Medication dispenser for dispensing flat dosage forms

• US 6,394,306 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Inventors: Chrai, Suggy, Murari, Ramaswamy, Santonastaso, Gary, Pawlo, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/602,314
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2,3,15,228,232,238,236,258,271,268,197,198,287
• US Class Current: 221/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0463 formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0472 the band being wound in flat spiral, folded in accordion or the like

Abstract

A dispenser for storing/dispensing pharmaceutical dosages that are provided in a stamp-like (flat) dosage form. In some embodiments, the present dispenser includes a housing for retaining a plurality of stacked, individual “stamp-like” pharmaceutical dosages. Disposed within the housing beneath the dosages is a bias element, such as a helical spring, that urges the dosages towards a dosage delivery port of the housing. From the dosage delivery port, dosages are dispensed through an aperture. In other embodiments, the instant dispenser includes a cylindrical main body for retaining pharmaceutical dosages having a stamp-like dosage form that are collectively organized in a roll. A dosage delivery port depending from the cylindrical main body receives dosages one at a time therefrom. The present dispenser is configured, in various embodiments, for manual, mechanically assisted, or automated dispensing. Moreover, the present dispenser includes, when appropriately automated, control electronics that (1) alert a user of a scheduled dosage, and/or (2) dispense a dosage at a prescribed time or at a prescribed time interval, and/or (3) maintain a dosage record.

Claims

1. A dose dispenser, comprising:

a housing for retaining a plurality of stacked individual dosages, each of said dosages being provided in a stamp-like dosage form;

a bias element disposed within said housing, said bias element operative to urge said stacked dosages one at a time towards a dispensing end of said housing; and

a dosage delivery port that receives said dosages one at a time from said dispensing end of said housing, wherein said dosage delivery port comprises;

a flat receiving surface for receiving said dosages from said dispensing end of said housing;

a first channel defining a first edge of said flat receiving surface;

a second channel defining a second edge of said flat surface; and

an aperture defined by an end of said first channel, an end of said second channel and an end of said receiving surface, wherein said dosages are dispensed from said aperture.

2. The dose dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing is physically adapted for ergonometric engagement with a user'"'"'s hand.

3. The dose dispenser of claim 1 comprising an actuator that advances said dosages, one at a time, into said dosage delivery port.

4. The dose dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a magazine for receiving said plurality of stacked individual dosages, wherein said magazine is removably disposed within said housing.

5. The dose dispenser of claim 4 further comprising an actuator that advances said dosages, one at a time, into said delivery port.

6. The dose dispenser of claim 5 wherein said actuator is electrically actuated.

7. The dose dispenser of claim 6 further comprising dosing electronics that are operable, in conjunction with said actuator, to dispense said individual dosages at specified times or at specified time intervals.

8. The dose dispenser of claim 6 further comprising monitoring electronics that record dispensing statistics.

9. The dose dispenser of claim 1 further comprising alarm electronics that alert a user that it is time to dispense a dosage.

10. A dose dispenser comprising:

a housing for retaining a plurality of stacked individual dosages, each of said dosages being provided in a stamp-like dosage form;

a bias element disposed within said housing, said bias element operative to urge said stacked dosages one at a time towards a dispensing end of said housing;

a magazine for receiving said plurality of stacked individual dosages, wherein said magazine is removably disposed within said housing;

a dosage delivery port that receives said dosages one at a time from said dispensing end of said housing; and

an electrically-actuated actuator that advances said dosages, one at a time, into said delivery port.

11. The dose dispenser of claim 10 further comprising dosing electronics that are operable, in conjunction with said electrically-actuated actuator, to dispense said individual dosages at specified times or at specified time intervals.

12. The dose dispenser of claim 11 comprising monitoring electronics that record dispensing statistics.

13. The dose dispenser of claim 10 wherein said dosage delivery port comprises:

a flat receiving surface for receiving said dosages from said dispensing end of said housing;

a first channel defining a first edge of said flat receiving surface;

a second channel defining a second edge of said flat surface; and

an aperture defined by an end of said first channel, an end of said second channel and an end of said receiving surface, wherein said dosages are dispensed from said aperture.

14. A dose dispenser, comprising:

a housing for retaining a plurality of stacked individual dosages, each of said dosages being provided in a stamp-like dosage form;

a bias element disposed within said housing, said bias element operative to urge said stacked dosages one at a time towards a dispensing end of said housing;

a dosage delivery port that receives said dosages one at a time from said dispensing end of said housing; and

alarm electronics that alert a user that it is time to dispense a dosage.

15. The dose dispenser of claim 14 wherein said dosage delivery port comprises:

a flat receiving surface for receiving said dosages from said dispensing end of said housing;

a first channel defining a first edge of said flat receiving surface;

a second channel defining a second edge of said flat surface; and

an aperture defined by an end of said first channel, an end of said second channel and an end of said receiving surface, wherein said dosages are dispensed from said aperture.

16. The dose dispenser of claim 14 comprising an actuator that advances said dosages, one at a time, into said dosage delivery port.

17. The dose dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a magazine for receiving said plurality of stacked individual dosages, wherein said magazine is removably disposed within said housing.

18. The dose dispenser of claim 17 further comprising an actuator that advances said dosages, one at a time, into said delivery port.

19. The dose dispenser of claim 18 wherein said actuator is electrically actuated.

20. The dose dispenser of claim 19 comprising monitoring electronics that record dispensing statistics.