Smart Medicine Container

• US 20060124655A1
• Filed: 12/11/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Original Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Inventors: Ratnakar, Nitesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A medicine dispensing system is provided that comprises of a medicine container with an inbuilt pill dispensing assembly which automatically dispenses a prescribed dose of medicine at prescribed times. It alerts the patient when a dose of medicine has been dispensed. The alert signal is a local audio or visual alarm or a remote reminder by phone, wireless network or internet. A modem and communication ports are provided which enable the said medicine container to communicate with remote parties like health care professionals and medical devices such as glucose meter. This feature allows remote medicine management, disease management and health education. An internal microprocessor and a memory chip control and execute electronic functions of the said medicine container. Sensors are provided to detect whether a dose has been dispensed and whether it is consumed. The said medicine container is able to record, analyze and report patient'"'"'s compliance with a medicine regimen.

Claims

1. A medicine container with an inbuilt pill dispensing assembly which has means to dispense a desired quantity of medicine at desired times from a bulk supply within the medicine container.

2. A method of preventing overdose comprising of the medicine container of claim 1 wherein the dispensing assembly dispenses a dose of medicine only after the previously dispensed dose has been removed.

3. A method of preventing consumption of expired medicines comprising of the medicine container of claim 1 wherein the dispensing assembly discontinues dispensing a medicine when it expires.

4. A pill dispensing assembly comprising of 1) one or more conveyor belts 2) one or more sensors that count the pills during their passage through the dispensing assembly.

5. The pill dispensing assembly of claim 4 wherein a wheel with pill receptacles regulates the transfer of pills from bulk storage into the pill dispensing assembly.

6. A method of preventing pill bridging comprising of the pill dispensing assembly of claim 4 wherein each conveyor belt moves at a different speed.

7. A medicine container with means to inform patients about their medication.

8. The medicine container of claim 7 wherein it has audio play back unit and speaker.

9. The medicine container of claim 7 wherein it has an apparatus to give a visual signal.

10. A medicine container with a separate inlet and outlet.

11. A medicine container of claim 10 wherein the outlet door has sensors that capture its operation.

12. A compliance monitoring system comprising of the medicine container of claim 10 wherein the operation of its outlet door is used to monitor patient compliance with a medicine regimen.

13. A medicine container with means to communicate with external devices.

14. A medicine compliance assistance system comprising of the medicine container of claim 13 wherein it sends a remote reminder when a dose of medicine is due to be taken.

15. A compliance monitoring system comprising of the medicine container of claim 13 wherein it sends the compliance data to an external device.

16. A method for remote medicine management comprising of the medicine container of claim 13 wherein it has a pill dispensing assembly with means to initiate, change or discontinue a medicine regimen according to instructions received from external devices.

17. A method of health education wherein the medicine container of claim 13 has means to communicate information received from external devices to the patient.

18. A method of inventory management comprising of the medicine container of claim 13 wherein 1) an external device has access to the inventory status of the medicine container 2) information on the inventory status of medicine container is made available to authorized parties.

19. A medicine container with an electronic display unit.

20. A medicine container with a processor and memory chip.

21. A medicine container with a safety lock that allows only authorized access to the contents thereof.

22. A method of preventing inappropriate consumption of medicines comprising of the medicine container of claim 21 wherein the safety lock remains locked outside of prescribed times and after the contained medicine expires.

23. A medicine container with a radiofrequency identification (RFID) reader.

24. The medicine container of claim 23 wherein a lock is coupled with the radiofrequency identification (RFID) reader and wherein the lock becomes operable when the RFID reader reads an authorized radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag.