Bulk medication dispenser and monitoring device
First Claim
1. A medication preparation and dispensing apparatus for selecting and delivering a prescribed medication from a plurality of bulk medication amounts to a patient, the preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a housing accommodating a plurality of receptacles containing the bulk medication amounts and a selection mechanism for obtaining the prescribed medication from at least one of the plurality of receptacles;
a medication dosage holder for collecting the prescribed medication from the selection mechanism;
a dispenser for dispensing the medication collected by the medication dosage holder to the patient within a desired time period; and
wherein a programmable computer instructs the selection mechanism to obtain the at least one medication from the bulk medication amounts and deliver the medication to the dosage holder, the computer also communicating with the dispenser to issue the at least one medication to the patient within the desired time period.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispensing system comprising an on-site medication dispensing unit and a central monitoring facility. The on-site medication dispensing unit holds bulk amounts of medication in a plurality of separate receptacles from which it selects a desired medication dosage according to an entered and stored prescription regimen and then notifies the patient by an audible or other sensory signal. If the patient presses a button within a prescribed time, the unit dispenses the dosage. If the patient does not press the button within the prescribed time, or if the unit detects a failure to dispense the selected canister, the unit makes the receptacle inaccessible and contacts a predetermined list of caregivers and the central monitoring facility.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medication preparation and dispensing apparatus for selecting and delivering a prescribed medication from a plurality of bulk medication amounts to a patient, the preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a housing accommodating a plurality of receptacles containing the bulk medication amounts and a selection mechanism for obtaining the prescribed medication from at least one of the plurality of receptacles;
a medication dosage holder for collecting the prescribed medication from the selection mechanism;
a dispenser for dispensing the medication collected by the medication dosage holder to the patient within a desired time period; and
wherein a programmable computer instructs the selection mechanism to obtain the at least one medication from the bulk medication amounts and deliver the medication to the dosage holder, the computer also communicating with the dispenser to issue the at least one medication to the patient within the desired time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of medication dosage preparation and dispensing utilizing an apparatus for selecting and delivering a prescribed medication from a plurality of bulk medication amounts to a patient, the preparation and dispensing method comprising the steps of:
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accommodating a plurality of receptacles containing the bulk medication amounts within a housing and obtaining the prescribed medication from at least one of the plurality of receptacles via a selection mechanism;
collecting the prescribed medication from the selection mechanism in a medication dosage holder;
dispensing the medication collected by the medication dosage holder through a dispenser to the patient within a desired time period; and
providing a programmable computer to instruct the selection mechanism to obtain the medication from the bulk medication amounts and deliver the medication to the dosage holder, the computer also communicating with the dispenser to deliver the medication to the patient within the desired time period.
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18. A medication preparation and dispensing apparatus for selecting and delivering a prescribed medication from a plurality of bulk medication amounts to a patient, the preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a housing accommodating a plurality of receptacles containing the bulk medication amounts and a selection means for obtaining the prescribed medication from at least one of the plurality of receptacles;
a collection means for collecting the prescribed medication from the selection mechanism;
a dispensing means for dispensing the medication collected by the medication dosage holder to the patient within a desired time period; and
wherein a programmable computer instructs the selection means to obtain the medication from the bulk medication amounts and deliver the medication to the collection means, the computer also communicating with the dispensing means to issue the medication to the patient within the desired time period.
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Specification