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Dispensing having a compartment for detecting and counting the dispensed objects especially adapted for dispensing medication and method of using the same

  • US 5,042,685 A
  • Filed: 08/10/1989
  • Issued: 08/27/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process of dispensing a plurality of units of medication, said units being contained within the hollow interior of a receptacle having a compartment disposed between and in communication within the hollow receptacle interior and the receptacle exterior and having means for counting the number of medication units in said compartment, said process comprising the steps of:

  • maneuvering at least one medication unit from said hollow receptacle interior into said compartment;

    preventing said at least one medication unit from passing from said compartment to the receptacle exterior as said at least one medication unit is being maneuvered from said hollow receptacle interior into said compartment;

    counting the number of medication units in said compartment with said counting means;

    preventing said at least one medication unit from passing between said compartment and the receptacle exterior as the number of medication units in said compartment is counted by said counting means;

    permitting said at least one medication unit to pass from said compartment to the receptacle exterior after the number of medication units in said compartment has been counted by said counting means; and

    preventing medication units from passing between the hollow receptacle interior and said compartment whenever said at least one medication unit is permitted to pass from said compartment to the receptacle exterior.

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