SMART MEDICINE CABINET

• US 20110187549A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arjun Varman Balasingam
• Original Assignee: Arjun Varman Balasingam
• Inventors: Balasingam, Arjun Varman
• Application Number:
  US12/698,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/00 Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Disclosed is a medicine cabinet, comprising; a housing having at least one shelf to support at least one medicine bottle thereon; and a sensing arrangement within the housing, the sensing arrangement monitors dispensing of medicine from each medicine bottle, wherein the sensing arrangement detects pickup of each medicine bottle from each shelf.

Claims

1. A medicine cabinet, comprising:

a housing having at least one shelf to support at least one medicine bottle thereon; and

a sensing arrangement within the housing, the sensing arrangement to monitor dispensing of medicine from each medicine bottle, wherein the sensing arrangement detects pickup of each medicine bottle from each shelf.

2. The medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein the sensing-arrangement further comprises a plurality of first electrical contacts.

3. The medicine cabinet of claim 2, wherein each shelf further comprises markings thereon, wherein the plurality of first electrical contacts are located proximate to the markings to guide placement of each pill bottle on the shelf to trigger a signal through a first electrical contact.

4. The medicine cabinet of claim 3, wherein sensing arrangement further comprises a processor which receives a signal from a first electrical contact when a corresponding medicine bottle is picked-up from the shelf.

5. The medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises recording information related to at least one of a time of pickup and identity of a medicine bottle being picked-up.

6. The medicine cabinet of claim 5, further comprising a display screen attached to the housing, wherein the display screen displays the recorded information.

7. The medicine cabinet of claim 4, wherein the processor is further capable of facilitating transmitting an alert message to at least one of a caregiver and a user when a medicine bottle is not picked-up in a predefined time slot.

8. The medicine cabinet of claim 7, wherein the alert message comprises at least one of an email, an audio alarm, and a Short Messaging System (SMS).

9. The medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein the sensing arrangement further comprises pressure sensors.

10. The medicine cabinet of claim 9, wherein each shelf further comprises markings thereon, wherein the pressure sensors are proximate to the markings to guide placement of each pill bottle on the shelf to trigger a signal through a pressure sensor.

11. The medicine cabinet of claim 10, wherein sensing arrangement further comprises a processor which receives a signal from a pressure sensor when a corresponding medicine bottle is picked-up from the shelf.

12. A medicine bottle, comprising:

a body having a base member and a peripheral sidewall extending upwardly therefrom; and

an electrical contact proximate to the base member of the body.

13. The medicine bottle of claim 12, wherein the electrical contact is fast with an underside of the base member of the body.

14. The medicine bottle of claim 12, wherein the electrical contact is embedded in an underside of the base member of the body.