Patient controlled timed medication dispenser
First Claim
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1. A medication dispenser for permitting administration of a medication dose to a patient only after a predetermined minimum-dosing interval has elapsed, the medication dispenser comprising:
- a medication tray comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein certain ones of the plurality of compartments contain a medication dose;
a housing enclosing the medication tray, wherein the housing includes an opening; and
a controller for controlling the medication tray to align one of the plurality of compartments containing a medication dose with the opening after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, thereby permitting the patient to access the medication dose through the opening.
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Abstract
The medication delivery device provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis, but with a minimum time intervals between doses. The device permits access to a single dose of the medication after each minimum time interval has elapsed. When the drug dose is removed from the device, the medication tray locks until the next minimum dosage time interval has elapsed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A medication dispenser for permitting administration of a medication dose to a patient only after a predetermined minimum-dosing interval has elapsed, the medication dispenser comprising:
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a medication tray comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein certain ones of the plurality of compartments contain a medication dose;
a housing enclosing the medication tray, wherein the housing includes an opening; and
a controller for controlling the medication tray to align one of the plurality of compartments containing a medication dose with the opening after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, thereby permitting the patient to access the medication dose through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medication dispenser for supplying a medication dose to a patient, the medication dispenser comprising:
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a medication tray having a substantially circular shape and comprising a plurality of compartments disposed about a circumference thereof, wherein alternating ones of the plurality of compartments contain a medication dose;
an enclosure for supporting the medication tray, wherein the enclosure includes an opening, and wherein the medication doses are not available except through the opening;
a controller for controlling the medication tray to rotate to align one of the plurality of compartments containing a medication dose with the opening after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed and after a person has been identified as an authorized patient, thereby permitting the authorized patient to access the medication dose through the opening; and
wherein after a predetermined period from rotation of the medication tray to align one of the plurality of compartments containing a medication dose with the opening the controller controls the medication tray to align a next consecutive one of the plurality of compartments with the opening, and wherein the next consecutive one of the plurality of compartments does not contain a medication dose. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for dispensing a medication dose from a medication dispenser to an authorized patient on an as-needed basis, comprising:
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(a) determining that a first predetermined time interval has elapsed since a previous medication dose was made available to the authorized patient;
(b) activating an indicator when the predetermined time interval has elapsed;
(c) determining that a person is the authorized patient;
(d) causing a medication-containing compartment of the medication dispenser to align with an opening in the medication dispenser, wherein the authorized patient can access the medication dose through the opening; and
(e) after a second predetermined time interval from step (d), causing a compartment that does not contain a medication dose to align with the opening. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification