Systems, methods, and devices for dispensing one or more substances

• US 10,124,940 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zolo Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zolo Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Blackburn, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cicchino, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US14/725,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20150259110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/00 Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures tamper-indicating closures without means for discouraging, see the relevant groups, e.g. B65D41/32, B65D51/20
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A secure dispensing device uses biofeedback to control release of a controlled substance. The secure dispensing device includes a housing with an access compartment that holds a controlled substance, the controlled substance including a first amount of the controlled substance to be dispensed according to one or more initial dispensation parameters; a controller that receives prescription bioinformation about a user and processes the prescription bioinformation to determine an adjusted dispensation parameter for the controlled substance to be dispensed, the initial dispensation parameter and the adjusted dispensation parameter of the controlled substance to be dispensed being different; a regulator that releases the controlled substance from within the housing; and an exit path with an opening that is sized for the controlled substance to be released outside of the access compartment.

Claims

1. A secure dispensing device with biofeedback, the secure dispensing device comprising:

a housing that includes an access compartment with a controlled substance, the controlled substance including a first amount of the controlled substance to be dispensed;

an exit path that includes an opening that is sized for the controlled substance to be released outside of the access compartment;

a regulator that releases the controlled substance from within the housing;

an authentication receiver configured to determine if a biometric identifier is associated with the secure dispensing device, the authentication receiver configured to authenticate a user with a plurality of authentication inputs, at least one authentication input of the plurality of authentication inputs being the biometric identifier; and

a controller configured to receive prescription bioinformation about the user from an external source and process the prescription bioinformation to determine a second amount of the controlled substance to be dispensed, the first amount and the second amount of the controlled substance to be dispensed being different, and the controller configured to change access rights of one or more users based at least in part on the prescription bioinformation.

2. The secure dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the prescription bioinformation in a real-time manner.

3. The secure dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the biometric identifier is a passive biometric identifier.

4. The secure dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the passive biometric identifier is obtained with no interaction by the user.

5. The secure dispensing device in claim 1, wherein the prescription bioinformation is obtained using at least one of a graphene-based sensor, pulse oximetry, a contact microphone, blood-based microliter lab, facial recognition technology, unique heart wave, bodily gestures, cholesterol levels, ph levels, bodily movement, sweat, muscle activity, breathing rate, skin temperature, posture, electrical changes in skin, facial expression, hydration level, and a urine sample.

6. The secure dispensing device in claim 1, wherein the prescription bioinformation is obtained by using at least one of an adhesive bandage, sensor that snaps to clothing, custom clothing, thermal underwear, underclothing, fabric sensor in a strap or clothing form, belt, waist band, chest band, wrist band, watch, camera on a watch, headset, sensor attached to asthma inhaler, ingestible sensor, non-invasive skin permeable sensor, gel insole, and earbuds.

7. The secure dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to be in data communication with a computer network wherein the prescription bioinformation may be stored and transmitted by the controller.

8. The secure dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the access rights include access rights to one or more of an amount of the controlled substance, a period of time between accessing the controlled substance, and a time of day for accessing the controlled substance.

9. A method of dispensing one or more controlled substances housed within a secure dispensing device, the method comprising:

receiving prescription bioinformation about a user from an I/O module;

comparing the received prescription bioinformation with stored prescription information regarding the one or more controlled substances to produce a relative dispensation parameter;

changing an initial dispensation parameter of the one or more controlled substances to an adjusted dispensation parameter of the one or more controlled substances based on the relative dispensation parameter, the initial dispensation parameter and adjusted dispensation parameter being different;

changing access rights to the one or more controlled substances for one or more users based at least in part on the relative dispensation parameter; and

releasing a prescription of the one or more controlled substances according to the adjusted dispensation parameter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein changing the initial dispensation parameter includes one or more of changing a dispensation quantity, changing a dispensation time, and changing the one or more controlled substances to be dispensed.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising authenticating the user using a biometric identifier.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing access rights from the user and granting access rights to a third party.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising overriding the adjusted dispensation parameter, overriding being performed by the user or a third party based on access rights granted.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the received prescription bioinformation from the secure dispensing device via a network to a remote microprocessor in a remote computing device or server, wherein the remote microprocessor transmits the adjusted dispensation parameter via the network to the secure dispensing device.

15. A secure dispensing device with biofeedback, the secure dispensing device comprising:

a housing that includes an access compartment configured to hold one or more controlled substances;

an exit path that includes an opening that is sized for the one or more controlled substances to be released outside of the access compartment;

a regulator configured to release the one or more controlled substances from within the housing; and

a controller configured to receive prescription bioinformation about a user from an external source and process the prescription bioinformation to determine a prescription to release, wherein if the secure dispensing device does not contain a controlled substance from the prescription, the secure dispensing device notifies the user, wherein the controller is configured to change access rights of one or more users based at least in part on the prescription bioinformation.

16. The secure dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to authenticate the user using bioinformation and at least one other identifier.

17. The secure dispensing device of claim 16, wherein the at least one other identifier is a biometric identifier.

18. The secure dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the one or more users includes a third party that is a health care provider, and wherein the health care provider can override the controller.

19. The secure dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the access rights include access to two or more controlled substances.

20. The secure dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the access rights include access rights to one or more of an amount of the controlled substance, a period of time between accessing the controlled substance, and a time of day for accessing the controlled substance.