A pneumatic tubing system for distribution of medical objects in a medical environment without a dedicated carrier. The system comprises a plurality of headwall stations, a sending or receiving station, at least one pump, and at least one controller. Each headwall station is adapted to be installed in a headwall structure proximate to a patient bedside. The sending or receiving station is connected to each of the headwall stations via pneumatic tubing. The at least one pump is adapted to create pressure differentiation within at least a subset of the pneumatic tubing. The at least one controller is adapted to selectively activate the at least one pump to route a medical object between the sending or receiving station and one of the headwall stations within the pneumatic tubing.

A method for delivering items in a pneumatic delivery system includes receiving delivery information corresponding to an item to be delivered from a first workstation of a plurality of workstations to a second one of the workstations, configuring a first one of a plurality of blowers and a corresponding workstation diverter corresponding to the first workstation to create a path from the first workstation to the first blower, operating the first blower to generate suction drawing the item to the first blower, configuring a subset of the plurality of diverters of the system to create a continuous path from the first blower to the second workstation and routing, when the first and second workstations are in separate subsystems of the pneumatic delivery system, the item through an inter-subsystem exchange unit so that the item is delivered to the second workstation using only the first blower.

A method for delivering items in a pneumatic delivery system includes receiving delivery information corresponding to an item to be delivered from a first workstation of a plurality of workstations to a second one of the workstations, configuring a first one of a plurality of blowers and a corresponding workstation diverter corresponding to the first workstation to create a path from the first workstation to the first blower, operating the first blower to generate suction drawing the item to the first blower, configuring a subset of the plurality of diverters of the system to create a continuous path from the first blower to the second workstation and routing, when the first and second workstations are in separate subsystems of the pneumatic delivery system, the item through an inter-subsystem exchange unit so that the item is delivered to the second workstation using only the first blower.

Provided herein is a pneumatic tube system station having a rotating carriage with multiple carrier ports. The multiple carrier ports allow for receiving multiple carriers and/or staging multiple carries for dispatch. In one arrangement, one or more carriers may be securely maintained within the station while permitting users to continue utilizing the station.

Provided herein is a pneumatic tube system station having a rotating carriage with multiple carrier ports. The multiple carrier ports allow for receiving multiple carriers and/or staging multiple carries for dispatch. In one arrangement, one or more carriers may be securely maintained within the station while permitting users to continue utilizing the station.

A vacuum volume reduction system and method for reducing a volume to be evacuated at a vacuum tube vehicle station are provided. The system has a station vacuum tube in an interior of a station wall of the vacuum tube vehicle station. The station vacuum tube has a tube volume. The system has a volume reduction assembly coupled to the station vacuum tube, and a control system for radially moving the assembly to and from a vehicle outer surface of a vacuum transport tube vehicle, to engage around the vehicle outer surface, for loading and unloading of passengers and/or cargo. The system further has door seal(s), an air supply assembly, and a vent-to-vacuum assembly. The system displaces the tube volume between the station wall and the vehicle outer surface, and in turn, reduces a volume to be evacuated at the vacuum tube vehicle station.

A vacuum volume reduction system and method for reducing a volume to be evacuated at a vacuum tube vehicle station are provided. The system has a station vacuum tube in an interior of a station wall of the vacuum tube vehicle station. The station vacuum tube has a tube volume. The system has a volume reduction assembly coupled to the station vacuum tube, and a control system for radially moving the assembly to and from a vehicle outer surface of a vacuum transport tube vehicle, to engage around the vehicle outer surface, for loading and unloading of passengers and/or cargo. The system further has door seal(s), an air supply assembly, and a vent-to-vacuum assembly. The system displaces the tube volume between the station wall and the vehicle outer surface, and in turn, reduces a volume to be evacuated at the vacuum tube vehicle station.

A pneumatic delivery system is used to facilitate delivery of canisters comprising delivery payloads by unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The pneumatic delivery system comprises a tube having a channel within a tube wall, where a canister is configured to move through the tube. The tube comprises a tube opening and a transfer mechanism proximate the tube opening. The transfer mechanism engages a canister having a payload that is moved within the tube. The transfer mechanism moves the canister through the tube opening by extending from a first transfer position to a second transfer position. At the second transfer position, the transfer mechanism orients the tube and releases it to a UAV for delivery.

A pneumatic delivery system is used to facilitate delivery of canisters comprising delivery payloads by unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The pneumatic delivery system comprises a tube having a channel within a tube wall, where a canister is configured to move through the tube. The tube comprises a tube opening and a transfer mechanism proximate the tube opening. The transfer mechanism engages a canister having a payload that is moved within the tube. The transfer mechanism moves the canister through the tube opening by extending from a first transfer position to a second transfer position. At the second transfer position, the transfer mechanism orients the tube and releases it to a UAV for delivery.

A method for delivering items in a pneumatic delivery system includes receiving delivery information corresponding to an item to be delivered from a first workstation of a plurality of workstations to a second one of the workstations, configuring a first one of a plurality of blowers and a corresponding workstation diverter corresponding to the first workstation to create a path from the first workstation to the first blower, operating the first blower to generate suction drawing the item to the first blower, configuring a subset of the plurality of diverters of the system to create a continuous path from the first blower to the second workstation and routing, when the first and second workstations are in separate subsystems of the pneumatic delivery system, the item through an inter-subsystem exchange unit so that the item is delivered to the second workstation using only the first blower.