Patents Assigned to Real Time, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10664740
    Abstract: A wireless identification system and method used for identifying medical vials having a metallic crimp includes an RFID tag having a first antenna element located at the crimp so as to be capacitively coupled to the crimp to increase the effective surface area of the RFID antenna, and a second antenna element mounted to the side of the vial between the ends of the labeling mounted on the vial so as to not mask any visually readable information of the labeling. Dielectric adhesive is used in one embodiment to couple the antenna element to the crimp. The invention is particularly useful for small vials. A manufacturing method in which the wireless tag is an integral part of the container is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10658077
    Abstract: An automatic data collection system tracks medical articles by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored. Respective data carriers, such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the EM field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. The use of probes for injecting the EM field into the enclosure results in a greater likelihood of activation of the tags and greater accuracy in detecting and tracking medical articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 10658078
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container such as a tray that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of the tray or other container of medical articles. The tray and each of the medical articles in the tray have RFID tags. The enclosure having a size differing from the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. A probe is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles and substitutes for recalled articles are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin, James P. Williams, Jr., Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10643743
    Abstract: An inventory management system for wirelessly taking inventories of medical trays comprises an easily assemblable and disassemblable enclosure comprising interconnected electrically conductive walls to form a Faraday cage. The interior space defined by the walls is large enough to accept the trays. RFID readers are placed within the enclosure directed at the tray to excite and read the RFID tags disposed on the medical articles within the tray. The walls of the enclosure are flexible and one of the walls is rolled up and down to act as an opening to the interior space. A host computer stores the inventory of the tray and compares it against a previous inventory existence for resupply purposes. The host computer also detects expired and recalled medical articles in the tray. If a recalled article is detected, the host computer determines if a substitute article exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 10621394
    Abstract: A retrofit self-contained RFID-enabling module for automatically identifying and tracking medical articles having RF tags located in a container having electrically-conductive walls includes a base having a probe mounted to the base for injecting activating rf energy into the container in which the module has been mounted. The base also includes a reader board that controls the probe between an injection mode, in which it injects RFID tag activation energy into the container to activate the tags on the medical articles, and a non-injecting mode during which the identification signals of the activated RFID tags on the medical articles can be read. The module is self-contained in that only power is needed to operate. The size of the module, including its components, is selected in relation to the size of the container so that the module may be “dropped into” the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Shariq Hussain, Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10609845
    Abstract: A modular system of plastic walls having embedded and coextensive electrically conductive components configured to electrically connect with each other when the walls are mated. The walls have joining edges that form joint seams with other walls when joined together to create an enclosure. When enough walls are used to surround a storage space, a Faraday cage is created. The walls additionally have portions of tortuous paths at each joining edge that mate with a complementary portion of a tortuous path of another wall when the walls are joined together. A torturous path seal is thereby created at each joint seam. The plastic walls can be configured in a multiplicity of combinations to create various enclosures necessary for RFID-enabled storage and tracking of medical articles. Containers, enclosures, cabinets, and drawers of differing heights and sizes can be made and they may be stacked or otherwise assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20200013494
    Abstract: An inventory management system for wirelessly taking inventories of medical trays comprises an easily assemblable and disassemblable enclosure comprising interconnected electrically conductive walls to form a Faraday cage. The interior space defined by the walls is large enough to accept the trays. RFID readers are placed within the enclosure directed at the tray to excite and read the RFID tags disposed on the medical articles within the tray. The walls of the enclosure are flexible and one of the walls is rolled up and down to act as an opening to the interior space. A host computer stores the inventory of the tray and compares it against a previous inventory existence for resupply purposes. The host computer also detects expired and recalled medical articles in the tray. If a recalled article is detected, the host computer determines if a substitute article exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 10512584
    Abstract: Devices and methods for mobility assistance are disclosed. The disclosed features may assist a person with movement by providing support for the person as the person moves. Further, features for easily storing and transporting items in various compartments of the device are disclosed. Support of the user and/or items may be provided by a lightweight composite structure that further allows for free movement of the user, such as taking full strides while walking or running. The device may further be repeatedly configured between collapsed and deployed configurations via a locking mechanism and an actuatable release. Pivotable joints allow the various sections to be stowed into a smaller, collapsed configuration that is easily carried or otherwise transported, as well as deployed into a larger, deployed configuration for assistance while moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Rova Real Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Goodsell, Charles Benjamin Goodsell
  • Patent number: 10496860
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking medical articles located in a container includes a hybrid isolated magnetic dipole (“IMD”) probe that provides an activating EM energy RF field having a magnetic near field at least as great as the electric near field, both of which cover the entire interior of the container. The probe comprises a main element having capacitive coupling across at least one slot and spacing above a ground plane to thereby form an isolated electric field and an equally strong or stronger magnetic field that fills the interior of the container to activate RFID tags therein. A dual system is provided for larger containers. A dynamic impedance tuning system controls the probe impedance for increased efficiency in transferring power to the interior of the container. Beam steering is provided with the IMD probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20190252069
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container such as a tray that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of the tray or other container of medical articles. The tray and each of the medical articles in the tray have RFID tags. The enclosure having a size differing from the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. A probe is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles and substitutes for recalled articles are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin, James P. Williams, JR., Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10360350
