Mobile robot for receiving, transporting, and/or delivering one or more pharmaceutical items

• US 9,489,490 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vecna Robotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Theobald
• Inventors: Theobald, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda
• Application Number:
  US13/872,362
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/009 Nursing, e.g. carrying sick persons, pushing wheelchairs, distributing drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/005 mounted on endless tracks or belts
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0087 Dual arms double SCARA arms B25J9/043
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Mobile robots and methods for operating mobile robots are provided. One of these mobile robots autonomously transports a pharmaceutical item from a first location to a second location. The mobile robot autonomously delivers the pharmaceutical item at the second location.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile robot, comprising:

autonomously transporting a pharmaceutical item from a first location to a second location using the mobile robot; and

autonomously delivering the pharmaceutical item at the second location using the mobile robot

wherein the pharmaceutical item is disposed within an item support of the mobile robot; and

wherein the delivering of the pharmaceutical item comprises opening the item support using a manipulator system of the mobile robot.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile robot delivers the pharmaceutical item to one of an individual and a station at the second location.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least partially tracking a chain of custody of the pharmaceutical item using the mobile robot.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the delivering of the pharmaceutical item further comprises moving the pharmaceutical item using a manipulator arm of the mobile robot.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving command data through a component of the mobile robot, the command data related to a prescription for the pharmaceutical item; and

autonomously moving the mobile robot to the first location to receive the pharmaceutical item based on the command data.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

securing the pharmaceutical item with the mobile robot using a component of the mobile robot to prevent an unauthorized individual from accessing the secured pharmaceutical item;

wherein the delivering of the pharmaceutical item comprises providing an authorized individual access to the secured pharmaceutical item using at least the component.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

locking the pharmaceutical item within the item support of the mobile robot using a component of the mobile robot;

wherein the delivering of the pharmaceutical item comprises at least unlocking the item support using the component.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

transporting a second pharmaceutical item to a third location using the mobile robot; and

delivering the second pharmaceutical item at the third location using the mobile robot;

wherein the pharmaceutical item comprises a first pharmaceutical item, and the mobile robot delivers the first pharmaceutical item before delivering the second pharmaceutical item based on priority criteria for at least one the first and the second pharmaceutical items.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical item comprises one of oral medication, topical medication, intravenous medication, a medical fluid and a dietary supplement.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the first location and the second location is located at a hospital pharmacy.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item support comprises a robotic drawer.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item support comprises a robotic cabinet door.

11. A method involving a mobile robot, comprising:

receiving command data through a component of the mobile robot, the command data related to an order for a pharmaceutical item;

receiving the pharmaceutical item with the mobile robot at a first location; and

transporting the pharmaceutical item from the first location to a second location using the mobile robot based on the command data;

wherein the mobile robot receives the pharmaceutical item from a pharmaceutical distribution robot at the first location;

wherein the component comprises a communication system that receives the command data from a remote computer system;

wherein the computer system comprises one of a kiosk, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant and a central computer system; and

wherein the method further comprises

generating the command data with the computer system based on the order;

and communicating the command data from the computer system to the communication system.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the component comprises a user interface.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the mobile robot receives the pharmaceutical item at the first location using a manipulator system.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising autonomously delivering the pharmaceutical item at the second location using a manipulator system.

15. An apparatus for at least partially fulfilling an order for a pharmaceutical item, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile robot comprising a climate controlled container, a drive system and a controller;

the climate controlled container comprising an item support adapted to receive the pharmaceutical item at a first location; and

the controller adapted to receive command data related to the order for the pharmaceutical item, and further adapted to signal the drive system to move the item support from the first location to a second location for delivery of the pharmaceutical item based on the command data.