MEDICATION VERIFICATION AND DISPENSING

• US 20120330684A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interlink AI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PerceptiMed, Inc.
• Inventors: Gershtein, Eugene, Jacobs, Alan Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,251,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• 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 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0046 Cups, bottles or bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/005 Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Medication errors happen frequently in hospital, home, and pharmacy environments. A medication verification and dispensing system provides protection against such errors. The apparatus includes a guide tube that receives a medication and imaging device(s) adjacent to the guide tube that take image(s) of the medication. The imaging devices(s) and light source(s) are oriented for capturing images that reveal markings, color, size, shape, etc., of the medication. A verification system uses a signature of the image to identify the medication or compares the image(s) to reference images to identify the medication and to a prescription record of the patient to ensure it is a correct medication, dose, amount, timing, etc., for administration. If the medication is correct, it is dispensed into a dispensing vessel that locks the medication inside, but unlocks when it recognizes a unique patient identifier worn by a patient that is a correct recipient for the medication.

Claims

1. A medication verification apparatus comprising:

a guide tube having an entry area on a first end for receiving a medication and at least one exit area on a second end for providing the medication;

an imaging device positioned adjacent to an imaging zone of the guide tube for taking an image of the medication within the imaging zone while the medication is in motion within the guide tube;

a verification system in communication with the imaging device for comparing the image of the medication to a plurality of images of medications in a database to identify the medication; and

an output system in communication with the verification system for generating an indication of the medication identified.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the verification system further comprises:

a medication identification system that includes an image analyzer for analyzing the image and comparing the image to the plurality of images in the database; and

a dispensing analysis system for comparing the medication identified by the medication identification system to a prescription record of a patient to verify that the medication is appropriate for the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dispensing analysis system is adapted to make a determination selected from a group consisting of:

a) whether the medication is a correct medication to be administered to the patient, b) whether the medication is of a correct dosage to be administered to the patient, c) whether the medication is of a correct strength to be administered to the patient, and d) whether a time for administering the medication is a correct time for administration of the medication to the patient.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gating system mounted to the guide tube and positioned to accept or reject the medication based on input received from the verification system, the gating system comprising a gating mechanism for routing the medication to different pathways in the guide tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gating mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

a) a plunger air gate for pushing the pill toward or away from a rejection or acceptance zone, b) an accept/reject gate adapted to swing within the guide tube to direct the medication to a rejection or acceptance zone, and c) a holding gate for receiving and holding medication while it is determined whether the medication is accepted or rejected.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor positioned adjacent to a trigger zone of the guide tube for recording information about the pill as it passes through the guide tube to set a proper timing for taking the image of the medication or providing light in the imaging zone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing vessel having an opening for receiving the medication from the guide tube, a lid, an identification system programmable with an identification code for a particular patient to whom the medication is to be administered, and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the lid closed and to unlock responsive to the identification system recognizing a unique identifier for the particular patient.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an internal surface of a passage of the guide tube comprises:

a) one or more ridges, grooves, indentations, bumps or discontinuities, or b) one or more coatings that adjust a coefficient of friction between the guide tube and the medication moving through the guide tube, wherein a) and b) are configured to control orientation, position, translational velocity or angular velocity of the medication as it moves through the guide tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide tube includes a gaseous system for providing a gas inside the guide tube or a mechanical device for adjusting movement, orientation, position, translational velocity, or angular velocity of the medication, wherein the mechanical device is selected from a group consisting of:

a vibration device, a conveyor belt, and a plunger.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide tube is oriented at approximately 5 to 89 degrees to a force of gravity or other external force exerted on the medication.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide tube is positioned at an angle relative to a force of gravity to orient a long axis of the medication in a direction of travel through the guide tube or with a long axis of the guide tube, and to orient the medication face down, wherein the guide tube is configured for allowing the medication to slide through the imaging zone of the guide tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a plurality of imaging devices arranged for taking a plurality of images from multiple different perspectives, wherein the imaging devices are:

a) arranged circumferentially around the imaging zone of the guide tube, b) coupled to a mechanism for moving the imaging devices, or c) arranged opposite a plurality of mirrors positioned around the imaging zone.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more light sources positioned adjacent to the imaging zone for illuminating the medication hiring imaging.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources comprise a plurality of light sources surrounding a field of view of a plurality of imaging devices, with an incident light path of the light sources raised or recessed and at an acute angle with respect to a plane containing the medication.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources comprise a) a plurality of light sources positioned above or below the medication and projecting at an acute angle of incidence to a plane of the medication, or b) a plurality of light sources positioned on a side of the medication and projecting at an acute angle of incidence to the medication.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources are oriented around the imaging zone and timed or coordinated with one another to provide high-contrast illumination of embossed, debossed, or engraved features on the medication, printed markings on a surface of the medication, and color, shape, and size of the medication.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources are positioned around the imaging zone to provide incident light reflected off an indented or raised edge of embossed or debossed markings on the medication or reflected off a surface, a valley, or a peak of the embossed or debossed markings.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources comprise a plurality of light sources oriented around the imaging zone with at least one light source providing direct illumination for imaging printed markings on the medication and at least one light source providing tangential illumination for enhancing contrast of surface features of the medication.

19. A method of medication verification comprising:

receiving a medication;

taking an image of the medication while the medication is in motion; and

identifying the medication based on a signature of an image of the medication; and

generating an indication of the medication identified.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting an orientation of the medication to position the medication for imaging.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising further comprising sensing a presence, speed, velocity, or orientation of the medication as it moves through an area.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

retrieving or accessing a prescription record for a patient; and

comparing the medication identified to the prescription record of the patient to verify that the medication is appropriate for the patient.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising accepting or rejecting the medication based on whether the medication matches a prescription record of the patient, wherein the medication is accepted if it matches and rejected if it does not match.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein taking an image further comprising taking a plurality of images with a plurality of imaging devices and using a plurality of light sources, wherein the imaging devices and light sources are oriented and timed for providing images that reveal one or more markings on the medication and at least one of the color, shape, and size of the medication.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein identifying further comprising comparing the image of the medication to a plurality of images of medications to identify the medication.

26. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:

a dispensing vessel having a closed body with an interior space and an opening and adapted to receive a medication dispensed through the opening;

a lid arranged for covering the opening of the dispensing vessel to open or close the dispensing vessel;

an identification system positioned on the dispensing vessel and programmable with an identification code for a patient to whom the medication is to be administered; and

a locking mechanism associated with the dispensing vessel for locking the dispensing vessel to prevent access to the medication contained within and for, responsive to the identification system recognizing a unique identifier for the patient, unlocking the dispensing vessel to provide access to the medication.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the unique identifier is worn by or in proximity to the patient and wherein the identification system is configured to recognize the unique identifier in response to the identification system being brought in proximity to the unique identifier.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the unique identifier is an REID tag or barcode, and wherein the identification system is an RFID transceiver or a barcode scanner.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a medication carrier contained within the dispensing vessel for carrying the medication.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising one or more sensors coupled to the dispensing vessel for sensing whether medication is present within the dispensing vessel.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a clock on the dispensing vessel that records the date and time of dispensing; and

a communication module for communicating the date and time of dispensing to an apparatus or computer for tracking.

32. A method of dispensing medication, comprising:

receiving a medication in a dispensing vessel;

locking the medication inside the dispensing vessel;

reading a unique identifier for a patient; and

responsive to recognition of the unique identifier for the patient, unlocking the dispensing vessel to provide access to the medication for the patient.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein recognition of the unique identifier occurs responsive to the dispensing vessel being in proximity to the patient wearing or associated with the unique identifier.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein reading the unique identifier further comprises reading an RFID tag or scanning a barcode worn or associated with the patient.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the unique identifier of the patient matches an identification code programmed into the dispensing vessel, recognizing the unique identifier, and

responsive to a determination that the unique identifier of the patient is not the identifier for a correct patient for receiving the medication, failing to recognize the unique identifier and keeping the dispensing vessel locked.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising recording a time and date of administration of the medication.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising communicating a time and date of administration of the medication to an apparatus to track the administration for use in timing future administrations of medication to the patient.

38. A medication verification apparatus comprising:

a guide tube having an opening on a first end for receiving a medication, at least one opening on a second end for dispensing the medication, and passage through which the medication is delivered;

one or more identification components positioned adjacent to an identification zone for recording characteristics of the medication within the identification zone while the medication is in motion within the guide tube;

a verification system in communication with the identification components for identifying the medication based on the characteristics recorded; and

an output system in communication with the verification system for generating an indication of the medication identified.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the one or more identification components are selected from a group consisting of:

one or more imaging devices for taking images of the medication and one or more sensors for recording physical or structural characteristics of the medication or of a marking on the medication.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the verification component is configured for analyzing an image taken of the medication, performing optical character recognition, analyzing one or more physical or structural characteristics of the medication, analyzing a marking or character on the medication, or comparing an image taken of the medication to a plurality of images of medications.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the verification system further comprises a dispensing analysis system for comparing the medication identified by the medication identification system to a prescription record of a patient to verify that the medication is appropriate for the patient.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising a gating system mounted to the guide tube and positioned to accept or reject the medication based on input received from the verification system, the gating system comprising a gating mechanism for routing the medication to different pathways in the guide tube.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein an internal surface of a passage of the guide tube comprises:

a) one or more ridges, grooves, indentations, bumps or discontinuities, or b) one or more coatings that adjust a coefficient of friction between the guide tube and the medication moving through the guide tube, wherein a) and b) are configured to control orientation, position, translational velocity or angular velocity of the medication as it moves through the guide tube.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the guide tube includes a gaseous system for providing a gas inside the guide tube or a mechanical device for adjusting movement, orientation, position, translational velocity, or angular velocity of the medication.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the guide tube is positioned at an angle relative to a force of gravity to orient a long axis of the medication in a direction of travel through the guide tube or with a long axis of the guide tube, and to orient the medication face down.

46. A medication verification apparatus comprising:

one or more imaging devices positioned adjacent to an imaging zone for taking a plurality of images of the medication within the imaging zone while the medication is in motion within the imaging zone;

a verification system in communication with the imaging device for identifying the medication based on a signature of the image of the medication; and

an output system in communication with the verification system for generating an indication of the medication identified.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the verification system further comprises a medication identification system that includes an image analyzer for analyzing the image and comparing the image to the plurality of images in the database;

and

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the verification system further comprises a dispensing analysis system for comparing the medication identified by the medication identification system to a prescription record of a patient to verify that the medication is appropriate for the patient.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, an orientation component in contact with the medication for orienting the medication for taking the images of the medication.

50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the imaging devices are arranged for taking a plurality of images from multiple different perspectives, wherein the imaging devices are:

a) arranged circumferentially around the imaging zone of the guide tube, b) coupled to a mechanism for moving the imaging devices, or c) arranged opposite a plurality of mirrors positioned around the imaging zone.

51. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a plurality of light sources positioned adjacent to the imaging zone for illuminating the medication during imaging.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the one or more light sources comprise a plurality of light sources oriented, around the imaging zone with at least one light source providing direct illumination for imaging printed markings on the medication and at least one light source providing tangential illumination for enhancing contrast of surface features of the medication.

53. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the signature includes a color, a pattern, a shape, a size, a texture, a mass, a weight, or a volume of a medication.

54. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the signature includes a font, a color, a size, or a type of a symbol or character on a medication.