Dispenser system and methods for medication compliance
First Claim
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1. A system for dispensing medication, comprising:
- at least one medicine container transfer unit having a plurality of check stations, the at least one medicine container transfer unit configured to engage a medicine storage container and move the medical storage container to a first discharge point;
a medicine transfer unit positioned proximate the at least one medicine container transfer unit such that medicine discharged from the medicine storage container at the first discharge point is discharged onto the medicine transfer unit, and medicine on the medicine transfer unit is discharged from the medicine transfer unit at a second discharge point, the medicine transfer unit having a monitoring device to monitor medicine on the medicine transfer unit;
a first medicine transfer container positioned at the second discharge point to receive the medicine discharged from the medicine transfer unit;
a controller configured to perform a dispensing process that includes;
causing the medicine storage container to discharge at least a first predetermined amount of medicine from the medicine storage container onto the medicine transfer unit;
causing the medicine transfer unit to discharge at least a second predetermined amount of medicine to the first medicine transfer container;
determining whether the first medicine transfer container has an amount of medicine greater than a predetermined desired amount; and
if the amount of medicine in the first medicine transfer container is greater than the predetermined desired amount, then;
moving the first medicine transfer container to the first discharge point;
moving the medicine storage container to the second discharge point and discharge medicine remaining on the medicine transfer unit into the medicine storage containermoving a second medicine transfer container to the second discharge point; and
discharging medicine from the first medicine transfer container, onto the medicine transfer unit, and from the medicine transfer unit into the second medicine transfer container.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for dispensing medication in a predetermined amount. An exemplary system and method may include operations and/or instructions comprising dispensing medicine from a first medicine container to a transfer device; dispensing medicine from the transfer device to a second medicine container, monitoring a medicine distribution relative to the first medicine container, the second medicine container, and the transfer device by way of at least one monitoring device, and automatically adjusting the medicine distribution among the first medicine container, the second medicine container, and the transfer device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing medication, comprising:
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at least one medicine container transfer unit having a plurality of check stations, the at least one medicine container transfer unit configured to engage a medicine storage container and move the medical storage container to a first discharge point; a medicine transfer unit positioned proximate the at least one medicine container transfer unit such that medicine discharged from the medicine storage container at the first discharge point is discharged onto the medicine transfer unit, and medicine on the medicine transfer unit is discharged from the medicine transfer unit at a second discharge point, the medicine transfer unit having a monitoring device to monitor medicine on the medicine transfer unit; a first medicine transfer container positioned at the second discharge point to receive the medicine discharged from the medicine transfer unit; a controller configured to perform a dispensing process that includes; causing the medicine storage container to discharge at least a first predetermined amount of medicine from the medicine storage container onto the medicine transfer unit; causing the medicine transfer unit to discharge at least a second predetermined amount of medicine to the first medicine transfer container; determining whether the first medicine transfer container has an amount of medicine greater than a predetermined desired amount; and if the amount of medicine in the first medicine transfer container is greater than the predetermined desired amount, then; moving the first medicine transfer container to the first discharge point; moving the medicine storage container to the second discharge point and discharge medicine remaining on the medicine transfer unit into the medicine storage container moving a second medicine transfer container to the second discharge point; and discharging medicine from the first medicine transfer container, onto the medicine transfer unit, and from the medicine transfer unit into the second medicine transfer container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for dispensing medication, comprising:
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at least one medicine container transfer unit, the unit having a plurality of check stations, the at least one medicine container transfer unit configured to engage a medicine storage container and move the medical storage container to a first discharge point; a medicine transfer unit positioned proximate the medicine container transfer unit such that medicine discharged from the medicine storage container at the first discharge point is discharged onto the medicine transfer unit, and medicine on the medicine transfer unit is discharged from the medicine transfer unit at a second discharge point, the medicine transfer unit having a monitoring device to monitor medicine on the medicine transfer unit; a first medicine transfer container positioned on one of the check stations at the second discharge point to receive the medicine discharged from the medicine transfer unit; and a controller configured to perform a dispensing process that includes; discharging at least a first predetermined amount of medicine from the medicine storage container to the medicine transfer unit, and at least a second predetermined amount of medicine to the first medicine transfer container; and if an amount of medicine in the first medicine transfer container is greater than a predetermined desired amount, discharging medicine from the first medicine transfer container to the medicine transfer unit, and from the medicine transfer unit to a second medicine transfer container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of using a controller to perform a dispensing process, the method comprising:
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causing a medicine storage container to discharge at least a first predetermined amount of medicine from the medicine storage container onto a medicine transfer unit; causing the medicine transfer unit to discharge at least a second predetermined amount of medicine to a first medicine transfer container; determining whether the first medicine transfer container has an amount of medicine greater than a desired amount; and if the amount of medicine in the first medicine transfer container is greater than the desired amount, then; moving the first medicine transfer container to a first discharge point; moving the medicine storage container to a second discharge point; discharge all remaining medicine on the medicine transfer unit into the medicine storage container; moving a second medicine transfer container to the second discharge point; and discharging medicine from the first medicine transfer container, onto the medicine transfer unit, and from the medicine transfer unit into the second medicine transfer container. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification