Medication dispenser

• US 5,752,620 A
• Filed: 11/13/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pearson Medical Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pearson Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Pearson, Walter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAGGS JR, H GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/747,632
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/8, 221/124, 221/133, 221/151, 221/152, 221/153, 221/185, 221/190, 221/191, 221/192, 221/254, 221/258, 221/278, 221/266
• US Class Current: 221/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• 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 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/06 supported individually on pivotally-mounted flaps or shelves
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A pill dispenser is provided, comprising a container constructed to hold a plurality of pills, the container including an upper portion and a lower portion; an inclined baffle disposed within the container separating the upper portion from the lower portion, wherein the baffle has an aperture; a first opening in the lower portion; a pill holder, slidably disposed within the first opening and sized to fit through the aperture, for holding a pill located in the container; and an exit port in the upper portion aligned with the inclined baffle, wherein the exit port is sized to allow the pill to exit the upper portion. A pill release mechanism is provided within the pill holder to dislodge the pill from the pill holder by pneumatic pressure once the pill has risen above the baffle. Sensors are located on the exit port to detect the presence of a dispensed pill, which is recorded by an attached computer. Optionally, a locking device is attached to the pill dispensing units to prevent unauthorized dispensation of medication. A plurality of the pill dispensing units may be placed within a portable cart so that medication can be provided to multiple patients in a variety of health care environments.

Claims

1. A pill dispenser, comprising:

(a) a container constructed to hold a plurality of pills, said container including an upper portion and a lower portion;

(b) an inclined baffle disposed within said container separating said upper portion from said lower portion, said baffle having an aperture;

(c) a first opening in said lower portion;

(d) pill holding means, slidably disposed within said first opening and sized to fit through said aperture, for holding a pill located in said container; and

(e) an exit port in said upper portion aligned with said inclined baffle, wherein said exit port is sized to allow said pill to exit said upper portion.

2. The pill dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said aperture in said baffle is small enough to prevent said pill from re-entering said lower portion after said pill has entered said upper portion and has been released from said pill holding means.

3. The pill dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said first opening is sufficiently small to prevent said pill from leaving said lower portion when said pill holding means is present within said first opening.

4. The pill dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an exit tube attached to said exit port, said exit port having sensing means for detecting the passage of said pill therethrough.

5. The pill dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising pill releasing means operatively connected to said pill holding means, for causing the release of said pill from said pill holding means after said pill holding means has entered said upper portion of said container.

6. The pill dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said pill holding means comprises a hollow tube having an upper end shaped to hold said pill;

and wherein said pill releasing means comprises;

(a) a plunger slidably disposed and retained within said tube; and

(b) plunger activating means pneumatically connected to said plunger for delivering a pneumatic force through said tube sufficient to displace said plunger and forcibly separate said pill from said upper end of said tube.

7. The pill dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said plunger activating means comprises a valve connected to a pressurized gas source, and wherein said valve is actuated by a valve actuation member operatively connected to said tube.

8. A pill dispensing system, comprising a portable cart having an array of two or more pill dispensing units, each said unit comprising:

(a) a container constructed to hold a plurality of pills, said container including an upper portion and a lower portion;

(b) an inclined baffle disposed within said container separating said upper portion from said lower portion, said baffle having an aperture;

(c) a first opening in said lower portion;

(d) pill holding means, slidably disposed within said first opening and sized to fit through said aperture, for holding a pill located in said container; and

(e) an exit port in said upper portion aligned with said inclined baffle, wherein said exit port is sized to allow said pill to exit said upper portion.

9. The pill dispensing system of claim 8, further comprising pill collection means located below said array for receiving said pill from said exit port and delivering said pill to a predetermined location.

10. The pill dispensing system of claim 8, wherein each of said pill dispensing units includes a flexible member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is operatively connected to said pill container and wherein said second end is operatively connected to a manually manipulatable device on said cart.

11. The pill dispensing system of claim 8, further comprising:

(a) indicating means positioned adjacent to each of said pill dispensing units for identifying, when activated, the particular pill dispensing unit to be used for a particular patient; and

(b) computing means operatively connected to said indicating means for cataloging patient information, medication, dosage, and other selected parameters and for activating said indicating means for an appropriate pill dispensing unit.

12. The pill dispensing means of claim 11, further comprising:

(a) sensing means operatively connected to said exit port of each of said pill dispensing units and to said computing means for detecting the passage of said pill through said exit port and reporting said passage to said computing means; and

(b) locking means operatively connected to each of said pill dispensing units and to said computing means for preventing unauthorized operation of said pill dispensing units, Wherein said locking means is disengaged by said computing means concurrently with the activation of said indicating means, and wherein said locking means is re-engaged after detection of said pill by said sensing means.