Smart tray for dispensing medicaments

• US 20060241806A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• 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 7,751,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• 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 medicament dispensing tray or container for dispensing medicaments contained therein and further including electronic circuitry for performing various functions such as, for example, determining an operating mode of the container, determining if the data stored in the memory device is up to date, determining if a new container needs to be ordered, determining if the medicament units have been recalled, determining if the container is to be returned for credit, determining if the medicament units may cause adverse side effects to a specified patient, and determining if the container is to be discarded.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing medicaments, comprising:

storing a plurality of medicament units in a portable medicaments container;

accessing a memory contained within a housing of the medicaments container to retrieve data pertaining to the container;

establishing a communication link between the medicaments container and a device external to the medicaments container; and

determining, based on communications between the medicaments container and the external device, whether the container is in one of a plurality of operating modes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a loading mode, shipping mode, inventory mode or dispensing mode.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if it is determined that the container is in dispensing mode, uploading at least a portion of the data stored in the memory to a medicaments dispensing machine coupled to the container.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to communicate with the external device to determine whether the information stored in the memory device is up-to-date and, if it is determined that the information is not up to date, initiate downloading of up to date information from the external device for storage in the memory device.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether a new container containing a plurality of medicament units needs to be ordered and, if so, sending a reorder signal to an external device.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether the plurality of medicament units has been recalled.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether container is being returned for credit.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit comprises a programmable logic array.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit comprises an ASIC.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit comprises communication circuitry for communicating radio frequency signals to one or more external devices.

14. The container of claim 1 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least of one of the plurality of medicament units at a time toward the outlet for dispensing.

8. The container of claim wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether the plurality of medicament units may cause adverse side effects to a patient.

9. The container of claim wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether the container is to be discarded and, if so, erase the information stored in the memory device.

15. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and make logic decisions based at least in part on the data stored in the memory device.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein the logic decisions comprise determining whether the container is in one of a plurality of operating modes.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a loading mode, shipping mode, inventory mode or dispensing mode.

18. The container of claim 15 wherein the electronic device is further configured to upload data stored in the memory device to the external device.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the external device is a computer network server.

20. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether the data stored in the memory device is up to date.

21. The container of claim 20 wherein, if it is determined that the data stored in the memory device is not up to date, the electronic device is configured to receive up to date data from the external device and store the up to date data in the memory device.

22. The container of claim 20 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one of the plurality of medicament units toward the outlet for dispensing.

23. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether a new container containing a plurality of medicament units needs to be reordered.

24. The container of claim 23 wherein electronic device determines the number of medicament units remaining in the tray, and if the number is below a predetermined amount, the electronic device transmits a signal to the external device so as to initiate automatic re-ordering of a new container containing the same medicament units.

25. The container of claim 23 wherein the electronic device determines if an expiration date of the medicament units has expired and, if so, the electronic device transmits a signal to the external device so as to initiate automatic re-ordering of a new container containing the same medicament units.

26. The container of claim 23 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one of the plurality of medicament units toward the outlet for dispensing.

27. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether the medicament units contained in the container have been recalled.

28. The container of claim 27 wherein if the medicament units have been recalled, the electronic device is further configured to transmit a signal to the external device indicating that the container is being returned for credit.

29. The container of claim 27 wherein if the medicament units have been recalled, the electronic device is further configured to erase at least a portion of the data stored in the memory device and transmit a signal to the external device indicating that the container is being discarded.

30. The container of claim 27 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one of the plurality of medicament units toward the outlet for dispensing.

31. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether the medicament units may cause adverse side effects to a patient for whom the medicament units have been prescribed.

32. The container of claim 31 wherein if it is determined the medicament units may cause adverse side effects to the patient, the electronic device is further configured to transmit a signal to the external device indicating that the container is being returned for credit.

33. The container of claim 31 wherein if it is determined the medicament units may cause adverse side effects to the patient, the electronic device is further configured to erase at least a portion of the data stored in the memory device and transmit a signal to the external device indicating that the container is being discarded.

34. The container of claim 31 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one of the plurality of medicament units toward the outlet for dispensing.

35. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether the container is being returned for credit.

36. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and determine whether the container is to be discarded.

37. The container of claim 36 wherein if the electronic device determines the container is to be discarded, the electronic device initiates erasing of the data stored in the memory device.

