Prescription medication control system and method

• US 8,108,068 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University Agricultural & Mechanical College (Louisiana State University System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University Agricultural & Mechanical College (Louisiana State University System)
• Inventors: Boucher, Gary R., Glass, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/345,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/74 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• 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: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A medication dispensing device comprising a housing having an enclosure configured to provide direct access to a current medication container storing medication to be dispensed. The device includes a plurality of bins, each bin configured to receive and store therein a medication container within a bin seat. Additionally, the device includes a scale assembly, within the housing, configured to automatically lift the medication container from the bin seat, weigh the medication container at least once and lower the medication container into the bin seat during a weighing cycle.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing device comprising:

a housing having an enclosure configured to provide direct access to a current medication container storing medication to be dispensed;

a plurality of bins, within the housing, each bin configured to receive and store therein a medication container within a bin seat; and

a scale assembly, within the housing, configured to automatically lift the medication container from the bin seat, weigh the medication container at least once and lower the medication container into the bin seat during a weighing cycle.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein during the weighing cycle the scale assembly lifts the medication container from the bin seat, weighs the medication container N times and then lowers the medication container into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the N equals 256.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a secondary dispensing lid and a primary lid;

where during a dispensing cycle, the primary lid is in a locked state and the secondary dispensing lid is configured to be automatically moved to an open position.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a rotatable medicine carousel, where said carousel holds the medication to be dispensed and is rotated to a dispensing position immediately below the secondary dispensing lid prior to the secondary dispensing lid being automatically opened or unlocked for medication container removal.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein when the primary lid is open, the scale assembly is disabled and the rotatable medicine carousel is disabled from rotating.

7. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to read RFID data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the medication container.

8. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate RFID data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine the presence of the medication container being returned to or removed from the bin seat.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lock-out mechanisms configured to make available only one of said medication containers in said plurality of bins and wherein said plurality of bins are linearly arranged.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein during the weighing cycle the scale assembly lifts the medication container from the bin seat, measures a weight of the medication container N times and then lowers the medication container into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the medication container.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the identification technology reader is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and the identification code is an RFID tag.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

19. The device according to claim 13, wherein the identification technology reader is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and the identification code is an RFID tag.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein during the weighing cycle the scale assembly lifts the medication container from the bin seat, records N times a measured value of a force applied by the medication container onto the scale assembly, and then lowers the medication container into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the N equals 256.

22. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to read RFID data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the medication container.

23. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the RFID data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

26. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the RFID data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

28. The device according to claim 26, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

29. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate RFID data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

31. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate RFID data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

33. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the medication container.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

35. The device according to claim 34, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

37. The device according to claim 35, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

38. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

40. The device according to claim 38, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

41. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the medication container.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

43. The device according to claim 42, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

44. The device according to claim 43, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

45. The device according to claim 43, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

46. The device according to claim 42, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

48. The device according to claim 41, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

49. The device according to claim 48, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

50. The device according to claim 48, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

51. The device according to claim 41, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a medication.

52. The device according to claim 51, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin with the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to automatically move to the open position.

53. The device according to claim 46, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

54. The device according to claim 51, wherein said medication is stored in said medication container.

55. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a communications module and a pharmacy inventory control system, said communications module configured to communicate medication data to the pharmacy inventory control system.

56. The system according to claim 55, wherein said pharmacy inventory control system determines when new medications need to be ordered.

57. The system according to claim 55, wherein said pharmacy inventory control system has the capability to detect medication dispensing errors.

58. A medication dispensing device comprising:

means for removably storing serially one or more medication containers;

means for housing the storing means; and

means for automatically lifting a respective one medication container from the storing means, weighing the respective one medication container at least once and lowering the respective one medication container into the storing means during a weighing cycle.

59. The device according to claim 58, wherein during the weighing cycle, the weighing means includes means for weighing the medication container N times wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

60. The device according to claim 59, wherein a value of the N equals 256.

61. The device according to claim 58, wherein the housing means includes a primary lid and a secondary dispensing lid;

and further comprising means for unlocking the secondary dispensing lid automatically wherein during a dispensing cycle, the primary lid is in a locked state; and

the secondary dispensing lid is configured to be automatically moved to an open position or manually open.

62. The device according to claim 61, further comprising a means for rotating the storing means;

and means for aligning the respective one medication container with a dispensing position immediately below the secondary dispensing lid prior to automatically moving the secondary dispensing lid to the open position or allowing the dispensing lid to be opened.

63. The device according to claim 62, wherein when the primary lid is open, the lifting, weighing and lowering means are disabled and the rotating means is disabled.

64. The device according to claim 62, further comprising means for reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the respective one medication container.

65. The device according to claim 62, further comprising means for communicating RFID data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

66. The device according to claim 65, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

67. The device according to claim 65, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

68. The device according to claim 62, further comprising means for communicating RFID data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

69. The device according to claim 68, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

70. The device according to claim 68, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

71. The device according to claim 68, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

72. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for sensing a presence of the respective one medication container being returned to or removed from the storing means.

73. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for making only one medication container available at a particular time, and wherein said storing means comprises means for linearly storing said one or more medication containers.

74. The device according to claim 73, wherein during the weighing cycle, the weighing means includes means for measuring the weight of the medication container N times, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

75. The device according to claim 74, further comprising means for reading data associated with an identification code affixed to the respective one medication container.

76. The device according to claim 75, further comprising means for communicating the data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

77. The device according to claim 76, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

78. The device according to claim 77, wherein the means for reading data is a means for reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the respective one medication container.

79. The device according to claim 77, wherein the means for reading data is a means for reading bar code data associated with a bar code affixed to the respective one medication container.

80. The device according to claim 75, wherein the means for reading data is a means for reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the respective one medication container.

81. The device according to claim 75, wherein the means for reading data is a means for reading bar code data associated with a bar code affixed to the respective one medication container.

82. The device according to claim 58, wherein during the weighing cycle, the lifting, weighing and lowering means includes means for lifting the respective one medication container from the bin seat, recording N times a measured value of a force applied by the respective one medication container onto the weighing means, and then lowering the respective one medication container back into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

83. The device according to claim 82, wherein a value of the N equals 256.

84. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the respective one medication container.

85. The device according to claim 84, further comprising means for communicating the RFID data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

86. The device according to claim 85, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

87. The device according to claim 85, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

88. The device according to claim 84, further comprising means for communicating the RFID data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

89. The device according to claim 88, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

90. The device according to claim 88, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

91. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for reading data associated with an identification code affixed to the respective one medication container.

92. The device according to claim 91, wherein the identification code is a bar code.

93. The device according to claim 92, further comprising means for communicating said data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

94. The device according to claim 93, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

95. The device according to claim 93, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

96. The device according to claim 91, further comprising means for communicating said data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

97. The device according to claim 96, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

98. The device according to claim 96, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

99. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for reading data associated with an identification code affixed to the respective one medication container.

100. The device according to claim 99, wherein the identification code is a bar code.

101. The device according to claim 100, further comprising means for communicating said data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

102. The device according to claim 101, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

103. The device according to claim 101, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

104. The device according to claim 101, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

105. The device according to claim 100, further comprising means for communicating said data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

106. The device according to claim 105, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

107. The device according to claim 105, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

108. The device according to claim 100, further comprising means for communicating said data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

109. The device according to claim 108, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

110. The device according to claim 108, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

111. The device according to claim 99, further comprising means for communicating said data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

112. The device according to claim 111, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

113. The device according to claim 111, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

114. The device according to claim 111, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

115. The device according to claim 99, further comprising means for communicating said data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

116. The device according to claim 115, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

117. The device according to claim 115, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

118. The device according to claim 99, further comprising means for communicating said data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

119. The device according to claim 118, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

120. The device according to claim 118, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

121. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for communicating data to a server;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

122. The device according to claim 121, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

123. The device according to claim 121, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

124. The device according to claim 121, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

125. The device according to claim 58, wherein the housing means includes a primary means for lidding and a secondary means for lidding and dispensing;

and further comprising means for unlocking the secondary means for lidding and dispensing automatically wherein during a dispensing cycle, the primary means for lidding is in a locked state; and

the secondary means for lidding and dispensing is configured to be automatically moved to an open position or manually open.

