Smart medicine container

• US 7,269,476 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Original Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Inventors: Ratnakar, Nitesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/905,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,004 Days
• Field of Search: 221/253, 221/259, 221/217, 221/218, 221/254, 700/236, 235/132.A, 235/98.C, 702/46, 702/128, 222/46, 222/415, 198/461.2, 198/444, 377/50
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A medicine dispensing system is provided that comprises of a medicine container with an inbuilt pill dispensing assembly which automatically dispenses a prescribed dose of medicine at prescribed times. It alerts the patient when a dose of medicine has been dispensed. The alert signal is a local audio or visual alarm or a remote reminder by phone, wireless network or internet. A modem and communication ports are provided which enable the said medicine container to communicate with remote parties like health care professionals and medical devices such as glucose meter. This feature allows remote medicine management, disease management and health education. An internal microprocessor and a memory chip control and execute electronic functions of the said medicine container. Sensors are provided to detect whether a dose has been dispensed and whether it is consumed. The said medicine container is able to record, analyze and report patient'"'"'s compliance with a medicine regimen.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, the dispenser having first and second opposite sides portions, comprising:

a dispensing compartment;

a storage container for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage container having a discharge port;

a first conveyor having inlet and outlet ends and traveling at a first rate of speed in a first direction toward the first side portion of the dispenser, the first conveyor receiving at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and transporting the at least one dosage to the outlet end;

.

a second conveyor having an inlet and outlet ends, the second conveyor traveling at a second rate of speed greater than the first rate of speed in a second direction toward the second side of the dispenser;

wherein;

the inlet end of the second conveyor receives the at least one dosage from the outlet end of the first conveyor and transports that at least one dosage to the dispensing compartment.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising of a first sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the second conveyor for counting the at least one dosage deposited in the dispensing compartment.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a second sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the first conveyor for counting the at least one dosage received on the second conveyor from the outlet end of the first conveyor.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising:

a drive system for driving the first and second conveyors; and

a control system operatively connected to the first sensor and to the drive system for controlling the operation of the drive system;

wherein the first sensor provides corresponding counting signals to the control system in response to at least one dosage counted and wherein the control system terminates operation of the drive mechanism in response to the number of dosages counted being equal to the predetermined number of dosages.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the control system includes a microprocessor and a memory device for storing predetermined information.

6. The dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the control system, the user interface allowing a user to transmit predetermined information to the control system.

7. The dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a communication link interconnecting the control system to a communication network, the communication link transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication network.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the control system is operatively responsive to the information transmitted on and received from the communication network.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an outlet door movable between a first locked position preventing user access to the dispensing compartment and a second unlocked position allowing user access to the dispensing compartment.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a memory storage device for storing predetermined information and wherein the movement of the outlet door from first locked position to the second unlocked position is recorded in the memory storage device.

11. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a locking mechanism operatively connected to the outlet door and being movable between a first unlocked position wherein the outlet door is movable between open and closed positions and a second locked position for maintaining the outlet door in the closed position.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism includes a radio frequency identification reader, the locking mechanism movable to the unlocked position in response to a predetermined radio frequency tag received by the reader.

13. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a cap for selectively isolating the storage compartment from an environment outside of the dispenser.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the first conveyor extends along a first axis;

the second conveyor extends along a second axis; and

the first axis intersects the second axis at predetermined acute angle.

15. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first conveyor extends along a first axis, the first axis being at a predetermined acute angle to horizontal.

16. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the second conveyor extends along an axis, the axis being at predetermine acute angle to horizontal.

17. A dispenser from dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising:

a dispensing compartment;

a storage container for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage container having a discharge port;

a first conveyor at a predetermined acute angle to horizontal and having inlet and outlet ends, the first conveyor configured to receive at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and to transport the at least one dosage to the outlet end;

a second conveyor at a predetermined acute angle to horizontal, and having inlet and outlet ends, the second conveyor configured to receive the at least one dosage from the outlet end of the first conveyor and to transport the at least one dosage along an upwardly inclined path to the dispensing compartment;

a first sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the first conveyor for counting the at least one dosage received on the second conveyor from the first conveyer;

a second sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the second conveyor for counting the at least one dosage deposited in the dispensing compartment; and

a drive mechanism operatively connected to the first and second conveyors for driving the conveyors at corresponding speeds.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 further comprising a control system operatively connected to the drive mechanism and to the first and second sensors, the control system actuating the drive mechanism in response a predetermined parameter.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the control system, the user interface allowing a user to transmit predetermined information to the control system.

20. The dispenser of claim 18 further comprising a communication link interconnecting the control system to a communication network, the communication link transmitting information on and receiving information from the communication network.

21. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein the first and second sensors provide corresponding counting signals to the control system in response to the at least one dosage counted and wherein the control system terminates operation of the drive mechanism in response to the number of dosages counted being equal to the predetermined number of dosages.

22. A method of dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising the steps of:

transporting one of the dosages of the medicine with a first conveyor, the first conveyor traveling at a first speed in a first direction towards a first side portion of a dispenser;

depositing the one of the dosages of the medicine on a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor, the second conveyor traveling along an upwardly inclined path at a second speed in a second direction toward a second side portion on the dispenser; and

depositing the one of the dosages in a dispensing compartment of the dispenser.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the second conveyor moves at a speed greater than the first conveyor.

24. The method of claim 22 comprising the additional step of repeating the step of transporting one of the dosages until the counted dosages equals the predetermined number of dosages.

25. The method of claim 22 comprising the additional step of providing a user to access the dispensing compartment after the number of counted dosages equals the predetermined number of dosages.

26. The method of claim 22 comprising of the additional step of transferring the dosage of medicine dispensed in the dispensing compartment into another container.