Vending machine apparatus to dispense herbal medications and prescription medicines

• US 7,844,363 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medbox Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PVM International, Inc.
• Inventors: Mehdizadeh, P. Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/999,385
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

The present invention relates to the idea of enabling an individual to conveniently purchase herbal medications and prescription medicines from specialized vending machines. The system provides for the individual to be processed through a central database to be certain that the item being purchased has been legally authorized by an appropriate medical authority such as a licensed physician and has provided appropriate verification to confirm that the individual who is receiving the medication is the correct individual. The present invention enables the individual to conveniently purchase the medication from a vending machine.

Claims

1. A system to enable an individual to legally purchase a medical substance from at least one vending machine, comprising:

a. a central processing center to receive from the individual a prescription from a licensed medical doctor for a specific medical substance in a specific dose and quantity;

b. means at the central processing center to obtain a visual image of the individual;

c. means at the central processing center to fingerprint the individual;

d. means at the central processing center to receive verification information about the individual;

e. means at the central processing center to enable the individual to create a customized PIN code;

f. means at the central processing center to receive payment from the individual;

g. inputting all information received at the central processing center about the individual, comprising the prescription, the visual image, and the fingerprint, the verification information input into a central database which transmits the information through electronic means to at least one vending machine; and

h. the at least one vending machine at a location remote from the central processing center, comprising selected quantities of medical substances therein, selection means to select a specific medical substance, means to receive the verification information about the individual from the central database, means at the vending machine to verify the visual image of the individual when the individual is at the at least one vending machine by taking an additional visual image of the individual, means to enable the individual to input the individual'"'"'s verification information to confirm the identity of the individual, means after confirming the individual'"'"'s identity to enable the individual to cause the at least one vending machine to dispense the medical substance for which the prescription was obtained and means to enable the individual to receive the medical substance from the vending machine.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said verification information includes a driver'"'"'s license and credit card.

3. A system to enable an individual to legally purchase a medical substance from at least one vending machine, comprising:

a. a central processing center to receive from the individual a legal prescription for a specific substance in a specific dose and quantity;

b. means at the central processing center to obtain a visual image of the individual;

c. means at the central processing center to obtain identification information about the individual and input the information into a central database which transmits the information to the at least one vending machine at a remote location;

d. means to receive payment from the individual; and

e. the at least one vending machine at a location remote from the central processing center, comprising selected quantities of medical substances therein, selection means to select a specific medical substance, means to receive the verification information about the individual from the central database, means at the at least one vending machine to verify the visual image of the individual when the individual is at the at least one vending machine by taking an additional visual image of the individual, means to enable the individual to input the individual'"'"'s verification information to confirm the identity of the individual, means after confirming the individual'"'"'s identity to enable the individual to cause the at least one vending machine to dispense the medical substance for which the prescription was obtained and means to enable the individual to receive the medical substance from the vending machine.