moved; and a plurality of actuators secured to said catheter rack and corresponding to said compartments, said actuators being connectable to a processing unit to record

catheter set inventory data that is updated upon activation of said actuators.

15. The catheter rack of claim 14 being slidably connected to said rails by rolling slides connected to said catheter rack, said rolling slides interfacing with said rails to enable the catheter racks to move in and out of said interior cavity of the cabinet.

16. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said compartments are formed by said back

wall of said catheter rack, one or more compartment dividers extending perpendicularly

from said back wall, one or more compartment floors extending perpendicularly from said back wall, and a front compartment wall spaced from said back wall within the interior depth of said catheter rack, said front compartment wall being connected to said compartment dividers and compartment floors to form said compartments in said catheter rack.

17. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said compartments are formed in two tiers,

said first tier of compartments being formed by said back wall of said catheter rack, one or more first compartment dividers extending perpendicularly

from said back wall, one or more first compartment floors extending

perpendicularly from said back wall, and a first front compartment wall spaced

from said back wall, said first front compartment wall being connected to said first compartment dividers and first compartment floors to form said first tier of compartments in said catheter rack, said second tier of compartments being formed by said first front wall of said catheter rack, one or more second compartment dividers extending perpendicularly from said first front wall, one or more second compartment floors extending perpendicularly from said first front wall, and a second front compartment wall spaced from said first front wall, said second front compartment wall being connected to said second compartment dividers and

second compartment floors to form said second tier of compartments in said catheter rack, wherein said first and second tiers of compartments are formed

within the interior depth of said catheter rack.

18. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said floors of said compartments are adjustable to accommodate different lengths of catheter sets.

19. The catheter rack of claim 14 further comprising an insert that fits in the bottom of said compartments to accommodate different lengths of catheter sets.

20. The catheter rack of claim 14 further comprising a microprocessor connected to said actuators on said catheter rack and connectable to the processing unit, said microprocessor being capable of receiving and storing information about the quantity and

type of catheter sets stored in said catheter rack.

21. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said actuators are push-button actuators in an

elongated strip of material with each push-button actuator corresponding to a particular

compartment, said push button actuators being connectable to the processing station via a

cable or wires to send predetermined signals to said processing station when the pushbutton actuators is pressed by a user, thereby enabling the processing station to determine which push-button actuator was pressed and update the catheter inventory in that

compartment.

22. The catheter rack of claim 14, wherein said actuators have a first push-button

actuator that is activated when a catheter set in a compartment is to be taken and a second push-button actuator that is activated when a catheter set is to be returned to a

compartment.

23. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said plurality of actuators are sets of two

push-button actuators with each set having a take push-button and a return push┬¼

button, wherein each set of push-button actuators corresponds to a particular compartment to enable a user to update the catheter set inventory in each compartment of said catheter rack.

24. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein one or more of said compartments includes a hook to hang the catheter sets while retaining the catheter sets in said compartments to prevent the catheter sets from sloshing when the catheter rack is slidably moved.

25. The catheter rack of claim 14 wherein said hooks extend perpendicular to the plane of said back wall of said catheter rack, thereby enabling a user to slide the catheter rack out

of the interior cavity of said cabinet and view labels on the catheter sets in the front of each of said compartments without handling or moving the catheter sets.

26. The catheter rack of claim 14 further comprising LEDs on the compartments that

are electrically connectable to the processing station that enables the LEDs to light up when a user requests a catheter stored in a particular compartment or is adding catheters to a particular compartment.