Pill dispenser
First Claim
1. A pill dispensing system comprising:
- a dispenser base;
a plurality of pill packages stackable on the dispenser base to work in conjunction with the dispenser base to dispense pills, each pill package including;
a pill reservoir for storing pills; and
memory for storing pill package information;
an actuatable dispenser for dispensing pills;
said dispenser base that receives the plurality of pill packages, the dispenser base including;
a communication system enabling communication of pill package information including information regarding dispenser actuation from pill packages stacked on the dispenser base to the dispenser base;
a sensor system for detecting pill dispensing, wherein the sensor system includes an IR transmitter and an IR sensor arranged on a through-hole in the dispenser base wherein dispensed pills fall from one of the plurality of pill packages through the through-hole; and
a tracking system for tracking inventory of pills for the plurality of pill packages, wherein information regarding dispenser actuation received from a pill package is coupled with output from the sensor system detecting pill dispensing to determine which pill package dispensed the pill.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pill dispensing system that includes pill packages that can be used to dispense pills manually or with a dispenser system to provide enhanced functionality. The packages can be provided with information relating to the packaged pills or to the use of the packaged pills. By reading the information from the package, the dispenser system can know what is in the package, when it is to be taken and can understand and track inventory. The dispenser system provides reminders of when the pills should be taken. The dispenser system may have the ability to key a specific electronic device, such as a cell phone, to a specific user and the dispenser system may require the electronic device to be within proximity of the dispenser system before dispensing pills for that user.
23 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A pill dispensing system comprising:
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a dispenser base; a plurality of pill packages stackable on the dispenser base to work in conjunction with the dispenser base to dispense pills, each pill package including; a pill reservoir for storing pills; and memory for storing pill package information; an actuatable dispenser for dispensing pills; said dispenser base that receives the plurality of pill packages, the dispenser base including; a communication system enabling communication of pill package information including information regarding dispenser actuation from pill packages stacked on the dispenser base to the dispenser base; a sensor system for detecting pill dispensing, wherein the sensor system includes an IR transmitter and an IR sensor arranged on a through-hole in the dispenser base wherein dispensed pills fall from one of the plurality of pill packages through the through-hole; and a tracking system for tracking inventory of pills for the plurality of pill packages, wherein information regarding dispenser actuation received from a pill package is coupled with output from the sensor system detecting pill dispensing to determine which pill package dispensed the pill. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pill dispensing system comprising:
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a dispenser base having a control system to control operation of the pill dispensing system; a plurality of pill packages stackable on the dispenser base to work in conjunction with the dispenser base to dispense pills, wherein each pill package includes a pill reservoir for storing pills, memory for storing pill package information, and an actuatable dispenser for dispensing pills; a security system configured to enable authorized dispensing of pills and prevent unauthorized dispensing of pills, the security system including memory for storing predetermined associations between electronic devices and users and predetermined user input for each user; and wherein the security system authorizes dispensing of pills in response to
1) determining a user is within proximity of the pill dispensing system by detecting presence of an electronic device that was previously associated in memory with that user; and
2) receiving the predetermined user input for that user;wherein the dispenser base receives the plurality of pill packages and wherein the dispenser base includes; a communication system enabling communication of pill package information including information regarding dispenser actuation from pill packages stacked on the dispenser base to the dispenser base; a sensor system for detecting pill dispensing, wherein the sensor system includes an IR transmitter and an IR sensor arranged on a through-hole in the dispenser base wherein dispensed pills fall from one of the plurality of pill packages through the through-hole; and a tracking system for tracking inventory of pills for the plurality of pill packages, wherein information regarding dispenser actuation received from the plurality of pill packages is coupled with output from the sensor system detecting pill dispensing to determine which pill package dispensed the pill. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification