Patents by Inventor William K. Holmes

William K. Holmes 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: 20220127024
    Abstract: A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 11308751
    Abstract: System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a method of dispensing a prescription order to a customer at a customer kiosk. The method includes receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk and transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal. The method further includes opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal. The method also includes closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 11305898
    Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 11235895
    Abstract: A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20210289958
    Abstract: A point of sale barrier includes an upright panel configured to separate a first person on a first side of the upright panel from a second person on a second side of the upright panel, an opening formed through the upright panel, and a dispenser positioned within the opening and movable relative to the upright panel between a first position, in which an object on the dispenser is accessible to the first person, and a second position, in which the object on the dispenser is accessible to the second person. The point of sale barrier also includes an actuator coupled to the dispenser and operable to move the dispenser between the first and second positions. The dispenser and the wall are shaped to inhibit free air flow through the opening as the dispenser moves between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, James Robertson, Tom F. Gaasch, Hailey Zoellner
  • Publication number: 20210274109
    Abstract: A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Aaron Arsenault
  • Patent number: 11039091
    Abstract: A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Aaron Arsenault
  • Publication number: 20210161767
    Abstract: Automatic packager for pharmaceuticals and method of operating the same. The method includes receiving a prescription to be filled by a pharmacy management system and identifying one or more bulk containers that contain medications to fill the prescription. The method also includes counting, using a pre-counter, medications from the one or more bulk containers to fill the prescription and depositing the counted medications in one or more cartridges. The method also includes placing the one or more cartridges including the counted medications at an automatic packager and dispensing the medications in the one or more cartridges. The method also includes packaging medications dispensed from the one or more cartridges into packages and verifying whether the medications are correctly packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20210142609
    Abstract: System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a method of dispensing a prescription order to a customer at a customer kiosk. The method includes receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk and transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal. The method further includes opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal. The method also includes closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20200411157
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and a method of storing and retrieving pharmaceutical containers from the system. The system includes a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval and a controller operatively coupled to the device to control storage and retrieval functions of the device. The device includes a gantry assembly, a shelving assembly, a user access assembly, and a user authorization system that function in a coordinated manner to carry out the storage and retrieval functions of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Michael James, Thomas F. Gaasch
  • Publication number: 20200404196
    Abstract: A method and verification system for verifying pharmaceuticals packaged within a pouch using a pharmacy packaging system. The method includes activating a first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, capturing a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source, activating a second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, and capturing a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The method further includes generating a third image based on the first image and the second image, generating a dashboard to simultaneously display first images, second images, and third images from a plurality of pharmaceutical pouches, providing a number of pills indication of a number of pills detected in the pouch against a number of pills expected in the pouch, and displaying the dashboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Aaron Arsenault
  • Publication number: 20200346793
    Abstract: A pouch and an automatic packager for packaging medications into the pouch. One embodiment provides a pouch for containing a plurality of medications. The pouch includes a plurality of discrete compartments, each containing a sub-batch of medications. The pouch also includes serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches. The pouch further includes a continuous identifier that spans multiple compartments to give an appearance of one continuous pouch. The plurality of discrete compartments are separated by seals, but not serrations. The continuous identifier includes a border within the opposite ends of the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10803982
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and a method of storing and retrieving pharmaceutical containers from the system. The system includes a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval and a controller operatively coupled to the device to control storage and retrieval functions of the device. The device includes a gantry assembly, a shelving assembly, a user access assembly, and a user authorization system that function in a coordinated manner to carry out the storage and retrieval functions of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Michael James, Thomas F. Gaasch
  • Publication number: 20200221039
    Abstract: A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20200165014
    Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20200126654
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and a method of storing and retrieving pharmaceutical containers from the system. The system includes a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval and a controller operatively coupled to the device to control storage and retrieval functions of the device. The device includes a gantry assembly, a shelving assembly, a user access assembly, and a user authorization system that function in a coordinated manner to carry out the storage and retrieval functions of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Michael James, Thomas F. Gaasch
  • Patent number: 10594956
    Abstract: A pharmacy packaging system configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch formed by a feed roll and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a first light source configured to output an infrared spectrum light, a second light source configured to output a visible spectrum light, and a processor. The processor is operable to activate the first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source. The processor is also operable to activate the second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The processor is further operable to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10583941
    Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10529448
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and a method of storing and retrieving pharmaceutical containers from the system. The system includes a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval and a controller operatively coupled to the device to control storage and retrieval functions of the device. The device includes a gantry assembly, a shelving assembly, a user access assembly, and a user authorization system that function in a coordinated manner to carry out the storage and retrieval functions of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventors: William K. Holmes, Michael James, Thomas F. Gaasch
  • Publication number: 20190389604
    Abstract: A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: William K. Holmes