126. The device according to claim 125, further comprising a means for rotating the storing means;

and means for aligning the respective one medication container with a dispensing position immediately below the secondary means for lidding and dispensing prior to automatically moving the secondary means for lidding and dispensing to the open position or allowing the secondary means for lidding and dispensing to be opened.

127. The device according to claim 126, wherein when the primary means for lidding is open, the lifting, weighing and lowering means are disabled and the rotating means is disabled.

128. The device according to claim 58, further comprising means for communicating data to a website;

and means for receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

129. The device according to claim 128, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication being stored and initiates a dispensing sequence.

130. The device according to claim 128, wherein said respective one medication is stored in at least one of said medication containers.

131. A method of controlling medication dispensation comprising:

storing serially one or more medication containers in one or more bins in a secure housing;

automatically lifting a respective one medication container;

automatically weighing the respective one medication container at least once during a weighing cycle;

automatically lowering the respective one medication container into a bin seat.

132. The method according to claim 131, wherein the weighing cycle includes weighing the respective one medication container N times and lowering the respective one medication container into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

133. The method according to claim 132, wherein a value of the N equals 256.

134. The method according to claim 131, further comprising unlocking a secondary dispensing lid automatically during a dispensing cycle.

135. The method according to claim 131, further comprising reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the respective one medication container.

136. The method according to claim 135, further comprising communicating the RFID data to a website;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

137. The method according to claim 136, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

138. The method according to claim 135, further comprising communicating the RFID data to a server;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

139. The method according to claim 138, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

140. The method according to claim 131, further comprising sensing a presence of the respective one medication container being returned to or removed from the bin seat.

141. The method according to claim 131, wherein the weighing cycle includes recording N times a measured value of a force applied by the medication container onto a scale assembly and lowering the respective one medication container into the bin seat, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

142. The method according to claim 131, further comprising reading data associated with an identification code affixed to the respective one medication container.

143. The method according to claim 142, wherein the identification code is a bar code.

144. The method according to claim 143, further comprising communicating the data to a website;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

145. The method according to claim 144, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

146. The method according to claim 142, further comprising communicating the data to a website;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

147. The method according to claim 146, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

148. The method according to claim 131, further comprising reading data associated with an identification code affixed to the respective one medication container.

149. The method according to claim 148, wherein the identification code is a bar code.

150. The method according to claim 149, further comprising communicating the data to a server;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

151. The method according to claim 150, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

152. The method according to claim 148, further comprising communicating the data to a server;

and receiving a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a respective one medication.

153. The method according to claim 152, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies the respective one medication in a respective one bin;

and further comprising aligning the respective one bin to a dispensing position and automatically opening a dispensing lid.

154. A system for dispensing medications comprising:

a plurality of in-home medication dispensing and control (MDC) devices, each MDC device having a secure and locked housing configured to store therein a plurality of registered medication containers in discrete bin locations, and a scale assembly configured to weigh one registered medication container at a time; and

a server configured to register and track an amount of medication taken based on a weight generated by the scale assembly for each registered medication container associated with each MDC device,

wherein the secure housing includes an enclosure with a lid, the lid being configured to provide direct access to a current registered medication container storing medication to be dispensed; and

the scale assembly, within the housing, configured to automatically lift at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers from a bin seat of a bin, weigh the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers at least once and lower the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers into the bin seat during a weighing cycle.

155. The system according to claim 154, wherein during the weighing cycle the scale assembly weighs the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers N times, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

156. The system according to claim 155, wherein a value of the N equals 256.

157. The system according to claim 155, further comprising a sensor configured to determine a presence of the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers being returned to or removed from the bin seat.

