DISPENSING SYSTEMS WITH SECURITY LOCKS

• US 20140267719A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hero Health, Inc. (Hero Health IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Makefield LLC
• Inventors: Von Heifner, Christian, Akdogan, Kutadgu, Vepuri, Kalyan C.
• Application Number:
  US14/214,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140267719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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 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 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A dispensing device provides improved security and risk management through the inclusion of a security lock. The security lock may require authentication of a user as a condition for dispensing a dispensable included in a container of the dispensing device. The dispensable may include a consumable unit.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a container configured to hold a plurality of consumable units;

a mechanism to dispense individual doses of the plurality of consumable units from the container;

a mechanical interface including one or more mechanical registration features to removably and replaceably insert the device into a base; and

a security lock requiring authentication of a user as a condition for dispensation of one of the plurality of consumable units.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a machine input actuatable by the base when the device is placed for use in the base to activate the mechanism and dispense one of the plurality of consumable units.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock includes a user input on the base operable to unlock the device in response to a user input when the device is coupled to the base.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock includes a user input on the container operable to unlock the device in response to a user input.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock includes a keypad configured for passcode authentication of the user.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock includes a biometric system for authenticating the user.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the biometric system includes a voice recognition user interface for voice authentication of the user.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the biometric system includes a facial recognition system for authenticating the user.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the biometric system includes a fingerprint identification system for authenticating the user.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock authenticates the user with reference to a remote resource.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the remote resource includes a data repository for electronic medical records.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock includes a remote controlled security lock for remotely controlling access to the plurality of consumable units.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a camera, wherein the security lock is configured to respond to an access attempt by capturing an image with the camera.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the camera is directed toward a location of an operator of an interface of the security lock.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a management system configured to manage a schedule for dispensing the plurality of consumable units from the device.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the management system controls the security lock to prevent dispensation of one of the consumable units prior to a dosage in the schedule.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the management system tracks an expiration date for the plurality of consumables, the management system configured to control the security lock to prevent dispensation of one of the consumable units after the expiration date.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the consumable units include a medicine, and wherein the management system tracks dispensation of the consumable units and controls the security lock to prevent overdosing with the medicine.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the security lock requires authentication of the user as a condition for removing the container from the base.

25. The device of claim 1 further comprising a user input to dispense one of the plurality of consumable units when detached from the base.

14. (canceled)

20-23. -23. (canceled)

26-53. -53. (canceled)