Systems and methods for pharmaceutical package delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091309-B1
Application number	US-201916730016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2019
Priority date	Dec 30, 2019
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A pharmaceutical package for carrying a pharmaceutical container includes a first housing and a second housing in the first housing. The second housing defines a compartment sized and shaped to receive and carry the pharmaceutical container. A gas chamber is disposed between the first and second housings. The gas chamber is configured to hold a gas in an inflated state of the gas chamber. A passage extends from the first housing to the second housing and defines a passageway extending there-between to allow the pharmaceutical container to be positioned in the compartment of the second housing by moving the pharmaceutical container through the passageway. One or more supports are connected to and extending between the first housing and the second housing. The one or more supports secure and hold the second housing in the first housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pharmaceutical package for carrying a pharmaceutical container, the pharmaceutical package comprising:
a first housing defining an interior and a first housing opening sized and shaped to allow the pharmaceutical container to pass into the interior;
a second housing in the first housing, the second housing defining a compartment and a second housing opening, the compartment being sized and shaped to receive and carry the pharmaceutical container, the second housing opening being in communication with the compartment and sized and shaped to allow the pharmaceutical container to pass into the compartment;
a gas chamber disposed between the first and second housings, the gas chamber configured to hold gas in an inflated state of the gas chamber;
a passage extending from the first housing to the second housing and defining a passageway extending between the first housing opening and the second housing opening to allow the pharmaceutical container to be positioned in the compartment of the second housing by moving the pharmaceutical container through the first housing opening, the passageway and the second housing opening; and
one or more supports connected to and extending between the first housing and the second housing, the one or more supports securing and holding the second housing in the first housing.

2. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , wherein the gas chamber is defined by at least one of the first or second housing.

3. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , wherein the gas chamber is defined by the first housing and the second housing.

4. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , wherein the passage defines a portion of the gas chamber and is configured to constrict to substantially close the passageway to prevent the pharmaceutical container from moving through the passageway when the gas chamber is filled with the fluid.

5. The pharmaceutical package of claim 4 , wherein the passage bulges inwardly to reduce a width of the passageway relative to widths of the first and second housing openings when the gas chamber is in the inflated state.

6. The pharmaceutical package of claim 4 , wherein a length of the passageway corresponds to a distance from the first housing opening to the second housing opening, and wherein the passage has a passage wall having a length extending between the first and second housing openings, the passage wall length being greater than the passageway length.

7. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising at least one refrigeration pocket on the second housing, the at least one pocket configured to receive and hold a refrigeration packet.

8. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising at least one refrigeration compartment on the second housing, the refrigeration compartment configured to hold a refrigerant.

9. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising an identification tag including an identity of the pharmaceutical package.

10. The pharmaceutical package of claim 9 , wherein the identification tag includes an RFID tag.

11. The pharmaceutical package of claim 9 , wherein the RFID tag includes one or more of prescription information, patient information, delivery destination information, delivery receptacle information, or combinations thereof.

12. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier connector configured to be coupled to a carrier to couple the pharmaceutical package to a carrier.

13. The pharmaceutical package of claim 12 , wherein the carrier connector comprises a loop configured to be coupled to a hook of the carrier.

14. The pharmaceutical package of claim 13 , in combination with the carrier, wherein the carrier comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle.

15. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising a selectively operable valve configured to permit the gas chamber to be selectively filled and emptied with the gas.

16. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising a door configured to close the first housing opening.

17. The pharmaceutical package of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover over the first housing.

18. A catcher for catching a package delivered by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the catcher comprising:
a chute extending from an upper end to a lower end and defining a passageway between the upper and lower ends, the passageway configured to receive the package when the package is dropped by the unmanned aerial vehicle into the chute;
an enclosure mount coupled to the chute and configured to mount to an enclosure to couple the catcher to the enclosure;
a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to open and close the passageway;
a door actuator operatively coupled to the door to control the door to permit the package to pass the door; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the door actuator and including a communications port, a processor and a non-transitory tangible storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the processor, the instructions including instructions for selectively actuating the door actuator to permit the package to pass the door responsive to the controller receiving a signal from the unmanned aerial vehicle via the communications port.

19. The catcher of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for sending an identity of the catcher via the communications port to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

20. A catcher for catching a package delivered by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the catcher comprising:
a base including at least two legs;
a collector connected to an upper end of the base and configured to catch the package when the package is dropped by the unmanned aerial vehicle into the collector; and
a communications interface configured to communicate with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the communications interface including a communications port configured to send and receive signals from the unmanned aerial vehicle, a processor and a non-transitory tangible storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the processor, the instructions including instructions for sending an identity of the catcher via the communications port to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

21. The catcher of claim 20 , wherein the catcher is portable.

22. The catcher of claim 20 , wherein the instructions include instruction for sending a beacon signal to be received by the unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle is in range of the beacon signal, the beacon signal including the identity of the catcher and positional information of the catcher.

23. The catcher of claim 18 , wherein the chute is elongate such that the upper end of the chute is configured to be positioned above the enclosure when the enclosure mount is mounted to the enclosure.

24. The catcher of claim 18 , wherein the chute has an adjustable height.

25. The catcher of claim 18 , wherein the chute defines at least one opening between the upper end and the lower end, each at least one opening configured to permit moisture to flow out of the passageway.

Assignees

• Express Scripts Strategic Dev Inc
• Express Scripts Strategie Dev Inc

Inventors

• Vallery Christina M
• Reinhardt Jacob J
• Fross Cory B

Classifications

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title

• B64U2101/64

  for parcel delivery or retrieval · CPC title

• B64F1/32 Primary

  for handling freight · CPC title

• A47G2029/146

  the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code · CPC title

• A47G2029/143

  the container comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code · CPC title