Patents by Inventor Jerry W. Christopher

Jerry W. Christopher 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: 11794935
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a spill detection subsystem and method. The system can include a cameras to take images that a processed to determine presence of a spilled pharmaceutical. A mirror portion is provided so that the camera can take images of the entire field of the filling area. The mirror portion can be a concave mirror that increases the field of view of the camera. A light panel can illuminate the field of view to allow the camera to take high speed images. A controller can receive a series of at least two images captured by the camera and determine whether an object in the captured images is a spilled pharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Christopher
  • Publication number: 20200339295
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a spill detection subsystem and method. The system can include a cameras to take images that a processed to determine presence of a spilled pharmaceutical. A mirror portion is provided so that the camera can take images of the entire field of the filling area. The mirror portion can be a concave mirror that increases the field of view of the camera. A light panel can illuminate the field of view to allow the camera to take high speed images. A controller can receive a series of at least two images captured by the camera and determine whether an object in the captured images is a spilled pharmaceutical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: Jerry W. Christopher
  • Patent number: 10730653
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a spill detection subsystem and method. The system can include a cameras to take images that a processed to determine presence of a spilled pharmaceutical. A mirror portion is provided so that the camera can take images of the entire field of the filling area. The mirror portion can be a concave mirror that increases the field of view of the camera. A light panel can illuminate the field of view to allow the camera to take high speed images. A controller can receive a series of at least two images captured by the camera and determine whether an object in the captured images is a spilled pharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Christopher
  • Patent number: 10661993
    Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Publication number: 20190161276
    Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Patent number: 10294029
    Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Publication number: 20180290779
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a spill detection subsystem and method. The system can include a cameras to take images that a processed to determine presence of a spilled pharmaceutical. A mirror portion is provided so that the camera can take images of the entire field of the filling area. The mirror portion can be a concave mirror that increases the field of view of the camera. A light panel can illuminate the field of view to allow the camera to take high speed images. A controller can receive a series of at least two images captured by the camera and determine whether an object in the captured images is a spilled pharmaceutical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventor: Jerry W. Christopher
  • Patent number: 10023341
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a spill detection subsystem and method. The system can include a cameras to take images that a processed to determine presence of a spilled pharmaceutical. A mirror portion is provided so that the camera can take images of the entire field of the filling area. The mirror portion can be a concave mirror that increases the field of view of the camera. A light panel can illuminate the field of view to allow the camera to take high speed images. A controller can receive a series of at least two images captured by the camera and determine whether an object in the captured images is a spilled pharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Christopher
  • Publication number: 20160130087
    Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Patent number: 9242751
    Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller