Electronic pill dispenser

• US 7,359,765 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joshua Samuelson, Nicholas M. Varvarelis
• Original Assignee: Joshua Samuelson, Nicholas M. Varvarelis
• Inventors: Varvarelis, Nicholas M., Samuelson, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/225,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/240, 221/265, 221/277
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• 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: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

An electronic pill dispenser includes a container and a cap removably attached to the container. Components of the pill dispenser include a power source, pill dispenser circuitry, a real time clock, a counter, a display, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, a visual indicator, an audible indicator, an input/output interface, an input output port, and a communication bus electrically interconnecting the components. The pill dispenser may also include a physical indicator, a locking mechanism, a transceiver, an antenna, and a modem. The pill dispenser enhances patient compliance for following through a particular drug regimen by offsetting negative effects of memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions, attenuation of special senses, poor eyesight, lack of patient education, etc. The pill dispenser also helps the mentally unstable. The pill dispenser reminds users and dispenses pills to authorized individuals at appropriate times, and is economical and convenient.

Claims

1. A portable electronic programmable pill dispenser, comprising:

a pill compartment adapted for containing a plurality of pills;

a pill dispensing mechanism located proximate said pill compartment for dispensing a single pill, said pill dispensing mechanism comprising;

a rotating wheel having a pill-shaped recess for dispensing the single pill, said rotating wheel rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a vertical axis of said pill dispenser;

an upper ramp positioned within said pill dispenser, said upper ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis;

a lower ramp positioned below said upper ramp within said pill dispenser, said lower ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis, said rotating wheel being positioned between said upper and lower ramps and being further positioned adjacent an inner wall of said pill dispenser, such that the pill to be dispensed travels along said upper ramp to the pill-shaped recess of said rotating wheel, travels along a vertically downward path as said rotating wheel rotates about the horizontal axis, the pill being deposited onto said lower ramp and traveling along said lower ramp to an opening formed through a container wall of said pill dispenser;

a programming interface connected to said pill dispenser for programming said pill dispenser;

a removable locking cap attached to and covering access to said pill compartment;

an input interface disposed on said cap for inputting user authentication information that provides pill-dispensing authentication;

a real-time clock disposed on said cap for generating time signals used to trigger a user alert about a scheduled time to dispense the pill; and

an indicator disposed on said cap capable of alerting a user about said scheduled time to dispense a pill and capable of prompting a user to input said user authentication information in order to dispense a pill.

2. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, wherein said pill-shaped recess is configurable to accept different pill shapes and sizes.

3. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a pill sensor disposed adjacent said pill dispensing mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a pill in said pill shaped recess of said pill dispensing mechanism.

4. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, wherein said programming interface is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless communication interface, and

a wired or cabled communication interface.

5. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, wherein said input interface for entering user authentication information is selected from the group consisting of:

a least one user operable input key or button;

a fingerprint reader;

a voice signature recognition device;

a signature recognition device;

a DNA recognition device;

a facial structure recognition device; and

an eye feature scanning recognition device.

6. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, wherein said indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a visual indicator capable of visually notifying said user;

an audible indicator capable of audibly notifying said user; and

a physical indicator capable of notifying said user by means of mechanical motion.

7. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source disposed in said cap;

a memory connected to said power source;

a processor connected to said power source;

a pill dispense circuit connected to said power source;

a display connected to said power source;

a pill counter connected to said power source; and

a communication bus connected to said processor.

8. The portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 7, wherein said input interface, said real-time clock, said indicator, said memory, said processor, said pill dispense circuit, said display, and said pill counter are located on or within said removable locking cap.

9. A method of operating a portable electronic programmable pill dispenser, comprising the steps of:

programming said electronic programmable pill dispenser with pill information and user authentication information;

filling said pill dispenser with pills associated with said pill information;

providing an alert indicator to notify said user about a scheduled time to dispense a pill;

prompting said user to input user authentication information;

determining if said input user authentication information matches said programmed user authentication information;

providing a pill dispensing mechanism located proximate a pill compartment of the pill dispenser for dispensing a single pill, said pill dispensing mechanism comprising;

a rotating wheel having a pill-shaped recess for dispensing the single pill, said rotating wheel rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a vertical axis of said pill dispenser;

an upper ramp positioned within said pill dispenser, said upper ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis;

a lower ramp positioned below said upper ramp within said pill dispenser, said lower ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis, said rotating wheel being positioned between said upper and lower ramps and being further positioned adjacent an inner wall of said pill dispenser, such that the pill to be dispensed travels along said upper ramp to the pill-shaped recess of said rotating wheel, travels along a vertically downward path as said rotating wheel rotates about the horizontal axis, the pill being deposited onto said lower ramp and traveling along said lower ramp to an opening formed through a container wall of said pill dispenser;

configuring the pill dispensing mechanism of said electronic programmable pill dispenser for a specific pill shape or pill size; and

,

dispensing the pill based on said step of determining.

10. A method of programming a portable electronic programmable pill dispenser, comprising the steps of:

programming the electronic programmable pill dispenser with pill dispenser parameters selected from the group consisting of a pill dosage schedule, a pill dosage amount, a pill expiration date, pill refill information, and a time interval between pill doses;

filling said pill dispenser with pills associated with said pill dispenser parameters;

inputting information to said portable electronic programmable pill dispenser selected from the group consisting of a patient name, a patient address, a pharmacist name, a pharmacy name, and a pharmacy address;

inputting user authentication information selected from the group consisting of a personal identification number (PIN), and user specific biometric information;

providing a pill dispensing mechanism located proximate a pill compartment of the pill dispenser for dispensing a single pill, said pill dispensing mechanism comprising;

a rotating wheel having a pill-shaped recess for dispensing the single pill, said rotating wheel rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a vertical axis of said pill dispenser;

an upper ramp positioned within said pill dispenser, said upper ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis;

a lower ramp positioned below said upper ramp within said pill dispenser, said lower ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis, said rotating wheel being positioned between said upper and lower ramps and being further positioned adjacent an inner wall of said pill dispenser, such that the pill to be dispensed travels along said upper ramp to the pill-shaped recess of said rotating wheel, travels along a vertically downward path as said rotating wheel rotates about the horizontal axis, the pill being deposited onto said lower ramp and traveling along said lower ramp to an opening formed through a container wall of said pill dispenser; and

,

configuring the pill dispensing mechanism of said electronic programmable pill dispenser for a specific pill shape or pill size.

11. The method of programming a portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 10, wherein said steps of programming and inputting information to said programmable electronic pill dispenser further include the step of communicating information to and from said pill dispenser via a wireless communication protocol.

12. The method of programming a portable electronic programmable pill dispenser of claim 10, wherein said steps of programming and inputting information to said programmable electronic pill dispenser further include the step of communicating information to and from said pill dispenser via a wire connected communication link.