Automatic Medication Compliance Dispenser System And Method

• US 20150039124A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Daniel Kichinosuke Miller, Ronald Justin Mistovich
• Original Assignee: Patrick Daniel Kichinosuke Miller, Ronald Justin Mistovich
• Inventors: Mistovich, Ronald Justin, Miller, Patrick Daniel Kichinosuke
• Application Number:
  US13/954,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• 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 7/0076 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 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

An automatic medication dispensing device for dispensing medication to a patient including a medication dispensing unit having at least one tablet dispensing cartridge for receiving and retaining a plurality of tablets. The cartridge is electronically controlled by a computer system configured to receive a signal and activate the cartridge to dispense a tablet. The cartridge has a tablet receiving space for receiving and retaining a plurality of tablets in a vertical stack and a tablet dispensing opening to allow for at least one tablet to be dispensed from the cartridge. A moveable ram is associated with the cartridge to engage a single tablet in the vertical stack and expel the single tablet from the cartridge.

Claims

1. An automatic medication dispensing device for dispensing medication to a patient comprising:

a) a medication dispensing unit having at least one tablet dispensing cartridge for receiving and retaining a plurality of tablets;

b) said cartridge being electronically controlled by a computer system configured to receive a signal and activate the cartridge to dispense a tablet;

c) said cartridge having a tablet receiving space for receiving and retaining a plurality of tablets in a vertical stack;

d) said cartridge having a tablet dispensing opening to allow for at least one tablet to be dispensed from the cartridge; and

,

e) a moveable ram associated with the cartridge to engage a single tablet in the vertical stack and expel the single tablet from the cartridge.

2. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the cartridge is elongated vertically to retain a stack of tablets.

3. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a) the cartridge forms a vertically elongated box having four walls defining the tablet receiving space;

b) a first wall of said four walls having a first moveable plate adjacent thereto and extending substantially the length of the first wall and extending substantially the length of the first wall;

c) a second wall of said four walls extending perpendicularly to said first wall and having a second moveable plate adjacent thereto and extending substantially the length of the second wall;

d) said first moveable plate having an adjustment device connected thereto for moving the first moveable plate away from said first wall;

e) said second moveable plate having an adjustment device connected thereto for moving the second moveable plate away from said second wall;

f) whereby, the first and second moveable plates can be adjusted so that the tablet receiving space can conform to tablets having different shapes.

4. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

a) the adjustment device includes a threaded screw mechanism for positioning the first and second moveable plates.

5. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a) a plurality of cartridges.

6. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

a) each of said plurality of cartridges can be configured to contain a different sized tablet than the other of said plurality of cartridges.

7. A system of dispensing medication using a computer controlled dispensing device, comprising:

a) a computer having a program designed to operate a dispensing device;

b) a dispensing device having at least one cartridge for containing medication;

c) said dispensing device having an electrically operated mechanism for extracting medication from said cartridge for delivery to a patient;

d) a personal notification unit adapted to be carried by a patient;

e) said personal notification device having a signaling apparatus for providing an alarm to the patient to indicate when a dose of medication is required;

f) said computer being programmable to schedule when medication is required to be taken by the patient;

g) said computer being operable to send a signal to the personal notification device so that the notification device will provide an alarm to the patient;

h) said computer being in communication with the dispensing device;

i) said dispensing device including a proximity sensor for determining when the personal notification device is near the dispensing device; and

,

j) said computer further being programmable to cause the dispensing device to dispense medication when the personal notification device is in the proximity of the dispensing device.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) the personal notification device includes a wristband.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) the personal notification device is capable of sending and receiving a wireless signal and is battery operated.

10. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) the computer includes software that sets a schedule for dispensing medication, the schedule including frequency and amount.

11. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) the computer is connected to a web based server.

12. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) said cartridge being electronically controlled by a computer system configured to receive a signal and activate the cartridge to dispense a tablet;

b) said cartridge having a tablet receiving space for receiving and retaining a plurality of tablets in a vertical stack;

c) said cartridge having a base with a tablet dispensing opening to allow for at least one tablet to be dispensed from the base of the cartridge; and

,

d) a moveable ram associated with the cartridge to engage a single tablet in the vertical stack and expel the single tablet from the cartridge.

13. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a) said cartridge forms a vertically elongated box having four walls defining the tablet receiving space;

b) a first wall of said four walls having a first moveable plate adjacent thereto and extending substantially the length of the first wall and extending substantially the length of the first wall;

c) a second wall of said four walls extending perpendicularly to said first wall and having a second moveable plate adjacent thereto and extending substantially the length of the second wall;

d) said first moveable plate having an adjustment device connected thereto for moving the first moveable plate away from said first wall;

e) said second moveable plate having an adjustment device connected thereto for moving the second moveable plate away from said second wall;

f) whereby, the first and second moveable plates can be adjusted so that the tablet receiving space can conform to tablets having different shapes.

14. The system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

a) a plurality of cartridges.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

a) each of said plurality of cartridges can be configured to contain a different sized tablet than the other of said plurality of cartridges.

16. A method for dispensing medication to a patient using a computer controlled dispensing device, comprising the steps of:

a) programming a dispensing device to dispense medication to a patient according to a schedule having a predetermined frequency, time and amount;

b) retaining a plurality of units of medication in a dispensing device;

c) determining the proximity of a patient to the dispensing device; and

,

d) dispensing at least one unit of medication to the patient according to the schedule when the patient is in the proximity of the dispensing device.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a) providing a notification signal to the patient when a scheduled medication time occurs.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a) dispensing a plurality of units of medication to the patient.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a) tracking the dispensing of medication to the patient to monitor patient compliance.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a) confirming the presence of the patient using a code.