Apparatus for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies

A dispensing apparatus (10) for controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies which includes a cabinet having a plurality of drawers (14), the drawers each have trays (36) with a plurality of receptacles (38), which each receptacle sized to hold one item, and having a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. Selectively actuatable locks are provided for releasably maintaining the lid in the closed position, the locks include an electrically responsive actuator wire connected to the locks and causing movement of the locks in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator wire. A processor (18) is in communication with the selectively actuatable lock and configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator wire to unlock the lid. The apparatus also comprises sensor means (119) between the drawers (14) and the trays (36) for providing a signal to the processor to indicate that the receptacle is properly positioned in the drawer.