Medical object distribution system and method
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65G-051/34
A61J-007/00
B65G-051/02
B65G-043/08
출원번호
US-0157388
(2016-05-17)
등록번호
US-9539178
(2017-01-10)
발명자
/ 주소
Valerino, Sr., Fredrick M.
출원인 / 주소
Valerino, Sr., Fredrick M.
대리인 / 주소
Mosolygo, Hanna Bondarik
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
40
초록▼
Systems, methods, and modes for distribution of medical objects, such as medicines, from a sending station at a pharmacy or a nursing station to one of a plurality of receiving stations located by the patient's bedside via pneumatic tubing without a dedicated carrier. The system is a one-way system
Systems, methods, and modes for distribution of medical objects, such as medicines, from a sending station at a pharmacy or a nursing station to one of a plurality of receiving stations located by the patient's bedside via pneumatic tubing without a dedicated carrier. The system is a one-way system configured for allowing the medical object to travel in one direction from a sending station to one of the receiving stations. The pneumatic tube system comprises a sending station, a plurality of receiving stations routably connected to the sending station via the pneumatic tubing, a pump, and a system controller in signal communication with the sending station, the receiving station, and the pump. The system controller receives delivery information from the sending station, identifies an intended receiving station using the delivery information, and sends commands to the pneumatic tube system to control routing of the medical object from the sending station to the identified receiving station in the pneumatic tubing.
대표청구항▼
1. A pneumatic tube system that distributes medical objects in a medical environment without a dedicated carrier, comprising: a sending station comprising a housing having a first opening on its front face for receiving a medical object and a second opening in communication with pneumatic tubing for
1. A pneumatic tube system that distributes medical objects in a medical environment without a dedicated carrier, comprising: a sending station comprising a housing having a first opening on its front face for receiving a medical object and a second opening in communication with pneumatic tubing for transporting the medical object from the sending station, wherein the second opening comprises a funnel portion that tapers from a wide end to a narrow end, wherein the wide end is in communication with the first opening and wherein the narrow end is in communication with a terminal end of the pneumatic tubing, wherein the funnel portion is configured for guiding the medical object into the pneumatic tubing;a plurality of receiving stations routably connected to the sending station via the pneumatic tubing;a pump configured for creating a pressure differentiation within the pneumatic tubing for transmitting the medical object from the sending station to one of the receiving stations;a system controller in signal communication with the sending station, the receiving station, and the pump, the system controller comprises a processor and a memory encoding one or more processor-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause acts to be performed comprising: receiving delivery information from the sending station;identifying an intended receiving station using the delivery information; andsending commands to the pneumatic tube system to control routing of the medical object from the sending station to the identified receiving station in the pneumatic tubing. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first opening or the second opening comprises a door to restrict access to the sending station. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the pump creates a negative pressure proximate to the second opening, wherein the second opening comprises a valve configured for releasing the negative pressure created by the pump proximate to the second opening. 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sending station comprises a door open sensor configured for sensing that the door has been opened, wherein the door open sensor is configured for triggering activation of the pump. 5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sending station comprises a proximity or motion sensor configured for detecting the proximity of a user to trigger at least one of opening of the door and activation of the pump. 6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the door comprises a lock and wherein the sending station comprises a user interface for receiving user identification information to authenticate the user and unlock the door upon successful authentication. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sending station comprises a user interface configured for receiving the delivery information. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each receiving station comprises a door to restrict access to the receiving station. 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the door comprises a lock and wherein the receiving station comprises a user interface for receiving user identification information to authenticate the user and unlock the door upon successful authentication. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each receiving station comprises a proximity or motion sensor configured for detecting an arrival of a medical object within the receiving station, wherein the receiving station comprises an indicator light that is activated upon a trigger by the proximity or motion sensor to indicate that the receiving station has received a delivery. 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein notification is send to a handheld device of a user upon a trigger by the proximity or motion sensor to indicate that the receiving station has received the delivery. 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a one-way system configured for allowing the medical object to travel in one direction from the sending station to one of the receiving stations. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic tubing comprises a flexible reinforced hose. 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the hose comprises material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber, silicone, metal, aluminum alloy, corrugated stainless steel alloy, reinforced or coated fabric, including polyester, nylon, or fiberglass, and any combinations thereof. 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the hose comprises an inner diameter ranging from approximately one inch to approximately four inches in size. 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pump creates one of a positive pressure or a negative pressure within the pneumatic tubing. 