Patents by Inventor Etienne Bouthiette

Etienne Bouthiette 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).

  • Publication number: 20230140779
    Abstract: A system for grabbing and filling pills into a blister pack is provided and associated corresponding method. The system includes a vacuum pill-manipulator provided with prongs having holes at their tip to retain pills. The vacuum pill-manipulator is configured to transition from a pill-retaining configuration where suction is applied at the tip of each prong to hold the pills during movement, to a pill-releasing configuration where suction is released to drop the pills in corresponding pill-chambers. A robotized arm is provided with the vacuum pill-manipulator, and is controllable to: move the vacuum pill-manipulator from a pill-container rack, for grabbing a pill-container, to a pill-container retaining station, to suction pills at the tips of the prongs; and move, in the pill-retaining configuration, the vacuum pill-manipulator to the blister pack location, and position the vacuum pill-manipulator to align the tip of each prong with the corresponding pill-chamber for the pill-releasing configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20230121169
    Abstract: A tray system for filling pills into a blister pack is provided, as well as a corresponding method. The system includes a mounting tray to support the blister pack, rows of lights, with each light adapted to illuminate the pill-chambers of the blister pack; a depositing plate placed over the mounting tray and includes depositing-plate rows with pairs of pill-drop surface and a pill-hole, each pill-hole faces a corresponding pill-chamber; a sliding tray placed over the depositing plate which includes sliding-tray rows with opened cavities, and is slidable over the depositing plate from a pill-drop position to a chamber-filling position. Moving the sliding tray from the pill-drop position to the chamber-filling position pushes the pills from the pill-drop surfaces to the pill-chambers. The depositing plate material allows lights emissions to pass through the pill-drop surfaces while hiding the pills in the pill-chambers of the blister pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Étienne Bouthiette
  • Patent number: 11564866
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wireless medication blister pack assembly and to a blister pack attachment to be secured to a blister pack assembly. The attachment an electronic card housing for receiving an electronic card which includes electronic components such as card connectors, and a locking system which is configurable between a locked configuration and a releasing configuration. In the locked configuration, the blister pack assembly and the electronic card are connected, with sheet connectors provided on the blister pack assembly and the card connectors being in electronic communication. Such electronic communication allows the electronic components to detect whether a given blister has been detached from the blister pack assembly. In the releasing configuration, the electronic card and the blister pack assembly can be removed from the blister pack attachment, so as to allow the electronic card to be reused with a replacement blister pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: 9155-0020 Québec Inc.
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20220265513
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wireless medication blister pack assembly and to a blister pack attachment to be secured to a blister pack assembly. The attachment an electronic card housing for receiving an electronic card which includes electronic components such as card connectors, and a locking system which is configurable between a locked configuration and a releasing configuration. In the locked configuration, the blister pack assembly and the electronic card are connected, with sheet connectors provided on the blister pack assembly and the card connectors being in electronic communication. Such electronic communication allows the electronic components to detect whether a given blister has been detached from the blister pack assembly. In the releasing configuration, the electronic card and the blister pack assembly can be removed from the blister pack attachment, so as to allow the electronic card to be reused with a replacement blister pack assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Patent number: 11357700
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wireless medication blister pack assembly and to a blister pack attachment to be secured to a blister pack assembly. The attachment an electronic card housing for receiving an electronic card which includes electronic components such as card connectors, and a locking system which is configurable between a locked configuration and a releasing configuration. In the locked configuration, the blister pack assembly and the electronic card are connected, with sheet connectors provided on the blister pack assembly and the card connectors being in electronic communication. Such electronic communication allows the electronic components to detect whether a given blister has been detached from the blister pack assembly. In the releasing configuration, the electronic card and the blister pack assembly can be removed from the blister pack attachment, so as to allow the electronic card to be reused with a replacement blister pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: 9155-0020 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20210275396
