Patient controlled timed medication dispenser
First Claim
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1. A medication dispenser for permitting access to medication doses by a patient only after a minimum dosing interval between consecutive doses, the medication dispenser comprising:
- a medication tray comprising medication retention areas, wherein prior to dispensing any medication doses, medication retention areas carrying a medication dose alternate with empty medication retention areas;
a cover disposed over the medication tray, the cover defining a dose opening therein through which a dose in a retention area can be accessed when the dose opening is aligned with a medication retention area carrying a medication dose;
an indicator for indicating when the minimum dosing interval has elapsed;
an authenticating element responsive to patient identification information for authenticating the patient to access a medication dose, the authenticating element operable to authenticate the patient only after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed; and
a controller for aligning the dose opening and a retention area carrying a medication dose to present a medication dose through the dose opening after the patient has been authenticated, the medication dose available through the dose opening for a predetermined time, after the predetermined time the controller for moving the medication tray to align the dose opening with an empty retention area;
wherein responsive to a failed patient authentication attempt or lack of an authentication attempt, the controller does not rotate the tray to align the dose opening with a retention area carrying a medication dose.
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Abstract
A medication on demand dispenser. The dispenser provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis but with a prescribed minimum time interval between doses. The dispenser permits access to a single medication dose after each minimum time interval has elapsed. After a drug dose is presented to the patient, the dispenser prevents access to the next dose until the minimum time interval has elapsed.
166 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A medication dispenser for permitting access to medication doses by a patient only after a minimum dosing interval between consecutive doses, the medication dispenser comprising:
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a medication tray comprising medication retention areas, wherein prior to dispensing any medication doses, medication retention areas carrying a medication dose alternate with empty medication retention areas; a cover disposed over the medication tray, the cover defining a dose opening therein through which a dose in a retention area can be accessed when the dose opening is aligned with a medication retention area carrying a medication dose; an indicator for indicating when the minimum dosing interval has elapsed; an authenticating element responsive to patient identification information for authenticating the patient to access a medication dose, the authenticating element operable to authenticate the patient only after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed; and a controller for aligning the dose opening and a retention area carrying a medication dose to present a medication dose through the dose opening after the patient has been authenticated, the medication dose available through the dose opening for a predetermined time, after the predetermined time the controller for moving the medication tray to align the dose opening with an empty retention area; wherein responsive to a failed patient authentication attempt or lack of an authentication attempt, the controller does not rotate the tray to align the dose opening with a retention area carrying a medication dose. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification