Smart tray for dispensing medicaments

• US 20060213917A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Original Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Inventors: Handfield, Michael, Laliberte, Helene
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/13
• 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 2205/30 Printed labels
• 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: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more containers (e.g., cassettes or trays), which hold one or more types of medicaments, the containers being configured for automatic and accurate dispensing of the medicaments. In one embodiment, a container for dispensing medicaments includes: a housing; a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units; an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and a movable medium within the housing and defining at least one compartment (e.g., radial groove) configured to hold and carry at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

Claims

1. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a movable medium within the housing having a compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, and configured to transport at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet for dispensing.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the movable medium comprises a rotatable disk.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is configured to be coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine, wherein the medicaments dispensing machine drives the movable medium

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the container is configured to be inserted into a slot of the medicaments dispensing machine, the container further comprising an alignment element for aligning the container during insertion of the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the alignment element further locks the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

6. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the compartment carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the compartment is adjustable in size.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the compartment is adjustable in size in two dimensions.

9. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one adjustable slot for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the adjustable slot carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable slot is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

10. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable medium within the housing and defining at least one adjustable slot for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable medium rotates, the adjustable slot carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable slot is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the adjustable slot is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

12. The container of claim 10 wherein the container is configured in the shape of a container adapted for insertion into a medicament dispensing machine.

13. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned between the storage chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, wherein the medicament dispensing container is configured to be coupled to a medicament dispensing machine and the dispensing machine drives rotation of the rotatable disk.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the container is configured to be inserted into a slot of the medicaments dispensing machine, the container further comprising an alignment element for aligning the container during insertion of the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein the alignment element further locks the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

16. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

18. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable mechanism located within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable mechanism rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

20. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a dispensing mechanism located within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in size and carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

21. The container of claim 20 wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

22. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the compartment is sized to accommodate a predetermined quantity of medicament units and the container is configured to be received within a slot of a dispensing machine.

23. The container of claim 22 wherein the dispensing machine drives rotation of the rotatable disk.

24. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable medium within the housing having a compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, and configured to transport at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the container is configured to be coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine and the medicaments dispensing machine drives rotation of the rotatable medium.

25. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one slot for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the slot carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the slot is adjustable in size.

27. The container of claim 25, wherein the slot is adjustable in size in two dimensions.

28. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a dispensing mechanism within the housing and defining at least one adjustable compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the dispensing mechanism is initiated, the adjustable compartment carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in size to accommodate one or more medicament units of predetermined size.

29. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a movable medium within the housing and defining at least one adjustable compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the movable medium moves, the adjustable compartment carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size.

30. The container of claim 29 wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

31. The container of claim 29 wherein the container is configured in the shape of a container adapted for insertion into a medicament dispensing machine.

32. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a dispensing mechanism within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the storage chamber and the outlet whereby when the dispensing mechanism is in operation, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, wherein the container is configured to be coupled to a dispensing machine and the dispensing machine drives operation of the dispensing mechanism.

33. The container of claim 32 wherein the container is configured to be inserted into a slot of the medicaments dispensing machine, the container further comprising an alignment element for aligning the container during insertion of the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

34. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one groove configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the at least one groove carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the at least one groove is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

35. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable mechanism located within the housing and defining at least one radial groove configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable mechanism rotates, the at least one radial groove carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the at least one radial groove is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size.

36. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a dispensing mechanism located within the housing and defining at least one groove configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet, wherein the at least one groove is adjustable in size and carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

37. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable mechanism within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable mechanism being positioned whereby when the rotatable mechanism rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in size and a dispensing machine drives rotation of the rotatable mechanism.

38. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a movable medium within the housing having a compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, and configured to transport at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension via a central adjustment mechanism located centrally within the housing.

39. The container of claim 38 wherein the central adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an allen wrench.

40. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the compartment carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the compartment is adjustable in size by a central adjustment mechanism located centrally within the housing.

41. The container of claim 40, wherein the compartment is adjustable in depth by turning the central adjustment mechanism.

42. The container of claim 41 wherein the central adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an allen wrench.

43. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a rotatable medium within the housing and defining at least one adjustable slot for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the rotatable medium rotates, the adjustable slot carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable slot is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size; and

a central adjustment mechanism centrally located within the housing for adjusting the at least one dimension of the adjustable slot.

44. The container of claim 43 wherein the adjustable slot is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

45. The container of claim 43 wherein the container is configured in the shape of a tray adapted for insertion into a medicament dispensing machine.

46. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the at least one compartment carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension via an adjustment mechanism located in the housing to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

47. The container of claim 46, wherein the adjustment mechanism is centrally located within the housing.

48. The container of claim 47, wherein the compartment is adjustable in depth by turning the centrally located adjustment mechanism.