38. A medicaments container comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units therein;

an outlet defined in the housing through which the medicament units are dispensed;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container; and

an electronic device, coupled to the memory device, and configured to communicate with an external device and make interactive decisions based on communications with the external device and at least part of the data stored in the memory device, the interactive decisions comprising one or more decisions from a group consisting of;

determining an operating mode of the container, determining if the data stored in the memory device is up to date, determining if a new container needs to be ordered, determining if the medicament units have been recalled, determining if the container is to be returned for credit, determining if the medicament units may cause adverse side effects to a specified patient, and determining if the container is to be discarded.

39. The container of claim 38 wherein the operating mode is selected from a group consisting of a loading mode, a shipping mode, an inventory mode or a dispensing mode.

40. The container of claim 38 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one of the plurality of medicament units toward the outlet for dispensing.

41. The container of claim 38 wherein the electronic device comprises a programmable logic array and a radio frequency (rf) communications circuit.

42. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing;

a dispensing mechanism within the housing configured to dispense at least one medicament unit via the outlet;

a memory device for storing data pertaining to the container;

communication circuitry coupled to the memory device and adapted for communicating the data stored in the memory device to a device external to the tray; and

programmable logic circuitry within the housing and configured to execute logic functions, wherein the logic comprises determining if the container is coupled to medicaments loading equipment, coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine, in shipping transit mode, or in inventory mode.

43. The container of claim 42 wherein if the container is coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine, the logic further comprises uploading information stored in the memory device to the medicaments dispensing machine.

44. The container of claim 42 wherein if the container is coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine, the logic further comprises determining whether the information stored in the memory device is up-to-date.

45. The container of claim 42 wherein if the container is coupled to a medicaments dispensing machine, the logic further comprises determining the number of medicament units remaining in the container, and if the number is below a predetermined amount, automatically re-ordering a new container containing the same medicament units.

46. The container of claim 42 wherein the logic further comprises determining if the medicament units have been recalled.

47. The container of claim 42 wherein the logic further comprises determining if the container is being returned for credit.

48. The container of claim 42 wherein the logic further comprises determining if the medicament units may have adverse side effects to a specified patient.

49. The container of claim 42 wherein the logic further comprises determining if the container is to be discarded.

50. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

an outlet defined in the housing for allowing at least one medicament unit to be dispensed;

a memory device contained in the housing for storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing and configured to communicate with an external device and proactively perform functions based on the instructions stored in the memory device.

51. The container of claim 50 further comprising a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for moving at least one medicament unit toward the outlet to be dispensed.

52. The container of claim 50 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises:

radio frequency communication circuitry coupled to the memory device and adapted for communicating the data stored in the memory device to an external device; and

programmable logic circuitry contained within the housing and configured to proactively perform the functions.

53. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the data stored in the memory device is up to date.

54. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the number of medicament units remaining in the container, and if the number is below a predetermined amount, automatically re-ordering a new container containing the same medicament units.

55. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the container is being recalled.

56. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the container is being returned for credit.

57. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the medicament units may potentially cause adverse effects to a patient.

58. The container of claim 50 wherein the functions comprise determining if the container is to be discarded and, if so, erasing the data and instructions from the memory device.

59. A medicaments 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 contained in the housing for moving at least one medicament unit at a time toward the outlet for dispensing; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing one or more functions.

60. The container of claim 59 wherein the one or more functions comprises determining an operating mode of the container.

61. The container of claim 60 wherein the operating mode is selected from a group consisting of a loading mode, shipping mode, inventory mode and a dispensing mode.

62. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the container is coupled to the medicaments dispensing machine, medicament loading equipment, in shipping mode, or in inventory mode.

63. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining whether the data stored in the memory device is up-to-date.

64. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining the number of medicament units remaining in the container, and if the number is below a predetermined amount, automatically re-ordering a new container containing the same medicament units.

65. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the container has been recalled.

66. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the container is being returned for credit.

67. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the medicament units may potentially cause adverse effects to a patient.

68. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the tray is to be discarded and, if so, erasing information pertaining to one or more patients from the memory device.

69. A medicaments container, comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of medicament units;

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

a memory device storing data and instructions pertaining to the container; and

electronic circuitry contained within the housing for executing functions in accordance with the instructions, the functions comprising determining if the tray is in inventory mode and, if so, placing the electronic circuitry in sleep mode until it is awakened by an external near-field signal or a continuous monitoring mode, wherein the electronic circuit continuously monitors for any external signal.