158. The system according to claim 155, wherein the server is configured to detect non-compliance consumption of dispensed medication and to report the non-compliance consumption to a third party.

159. The system according to claim 155, wherein the server is configured to track activity associated with each MDC device in an administration mode and a dispensing mode.

160. The system according to claim 155, wherein the server is configured to generate an alert when an overdosage condition is detected wherein the overdosage condition is determined based on the tracked weight for any one registered medication.

161. The system according to claim 154, wherein the server is configured to generate a refill order associated with one or more of the registered medication containers to one or more pharmacies.

162. The system according to claim 155, wherein the server is configured to detect non-compliance consumption of dispensed medication and to report the non-compliance consumption to a patient.

163. The system according to claim 154, wherein the lid is a primary lid and which further comprises a secondary dispensing lid;

and during a dispensing cycle, the primary lid is in a locked state; and

the secondary dispensing lid is configured to be automatically moved to an open position or to be unlocked.

164. The system according to claim 163, wherein the MDC device further comprises a rotatable medicine carousel of the discrete bin locations, the carousel being configured to be rotated to a dispensing position immediately below the secondary dispensing lid prior to the secondary dispensing lid being automatically unlocked or moved to the open position.

165. The system according to claim 164, wherein when the primary lid is open, the scale assembly is disabled and the rotatable medicine carousel is disabled from rotating.

166. The system according to claim 164, wherein the MDC device further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to read RFID data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers.

167. The system according to claim 164, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate RFID data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

168. The system according to claim 167, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin to the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to be automatically unlocked or moved to the open position.

169. The system according to claim 164, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate RFID data to said server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from said server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

170. The system according to claim 154, wherein the server is configured to generate an alert when an overdosage condition is detected wherein the overdosage condition is determined based on the tracked weight for any one registered medication.

171. The system according to claim 154, wherein the server is configured to generate a refill order associated with one or more of the registered medication containers to one or more pharmacies.

172. The system according to claim 154, wherein said discrete bin locations are arranged linearly.

173. The system according to claim 172, wherein during the weighing cycle the scale assembly measures the weight of at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers N times, wherein the N is a number greater than 0.

174. The system according to claim 173, wherein the MDC device further comprises an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers.

175. The system according to claim 174, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication.

176. The system according to claim 175, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin.

177. The system according to claim 176, wherein the identification technology reader is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and the identification code is an RFID tag.

178. The system according to claim 176, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

179. The system according to claim 174, wherein the identification technology reader is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and the identification code is an RFID tag.

180. The system according to claim 174, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

181. The system according to claim 154, wherein the MDC device further comprises an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers.

182. The system according to claim 155, wherein the MDC device further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to read RFID data associated with an RFID tag affixed to the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers.

183. The system according to claim 182, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

184. The system according to claim 183, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

185. The system according to claim 183, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin to the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to be automatically unlocked or moved to the open position.

186. The system according to claim 182, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate the data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

187. The system according to claim 182, wherein the dispensing trigger signal identifies a respective one medication and initiates a dispensing sequence of the respective one medication from a respective one bin;

and further comprising a processor configured to cause the rotatable medicine carousel to align the respective one bin to the dispensing position and to cause the secondary dispensing lid to be automatically unlocked or moved to the open position.

188. The system according to claim 154, wherein the MDC device further comprises an identification technology reader configured to read data associated with an identification code affixed to the at least one of the plurality of registered medication containers.

189. The system according to claim 188, wherein the identification technology reader is a bar code reader and the identification code is a bar code.

190. The system according to claim 189, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

191. The system according to claim 189, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to said server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from said server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

192. The system according to claim 188, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

193. The system according to claim 188, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate said data to said server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from said server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

194. The system according to claim 155, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate data to a website and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from the website according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.

195. The system according to claim 154, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate data to said server and to receive a dispensing trigger signal from said server according to a determined dispensing schedule for a registered medication and secondary dispensing lid being controlled in response to the dispensing trigger signal.