Method and device for pill dispensing

• US 7,392,918 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R.A.M.M., LLC
• Original Assignee: R.A.M.M., LLC
• Inventors: Henninger, John T., Dieter, William R., Lodder, Robert A., McEldowney, Anthony J., Muncy, Robert B. Jr., Holloway, Lawrence E., Muse, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US10/573,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 221/132
• US Class Current: 221/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• 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 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A pill dispenser (10) and a related method of pill dispensing including a container (12) having a holder (14), a gate (16), a controller (18) a sensor (20) and a neutralizing device (22). The dispenser (10) releases pills at a prescribed release rate. The sensor (20) detects tampering with the container (12). Upon detection of tampering, the neutralizing device (22) renders the contents of the pill dispenser (10) impotent.

Claims

1. A product dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a holder held in said container for holding multiple units of a product;

a gate carried on said holder, said gate being selectively displaceable between an engaged position for retaining product in said holder within said chamber and an non-engaged position for dispensing a single unit of said product from said holder;

a lock for securing said gate in said engaged position; and

a neutralizing device in proximity to the holder.

2. The product dispenser of claim 1, comprising:

a controller in communication with said lock for regulating the movement of said gate.

3. The product dispenser of claim 1, comprising:

a sensor for detecting tampering of said dispenser.

4. A pill dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a holder having a first and second opening, said holder positioned substantially within an interior of said container;

a displaceable gate positioned in communication with one opening of said holder;

a lock for preventing displacement of said gate;

a controller in communication with said lock for regulating the movement of said gate, said controller includes at least one programmable microcontroller; and

a sensor in communication with the microcontroller, said sensor includes a conductive loop encasing said dispenser.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein said container includes at least one aperture in communication with one opening of said holder.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said holder is a chute having a substantially helical shape.

7. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein said dispenser includes a dispensing member having at least one aperture adapted for receiving a pill.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein said aperture of said dispensing member is in communication with one opening of said holder.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said gate controls the movement of said dispensing member.

10. A pill dispenser, comprising:

a container having at least one aperture;

a dispensing member having at least one aperture adapted for receiving a pill;

a chute having a first and second opening, wherein at least one of said openings is in communication with said at least one aperture of said dispensing member, said chute positioned substantially within an interior of said container;

a gate controlling the movement of said dispensing member;

an actuator for repositioning the gate from an engaged position to a non-engaged position;

a button linked to said dispensing member for extending said dispensing member through said aperture of said container;

a controller including at least one programmable microcontroller to regulate the release of said pill from said chute;

a sensor in communication with said microcontroller;

a neutralizing device in proximity to the contents of said chute and said controller.

11. The pill dispenser of claim 10, wherein said dispenser is pressurized and said sensor comprises a pressure sensor capable of measuring an internal pressure of said container and an external pressure outside said container.

12. The pill dispenser of claim 11, wherein the neutralizing device is a flammable agent.

13. The pill dispenser of claim 10, wherein the neutralizing device is a flammable agent.

14. A method for dispensing pills, comprising:

determining a rate of release for a pill;

programming a pill dispenser to release said pill at said rate;

loading said dispenser with said pill;

sealing said dispenser;

releasing said pill at said programmed release rate;

detecting tampering of said dispenser; and

upon detection of tampering, neutralizing said pills in said dispenser via a neutralizing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting step comprises a using a sensor in communication with a controller.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of pressurizing said dispenser.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor capable of measuring an internal pressure in said dispenser and comparing said pressure with an external pressure outside said dispenser.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said neutralizing device comprises use of a flammable agent.

19. A pill dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a holder having a first and second opening, said holder positioned substantially within an interior of said container;

a displaceable gate positioned in communication with one opening of said holder;

a lock for preventing displacement of said gate;

a controller in communication with said lock for regulating the movement of said gate, said controller includes at least one programmable microcontroller; and

a sensor in communication with the microcontroller, said sensor includes a pressure sensitive switch consisting of at least two layers of conductive material separated by a gap.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein said container includes at least one aperture in communication with one opening of said holder.

21. The dispenser of claim 20, wherein said holder is a chute having a substantially helical shape.

22. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein said dispenser includes a dispensing member having at least one aperture adapted for receiving a pill.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said aperture of said dispensing member is in communication with one opening of said holder.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein said gate controls the movement of said dispensing member.

25. A pill dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a holder having a first and second opening, said holder positioned substantially within an interior of said container;

a displaceable gate positioned in communication with one opening of said holder;

a lock for preventing displacement of said gate;

a controller in communication with said lock for regulating the movement of said gate, said controller includes at least one programmable microcontroller; and

a sensor in communication with the microcontroller, said pill dispenser is pressurized and said sensor comprises a pressure sensor capable of measuring an internal pressure of said container and an external pressure outside said container.

26. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein said container includes at least one aperture in communication with one opening of said holder.

27. The dispenser of claim 26, wherein said holder is a chute having a substantially helical shape.

28. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein said dispenser includes a dispensing member having at least one aperture adapted for receiving a pill.

29. The dispenser of claim 28, wherein said aperture of said dispensing member is in communication with one opening of said holder.

30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein said gate controls the movement of said dispensing member.

31. A pill dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a holder having a first and second opening, said holder positioned substantially within an interior of said container;

a displaceable gate positioned in communication with one opening of said holder;

a lock for preventing displacement of said gate;

a controller in communication with said lock for regulating the movement of said gate, said controller includes at least one programmable microcontroller; and

a sensor in communication with the microcontroller, wherein said pill dispenser includes a neutralizing device in proximity to the holder.

32. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein said container includes at least one aperture in communication with one opening of said holder.

33. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein said holder is a chute having a substantially helical shape.

34. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein said dispenser includes a dispensing member having at least one aperture adapted for receiving a pill.

35. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein said aperture of said dispensing member is in communication with one opening of said holder.

36. The dispenser of claim 35, wherein said gate controls the movement of said dispensing member.