Granted Patent B2

US 12,239,608 · App. 18/102,574 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Inventor: Kenneth Perano (Saint Charles, MO)

Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.

A61J1/202A61J1/2048

Abstract

Claims (77)

1. An apparatus for liquid medication bottle-splitting, the apparatus comprising:

a first dispensing section comprising a funnel-shaped hollow body with a wide inlet opening tapering to a narrow outlet;

a second dispensing section comprising a second funnel-shaped hollow body with a second wide inlet opening tapering to a second narrow outlet; and

a crossover channel connecting the first dispensing section to the second dispensing section, the crossover channel including a crossover opening extending a length of the crossover channel, and the crossover channel being angled to evenly distribute a flow of liquid medication into at least a first split portion in the first dispensing section and a second split portion in the second dispensing section;

the first dispensing section adapted to dispense the first split portion, and the second dispensing section adapted to dispense the second split portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a V-shaped trough including angled channel walls to:

permit a faster flow of liquid medication comprising a larger volume, the larger volume decreasing to become a smaller volume during even distribution of the flow of liquid medication; and

permit a slower flow of the liquid medication comprising the smaller volume, the smaller volume decreasing to reach equilibrium inside the apparatus during the even distribution of the flow of liquid medication;

the crossover channel using the V-shaped trough to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a peak central to the crossover channel, the peak being positioned at a midpoint of the length of the crossover channel;

the crossover channel gradually rising from each distal end to reach the peak at the midpoint; and

the crossover channel using the peak to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a top opening across a top of the apparatus, including the wide inlet opening, the second wide inlet opening, and the crossover opening;

the top opening being adapted to receive the flow of liquid medication.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the length comprises an entirety of the crossover channel, from a first distal endpoint on a first end of the crossover channel to a second distal endpoint on an opposite end of the crossover channel; and

wherein the top opening extends across an entirety of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a third dispensing section comprising a third funnel-shaped hollow body tapering from a third wide inlet opening to a third narrow outlet:

the crossover channel including an elongated portion connecting the third dispensing section to the first dispensing section and the second dispensing section:

the crossover channel being angled to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication into at least the first split portion, the second split portion. and a third split portion in the third dispensing section: and

the third dispensing section adapted to dispense the third split portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a fourth dispensing section comprising a fourth funnel-shaped hollow body tapering from a fourth wide inlet opening to a fourth narrow outlet;

the crossover channel including another elongated portion connecting the fourth dispensing section to the first dispensing section, the second dispensing section, and the third dispensing section:

the crossover channel being angled to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication into at least the first split portion, the second split portion, the third split portion, and a fourth split portion in the fourth dispensing section: and the fourth dispensing section adapted to dispense the fourth split portion.

8. A system for liquid medication bottle-splitting, the system comprising:

dispensing connectors joined to a split-funnel for liquid medication dispensing from the split-funnel to liquid medication bottles;

a split-funnel casing, comprising:

a liquid medication bottle compartment adapted to position the liquid medication bottles under the dispensing connectors for filling via the split-funnel;

a split-funnel slot adapted to fit and hold the split-funnel in position for dispensing to the liquid medication bottles via the dispensing connectors; and

the split-funnel positioned in the split funnel slot and joined to the dispensing connectors, the split-funnel comprising:

a first dispensing section comprising a funnel-shaped hollow body with a wide inlet opening tapering to a narrow outlet;

a second dispensing section comprising a second funnel-shaped hollow body with a second wide inlet opening tapering to a second narrow outlet; and

a crossover channel connecting the first dispensing section to the second dispensing section, the crossover channel including a crossover opening extending a length of the crossover channel, and the crossover channel being angled to evenly distribute a flow of liquid medication into at least a first split portion in the first dispensing section and a second split portion in the second dispensing section;

the first dispensing section adapted to dispense the first split portion, and the second dispensing section adapted to dispense the second split portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first dispensing section, the second dispensing section, and the crossover channel have co-planar top openings.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing connectors comprise:

tubing connecting the split-funnel to the liquid medication bottles; and

clamps configured to permit liquid medication flow into the tubing into the medication bottles when the clamps are released.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the clamps include at least one push-button; and

wherein the clamps are further configured to permit liquid medication flow into the tubing upon receiving a user input button push to the at least one push-button.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a V-shaped trough including angled channel walls to:

permit a faster flow of liquid medication comprising a larger volume, the larger volume decreasing to become a smaller volume during even distribution of the flow of liquid medication; and

permit a slower flow of the liquid medication comprising the smaller volume, the smaller volume decreasing to reach equilibrium inside the split-funnel during the even distribution of the flow of liquid medication;

the crossover channel using the V-shaped trough to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a peak central to the crossover channel, the peak being positioned at a midpoint of the length of the crossover channel;

the crossover channel gradually rising from each distal end to reach the peak at the midpoint; and

the crossover channel using the peak to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the split-funnel comprises a top opening across a top of the split-funnel, including the wide inlet opening, the second wide inlet opening, and the crossover opening;

the top opening being adapted to receive the flow of liquid medication.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the length comprises an entirety of the crossover channel, from a first distal endpoint on a first end of the crossover channel to a second distal endpoint on an opposite end of the crossover channel; and

wherein the top opening extends across an entirety of the split-funnel.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first dispensing section, the second dispensing section, and the crossover channel have co-planar top openings.

17. A device for liquid medication bottle-splitting, the device comprising:

dispensing connectors joined to a split-funnel for liquid medication dispensing from the split-funnel to liquid medication bottles; and

the split-funnel joined to the dispensing connectors, the split-funnel comprising:

a first dispensing section comprising a funnel-shaped hollow body with a wide inlet opening tapering to a narrow outlet;

a second dispensing section comprising a second funnel-shaped hollow body with a second wide inlet opening tapering to a second narrow outlet; and

a crossover channel connecting the first dispensing section to the second dispensing section, the crossover channel including a crossover opening extending a length of the crossover channel, and the crossover channel being angled to evenly distribute a flow of liquid medication into at least a first split portion in the first dispensing section and a second split portion in the second dispensing section;

the first dispensing section adapted to dispense the first split portion, and the second dispensing section adapted to dispense the second split portion.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the dispensing connectors comprise:

tubing connecting the split-funnel to the liquid medication bottles; and

clamps configured to permit liquid medication flow into the tubing into the medication bottles when the clamps are released.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the clamps include at least one push-button; and

wherein the clamps are further configured to permit liquid medication flow into the tubing upon receiving a user input button push to the at least one push-button.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a V-shaped trough including angled channel walls to:

permit a faster flow of liquid medication comprising a larger volume, the larger volume decreasing to become a smaller volume during even distribution of the flow of liquid medication; and

permit a slower flow of the liquid medication comprising the smaller volume, the smaller volume decreasing to reach equilibrium inside the split-funnel during the even distribution of the flow of liquid medication;

the crossover channel using the V-shaped trough to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

21. The device of claim 17 , wherein the crossover channel comprises a peak central to the crossover channel, the peak being positioned at a midpoint of the length of the crossover channel;

the crossover channel gradually rising from each distal end to reach the peak at the midpoint; and

the crossover channel using the peak to evenly distribute the flow of liquid medication.

22. The device of claim 17 , wherein the length comprises an entirety of the crossover channel, from a first distal endpoint on a first end of the crossover channel to a second distal endpoint on an opposite end of the crossover channel;

the split-funnel comprising a top opening across a top of the split-funnel, including the wide inlet opening, the second wide inlet opening, and the crossover opening;

the top opening extending across an entirety of the split-funnel; and

the top opening being adapted to receive the flow of liquid medication.

23. The device of claim 17 , wherein the first dispensing section, the second dispensing section, and the crossover channel have co-planar top openings.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (36)