49. The container of claim 48 wherein the central adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an alien wrench.

50. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a dispensing mechanism located within the housing and defining at least one compartment configured to hold at least one medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet, wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in size and carries the at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet; and

an adjustment mechanism located in the housing for adjusting the size of the compartment.

51. The container of claim 50 wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

52. The container of claim 50, wherein the compartment is adjustable in depth by turning the adjustment mechanism.

53. The container of claim 50 wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an allen wrench.

54. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a movable medium within the housing and defining at least one adjustable compartment for holding at least one medicament unit, whereby when the movable medium moves, the adjustable compartment carries the at least one medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size; and

an adjustment mechanism located in the housing for adjusting the size of the compartment.

55. The container of claim 54 wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

56. The container of claim 54, wherein the compartment is adjustable in depth by turning the adjustment mechanism.

57. The container of claim 54 wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an allen wrench.

58. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to contain the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing; and

a movable medium within the housing having a compartment sized to accept a medicament unit, and configured to transport the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet for dispensing.

59. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a dispensing mechanism within the housing and defining an adjustable compartment for holding a medicament unit, whereby when the dispensing mechanism is actuated, the adjustable compartment carries the medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in size to accommodate a predetermined quantity of medicament units of predetermined size.

60. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a movable medium within the housing and defining an adjustable compartment for holding a medicament unit, whereby when the movable medium moves, the adjustable compartment carries the medicament unit to the outlet for dispensing, wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in a dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

61. The container of claim 60 wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

62. The container of claim 60 wherein the container is configured in the shape of a tray adapted for insertion into a medicament dispensing machine.

63. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a dispensing mechanism within the housing and defining a compartment configured to hold a medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the storage chamber and the outlet whereby when the dispensing mechanism is in operation, the compartment carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, wherein the dispensing machine drives operation of the dispensing mechanism.

64. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable disk within the housing and defining a groove configured to hold a medicament unit, the rotatable disk being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable disk rotates, the groove carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the groove is adjustable in a dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

65. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable mechanism located within the housing and defining a radial groove configured to hold a medicament unit, the rotatable mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable mechanism rotates, the radial groove carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, and wherein the radial groove is adjustable in a dimension to accommodate a medicament unit of predetermined size.

66. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a dispensing mechanism located within the housing and defining a groove configured to hold a medicament unit, the dispensing mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet, wherein the groove is adjustable in size and carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

67. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable mechanism within the housing and defining a compartment configured to hold a medicament unit, the rotatable mechanism being positioned whereby when the rotatable mechanism rotates, the compartment carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet, wherein the compartment is adjustable in size and the dispensing machine drives rotation of the rotatable mechanism.

68. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units;

a sorting mechanism within the housing for sorting the plurality of medicament units into a predetermined number of medicament units and holding and carrying the predetermined number of medicament units to the outlet for dispensing.

69. The container of claim 68 wherein the sorting mechanism defines at least one compartment for holding the predetermined number of medicament units, whereby when the sorting mechanism is actuated the compartment holds and carries the predetermined number of medicament units to the outlet for dispensing.

70. The container of claim 69 wherein the at least one compartment is adjustable in a dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size.

71. The container of claim 70 wherein the adjustable compartment is adjustable in at least two dimensions.

72. A medicament dispensing container comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a sorting mechanism within the housing and defining a compartment configured to hold a medicament unit, the sorting mechanism being positioned between the storage chamber and the outlet whereby when the sorting mechanism is in operation, the compartment carries the medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

73. The container of claim 72 wherein the container is configured to be inserted into a slot of a medicaments dispensing machine, the container further comprising an alignment element for aligning the container during insertion of the container into the slot of the medicaments dispensing machine.

74. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a housing;

a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and

a rotatable sorting mechanism within the housing and defining a compartment configured to hold a medicament unit, the rotatable sorting mechanism being positioned between the chamber and the outlet whereby when the rotatable sorting mechanism rotates, the compartment receives the medicament unit from a plurality of medicament units in the chamber and carries the medicament unit to the outlet.

75. The container of claim 74 wherein the compartment is adjustable in at least one dimension to accommodate at least one medicament unit of predetermined size.

76. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a chamber configured to contain a plurality of medicament units;

a movable medium at least partially disposed in the chamber; and

a compartment defined in the movable medium and sized to accept a medicament unit, wherein the movable medium is configured to transport the medicament unit in the compartment from the chamber for dispensing from the container.

77. A medicament dispensing container, comprising:

a chamber configured to contain a plurality of medicament units; and

a medicament dispensing mechanism comprising;

a movable medium; and

a compartment disposed in the movable medium and sized to accept a medicament unit;

wherein the movable medium is configured to transport the medicament unit in the compartment from the chamber for dispensing from the container.