Patient controlled timed medication dispenser

• US 20080203107A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avancen MOD Corp.
• Original Assignee: Avancen MOD Corp.
• Inventors: Keefe, Mike, Grillo, Rob, Mayfield, Ross, Conley, N. Sharon, Boydston, Bernie
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• 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 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/16 Delivery means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A medication on demand dispenser. The dispenser provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis but with a prescribed minimum time interval between doses. The dispenser permits access to a single medication dose after each minimum time interval has elapsed. After a drug dose is presented to the patient, the dispenser prevents access to the next dose until the minimum time interval has elapsed.

Claims

1. A medication dispenser for permitting access to medication doses after a minimum dosing interval between doses, the medication dispenser comprising:

a medication tray comprising medication retention areas, wherein a medication dose is disposed in each retention area and further comprising blank areas;

a cover disposed over the medication tray, the cover defining a dose opening therein through which a dose in a retention area can be accessed;

a controller for authenticating a person to access a medication dose; and

the controller further aligning the dose opening with a retention area to present a medication dose through the dose opening after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed and the person has been authenticated, and wherein the controller aligns the dose opening with a blank area between minimum dosing intervals.

2. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a housing defining a tray opening therein, the medication tray received within the tray opening, wherein the cover is affixed to lockably close the tray opening, and wherein in an unlocked condition the cover is removable from the tray opening to provide access to the tray.

3. The medication dispenser of claim 2 wherein the medication tray comprises a circularly shaped medication tray with the medication retention areas disposed in a circular pattern about the periphery thereof, and wherein the tray opening comprises a circularly shaped tray opening.

4. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a position indicating element cooperating with the medication tray to determine a position of a retention area or a blank area relative to the dose opening.

5. The medication dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a position detector, wherein the position indicating element comprises spaced-apart indexing members coupled to the medication tray and cooperating with the position detector to determine the position of a retention area or a blank area relative to the dose opening.

6. The medication dispenser of claim 5 wherein the position detector comprises an emitter and sensor operatively coupled for detecting one of the indexing members to determine the position of a retention area or the blank area relative to the dose opening.

7. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a motor, the controller controlling the motor to align the dose opening with a retention area or to align the dose opening with a blank area.

8. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a housing defining a circular tray opening therein and a motor, the medication tray further comprising a circular medication tray received within the tray opening with the medication retention areas disposed in a circular pattern about the periphery of the medication tray, the motor to align a medication retention area with the dose opening or to align a blank area with the dose opening.

9. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an indicator activated after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, wherein after activation of the indicator the person executes an authentication procedure, and wherein responsive to an affirmative authentication the controller aligns the dose opening with one of the retention areas for a predetermined time and after lapse of the predetermined time the controller aligns the dose opening with one of the blank areas.

10. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein the minimum dosing interval is measured from an immediately previous presentation of one of the retention areas through the dose opening, from an immediately previous presentation of one of the blank areas through the dose opening or from an immediately previous authentication of the person.

11. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a memory element for storing person identification information and an access control element for authenticating the person by comparing stored person identification information with identification indicia provided by the person.

12. The medication dispenser of claim 11 wherein the access control element comprises a keypad, a bar code reader, an RFID reader, a fingerprint reader, a voice print reader or a smart card reader, wherein the identification indicia provided by the person comprises a corresponding keypad code entry, a bar code, an RFID tag, a fingerprint, a voice print or a smart card.

13. The medication dispenser of claim 12 wherein the bar code or the RFID tag is disposed on a wristband worn by the person.

14. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a clock controllable by the controller for displaying time remaining until the minimum dosing interval has expired or comprising a visual or aural indicator controllable by the controller, wherein a first condition of the visual or aural indicator denotes the minimum dosing interval has not elapsed and a second condition denotes that the minimum dosing interval has elapsed.

15. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a configuration interface for receiving minimum dosing interval information or for receiving person authentication information.

16. The medication dispenser of claim 15 wherein the configuration interface is responsive to a command provided to the controller by an authenticated person to control the medication tray to present one of the medication retention areas through the dose opening prior to lapsing of the minimum dosing interval.

17. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein an authenticated person can control, program or query the medication dispenser.

18. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein a material of the cover comprises a translucent or transparent material to permit visual inspection of medication doses within the medication retention areas.

19. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a solenoid for releasably securing the cover to a housing supporting the medication tray, wherein a first state of the solenoid locks the cover to the housing and a second state of the solenoid permits removal of the cover from the housing to access the medication tray, the housing further comprising openings in an upper region thereof, each opening for receiving a tab extending from the cover, wherein after each tab is received within an opening the cover is rotated for displacing each tab within the opening, and wherein after rotation the cover is locked to the housing by interaction of a pin controlled by the solenoid and one of the tabs.

20. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a communications interface for communicating information between the medication dispenser and a remote communications device.

21. The medication dispenser of claim 20 wherein information supplied from the remote communications device to the medication dispenser comprises the minimum dosing interval or person authentication information, and wherein information supplied from the medication dispenser to the remote communications device comprises information related to presentation of medication retention areas through the dose opening, and wherein certain of the information supplied from the medication dispenser is recorded in a patient medical record.

22. The medication dispenser of claim 21 wherein the information related to presentation of medication retention areas comprises a time of day when each medication retention area was presented through the dose opening and a number of times in a 24 hour period when a medication retention area was presented through the dose opening.

23. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a person-activated control element, wherein the person comprises a patient, and wherein after the minimum dosing interval the patient activates the control element and supplies authentication information, thereafter if the patient is determined to be an authenticated person the controller aligns the dose opening with one of the retention areas.

24. The medication dispenser of claim 23 wherein the control element comprises a plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements, and wherein the patient activates one of the plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements according to the severity of pain experienced by the patient, and wherein the plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements comprises a first control element for indicating no pain, a second control element for indicating most severe pain, and a plurality of intermediate control elements for indicating a pain severity between no pain and the most severe pain.

25. The medication dispenser of claim 24 wherein each one of the plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements further comprises a pain-severity indicating icon associated therewith.

26. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a stepper motor and mating gears, the stepper motor for driving a first of the mating gears, responsive to the controller, for driving a last of the mating gears for stepping the tray through successive positions until the tray presents one of retention areas or one of the blank areas through the dose opening.

27. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a motor responsive to the controller and a plurality of gears, the motor for rotating a first gear of the plurality of gears for rotating a last gear of the plurality of gears cooperating with the tray for moving the tray to present one of the retention areas through the dose opening, wherein the plurality of gears resist movement of the tray in a direction opposite to a direction in which the motor moves the tray.

28. The medication dispenser of claim 1 responsive to a remote computing device via a wired or wireless network for providing dosing information to the medication dispenser.

29. The medication dispenser of claim 28 wherein the remote computing device is associated with one or more of a central pharmacy, a medication cart and a nurse'"'"'s station.

30. The medication dispenser of claim 28 wherein the remote computing device queries the medication dispenser to determine information related to the presentation of retention areas through the dose opening.

31. The medication dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for determining presence of a medication dose in any retention area.

32. A medication dispenser for providing medication doses for administration to a patient with a minimum dosing interval between successive doses, the medication dispenser comprising:

a substantially circular medication tray comprising medication retention areas and blank regions about a periphery thereof;

an enclosure for supporting the medication tray, wherein the enclosure defines an opening, and wherein the medication doses are accessed through the opening;

a controller for controlling a relative position of the medication tray and the opening to align one of the medication retention areas with the opening responsive to authentication of a person to access the medication dose and after the minimum dosing interval from an immediately previous presentation of one of the medication doses; and

wherein after a time when the opening is aligned with one of the medication retention areas the controller aligns a blank region with the opening.

33. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a tray position detector operative with the controller to determine when one of the medication retention areas is aligned with the opening.

34. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a motor, the controller controlling the motor to provide access to doses through the dose opening by controlling a orientation of the dose opening and the medication retention areas.

35. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising an indicator activated after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed after which the person executes an authentication procedure, wherein responsive to an affirmative authentication the controller controls the medication tray to present one of the retention areas through the opening.

36. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising an authentication element responsive to authentication information provided by the person for authenticating the person to access the medication doses, wherein the authentication information comprises keypad entries, a bar code, RFID information, a fingerprint, a voice print or information provided with a smart card.

37. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising an indicator indicating when the minimum dosing interval has elapsed.

38. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a configuration interface responsive to a remote device for supplying the controller with information related to the minimum dosing interval.

39. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a configuration interface for receiving authentication information for use in authenticating the person to access the medication doses.

40. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a person-activated control element, wherein the person comprises a patient, and wherein after the minimum dosing interval the patient activates the control element and supplies authentication information, thereafter if the patient is determined to be an authenticated person, the controller controls the medication tray to present one of the retention areas through the opening, and wherein the control element comprises a plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements, and wherein the patient activates one of the plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements according to the

41. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a stepper motor responsive to the controller and a plurality of mating gears, wherein the stepper motor imparts rotation to a first of the mating gears for imparting motion to a last of the mating gears for stepping the tray through the successive positions until the tray presents one of retention areas or one of the blank areas through the opening.

42. The medication dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a detector for determining whether a medication dose is present in a retention area.

43. The medication dispenser of claim 32 wherein the minimum dosing interval is measured from an immediately previous presentation of one of the retention areas through the dose opening, from an immediately previous presentation of one of the blank areas through the dose opening or from an immediately previous authentication of the person.

44. The medication dispenser of claim 32 responsive to a remote computing device via a wired or wireless network for providing dosing information to the medication dispenser, wherein the remote computing device is associated with one or more of a central pharmacy, a medication cart and a nurse'"'"'s station.

45. The medication dispenser of claim 44 wherein the remote computing device queries the medication dispenser to determine patient dose administration information.

46. A medication dispenser for providing medication doses for administration to a patient, the dispenser comprising:

a medication tray carrying a plurality of medication doses to be administered on an as needed basis with a minimum dosing interval between each dose;

a housing supporting the medication tray;

a controlled-access opening within the housing for providing access to one of the plurality of medication doses, wherein the controlled access opening is controllable to a dose-accessible condition permitting access to the medication does therethrough; and

a controller for controlling the controlled-access opening to allow withdrawal of the medication dose therethrough responsive to the minimum dosing interval and further responsive to authentication of the patient.

47. The medication dispenser of claim 46 further comprising an indicator activated after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, wherein after activation of the indicator the person executes an authentication procedure, and wherein responsive to an affirmative authentication the controller aligns the dose opening with one of the retention areas.

48. The medication dispenser of claim 46 wherein the minimum dosing interval is measured from when access was provided to an immediately previous medication dose.

49. The medication dispenser of claim 46 wherein the controller comprises a memory element for storing person identification information and an access control element for authenticating the person by comparing stored person identification information with identification indicia provided by the person.

50. The medication dispenser of claim 46 further comprising a clock controllable by the controller for displaying time remaining until the minimum dosing interval has expired or comprising a visual or aural indicator controllable by the controller, wherein a first condition of the visual or aural indicator denotes the minimum dosing interval has not elapsed and a second condition denotes that the minimum dosing interval has elapsed.

51. The medication dispenser of claim 46 wherein the controlled access opening comprises a plurality of controlled access openings each one of the plurality of controlled access openings providing access to one of the medication doses.

52. The medication dispenser of claim 46 wherein the controlled access opening comprises a plurality of condition controlled doors, each one of the plurality of condition-controlled doors providing access to one of the medication doses.

53. The medication dispenser of claim 46 further comprising a person-activated control element, wherein the person comprises a patient, and wherein after the minimum dosing interval the patient activates the control element and supplies authentication information, thereafter if the patient is determined to be an authenticated person the controller aligns the dose opening with one of the retention areas.

54. The medication dispenser of claim 53 wherein the control element comprises a plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements, and wherein the patient activates one of the plurality of pain-severity indicating control elements according to the severity of pain experienced by the patient.

55. The medication dispenser of claim 46 responsive to a remote computing device via a wired or wireless network for providing dosing information to the medication dispenser.

56. A medication dispenser for providing medication doses for administration to a patient with a minimum dosing interval between successive doses, the medication dispenser comprising:

a housing having an opening therein;

a medication tray received within the opening and comprising medication retention areas, wherein a medication dose is disposed in one or more of the retention areas, and further comprising blank regions between the medication retention areas;

a cover lockably disposed to close the opening;

a lock in the housing locking the cover within the opening, wherein in an unlocked condition the cover is removable from the opening;

a controller for authenticating a patient; and

the controller further controlling the medication tray to align one of the plurality of retention areas containing a medication dose with the opening after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, thereby making the medication dose available to an authenticated patient.

57. A method for dispensing a medication dose from a medication dispenser to a patient, comprising:

(a) determining that a minimum dosing interval has elapsed;

(b) indicating to a user that the minimum dosing interval has elapsed;

(c) authenticating the user; and

(d) responsive to the steps (a) and (c), causing a medication-containing medication retention area of the medication dispenser to align with an opening in the medication dispenser, allowing the authenticated user to remove the medication dose from the retention area through the opening.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

(e) after a time interval from the step (d), causing a blank region to be presented through the opening.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein the step (c) further comprises;

(c1) the user presenting identification indicia for use in authenticating the user, wherein the identification indicia comprises at least one of a code entered on a keypad of the medication dispenser, a bar code, an RFID tag code, a fingerprint, a voice print or information supplied by a smart card.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein the minimum dosing interval comprises a prescribed minimum interval between as-needed medication doses, wherein the minimum dosing interval is measured from an immediately previous presentation of one of the retention areas through the dose opening, from an immediately previous presentation of a blank area through the dose opening, or from an immediately previous authentication of the person.

61. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

(e) determining whether a medication dose has been removed from a medication retention area.

62. The method of claim 57 wherein the step (c) further comprises authenticating the user responsive to user operation of a control component responsive to the step (b).

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the control component comprises a plurality of pain-severity indicating control components, and wherein the user activates one of the plurality of pain-severity indicating control components responsive to a patient'"'"'s level of pain.

64. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

(e) communicating with a remote device for providing minimum dosing information to the medication dispenser or for receiving dosing information from the medication dispenser.