System and method for interactive items dispenser

• US 8,060,246 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Rochester
• Original Assignee: University of Rochester
• Inventors: Berg, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/347,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240, 700/244, 221/7, 221/124, 221/159, 221/194
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• 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

Abstract

A networked items dispenser is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a bulk storage bin for storing items, a temporary storage bin for receiving the items, and a dispensing receptacle for receiving the items from the temporary storage bin. A communications network interface is provided for entering programming instructions. A programmable internal memory device is also included for storing a schedule for dispensing the items, such that the schedule can be automatically adjusted according to a hierarchy of dispensing rules.

Claims

1. A system using a networked automated items dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a housing enclosing at least one storage receptacle for storing a plurality of items within the housing;

at least one temporary storage receptacle proximate the at least one storage receptacle for receiving at least one of the plurality of items; and

a dispensing receptacle within the housing for receiving the at least one of the plurality of items from the at least one temporary storage receptacle;

a communications network interface operatively connected to the items dispenser for entering programming instructions; and

at least one programmable internal memory device contained in the items dispenser for storing a schedule for dispensing the plurality of items to the dispensing receptacle, wherein after the at least one of the plurality of items is dispensed to the dispensing receptacle, the schedule automatically adjusts according to a hierarchy of dispensing rules.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the item is a medicament.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the medicament is one of a medication package, individual tablet, and individual capsule.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the items are bulk loaded into the dispensing apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a signal, wherein the signal includes a message from a user'"'"'s health care provider to be provided to the user.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchy of dispensing rules includes a rule specific to the type of the plurality of items and executes after the at least one of the plurality of items dispensed to the dispensing receptacle is retrieved by a user after a pre-determined time period.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a communications network operatively connected to an internal microprocessor.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the communications network is one of the Internet, a wireless network connected to a second wired network, a public switched telephone network, and a voice over internet protocol network.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a server operatively connected to the communications network for responding to signals from the microprocessor and for transmitting signals to the microprocessor.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the server receives requests from the microprocessor and sends appropriate responses to the microprocessor.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the server comprises an interface for a person to enter instructions for programming the microprocessor.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a health monitoring device operatively connected to the internal memory device.

13. A system using a networked automated items dispensing apparatus, comprising:

at least one storage receptacle containing an item;

a longitudinally extending hollow first member having a plurality of through holes disposed on a proximate end of the first member, wherein the first member is displaceable between a first position and a second position;

at least one temporary storage receptacle proximate the at least one storage receptacle, wherein the temporary storage receptacle has a first opening for receiving the item from the storage receptacle and a second opening for discharging the item to one of the plurality of through holes, and wherein the second opening and the one of the plurality of through holes are aligned upon the first member being advanced from the first position to the second position which allows the item to discharge from the second opening to the aligned one of the plurality of through holes;

a dispensing receptacle adjacent a distal opening of the first member for receiving the discharged item;

at least one programmable internal memory device contained in the items dispenser for storing a schedule for dispensing the items to the dispensing receptacle, wherein after the at least one of the plurality of items is dispensed to the dispensing receptacle, the schedule automatically adjusts according to a hierarchy of dispensing rules; and

a communications device adapted to sending instructions to and receiving instructions from a remote computing device over a data communications network.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the item is a medicament.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the medicament is one of a medication package, individual tablet, and individual capsule.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the hierarchy of dispensing rules includes a rule specific to the type of the item and executes after the item dispensed to the dispensing receptacle is retrieved by a user after a pre-determined time period.

17. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a communications network operatively connected to an internal microprocessor.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the communications network is one of the Internet, a wireless network connected to a second wired network, a public switched telephone network, and a voice over interne protocol network.

19. The system according to claim 17, further comprising a server operatively connected to the communications network for responding to signals from the microprocessor and for transmitting signals to the microprocessor.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the server comprises an interface for a health care provider to enter instructions for programming the microprocessor.

21. A method for interactively controlling an items dispenser over a communications network, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a networked programmable items dispenser for storing and dispensing at least one item;

(b) automatically dispensing the at least one item according to a pre-programmed schedule;

(c) receiving a signal indicative of the at least one item being removed from the dispenser;

(d) sending the signal over a communications network to a remote computing device; and

(e) updating the pre-programmed schedule according to a hierarchy of pre-determined dispensing rules.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the item is a medicament.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the medicament is one of a medication package, individual tablet, and individual capsule.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(f) receiving a signal from the remote computing device for adjusting the pre-programmed schedule.