Pill dispenser with compliance features

• US 9,579,264 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda Jean Litton
• Original Assignee: Linda Jean Litton
• Inventors: Litton, Linda Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): CICCHINO, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US14/485,371
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A pill dispenser is configured to receive a plurality of different pill types into discrete pill reservoirs, whereby a dose of different pills may be provided to a user in a dispense reservoir. A vacuum manifold may be configured with a vacuum tube for removing pills from the discrete reservoirs and placing them into the dispense reservoir. In one embodiment, a pill dispenser is part of a pill dispenser system that utilizes a remote electronic device having an application software program for setting, managing and displaying the dosing regimens for pills loaded into the pill dispenser. The application software program may be coupled with a prescribing pill database, whereby prescription pill information, including dosing regimens may be loaded onto the application software program to ensure compliance with the prescription.

Claims

1. A pill dispenser system comprising:

a) a pill dispenser comprising;

i) a plurality of pill reservoirs for receiving pills;

ii) a dispense reservoir configured to receive pills from said plurality of pill reservoirs;

iii) a vacuum manifold and vacuum tube having a collection tip configured to attach to a pill;

wherein said vacuum manifold is configured to remove a pill from one of said plurality of pill reservoirs and place said pill in said dispense reservoir to produce a dose in the dispense reservoir;

wherein the pill dispenser is configured to provide a plurality of different pills to said dispense reservoir from said plurality of pill reservoirs;

iv) an enclosure for retaining the plurality of pill reservoirs and the dispense reservoir;

v) a door configured in the enclosure that opens to provide access to a single reservoir at a time, the dispense reservoir or one of said pill reservoirs;

wherein the door is locked to prevent access to the pill reservoirs and dispense reservoir;

wherein the door is locked to Prevent access to the dispense reservoir until a dose is ready to be dispensed; and

wherein the pills in the pill reservoirs and the plurality of dispense reservoirs are secured in the pill dispenser enclosure to prevent unauthorized removal;

vi) a sensor configured to sense a position of the door, wherein the sensor senses when the door is open;

wherein the dose that has been taken is confirmed by the dispenser controller when the dispense reservoir is returned to the enclosure and the door is closed after the dispense reservoir is removed from the pill dispenser;

vii) a signal receiver for receiving data from a prescription provider comprising;

a pill identification for a pill; and

a pill dosing regimen for said pill;

wherein the signal receiver receives the data from a remote source;

wherein a pill dosing regimen is a schedule that defines the quantity of said pill and times for said pill to be taken;

b) a dispenser controller having a dispenser software program;

c) a pill confirmation feature comprising;

i) a pill identifier input feature configured for a user to provide a pill identifier to the pill dispenser system;

wherein the pill identifier input feature comprises an instruction symbol scanner configured to read an instruction symbol, having a pill identifier, on a prescription pill container; and

wherein the pill confirmation feature confirms that said pill identifier matches said pill identification received by said signal receiver from the prescription provider and is a scheduled pill having a received pill dosing regimen before said pill is loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

d) a user interface for inputting a scheduled regimen for a pill loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

e) an alert sub-program configured to send an alert notification to an alert contact when a scheduled dose is not retrieved from the dispense reservoir within an elapsed period of time from a scheduled dose time;

wherein the elapsed time is measure from the scheduled dose time to the time the door is dosed after removal of the dose reservoir;

wherein the alert sub-program comprises an input, through said user interface, for one or more alert contacts to receive the alert notification.

2. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pill reservoirs are configured on a turntable, whereby the turntable is configured to rotate said plurality of pill reservoirs to locate one of said plurality of pill reservoirs under the vacuum manifold and the vacuum tube;

wherein the vacuum manifold is configured to lower said vacuum tube down into one of the plurality of pill reservoirs to remove a pill from one of said plurality of pill reservoirs, and subsequently raise said vacuum tube, with a pill attached thereto, above one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

wherein the turntable is configured to rotate and locate the dispense reservoir under the vacuum tube having a pill attached thereto, whereby said vacuum tube is configured to release said pill into said dispense reservoir; and

wherein a plurality of different pills from the plurality of pill reservoirs are released into the dispense reservoir to create a dose.

3. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the pill dispenser comprises a pill reservoir opening and wherein one of said plurality of said pill reservoirs cannot be removed from the opening until the pill confirmation feature confirms that said pill identifier matches said pill identification data that was previously received by said signal receiver from said prescription provider.

4. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the pill dispenser comprises a pill reservoir opening and wherein one of said plurality of said pill reservoirs cannot be removed from the opening until a password in entered into the user interface feature.

5. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the pill dispenser removes a plurality of pills from the plurality of pill reservoirs to provide a dose comprising at least two different pills, from at least two different pill reservoirs, into the dispense reservoir per the scheduled regimen.

6. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is a wireless signal receiver and the remote source is a remote electronic device.

7. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is a wireless signal receiver and the remote source is a prescription provider database and the pill is a prescription pill.

8. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the instruction symbol is a bar code.

9. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the instruction symbol is a QR symbol.

10. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a remote electronic device.

11. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays to a user, a dosing regimen that is compliant with said pill dosing regimen received by the signal receiver;

and

wherein a dosing compliance feature requires a user to input a scheduled regimen that is a compliant dosing regimen.

12. The pill dispenser system of claim 10, comprising a dispenser control system;

wherein the remote electronic device is used to input the scheduled regimen for a pill loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs and whereby a dosing command to dispense said pill from said pill reservoir to a dispense reservoir is provided by a wireless signal from said remote electronic device.

13. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a remote electronic device and wherein a dosing regimen that is compliant with said pill dosing regimen received by the signal receiver is displayed on said remote electronic device, and

wherein a user inputs a scheduled regimen that is a compliant dosing regimen through said remote electronic device.

14. The pill dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the alert notification of the alert sub-program is a wireless signal received by one of said input alert contacts, on said an alert contact'"'"'s remote electronic device.

15. A pill dispenser system comprising:

a) a pill dispenser comprising;

i) a plurality of pill reservoirs for receiving discrete pills;

ii) a dispense reservoir configured to receive pills from said plurality of pill reservoirs;

iii) a vacuum manifold and vacuum tube having a collection tip configured to attach to a pill;

wherein the plurality of pill reservoirs are configured on a turntable, wherein the turntable is configured to rotate said plurality of pill reservoirs to locate one of said plurality of pill reservoirs under the vacuum manifold and vacuum tube;

wherein the vacuum manifold is configured to lower said vacuum tube down into one of the plurality of pill reservoirs to remove a pill from one of said plurality of pill reservoirs, and subsequently raise said vacuum tube, with a pill attached thereto;

wherein the turntable is configured to rotate and locate the dispense reservoir under the vacuum tube having a pill attached thereto, wherein said vacuum tube is configured to release said pill into said dispense reservoir;

wherein said pill dispenser is configured to remove a plurality of pills from the plurality of pill reservoirs to provide a dose comprising at least two different pills from at least two different pill reservoirs, in the dispense reservoir per the dosing regimen;

iv) an enclosure for retaining the plurality of pill reservoirs and the dispense reservoir;

v) a door configured in the enclosure that opens to provide access to a single reservoir at a time, the dispense reservoir or one of said pill reservoirs;

wherein the door is locked to prevent access to the pill reservoirs and dispense reservoir;

wherein the door is locked to prevent access to the dispense reservoir until a dose is ready to be dispensed; and

wherein the pills in the pill reservoirs and the plurality of dispense reservoirs are secured in the pill dispenser enclosure to prevent unauthorized removal;

vi) a sensor configured to sense a position of the door, wherein the sensor senses when the door is open;

wherein the dose that has been taken is confirmed by the dispenser controller when the dispense reservoir is returned to the enclosure and the door is closed after the dispense reservoir is removed from the pill dispenser;

vii) a signal receiver for receiving data from a prescription provider, and comprising;

a pill identification for a pill; and

a pill dosing regimen for said pill;

b) a dispenser controller;

c) a pill confirmation feature comprising;

i) a pill identifier input feature configured for a user to provide a pill identifier to the pill dispenser system;

wherein the dispenser controller is configured to confirm that said pill identifier matches said pill identification received by said signal receiver from said remote source before said pill can be loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

d) a user interface for inputting a scheduled regimen for a pill loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

wherein the user interface comprises a remote electronic device and wherein a dosing regimen that is compliant with a pill dosing regimen received by the dispenser controller is displayed on said remote electronic device, and

wherein a user inputs a scheduled regimen that is a compliant dosing regimen through said remote electronic device;

e) an alert sub-program configured to send an alert notification to an alert contact when a scheduled dose is not retrieved from the dispense reservoir within an elapsed period of time from a scheduled dose time;

wherein the alert sub-program comprises an input through said user interface for one or more alert contacts to receive the alert notification.