    Abstract: An inventory system for wirelessly taking inventories of mobile medical dispensing carts comprises an easily assemblable and disassemblable enclosure comprising interconnected electrically conductive walls to form a Faraday cage. The interior space defined by the walls is large enough to accept the mobile carts. RFID readers are placed within the enclosure directed at the mobile cart to excite and read the RFID tags disposed on the medical articles within the cart. The walls of the enclosure are flexible and one of the walls is rolled up and down to act as a door to the interior space. A host computer stores the inventory of the cart and compares it against a previous inventory existence for resupply purposes. The host computer also detects expired and recalled medical articles in the cart. If a recalled article is detected, the host computer determines if a substitute article exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Publication number: 20190156084
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking medical articles located in a container includes a hybrid isolated magnetic dipole (“IMD”) probe that provides an activating EM energy RF field having a magnetic near field at least as great as the electric near field, both of which cover the entire interior of the container. The probe comprises a main element having capacitive coupling across at least one slot and spacing above a ground plane to thereby form an isolated electric field and an equally strong or stronger magnetic field that fills the interior of the container to activate RFID tags therein. A dual system is provided for larger containers. A dynamic impedance tuning system controls the probe impedance for increased efficiency in transferring power to the interior of the container. Beam steering is provided with the IMD probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20190147991
    Abstract: An automatic data collection system tracks medical articles by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored. Respective data carriers, such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the EM field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. The use of probes for injecting the EM field into the enclosure results in a greater likelihood of activation of the tags and greater accuracy in detecting and tracking medical articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 10290368
    Abstract: A system and method for bulk encoding medical items in a tracking system in a healthcare facility comprises attaching to each of a plurality of identical medical items a blank RFID tag. When activated simultaneously, the serial numbers of all RFID tags on all the identical medical items are read and their serial numbers are associated with the pre-stored characteristics of the medical item in a data base. The RFID tags are blank in that they include no human-readable data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is attached. A data mining system and method are provided for mining the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy C. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20190122013
    Abstract: A retrofit self-contained RFID-enabling module for automatically identifying and tracking medical articles having RF tags located in a container having electrically-conductive walls includes a base having a probe mounted to the base for injecting activating rf energy into the container in which the module has been mounted. The base also includes a reader board that controls the probe between an injection mode, in which it injects RFID tag activation energy into the container to activate the tags on the medical articles, and a non-injecting mode during which the identification signals of the activated RFID tags on the medical articles can be read. The module is self-contained in that only power is needed to operate. The size of the module, including its components, is selected in relation to the size of the container so that the module may be “dropped into” the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Shariq Hussain, Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20190114525
    Abstract: A wireless identification system and method used for identifying medical vials having a metallic crimp includes an RFID tag having a first antenna element located at the crimp so as to be capacitively coupled to the crimp to increase the effective surface area of the RFID antenna, and a second antenna element mounted to the side of the vial between the ends of the labeling mounted on the vial so as to not mask any visually readable information of the labeling. Dielectric adhesive is used in one embodiment to couple the antenna element to the crimp. The invention is particularly useful for small vials. A manufacturing method in which the wireless tag is an integral part of the container is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20190104652
    Abstract: A modular system of plastic walls having embedded and coextensive electrically conductive components configured to electrically connect with each other when the walls are mated. The walls have joining edges that form joint seams with other walls when joined together to create an enclosure. When enough walls are used to surround a storage space, a Faraday cage is created. The walls additionally have portions of tortuous paths at each joining edge that mate with a complementary portion of a tortuous path of another wall when the walls are joined together. A torturous path seal is thereby created at each joint seam. The plastic walls can be configured in a multiplicity of combinations to create various enclosures necessary for RFID-enabled storage and tracking of medical articles. Containers, enclosures, cabinets, and drawers of differing heights and sizes can be made and they may be stacked or otherwise assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10210954
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container such as a tray that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of the tray or other container of medical articles. The tray and each of the medical articles in the tray has an RFID tag. The enclosure having a size smaller than the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. A probe is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles and substitutes for recalled articles are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin, James P. Williams, Jr., Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Patent number: 10185854
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking medical articles located in a container includes a hybrid isolated magnetic dipole (“IMD”) probe that provides an activating EM energy RF field having a magnetic near field at least as great as the electric near field, both of which cover the entire interior of the container. The probe comprises a main element having capacitive coupling across at least one slot and spacing above a ground plane to thereby form an isolated electric field and an equally strong or stronger magnetic field that fills the interior of the container to activate RFID tags therein. A dual system is provided for larger containers. A dynamic impedance tuning system controls the probe impedance for increased efficiency in transferring power to the interior of the container. Beam steering is provided with the IMD probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Elizondo, II
  • Publication number: 20180350457
    Abstract: A system and method for bulk encoding medical items in a tracking system in a healthcare facility comprises attaching to each of a plurality of identical medical items a blank RFID tag. When activated simultaneously, the serial numbers of all RFID tags on all the identical medical items are read and their serial numbers are associated with the pre-stored characteristics of the medical item in a data base. The RFID tags are blank in that they include no human-readable data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is attached. A data mining system and method are provided for mining the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy C. Caputo