# US 12,191,025 B2 · System and apparatus for item management

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- Number: US 12,191,025 B2
- Document ID: US12191025B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/239,340
- Filed: 2023-08-29
- Published: 2023-12-14
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-20
- Assignees: Chudy Group, LLC
- Applicants: Chudy Group, LLC
- Inventors: Duane S. Chudy; Larry Montgomery; James Spernow
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191025B2

## CPC

- G16H 20/60: relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
- A61J 7/0069: {Trays for holding or distributing medicines (display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06)}
- B65B 5/04: Packaging single articles
- B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets}
- B65B 57/18: causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
- B65G 1/02: Storage devices (furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F)
- G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00)
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 50/22: Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
- G07F 11/62: in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
- G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)}
- G16H 20/10: relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
- G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers
- G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61J 1/03: for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04)
- A61J 7/04: Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J 2205/10: Bar codes
- A61J 2205/20: Colour codes
- A61J 2205/60: using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
- B65B 9/00: Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for loading medicaments into a blister package, the system comprising:
a docking station for docking a blister package, the docking station including a plurality of cell-receiving pockets configured and arranged in a pattern such that cells of a blister package are nested within the pockets when docked;
a controller operatively associated with the docking station;
visible information sources operatively associated with the controller, the visible information sources configured to generate visible information indicating at least yes and no states such that the visible information is viewable on or proximate the docked blister package to indicate a cell thereof into which each medicament is to be loaded; and
a display operatively connected with the controller, wherein the display provides a visual indication that matches the visual information sources.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station pockets are arranged in a plurality of pocket groups, each pocket group being capable of receiving a separate blister package, thereby enabling a plurality of the blister packages to be docked simultaneously at the docking station.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a station for sealing upper openings of the cells of the blister package with a closure after medicaments are loaded in the cells to provide a self-contained, sealed container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes circuitry connecting the docking station with the controller and the visible information sources enabling control of the visible information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the visible information sources radiate visible light.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein each visible information source includes an energizable light source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the light source is configured to provide multi-colored light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor guide associated with the docking station detects whether the medicament is placed into a cell indicated to have a yes state.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor guide detects if medicament is placed in a cell other than the cell having a yes state and the controller generates a signal if the medicament is placed a cell other than the cell having a yes state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the visible information is viewable on the docked blister package.