16. A method of dispensing pills comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pill dispenser system comprising;

i) a pill dispenser comprising;

a plurality of pill reservoirs for receiving discrete pills;

a dispense reservoir configured to receive pills from said plurality of pill reservoirs;

a vacuum manifold and vacuum tube having a collection tip configured to attach to a pill;

wherein said vacuum manifold is configured to remove a pill from one of said plurality of pill reservoirs and place said pill in said dispense reservoir;

wherein the pill dispenser is configured to provide a plurality of different pills to said dispense reservoir from said plurality of pill reservoirs; and

ii) an enclosure for retaining the plurality of pill reservoirs and the dispense reservoir;

iii) a door configured in the enclosure that opens to provide access to a single reservoir at a time, the dispense reservoir or one of said pill reservoirs;

wherein the door is locked to prevent access to the pill reservoirs and dispense reservoir;

wherein the door is locked to prevent access to the dispense reservoir until a dose is ready to be dispensed; and

wherein the pills in the pill reservoirs and the Plurality of dispense reservoirs are secured in the pill dispenser enclosure to prevent unauthorized removal;

iv) a sensor configured to sense a position of the door, wherein the sensor senses when the door is open;

wherein the dose that has been taken is confirmed by the dispenser controller when the dispense reservoir is returned to the enclosure and the door is closed after the dispense reservoir is removed from the pill dispenser;

v) a signal receiver for receiving data file from a prescription provider comprising;

a pill identification for a pill; and

a pill dosing regimen for said pill;

vii) a dispenser controller;

viii) a pill confirmation feature comprising;

a pill identifier input feature comprising an instruction symbol scanner configured to read an instruction symbol, having a pill identifier, on a prescription pill container;

ix) a user interface configured to input a scheduled regimen for a pill loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs by a person selected from the group consisting of;

a user, a family member or caregiver;

b) providing a remote electronic device comprising;

i) a wireless signal generator configured to send a wireless signal to said wireless signal receiver;

ii) a prescription provider database interface;

iii) a remote user interface; and

iv) application software program;

c) receiving a prescription pill container from the prescription provider comprising a plurality of prescription pills;

d) receiving the pill identification and dosing regimen for said plurality of prescription pills from the prescription pill provider,

e) scanning the instruction symbol on the prescription pill container with the instruction symbol scanner;

whereby the dispenser controller receives the pill identifier and confirms that the pill identifier matches the received pill identification from the prescription provider;

f) loading the plurality of prescription pills into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs;

g) using said remote user interface to input a scheduled regimen, that is compliant with a dosing regimen, for the plurality of prescription pills loaded in said pill dispenser;

h) said pill dispenser automatically removing one of said plurality of prescription pills from said pill reservoir and placing said pill in the dispense reservoir according to said dose regimen.

17. The method of dispensing pills of claim 16, wherein the remote electronic device interfaces with a prescription provider database to receive said pill identification and said pill dosing regimen for said plurality of prescription pills.

18. The method of dispensing pills of claim 17, wherein the remote electronic device is configured to schedule a compliant dosing regimen for the plurality of prescription pills to be loaded in the pill dispenser.

19. The method of dispensing pills of claim 16, wherein the dispenser controller is configured to confirm that said pill identifier matches said pill identification received by said signal receiver from said remote source before said plurality of prescription pills can be loaded into one of said plurality of pill reservoirs.

20. The method of dispensing pills of claim 16, wherein the dispenser controller comprises an application software program that comprises a plurality of sub-programs including:

i) a load prescription sub-program;

ii) a non-prescription pill sub-program;

iii) a dispense now sub-program;

iv) a pill supply sub-program that displays, on the user interface, the name of a pill loaded into one of the plurality of pill reservoirs and the quantity of said pill remaining in the pill reservoir;

v) a change/view pill schedule sub-program that displays, on the user interface, a dispensing schedule for a pill loaded into one of the plurality of pill reservoirs and allows modification of said dispensing schedule through the user interface;

vi) a reset/unload pills sub-program; and

vii) alarms sub-program.

21. The method of dispensing pills of claim 16, wherein the dispenser controller comprises an alert sub-program configured to send an alert notification when a scheduled dose is not retrieved from the dispense reservoir within an elapsed period of time from a scheduled dose time.