Portable tablet reminder and dispensing system

• US 5,802,014 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delicia R. Danko
• Original Assignee: Delicia R. Danko
• Inventors: Danko, Delicia R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/717,888
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/276, 368/278, 368/281, 368/282, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 224/165
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/003 with a storage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00

Abstract

A strap-on tablet dispensing system includes a system unit providing timing and alarm functions, a strap arrangement, and a plurality of tablet containers fixed to the strap arrangement. The tablet dispensing system is arranged to hold a plurality of tablet medications and indicate to the wearer, via prompts, the proper times to ingest one or more tablets from one or more tablet containers. A plurality of microswitches are also be provided to enable the system to verify that the indicated tablet container or containers are accessed. The tablet dispensing system may be arranged to support the downloading of programming and configuration information directly from a host computer into the tablet dispensing system.

Claims

1. A portable strap-on tablet dispensing system to hold a plurality of tablets and indicate to a wearer the proper times to ingest at least one of the tablets, the system comprising:

(a) a programmable system unit arranged to issue one or more predetermined prompts to the wearer at predetermined time intervals, the prompts issued to indicate to the wearer that at least one of the plurality of tablets is to be ingested;

(b) a strap means arranged to enable the tablet dispensing system to be strapped on the wearer; and

(c) a plurality of accessible tablet containers attached to the strap means and configured to hold a plurality of tablets therein, each tablet container assigned a designation and having an internal compartment to securely hold tablets and further including an access arrangement providing access to the internal compartment to remove at least one tablet therefrom; and

(d) a plurality of microswitches, one installed on each of the tablet containers, operatively coupled to the programmable system unit so as to indicate thereto when at least one of the tablet containers are accessed, and thereby provide a verification means to verify that the indicated and correct tablet container is accessed;

(e) the system unit programmed to issue prompts to indicate to the wearer at least one designated tablet container to access tablets therefrom, and the number of tablets to ingest;

(f) the system unit further programmed to indicate to the wearer when at least one of the wrong tablet containers is being accessed as indicated by at least one the plurality of microswitches, after a prompt has been issued.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system unit further includes a communication module for establishing a communication link to support the exchange of information with a host computing means.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system unit is arranged to determine and indicate to the host computing means, after prompting, at least one of:

(a) if a container has not been accessed by the wearer; and

(b) if the wearer has accessed the wrong tablet container.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system unit is comprised of:

(a) a programmable controller and timer module;

(b) a wearer interface coupled to the controller and timer module, the wearer interface including a display and momentary button switches;

the display provided to indicate information to the wearer including visually issued messages, and the momentary button switches provided to enable the wearer to input information and responses to the controller and timer module of the system unit; and

(c) an audio output unit to issue prompts in the form of audio messages and tones to the wearer at predetermined times.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein at the point in time that at least one tablet is to be ingested the system will issue appropriate audio prompts and continue to periodically issue follow-up prompts until the respective tablet container is accessed.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the audio prompts include voice synthesized messages.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system unit further includes a wireless port to enable information to be exchanged with a host computing means to enable the programming and configuring of the system unit of the tablet dispensing system, the information exchanged including at least one of the time of day, the date, at least one tablet container designation, at least one time of day that the designated tablet containers are to be accessed to remove tablets therefrom, and the number of tablets that constitute each dosage to be removed from each tablet container and ingested when prompted.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless port is provided by an optical infrared communication link.