System, method, and apparatus for dispensing oral medications
First Claim
1. A pill dispenser, comprising:
- a housing defining an opening;
a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to view the receptacle;
an identifying camera positioned to view an area adjacent to the housing;
at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
a button operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the button is in operative communication with the at least one processor; and
a non-transitory storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for providing instructions to the pill dispenser, the instructions comprising the steps of;
instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill,determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
determining an absence of the pill within the second image; and
instructing the identifying camera to capture a plurality of images including a third image in accordance with a predetermined schedule when the button is pressed.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pill dispenser includes a housing, a pill-dispensing mechanism, a receptacle, a pill-viewing camera, an identifying camera, one or more processors, and a storage medium (e.g., a memory). The pill-dispensing mechanism is coupled to an opening of the housing. The first pill-viewing camera is positioned to capture an image of the receptacle, and the identifying camera is positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing. The one or more processors are in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera. The storage medium stores processor-executable instructions for: instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill to determine a presence of the pill; instructing the pill-viewing camera to capture a second image to determine an absence of the pill; and instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image.
303 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A pill dispenser, comprising:
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a housing defining an opening; a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening; a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing; a first pill-viewing camera positioned to view the receptacle; an identifying camera positioned to view an area adjacent to the housing; at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera; a button operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the button is in operative communication with the at least one processor; and a non-transitory storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for providing instructions to the pill dispenser, the instructions comprising the steps of; instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill, determining a presence of the pill within the first image; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image; determining an absence of the pill within the second image; and instructing the identifying camera to capture a plurality of images including a third image in accordance with a predetermined schedule when the button is pressed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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4. A pill dispenser, comprising:
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a housing defining an opening; a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening; a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing; a first pill-viewing camera positioned to view the receptacle; an identifying camera positioned to view an area adjacent to the housing; at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera; a button disposed on the housing; and a non-transitory storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for execution by the at least one processor for providing instructions to the pill dispenser, the instructions comprising the steps of; instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill, determining a presence of the pill within the first image; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image; determining an absence of the pill within the second image; and instructing the identifying camera to capture a series of images including the third image until the at least one processor identifies a presence of at least one face in a captured image of the series of captured images when the button is pressed.
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25. A pill dispenser, comprising:
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a housing defining an opening; a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening; a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing; a first pill-viewing camera positioned view the receptacle; an identifying camera positioned to view an area adjacent to the housing; at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera; a speaker disposed within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the speaker; and a non-transitory storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for providing instructions to the pill dispenser, the instructions comprising the steps of; instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill, determining a presence of the pill within the first image; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image; determining an absence of the pill within the second image; instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and instructing the speaker to audibly sound a reminder when the second image includes the pill and a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A pill dispenser, comprising:
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a housing defining an opening; a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening; a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing; a first pill-viewing camera positioned to view the receptacle; an identifying camera positioned to view an area adjacent to the housing; a touchscreen; at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, the identifying camera, and the touchscreen; and a non-transitory storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for providing instructions to the pill dispenser, the instructions comprising the steps of; instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill, determining a presence of the pill within the first image; instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image; determining an absence of the pill within the second image; instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and instructing the touchscreen to display a pre-stored image of a prescribed pill on the touchscreen about when the at least one processor instructs the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense the pill. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification