Medication storage and reminder device

• US 6,169,707 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas A. Newland
• Original Assignee: Douglas A. Newland
• Inventors: Newland, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/201,394
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 206/534, 206/538, 206/593, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 340/568, 340/309.115, 340/309.4
• US Class Current: 368/10
• 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 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A medication storage and reminder device including a generally flat housing defining a uniform upwardly facing array of medication holding cubicles each of which open upwardly for receiving, holding and removal of a dose of medication. The cubicles are arranged in rows and are sufficient in number for receiving individual periodic daily medication doses over a preselected number of days. An individually openable lid is positioned over each cubicle opening and has a separate lock for releasably retaining each lid in a closed position to retain each medication dose within each corresponding cubicle. Each lid bears viewable indicia advising of the proper sequence and timing of manually or automatically opening each lid one at a time to provide access to the corresponding dose of medication. A programmable microprocessor mounted in the housing includes a key control panel for inputting and storing input data of correct time, day, the preselected number of days, and daily medication times, for activating a viewable or audible signal connected to the housing at each said medication time of each day for the selected number of days and for controlling the automatic sequential unlocking of cubicle lids to prevent inadvertent medication errors. A transparent protective lockable cover encloses substantially all of a top of the housing including said array of cubicles and the key control panel, the cover having a lower surface adapted to insure full closing of all lids and, thereby, the securement of all locking means when the cover is properly locked in a closed position atop the housing.

Claims

1. A portable medication storage and reminder device comprising:

a generally flat housing including a uniform upwardly facing array of medication holding cubides, each said cubide opening upwardly for receiving, holding and removal of a dose of medicaton;

a plurality of rows of said cubicles sufficient in number for receiving individual periodic daily medication doses over a preselected number of days;

an individually openable lid positioned over and pivotally connected to an upper margin of said cubicle opening and having a separate locking means for releasably retaining each said lid in a closed position to retain each mediation dose within each corresponding said cubicle;

each said lid bearing viewing indicia advising of the proper sequence and timing of manually opening each said lid to gain access to the corresponding dose of medication;

a programmable microprocessor in said housing having a key control panel for receiving and storing input of correct time, day, the preselected number of days, and daily medication times;

said microprocessor also activating a viewable or audible signal connected to said device at each said medication time of each day for the selected number of days;

a transparent protective cover lockably positonable atop said housing and sized for enclosing substantially all of a top of said housing including said cubicles and said key control panel, said cover having a lower surface configured to insure full automatic closing of all said lids and securement of all said locking means when said cover is properly locked in a closed position atop said housing prior to transporting said device.

2. A portable medication storage and reminder device consisting essentially of;

a generally flat housing including a uniform upwardly facing array of medication holding cubicles, each said cubicle opening upwardly for receiving, holding and removal of a dose of medication;

a plurality of rows of said cubicles sufficient in number for receiving individual periodic daily medication doses over a preselected number of days;

an individually openable lid positioned over and pivotally connected to an upper margin of each said cubide opening and having a separate locking means for releasably retaining each said lid in a closed position to retain each medication dose within each corresponding said cubicle;

each said lid bearing viewing indicia advising of the proper sequence and timing of manually opening each said lid to gain access to the corresponding dose of medication;

a programmable microprocessor having a key control panel for receiving and storing input of correct time, day, the preselected number of days, and daily medication times;

said microprocessor also activating a viewable or audible signal connected to said device at each said medication time of each day for the selected number of days;

a transparent protective cover lockably positionable atop said housing and sized for enclosing substantially all of a top of said housing including said cubicles and said key control panel, said cover having a lower surface configured to insure full automatic closing of all said lids and, thereby securing said locking means when said cover is properly locked in a closed position atop said housing prior to carrying said device.

3. A portable medication storage and reminder device comprising:

a generally flat housing including an array of closely, evenly spaced individually openable lids each having a separate locking means for releasably retaining each said lid in a closed position;

a prefilled medication tray separate from and mateably engageable into said housing and having a uniform upwardly facing array of medication holding cubicles, said array of lids aligning and registering with said array of cubicles when said medication tray is mateably engaged into said housing, each cubicle of said array of cubicles opening upwardly for receiving, storing and removal of a dose of medication;

said array of cubicles sufficient in number for holding individual periodic daily medication doses over a preselected number of days and times of each day;

each said lid, when in the closed position, sized to fit into an open upper end of a corresponding said cubicle to insure proper alignment of said medication tray within said housing;

each said lid bearing viewing indicia advising of the proper sequence and timing of manually opening each said lid to gain access to the corresponding dose of medication;

a programmable microprocessor having a key control panel for receiving and storing input of correct time, day, the preselected number of days, and daily medication times;

said microprocessor also activating a viewable or audible signal connected to said device at each said medication time of each day for the selected number of days;

a transparent protective cover lockably positionable atop said housing and sized for enclosing substantially all of a top of said housing including said cubicles and said key control panel, said cover having a lower surface configured to insure full automatic closing of all said lids and securement of all said locking means when said over is properly locked in a closed position atop said housing for subsequent transport of said device.

4. A portable medicaton storage and reminder device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a removable film sheet sealably attached atop said medication tray to seal each said cubicle after all medications have been placed into corresponding said cubicles, said film sheet being removed prior to placing said medication tray into said housing.

5. A portable medicaton storage and reminder device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a means for taking, inputting, and storing compliance data in said microprocessor associated with the opening of each said lid to remove the medication contained within the corresponding said cubicle.

6. A portable medication storage and reminder device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a viewable means associated with each said cubicle for sequentially indicating the pre-programmed next-in-time cubical to be opened.

7. A portable medication storage and reminder device comprising:

a generally flat housing including a uniform upwardly facing array of medication holding cubicles, each said cubicle opening upwardly for receiving, holding and removal of a dose of medication;

a plurality of rows of said cubicles sufficient in number for receiving individual periodic daily medication doses over a preselected number of days;

an individually openable lid positioned over each said cubicle opening and having a separate self-locking lid latch for retaining each said lid in a closed position;

a programmable microprocessor mounted in said housing including a key control panel for receiving and storing input of correct time, day, the preselected number of days, and daily medication times;

said microprocessor also activating a viewable and audible signal connected to said device at each said medication time of each day for the selected number of days;

each said lid bearing viewing indicia advising of the proper sequence and timing of automatic opening of each said lid only by said microprocessor to provide preprogrammed timely access to the corresponding dose of medication;

a transparent protective cover lockably engageable atop said housing and sized for enclosing substantially all of a top of said housing including said cubicles and said key control panel, said cover having a lower surface which engages against and automatically fully doses all said lids and automatic re-engagement of all said locking means when said cover is properly locked in a closed position atop said housing whereby unauthorized access into one or more cubicles and cubicle content spillage or mixing of content between cubicles during handling and transport said device is avoided.