Automatic periodic drug dispensing system

• US 4,223,801 A
• Filed: 01/26/1978
• Issued: 09/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Torsten S. Carlson
• Original Assignee: Torsten S. Carlson
• Inventors: Carlson, Torsten S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wacyra, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US05/872,496
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2-5, 221/15, 221/69, 221/185, 221/199, 116/121, 206/534, 206/538, 206/539, 206/533, 206/459, 58/152 R, 58/152 B, 58/152 T, 58/57.5, 58/127 R, 58/1, 58/16 R, 340/539
• US Class Current: 221/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/40 by shape or form, e.g. by using shape recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset

Abstract

An automatic periodic pharmaceutical preparation dispenser, for alerting patients under medication when specific drugs are to be taken. The device provides orderly storage of a plurality of drugs to be taken in a given time period with a coding associated with each pill. The device further provides a timer having a signal device responsive thereto to indicate when a specific medicament is to be taken and at a predetermined time interval relative to previously administered drugs. In the several embodiments shown, the timer comprises a clock mechanism; a time chip totalizer; and a signal responsive paging device all of which are arranged to indicate when and which pharmaceutical preparation is to be taken.

Claims

1. An automatic periodic drug dispensing device for use in administering predetermined doses of pharmaceutical preparations to an individual comprising:

a plurality of drug storage chambers each adapted to receive a prescribed medicament and being arranged in a predetermined sequence and with a given capacity for dispensing the medicaments over a given time period,

a timing means being discernible by a user of the prescribed medicaments,

an automatic signal means associated with said timing means and arranged to identify specific times when each of said prescribed medicaments is to be taken, and

a coding means associated with each of said plurality of drug storage chambers and said timing means, whereby said prescribed medicaments may be identified for dispensing in a predetermined time sequence,

said dispensing device comprising a self-contained unit and said timing means includes an electrical circuit having means to energize said automatic signal means at preselected times to emit discernible alarm signals,

wherein said electrical circuit includes a holding circuit and a reset means whereby said holding circuit is adapted to maintain the signal means in an energized state until deactivated by the reset means, and wherein said reset means deactivates said signal means coincidentally with the dispensing of an appropriate medicament.

2. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said signal means includes a plurality of signal elements, individually activated by the means to energize said automatic signal means to identify the specific drug storage chamber from which a prescribed medicament is to be administered at a given time.

3. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of drug storage chambers are incorporated into a series of slide members, each being movable from a pill storage position to a pill dispensing position and said reset means includes individual reset buttons, one associated with each of the series of slide members wherein a specific drug storage chamber is automatically moved to the pill dispensing position coincidental with actuation of a related reset button to deenergize said signal means by the movement of a related one of said slide members.

4. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said means to energize said automatic signal means includes a twenty-four hour timer.

5. The drug dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein said signal means includes a plurality of signal elements, individually activated by said twenty-four hour timer to identify the specific drug storage chamber from which a prescribed medicament is to be administered at a given time.

6. An automatic periodic drug dispensing device for use in administering predetermined doses of pharmaceutical preparations to an individual comprising:

a plurality of drug storage chambers each adapted to receive a prescribed medicament and being arranged in a predetermined sequence and with a given capacity for dispensing the medicaments over a given time period,

a timing means being discernible by a user of the prescribed medicaments,

an automatic signal means associated with said timing means and arranged to identify specific times when each of said prescribed medicaments is to be taken, and

a coding means associated with each of said plurality of drug storage chambers and said timing means, whereby said prescribed medicaments may be identified for dispensing in a predetermined time sequence,

said dispensing device comprising a portable, self-contained unit and said timing means includes an electrical circuit having means to energize said automatic signal means at preselected times to emit discernible alarm signals,

wherein said means to energize said automatic signal means comprises a plurality of crystal detectors, each adapted to detect an individual, predetermined signal transmission and responsive thereto to activate said automatic signal means.

7. The drug dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein said signal means includes an auditory signaling device to designate times of drug dispensing.

8. The drug dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein said signal means includes a visual signaling device to designate times of drug dispensing.

9. The drug dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of drug storage chambers are incorporated into a rotary member which is indexable to position each of said drug storage chambers in a pill dispensing position in a predetermined sequence.

10. The drug dispensing device according to claim 9, wherein said timing means includes a reset means incorporated into the rotary member whereby turning the rotary member is effective to deenergize the signal means and reset the timing means for a subsequent energization of said signal means and commensurate therewith to automatically position a specific one of the drug storage chambers in a pill dispensing position.

11. An automatic periodic self-contained drug dispensing device for use in administering predetermined doses of pharmaceutical preparations in a given order and at a given time comprising:

a plurality of drug storage chambers, each adapted to receive a prescribed drug, which drugs are to be administered over a given time period;

a timing means including an automatic signal means and an energizing means adapted to activate said means at preselected times to emit discernible alarm signals which are arranged to identify specific times and specific order of administering said prescribed drugs, said energizing means includes a holding circuit and a reset means whereby said holding circuit is adapted to hold the signal means in an energized condition until deactivated by the reset means, and wherein said reset means deactivates said signal means coincidental with dispensing of an appropriate pharmaceutical preparation from an appropriate one of said plurality of drug storage chambers.

12. The drug dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein said energizing means includes a twenty-four hour timer.

13. An automatic periodic self-contained drug dispensing device for use in administering predetermined doses of pharmaceutical preparations in a given order and at a given time comprising:

a plurality of drug storage chambers, each adapted to receive a prescribed drug, which drugs are to be administered over a given time period;

a timing means including an automatic signal means and an energizing means adapted to activate said signal means at preselected times to emit discernible alarm signals which are arranged to identify specific times and specific order of administering said prescribed drugs, said energizng means includes a holding circuit and a reset means whereby said holding circuit is adapted to hold the signal means in an energized condition until deactivated by the reset means,

said energizing means further includes a plurality of crystal detectors, each adapted to detect an individual, predetermined signal transmission and responsive thereto to activate said automatic signal means.