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

{
  "publication_number": "US9489490B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Mobile robot for receiving, transporting, and/or delivering one or more pharmaceutical items",
  "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.",
    "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.",
    "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."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This patent application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/587,098 filed Aug. 16, 2012 entitled “Method and Device for Accommodating Items” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety\n\n1. Technical Field\n\nThe present disclosure relates generally to a mobile robot and, more particularly, to fulfilling an order for a pharmaceutical item.\n\n2. Background Information\n\nIn a typical hospital setting, a doctor may order prescription medication for his/her patient. This order is communicated to the pharmacy of the hospital. Upon reviewing the order, a pharmacist may provide the prescription medication to a hospital runner for delivery to a nurse or the patient. The hospital runner, for example, may bring the prescription medication to the nurse who is assigned to administer the medication to the patient. However, such a hospital runner may take breaks during his/her shift that may delay the receipt of the medication by the nurse and, thus, the administration of the medication to the patient. In addition, it may be difficult for a hospital to find and retain qualified individuals to fulfill such runner positions and other similar positions.\n\nThere is a need in the art for an improved method for fulfilling an order for medication and/or other pharmaceutical items.\n\nMobile 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.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25J 5/005",
    "B25J 11/009",
    "B25J 5/007",
    "B25J 9/0087",
    "G06F 19/3462",
    "G16H 20/13"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 19/00",
    "G06F 7/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daniel Theobald"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-04-29",
  "publication_date": "2016-11-08",
  "grant_date": "2016-11-08",
  "priority_date": "2013-04-29",
  "application_number": "US-201313872362-A",
  "family_id": "57211036",
  "cited_by_count": 112,
  "citations": [
    "US20020039183A1",
    "US6707381B1",
    "JP2004231357A",
    "US20100234995A1",
    "US8935005B2"
  ]
}