Abstract: A pill feeder accepts a quantity of pills and organizes the pills into a single file where each pill is output in a controlled orientation at a controlled rate. The apparatus includes a moving surface, such as a rotating disk, to receive and move pills past one or more gates that separate and orient groups of pills into a single file. The gates can start at a closed position and open until a pill has passed the gate. In one embodiment, a mixer counter-rotates relative to the rotating disk to prevent jams of the pills. The single file of pills is then guided out to an exit chute via an exit path. An alternative exit path provides an alternative route via which the pills exit the pill feeder. Multiple sensors can control the movement of the gates and the rate at which the pills exit the pill feeder.

Abstract: A prescription management system receives prescription information and manages containers filled with the prescription. The prescription is stored in the container and the container is attached to a tracking device storing prescription information. The tracking device is managed by the prescription management system. The tracking device is self-powered and activates an indicator when it receives a request from the prescription management system identifying the tracking device. The indicator permits a user, such as a pharmacist, to locate a desired prescription.

Abstract: A prescription management system receives prescription information and manages containers filled with the prescription. The prescription is stored in the container and the container is attached to a tracking device storing prescription information. The tracking device is managed by the prescription management system. The tracking device activates an indicator when it receives a request from the prescription management system identifying the tracking device. The indicator permits a user, such as a pharmacist, to locate a desired prescription. In some instances, filled prescriptions may be stored in a filled prescription holding area for a long period of time (i.e., the customer hasn't picked up the prescription). The system allows a user to identify these filled prescriptions and return the medication back to available stock for filling future prescriptions. The system may also identify these filled prescriptions and have the filled prescriptions delivered to a customer's home before the prescriptions expire.

Abstract: A speed sensor determines the velocity of an object. A first detector detects light emitted by a first emitter. The first detector includes multiple photodetectors connected in series. The photodetectors produce a current that is proportional to the amount of light incident to the photodetector. The first detector additionally includes a current-to-voltage converter and a threshold detector. The current-to-voltage converter converts the current produced by the photodetectors into a voltage and the threshold detector compares the voltage generated by the current-to-voltage converter with a threshold voltage. When an object passes in between the emitter and any of the photodetectors, the light incident to the photodetector is at least partially blocked, reducing the current produced by the photodetector.

Abstract: A pill identification system identifies a pill type for a pharmaceutical composition from images of the pharmaceutical composition. The system extracts features from images taken of the pill. The features extracted from the pill image include color, size, shape, and surface features of the pill. In particular, the features include rotation-independent surface features of the pill that enable the pill to be identified from a variety of orientations when the images are taken. The feature vectors are applied to a classifier that determines a pill identification for each image. The pill identification for each image is scored to determine identification for the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A pill feeder accepts a quantity of pills and organizes the pills into a single file where each pill is output in a controlled orientation at a controlled rate. The pill feeder includes a rotating disk, a rotating rim, a lift gate, a separator gate, and an exit path. The rotating disk receives and moves pills in a rotation direction about a surface of the rotating disk at a first angular velocity. The rotating rim that moves pills received from the rotating disk in the same rotation direction as the rotating disk. The lift gate raises a height above the surface of the rotating rim that permits passage of a single layer of the plurality of pills. A transition to an exit chute of the pill feeder provides a plurality of slopes to control the orientation of pills transitioning from the rim to the exit chute.

Abstract: A pill verification system obtains a prescription filled at a pharmacy and gathers information of the pills being dispensed for a remote pharmacist to verify the prescription. As pills are dispensed to a pill vial to fill the prescription, a pill imaging system captures images of the pills, and a pill vial imaging system captures an image of the pill vial. The prescription, pill images, and pill vial image are transmitted to a remote verification system. A pharmacist is presented with the prescription, images of substantially all pills filling the prescription, and the pill vial of the prescription to verify the prescription is correct. The remote verification system may present prescriptions filled from many different pharmacies, permitting increased rate of verification and one pharmacist to support many pharmacies. The pharmacist's verification is transmitted to the pill verification system and displayed for a technician to complete verification of the pills.

Abstract: A pill identification system identifies a pill type for a pharmaceutical composition from images of the pharmaceutical composition. The system extracts features from images taken of the pill. The features extracted from the pill image include color, size, shape, and surface features of the pill. In particular, the features include rotation-independent surface features of the pill that enable the pill to be identified from a variety of orientations when the images are taken. The feature vectors are applied to a classifier that determines a pill identification for each image. The pill identification for each image is scored to determine identification for the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A pill verification system obtains a prescription filled at a pharmacy and gathers information of the pills being dispensed for a remote pharmacist to verify the prescription. As pills are dispensed to a pill vial to fill the prescription, a pill imaging system captures images of the pills, and a pill vial imaging system captures an image of the pill vial. The prescription, pill images, and pill vial image are transmitted to a remote verification system. A pharmacist is presented with the prescription, images of substantially all pills filling the prescription, and the pill vial of the prescription to verify the prescription is correct. The remote verification system may present prescriptions filled from many different pharmacies, permitting increased rate of verification and one pharmacist to support many pharmacies. The pharmacist's verification is transmitted to the pill verification system and displayed for a technician to complete verification of the pills.

Abstract: A pill identification system identifies a pill type for a pharmaceutical composition from images of the pharmaceutical composition. The system extracts features from images taken of the pill. The features extracted from the pill image include color, size, shape, and surface features of the pill. In particular, the features include rotation-independent surface features of the pill that enable the pill to be identified from a variety of orientations when the images are taken. The feature vectors are applied to a classifier that determines a pill identification for each image. The pill identification for each image is scored to determine identification for the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Medication errors happen frequently in hospital, home, and pharmacy environments. A medication verification and dispensing system provides protection against such errors. The apparatus includes a guide tube that receives a medication and imaging device(s) adjacent to the guide tube that take image(s) of the medication. The imaging devices(s) and light source(s) are oriented for capturing images that reveal markings, color, size, shape, etc., of the medication. A verification system uses a signature of the image to identify the medication or compares the image(s) to reference images to identify the medication and to a prescription record of the patient to ensure it is a correct medication, dose, amount, timing, etc., for administration. If the medication is correct, it is dispensed into a dispensing vessel that locks the medication inside, but unlocks when it recognizes a unique patient identifier worn by a patient that is a correct recipient for the medication.

Abstract: Medication errors happen frequently in hospital, home, and pharmacy environments. A medication verification and dispensing system provides protection against such errors. The apparatus includes a guide tube that receives a medication and imaging device(s) adjacent to the guide tube that take image(s) of the medication. The imaging devices(s) and light source(s) are oriented for capturing images that reveal markings, color, size, shape, etc., of the medication. A verification system uses a signature of the image to identify the medication or compares the image(s) to reference images to identify the medication and to a prescription record of the patient to ensure it is a correct medication, dose, amount, timing, etc., for administration. If the medication is correct, it is dispensed into a dispensing vessel that locks the medication inside, but unlocks when it recognizes a unique patient identifier worn by a patient that is a correct recipient for the medication.