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wireless medication blister pack assembly and to a blister pack attachment to be secured to a blister pack assembly. The attachment an electronic card housing for receiving an electronic card which includes electronic components such as card connectors, and a locking system which is configurable between a locked configuration and a releasing configuration. In the locked configuration, the blister pack assembly and the electronic card are connected, with sheet connectors provided on the blister pack assembly and the card connectors being in electronic communication. Such electronic communication allows the electronic components to detect whether a given blister has been detached from the blister pack assembly. In the releasing configuration, the electronic card and the blister pack assembly can be removed from the blister pack attachment, so as to allow the electronic card to be reused with a replacement blister pack assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20200105086
    Abstract: A pill manipulating system for filling a packaging with pills is provided, as well as a corresponding method. The system comprises a vacuum pump, a pill manipulator including a hose connected to the vacuum pump, and at least one prong. The prong(s) has/have an opening at one end sized to retain a pill when the pill manipulator is in a retain configuration and suction is applied, and to release the pill when the pill manipulator is in a release configuration and suction is reduced. The system includes a vacuum pump controlling assembly including a variable frequency drive, for adjusting an air flow of the vacuum pump based on a selected input, which is representative of a size of the pills being manipulated, thereby reducing the likelihood of having the at least one prong retaining more than one pill at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Patent number: 10529166
    Abstract: A pill manipulating system for filling a packaging with pills is provided, as well as a corresponding method. The system comprises a vacuum pump, a pill manipulator including a hose connected to the vacuum pump, and at least one prong. The prong(s) has/have an opening at one end sized to retain a pill when the pill manipulator is in a retain configuration and suction is applied, and to release the pill when the pill manipulator is in a release configuration and suction is reduced. The system includes a vacuum pump controlling assembly including a variable frequency drive, for adjusting an air flow of the vacuum pump based on a selected input, which is representative of a size of the pills being manipulated, thereby reducing the likelihood of having the at least one prong retaining more than one pill at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: 9155-0020 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Patent number: 10351270
    Abstract: A system for loading items into a container-defining sheet. The system includes a support for receiving the container-defining sheet, the support having a top surface provided with a number of apertures equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-defining sheet. A support illumination board is positioned on a back portion of the support. The illumination board includes a plurality of evenly-spaced-apart support light indicators, each support light indicator being positioned substantially centrally with respect to a corresponding aperture of the support and adapted to back-illuminate one of the containers of the container-defining sheet upon placement of the container-defining sheet into the support. An illumination board controller controls operation of the support light indicators to indicate into which container of the container-defining sheet each item is to be loaded. An enclosure includes drawers holding items to be put into the container-defining sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: 9155-0020 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20180370664
    Abstract: A system for loading items into a container-defining sheet. The system includes a support for receiving the container-defining sheet, the support having a top surface provided with a number of apertures equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-defining sheet. A support illumination board is positioned on a back portion of the support. The illumination board includes a plurality of evenly-spaced-apart support light indicators, each support light indicator being positioned substantially centrally with respect to a corresponding aperture of the support and adapted to back-illuminate one of the containers of the container-defining sheet upon placement of the container-defining sheet into the support. An illumination board controller controls operation of the support light indicators to indicate into which container of the container-defining sheet each item is to be loaded. An enclosure with drawers holding items to be put into the container-defining sheet is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Etienne BOUTHIETTE
  • Patent number: 10150581
    Abstract: A system for loading items into a container-defining sheet. The system includes a support for receiving the container-defining sheet, the support having a top surface provided with a number of apertures equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-defining sheet. A support illumination board is positioned on a back portion of the support. The illumination board includes a plurality of evenly-spaced-apart support light indicators, each support light indicator being positioned substantially centrally with respect to a corresponding aperture of the support and adapted to back-illuminate one of the containers of the container-defining sheet upon placement of the container-defining sheet into the support. An illumination board controller controls operation of the support light indicators to indicate into which container of the container-defining sheet each item is to be loaded. The system may also include an enclosure with drawers holding items to be put into the container-defining sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: 9155-0020 QUÉBEC INC.
