Wearable heads-up display (“HUD”) for a pharmacy workflow management system
Inventors
Jacobs, Amanda Gloria • Kramer, Gregory Dean • Brittain, Jeffrey Robert • Olson, John • Kappil, Christina
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12417830-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wearable heads-up display (“HUD”) for a pharmacy workflow management system is disclosed herein. An example HUD includes smart-glasses that are communicatively coupled to a client device. The smart-glasses include at least one camera and/or barcode scanner to record information needed for the verification of a medication dose during medication formulation preparation. The smart-glasses include at least one microphone to record voice commands. Further, the smart-glasses include at least one embedded display screen that shows sequential steps of a preparation protocol for guiding a pharmacy technician to prepare a medication dose. An application on the client device and/or the smart-glasses is configured to recognize and use voice commands to provide navigation for the embedded display screen. The voice commands may also be used to provide data entry for medication dose preparation verification. Gestures may be detected by the camera and translated by the application into navigation or data entry commands.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to a heads-up display system that uses eyewear with a display module, a camera, and a microphone/speaker to guide a wearer through medication dose preparation. The system includes an eyewear device with a frame, a display positioned in front of or behind a lens, and sensing/recording components that provide inputs during dose preparation. A client device is communicatively coupled to a pharmacy server that stores a plurality of dose orders and supports selection of a dose order for preparation.
The client application displays a user interface on the eyewear that includes at least a portion of the plurality of dose orders and receives input indicative of a dose order for selection. After receiving a dose order file from the pharmacy server corresponding to the selected dose order, the application receives or retrieves a preparation protocol based on a medication type from the dose order file. The preparation protocol includes a sequence of steps for preparing a medication dose, where each step is associated with graphical step instructions and at least one step requiring digital image recording is supported by activating the camera to record the digital image.
For each step of the preparation protocol, the system displays corresponding graphical step instructions on the eyewear screen and supports user entry of verification information. When a step requires verification information, the system displays, in conjunction with the graphical step instructions, options for voice entry via the microphone or digital image entry via the camera, and progresses to a next step after verification information is received. The system stores in a verification file an indication of completion progress, recorded digital images, and the verification information, and may also support pharmacist verification as part of the workflow.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features center on a HUD eyewear device with display plus sensing, and a client application that retrieves dose orders and preparation protocols from a pharmacy server and guides step-by-step medication dose preparation with verification inputs stored in a verification file.
HUD eyewear device with display, camera, and microphone
An eyewear device comprising a frame with right and left lenses and connected arms, a camera connected to or integrated with the frame, a microphone and speaker connected to or integrated with the first arm or the second arm, and a display module with a screen positioned in front of or behind one of the lenses with respect to a viewpoint of a wearer.
Client application coupled to a pharmacy server to retrieve dose orders and a preparation protocol
A client device communicatively coupled to a pharmacy server storing a plurality of dose orders, where the application displays at least a portion of the plurality of dose orders, receives microphone/camera input for selection, receives a dose order file corresponding to the selected dose order, and receives or retrieves a preparation protocol based on a medication type, the preparation protocol including a sequence of steps for preparing a medication dose for the selected dose order.
Graphical step instructions with digital image recording and verification entry progression
For each step, the application displays corresponding graphical step instructions on the eyewear device, activates the camera when a step requires recording a digital image, displays verification entry options when verification information is required, progresses to a next step after verification information is received, and stores to a verification file an indication of completion progress, recorded digital images, and the verification information.
HUD eyewear device with barcode scanner for step verification
An eyewear device comprising a barcode scanner connected to or integrated with the frame, where the client application receives an input via the microphone indicative of a dose order for selection, receives a dose order file, retrieves a preparation protocol including a sequence of steps associated with graphical step instructions, and includes steps requiring scanning of a barcode of an ingredient container.
Barcode-activated verification steps and verification file storage
When a step of the preparation protocol requires the scanning of a barcode, the application activates the barcode scanner; when a step requires user entry of verification information, the application displays a text box for voice entry via the microphone, progresses to a next step after verification information is received, and stores to a verification file an indication of completion progress, data from scanned barcodes, and the verification information.
Across the independent claims, the coverage is focused on a HUD system that combines eyewear hardware with a client application that retrieves dose orders and medication-type preparation protocols from a pharmacy server, presents graphical step instructions, records required digital images or scanned barcode data, captures verification information, and stores completion progress and verification outputs in a verification file.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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