Smart Medicine Container

• US 20090057328A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novation Science, LLC
• Original Assignee: Novation Science, LLC
• Inventors: Ratnakar, Nitesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• 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: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/26 Endless bands
• 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 9/026 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

Abstract

Present invention discloses a dispenser having means to dispense desired number of pills from a bulk supply of pills contained in the dispenser. The dispenser comprises of storage compartment having bulk supply of pills and having a discharge port emptying into counting compartment. The counting compartment contains first and second conveyors moving at first and second speed; wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed thereby enabling pill separation; the second conveyor discharges pills into dispensing compartment. Sensors are strategically placed along the conveyors to count pills discharged into dispensing compartment. A pill recovery system and apparatus is disposed inside the dispenser having means to recover pills remaining on first and second conveyors upon completion of a dispensation cycle and there after deposit recovered pills back into the storage compartment for use in future dispensation cycles.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising:

storage compartment for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage compartment having a discharge port;

first conveyor having inlet and outlet ends and traveling at a first rate of speed, the first conveyor receiving at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and transporting the at least one dosage to the outlet end;

second conveyor having an inlet and outlet ends, the second conveyor traveling at a second rate of speed greater than the first rate of speed;

wherein the inlet end of the second conveyor receives the at least one dosage from the outlet end of the first conveyor and transports that at least one dosage to the outlet end of the second conveyor; and

pill recovery system and apparatus disposed within the dispenser having means to collect pills remaining on first and second conveyors and deposit into the storage compartment.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pill recovery system and apparatus comprises of a recovery cup flush with corresponding defect in the storage compartment in first resting position;

and below the outlet end of the second conveyor in second recovery position.

3. The pill recovery system and apparatus of claim 2 wherein the recovery cup is operatively connected to recovery motor;

recovery motor providing means for recovery cup to reversibly move from first resting position to second recovery position.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second conveyors moving one cycle and depositing pills remaining thereon after completion of a dispensation cycle into pill recovery cup while pill recovery cup remains in second recovery position;

the pill recovery cup thereafter moving into first resting position and depositing recovered pills into storage compartment.

5. A method of dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising:

a dispenser having;

first storage compartment for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, storage compartment having a discharge port;

second counting compartment having first conveyor traveling at a first rate of speed, the first conveyor receiving at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and transporting the at least one dosage to the outlet end; and

second conveyor traveling at a second rate of speed greater than the first rate of speed;

the inlet end of the second conveyor receiving at least one dosage of medicine from the outlet end of the first conveyor and transporting that at least one dosage to the outlet end into a dispensing compartment;

third dispensing compartment providing user access to dispensed dosage of medicine; and

pill recovery system and apparatus recovering pills remaining on first and second conveyors upon completion of dispensation cycle; and

depositing collected pills into storage compartment.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pill recovery system and apparatus comprises of a recovery cup flush with corresponding defect in the storage compartment in first resting position;

and below the outlet end of the second conveyor in second recovery position.

7. The pill recovery system of claim 6 wherein the recovery cup is operatively connected to recovery motor;

recovery motor providing means for recovery cup to reversibly move from first resting position to second recovery position.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second conveyors move one cycle to deposit pills remaining thereon after completion of a dispensation cycle into pill recovery cup while pill recovery cup remains in second recovery position;

the pill recovery cup thereafter moving into first resting position and depositing recovered pills into storage compartment.

9. A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising:

storage compartment for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage container having a discharge port;

counting compartment having means to receive at least one pill from storage compartment and dispense at least one dosage of medicine into collecting compartment;

collecting compartment providing user access to dispensed dose of medicine; and

pill recovery system and apparatus disposed within the dispenser having means to recover pills remaining in counting compartment after a dose of medicine has been dispensed; and

deposit recovered pills into storage compartment.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein the pill recovery system and apparatus comprises of a recovery cup flush with corresponding defect in the storage compartment in first resting position;

and in the counting compartment in second recovery position.

11. The pill recovery system and apparatus of claim 10 wherein the recovery cup is operatively connected to recovery motor;

recovery motor providing means for recovery cup to reversibly move from first resting position to second recovery position.

12. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein means is provided in counting compartment to deposit pills remaining thereon after completion of a dispensation cycle into pill recovery cup while pill recovery cup remains in second recovery position;

the pill recovery cup thereafter moving into first resting position and depositing recovered pills into storage compartment.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein counting compartment contains first and second conveyors having inlet and outlet ends as counting means;

recovery cup disposed at the outlet end of second conveyor in second recovery position; and

wherein means is provided in first and second conveyors to move one cycle to deposit pills remaining thereon after dispensation cycle into pill recovery cup while pill recovery cup remains in second recovery position