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20180253926
    Abstract: A pill manipulating system for filling a packaging with pills is provided, as well as a corresponding method. The system comprises a vacuum pump, a pill manipulator including a hose connected to the vacuum pump, and at least one prong. The prong(s) has/have an opening at one end sized to retain a pill when the pill manipulator is in a retain configuration and suction is applied, and to release the pill when the pill manipulator is in a release configuration and suction is reduced. The system includes a vacuum pump controlling assembly including a variable frequency drive, for adjusting an air flow of the vacuum pump based on a selected input, which is representative of a size of the pills being manipulated, thereby reducing the likelihood of having the at least one prong retaining more than one pill at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20170021950
    Abstract: A system for loading items into a container-defining sheet. The system includes a support for receiving the container-defining sheet, the support having a top surface provided with a number of apertures equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-defining sheet. A support illumination board is positioned on a back portion of the support. The illumination board includes a plurality of evenly-spaced-apart support light indicators, each support light indicator being positioned substantially centrally with respect to a corresponding aperture of the support and adapted to back-illuminate one of the containers of the container-defining sheet upon placement of the container-defining sheet into the support. An illumination board controller controls operation of the support light indicators to indicate into which container of the container-defining sheet each item is to be loaded. An enclosure with drawers holding items to be put into the container-defining sheet is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Etienne BOUTHIETTE
  • Publication number: 20160083120
    Abstract: A vacuum filling assembly for filling the cavities of packaging with objects is described. The filling assembly has a handle which can be gripped by a user so as to manually operate the filling assembly. The filling assembly also has a hose which receives suction. A valve is used to control the suction applied to the objects, and is operable between a retain and release configuration. The filling assembly also has at least one prong which is in fluid engagement with the hose so that an object is retained at the end of the prong when the valve is in the retain configuration, and so that the object can be released into the cavities of the packaging when the valve is in the release configuration. An improved valve design facilitates control of the vacuum and helps release excess pills that can be retained by a single prong.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Étienne BOUTHIETTE
  • Publication number: 20150128534
    Abstract: A vacuum filling assembly for filling the cavities of packaging with objects, as well as a related system and method, are described. The filling assembly has a handle which can be gripped by a user so as to manually operate the filling assembly. The filling assembly also has a manifold which receives suction, such as from a vacuum supply. A valve is used to control the suction applied to the objects, and is operable between a retain and release configuration. The filling assembly also has a plurality of prongs which are in fluid engagement with the manifold so that the objects are retained at the end of the prongs when the valve is in the retain configuration, and so that the objects can be released into the cavities of the packaging when the valve is in the release configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Michel Bouthiette, Etienne Bouthiette
  • Publication number: 20150034524
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved sealing sheet for use to close a container-defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of the cavities being upwardly opened and thus defining a container that is surrounded by a flange that is part of the top surface of the container-defining sheet. In a first configuration, the number of cavities made in the container-defining sheet is thirty-two, positioned in order to define eight rows and four columns. A row of containers is removable from the container-defining sheet towards a second configuration in which the number of cavities made in the container-defining sheet is twenty-eight. The set of containers can more efficiently cover a prescription that has to be administered over a monthly period, under different dosage schedule scenarios, while reducing unused sections of the resulting blister packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michel BOUTHIETTE, Etienne BOUTHIETTE
  • Publication number: 20120211152
    Abstract: A label applicator system for applying a disc-shaped label on a top surface of a disc. The system comprises an applicator base structure with a disc support structure and a handling tab support surface. The label is produced from a label sheet. The label sheet has tearing lines and cuts therein made in such a manner and position as to leave a part of a bottom layer of the sheet glued onto the bottom surface of a top layer in the form of a handling tab when the label is peeled off from the label sheet. At least one perforation is formed within the handling tab to extend over a corresponding at least one alignment post on the applicator base structure for installation and alignment of the label on the disc. A method of applying such a label on a disc is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Etienne Bouthiette