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pump creates pressure ranging from approximately four pounds to approximately six pounds of pressure. 18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pump is located in proximity to the sending station and comprises a positive pressure air compressor. 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the second opening of the sending station is connected to a substantially vertical portion of pneumatic tubing that is connected to a substantially horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing via a bend; wherein the pump is connected at the bend in a T configuration and aligned with the horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing, wherein the medical object is dropped via gravity along the vertical portion until reaching the bend and then travels along the horizontal portion via a positive pressure created by the pump. 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing is connected to a diverter configured for changing a pneumatic tubing path to route the medical object to the identified receiving station. 21. The system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of pumps each located in proximity to a respective receiving station and comprises a negative pressure air compressor. 22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the receiving station is connected to a substantially vertical portion of pneumatic tubing that is connected to a substantially horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing via a bend; wherein the pump is connected at the bend in a T configuration and aligned with the horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing, wherein the medical object travels along the horizontal portion via a negative pressure created by the pump until reaching the bend and then dropped via gravity along the vertical portion into the receiving station. 23. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an in-line pump connected to a compressed air source configured for creating a positive pressure at an outlet of the in-line pump. 24. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sending station and receiving station comprises an identifying tag reader configured for reading an ID tag attached to the medical object. 25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the ID tag attached to the medical object comprises delivery information, wherein the identifying tag reader is configured to read the ID tag attached to the medical object to obtain the delivery information, wherein the system controller is configured to interpret the delivery information to identify the intended receiving station. 26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the system controller identifies the intended receiving station by querying a patient file stored on a database with the delivery information, wherein the patient file includes information selected from the group consisting of a unique ID number associated with the medical object, a patient's unique ID, a name of the patient, room ID of the patient, bed ID of the patient, receiving station ID associated with the patient, one or more IDs of authorized users allowed access to the receiving station associated with the patient, name, strength, diluent, and dosage of the medical object and any combinations thereof. 27. The system according to claim 24, wherein the identifying tag reader is configured to read tags consisting of at least one of an optically scannable identifier tag, a barcode, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a near field communication (NFC) tag, or any combinations thereof. 28. The system according to claim 24, wherein delivery data is logged by the system controller in a database upon scanning the ID tag at the sending station, wherein the delivery data comprises at least one of an ID of the sending station, an ID of the sending user, information obtained from the ID tag, a time and date the medical object was sent by the sending station, and any combinations thereof. 29. The system according to claim 24, wherein reception data is logged by the system controller in a database upon scanning the ID tag at the receiving station, wherein the reception data comprises at least one of an ID of the receiving station, information obtained from the ID tag, a time and date the medical object arrived at the receiving station, the time a door at the receiving station was unlocked and the medical object was retrieved from the receiving station, a receiving user ID, and any combinations thereof. 30. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a diverter comprising a plurality of outlet ports each in communication with a selected receiving station via pneumatic tubing, wherein the diverter is controlled by the system controller to divert the medical object to an outlet port in communication with the identified receiving station. 31. A pneumatic tube system that distributes medical objects in a medical environment without a dedicated carrier, comprising: a sending station comprising a housing having a first opening on its front face for receiving a medical object and a second opening in communication with pneumatic tubing for transporting the medical object from the sending station;a plurality of receiving stations routably connected to the sending station via the pneumatic tubing;a plurality of pumps each located in proximity to a respective receiving station and comprises a negative pressure air compressor for transmitting the medical object from the sending station to the respective receiving station;wherein each receiving station is connected to a substantially vertical portion of pneumatic tubing that is connected to a substantially horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing via a bend, wherein a respective pump is connected at the bend in a T configuration and aligned with the horizontal portion of pneumatic tubing, wherein the medical object travels along the horizontal portion via a negative pressure created by the pump until reaching the bend and then dropped via gravity along the vertical portion into the receiving station;a system controller in signal communication with the sending station, the receiving station, and the pump, the system controller comprises a processor and a memory encoding one or more processor-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause acts to be performed comprising: receiving delivery information from the sending station;identifying an intended receiving station using the delivery information; andsending commands to the pneumatic tube system to control routing of the medical object from the sending station to the identified receiving station in the pneumatic tubing.
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