Web enabled audiovisual medication dispensing

• US 10,078,732 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omcare, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omcare LLC
• Inventors: Lavin, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/931,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20160055318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 700236, 700240, 700244
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer

Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for taking care of elderly, disabled, or other dependents. The devices and methods may be useful for dependents that are not willing or able to live in an environment which has a caretaker physically present. Example devices and methods can facilitate communication between a caretaker and a dependent. Devices and methods can optionally facilitate disbursing medications remotely.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating with a dependent comprising:

web link circuitry configured to communicate with a remote device;

a cartridge assembly electrically coupled to the web link circuitry;

a housing configured to accommodate the web link circuitry and the cartridge assembly;

a mass-sensing receptacle external to the housing, electrically coupled to the web link circuitry, configured to receive medication from the cartridge assembly, configured to detect a presence or absence of a mass of the medication in the mass-sensing receptacle, and configured to transmit data to the web link circuitry corresponding to a variable quantity of the mass of the medication in the mass-sensing receptacle;

a chute disposed such that objects dispensed by the cartridge assembly travel through the chute;

a doorway arranged on the surface of, or at least partially in, the housing and configured such that the objects dispensed from the cartridge assembly travel through the chute and pass through the doorway into the mass-sensing receptacle; and

a camera coupled to the web link circuitry and configured to capture video of the dependent, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to transmit video from the camera to the remote device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a video display electrically coupled to the web link circuitry;

wherein the web link circuitry is configured to transmit images to the video display; and

the video display is configured to display the images received from the web link circuitry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microphone electrically coupled to the web link circuitry and configured to capture audio input and transmit the audio input to the web link circuitry, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to receive the audio input and transmit the audio input to a caregiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to allow only an authorized user to establish communications with a dependent.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass-sensing receptacle is configured to power off the cartridge assembly when an absence of the mass is detected in the mass-sensing receptacle after a presence of the mass is detected in the mass-sensing receptacle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to communicate consumption compliance information to the remote device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly comprises a reel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a door disposed within the doorway between the chute and the mass-sensing receptacle, wherein the door is electrically powered.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a one-touch call button electrically coupled to the web link circuitry and arranged on, or at least partially in, the housing, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to make a phone call to a caregiver at or around the time the one-touch call button is pressed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a one-touch call button electrically coupled to the web link circuitry and arranged on, or at least partially in, the housing, wherein the web link circuitry is configured to make contact with the remote device at or around the time the one-touch call button is pressed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly is configured to dispense the medication automatically, on demand by the dependent, or remotely by a caregiver.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

web link circuitry configured to communicate with a remote device of a caregiver, establish communication with a dependent, and allow only an authorized user to establish communication with the apparatus;

a cartridge assembly electrically coupled to the web link circuitry;

a housing configured to accommodate the web link circuitry and the cartridge assembly;

a mass-sensing receptacle electrically coupled to the web link circuitry, located external to the housing, and configured to transmit data to the web link circuitry corresponding to a variable quantity of a mass of medication in the mass-sensing receptacle;

a camera electrically coupled to the web link circuitry, the camera configured to capture images and transmit the images to the web link circuitry, and the web link circuitry configured to receive the images and transmit the images to the remote device;

a microphone electrically coupled to the web link circuitry, the microphone configured to capture audio input and transmit the audio input to the web link circuitry, and the web link circuitry configured to receive the audio input and transmit the audio input to the remote device;

a chute disposed such that objects dispensed by the cartridge assembly travel through the chute; and

a doorway arranged on the surface of, or at least partially in, the housing and configured such that the objects dispensed from the cartridge assembly travel through the chute and pass through the doorway into the mass-sensing receptacle.