Patents by Inventor Robert E. Hoffman

Robert E. Hoffman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12245990
    Abstract: The medication container includes a generally card-shaped housing with an interior. The housing has a first opening that is sized to allow a plurality of pills to simultaneously be inserted into the interior of the housing and a first door that is movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively open and close the first opening. The housing also has a second opening that is spaced from the first opening and is configured to only allow a single dose of pills to be dispensed at a time. A second door is movable between open and closed positions. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the interior of the housing and is configured to detect the passage of the pills through the second opening and also to record data pertaining to each dispensing event to a memory contained within the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Evernorth Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Lindsay N. Gilreath, Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12208065
    Abstract: The medication container includes a receptacle and a cap. The cap includes a gate that can be selectively opened to enable access to medications in the receptacle and closed to restrict access to medications in the receptacle. The gate has a locking mechanism that only unlocks to allow the gate to open from the closed position in response to an application of a downward force on a portion of the gate to resiliently deflect a portion of the gate. The cap further includes electronic components that are configured to monitor movement of medications through the cap and into and out of the receptacle, the electronic components including a memory that is configured to store data pertaining to such passages of medications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Timothy B. Clise
  • Publication number: 20250019101
    Abstract: A medication packaging system can include a tray with a slot and a literature receiving area to hold literature in a position above the slot, and a robotic arm with a literature grabbing mechanism that can have a plurality of fingers that extend parallel to one another. The plurality of fingers including a central finger and a pair of outer fingers that are located on opposite sides of the central finger which are relatively movable between a disengaged position on one side of the slot of the tray to an engaged position at least partially on the other side of the slot to engage and fold the literature in the literature receiving area of the tray. The robotic arm can move the literature and place it in a shipping bag or container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Daniel Riippa, Micah Baggett
  • Patent number: 12156853
    Abstract: The medication dispensing assembly includes a housing having an interior. A medication bottle is disposed in the interior with its cap assembly facing vertically downwardly. The cap assembly includes outer, middle, and inner pieces. The outer and inner pieces are fixed with one another, and the middle piece is fixed with the bottle. A drive unit is disposed in the interior of the housing and is configured to rotate the bottle and the middle piece of the cap assembly about a vertical axis. The three pieces of the cap assembly have respective medication openings, and rotating the bottle causes individual pills to travel first from the bottle into the inner piece, then into the middle piece, then around the vertical axis, and then outside of the cap assembly through the medication opening of the outer piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Long, Stanley Joe Johnson, Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12153449
    Abstract: A package delivery system for delivering a plurality of packages with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a package receptacle to receive and store the plurality of packages. A charging station charges a plurality of UAV batteries which power the one or more UAVs. A UAV landing pad permits the one or more UAVs to land thereon. A loader loads a package of the plurality of packages and/or a UAV battery of the plurality of UAV batteries onto the UAVs when the UAVs are on the UAV landing pad. A transporter moves the packages and/or the UAV batteries s toward the loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciliberti, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12145759
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical order processing system for processing a plurality of pharmaceutical containers includes a container repository, a container selector, an order consolidator transporter and an order consolidator. The container repository supports the pharmaceutical containers. The container selector has a picker to pick the pharmaceutical containers from the pharmaceutical container repository. The container selector includes a carriage supporting the picker and movable relative to the container repository to move the picker around the container repository. The order consolidator receives the pharmaceutical containers and places the pharmaceutical containers in a shipping package. The order consolidator transporter receives the pharmaceutical containers after they have been picked by the picker and transports the pharmaceutical containers toward the order consolidator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Robert E. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20240336414
    Abstract: An edible receptacle for pharmaceuticals, components thereof, and associated methods. The edible pharmaceutical receptacle includes a plurality of pharmaceuticals including different first and second pharmaceuticals and an edible pharmaceutical card. The edible pharmaceutical card includes a plurality of edible dosing sections joined together. The plurality of edible dosing sections include a first edible dosing section directly joined to a second edible dosing section. The first and second edible dosing sections are arranged to be manually broken apart to separate the first and second edible dosing sections from one another. The first edible dosing section contains the first pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals and the second edible dosing section contains the second pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12099960
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled medication packaging system includes a storage with a temperature-controlled interior containing at least one medication. The packaging system further includes at least one shipping container and at least one coolant that is sized to fit within the at least one shipping container. A first robot is adapted to retrieve the at least one medication from the storage and transport the at least one medication to a second robot. The second robot is adapted to receive the at least one medication from the first robot and to bring the at least one medication and the at least one shipping container and the at least one coolant together for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12071286
    Abstract: The medication container includes a receptacle that has an inner space for holding medications. The cap assembly is coupled with the receptacle for retaining the medications in the inner space. The cap assembly includes at least one passage that can be selectively opened and closed and includes at least one medication sensor that is configured to detect any medications travelling through the passage and out of the receptacle in a contactless manner. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the at least one medication sensor and with a memory. The microprocessor is configured to record data to the memory in response to the at least one medication sensor detecting a medication travelling through the passage. A wireless module is in electrical communication with the microprocessor for uploading the data to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12030688
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical container processing system for removing pharmaceuticals from a batch of containers includes a cutter to cut open the batch of containers. A holder has a plurality of container receivers defining container receiving spaces sized and shaped to hold the batch of containers. One or both of the holder or the cutter are movable between a loading position and a cutting position. In the loading position, the plurality of container receiving spaces are accessible to receive the batch of containers. In the cutting position, the cutter is in registration with the batch of containers held by holder to cut the batch of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240197569
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is related to a medication dispensing device. The medication dispensing device includes a housing and a tray. The tray carries a plurality of pods with interiors that can contain pills and is moveable between an open position where the pods are exposed to a user and a closed position where the pods are not exposed to the user. At least one of the pods is at least partially made of an elastomeric material that can deflect to open a passage. When the tray is in the open position, the pods are able to be individually opened to either receive pills or to dispense pills. The medication dispensing device also includes a controller that is configured to monitor the insertion of pills into the pods and the dispensing of pills out of the pods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12012276
    Abstract: The medication container includes a receptacle that has an inner space for holding medications. The cap assembly is coupled with the receptacle for retaining the medications in the inner space. The cap assembly includes at least one passage that can be selectively opened and closed and includes at least one medication sensor that is configured to detect any medications travelling through the passage and out of the receptacle in a contactless manner. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the at least one medication sensor and with a memory. The microprocessor is configured to record data to the memory in response to the at least one medication sensor detecting a medication travelling through the passage. A wireless module is in electrical communication with the microprocessor for uploading the data to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Timothy B. Clise
  • Publication number: 20240189186
    Abstract: The temperature-controlled medication packaging system includes a storage with a temperature-controlled interior that contains at least one medication that is disposed within a shipping box. The temperature-controlled medication packaging system also includes at least one shipping container in a packager. The temperature-controlled medication packaging system further includes at least one coolant that is sized to fit within the at least one shipping container. At least one robot is adapted to retrieve the at least one medication directly from the shipping box within the storage and transport the at least one medication to the shipping container in the packager. The at least one robot is also adapted to retrieve the at least one coolant and to transport the at least one coolant to the shipping container in the packager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240180784
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical counter for dispensing precise quantities of pharmaceuticals is disclosed. The pharmaceutical counter includes a holder defining a first interior sized to hold a first plurality of pharmaceuticals. A hopper defines a second interior sized to hold a second plurality of pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical counter also includes a counting mechanism that counts precise quantities of pharmaceuticals. The counting mechanism is arranged to receive pharmaceuticals of the first plurality of pharmaceuticals held by the holder and to receive pharmaceuticals of the second plurality of pharmaceuticals held by the hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11999518
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical container processor for processing pharmaceutical containers includes a set of container operation stations along which a set of container operations occur. The set of container operation stations includes a storage station where pharmaceutical containers are stored; a first identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified; a labeling station where a label is applied to pharmaceutical containers; a second identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified after the label is applied; and an outlet station where pharmaceutical containers are moved to after said pharmaceutical containers are identified at the second identification station. First and second container transporters move each pharmaceutical container through the set of container operation stations. Each pharmaceutical container is transferred from the first container transporter to the second container transporter along the set of container operation stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11984210
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a packing device to package pharmaceutical orders. The packing device is configured with at least one cutter that generates tailings and dust. A tailing collection device is provided that collects the tailings and dust generated by the packing device into and through an intake tube and into a collection assembly. The collection assembly includes a hood with at least one air filter, a frame, and a bin removably received within the frame. The frame supports the hood and aligns the bin to be in fluid communication with the hood. A gas motive device is positioned intermediate the ends of an intake tub before the hood and is configured to suction the tailings and/or dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240120059
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a packing device to package pharmaceutical orders. The packing device is configured with at least one cutter that generates tailings and dust. A tailing collection device is provided that collects the tailings and dust generated by the packing device into and through an intake tube and into a collection assembly. The collection assembly includes a hood with at least one air filter, a frame, and a bin removably received within the frame. The frame supports the hood and aligns the bin to be in fluid communication with the hood. A gas motive device is positioned intermediate the ends of an intake tub before the hood and is configured to suction the tailings and/or dust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11952221
    Abstract: The dynamic package sortation device includes a track for handling a plurality of packages is provided. At least one conveyor extends away from the track towards at least two shipping containers. The at least one conveyor is extendable and retractable for dispensing the packages into a first shipping container of the at least two shipping containers and a second condition for dispensing the packages into a second shipping container of the at least two shipping containers. A controller is provided for providing an instruction to move the at least one conveyor between the first condition and the second condition based on a trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Davis, Robert E. Hoffman, Kristine Calvin
  • Publication number: 20240108552
    Abstract: The medication dispensing assembly includes a housing having an interior. A medication bottle is disposed in the interior with its cap assembly facing vertically downwardly. The cap assembly includes outer, middle, and inner pieces. The outer and inner pieces are fixed with one another, and the middle piece is fixed with the bottle. A drive unit is disposed in the interior of the housing and is configured to rotate the bottle and the middle piece of the cap assembly about a vertical axis. The three pieces of the cap assembly have respective medication openings, and rotating the bottle causes individual pills to travel first from the bottle into the inner piece, then into the middle piece, then around the vertical axis, and then outside of the cap assembly through the medication opening of the outer piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew Long, Stanley Joe Johnson, Robert E. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240062865
    Abstract: A method may include filling an order of a plurality of orders with a dosing filler system. The method may include receiving pharmaceutical orders including order for drugs used in multi-drug regimens using an order processing device. Each of the multi-drug regimen may have a plurality of scheduled dosing events. The method may include transporting containers to a dosing device, using the dosing device to dispense drugs for scheduled dosing events into the containers based on the received pharmaceutical orders, transporting the containers with the dispensed drugs to the container sealing device, using the container sealing device to seal the plurality of the containers with the dispensed drugs, transporting the dosage unit containers to the container identifier assembly, and using the container identifier assembly to identify the dosage unit containers based on the received pharmaceutical order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman