System and method for dispensing pharmaceutical doses

• US 10,685,091 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PharmRight Corporation
• Original Assignee: PharmRight Corporation
• Inventors: Park, IV, William C, Park, Jan Pfister
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/423,316
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A solid dosage dispensing apparatus comprising a user interface including a display. A plurality of containers are provided from which solid dosages are dispensed. The apparatus includes a controller operative during a stocking mode to: (i) present on said display a list of different solid dosage types available for stocking; (ii) receive an indication of a selected solid dosage type; (iii) graphically indicate on the display a container location at which the selected dosage type is to be located; and (iv) confirm container removal from the container location and subsequent container replacement in that location. During a travel pack mode, the controller is operative to: (i) present on said display a prompt to indicate a duration for which a travel pack is to be stocked; (ii) receive an indication of the duration; and (iii) cause dispensing of dosage types for the duration that would otherwise be dispensed by said apparatus as they are to be administered. In some preferred embodiments, the solid dosage dispensing apparatus may include a readable indicia reader such as a RFID unit.

Claims

1. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus comprising:

a user interface including a display;

a coupling structure configured to mount a plurality of containers from which solid dosages are dispensed while mounted to the coupling structure; and

a controller operative during a stocking mode to;

(i) present on said display a list of different solid dosage types available for stocking;

(ii) receive an indication of a selected solid dosage type based on the list;

(iii) graphically indicate on said display a container location at which the selected solid dosage type is to be located; and

(iv) confirm container removal from the container location and subsequent container replacement in that location.

2. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operative to provide an alarm if a container is placed in an incorrect location.

3. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller prompts a user to confirm a number of the selected solid dosage type to be added.

4. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the number of the selected solid dosage type can be varied by the user via the user interface.

5. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry operative to communicate with a remote host server.

6. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said communication circuitry is operative to communicate with the remote host server via internet connection.

7. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said communication circuitry is operative to communicate with the remote host server via cellular connection.

8. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said controller is operative to update an inventory of the selected solid dosage type with the remote host server via said communication circuitry.

9. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a readable indicia reader.

10. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller is operative to receive information via said readable indicia reader regarding the selected solid dosage type and quantity thereof.

11. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said readable indicia reader comprises a RFID unit.

12. A method implemented by a solid dosage dispensing apparatus which dispenses dosages from a plurality of containers mounted in a housing of the dispensing apparatus, said method comprising steps of:

(a) receiving a request to enter into a stocking mode;

(b) graphically displaying a list of dosage types to be stocked;

(c) receiving an indication of a selected dosage type based on the list;

(d) based on said selected dosage type, indicating a container location on a display of said dispensing apparatus; and

(e) electronically confirming container removal from the container location and subsequent container replacement in that location.

13. A solid dosage dispensing apparatus comprising:

a user interface including a display;

a plurality of containers from which solid dosages are dispensed; and

a controller operative during a stocking mode to;

(i) present on said display a list of different solid dosage types available for stocking;

(ii) receive an indication of a selected solid dosage type;

(iii) graphically indicate on said display a container location at which the selected solid dosage type is to be located; and

(iv) confirm container removal from the container location and subsequent container replacement in that location,

wherein said apparatus comprises a lid and said controller enters the stocking mode upon removal of the lid.