Automated medication adherence system

• US 9,836,583 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itrachealth Corp.
• Original Assignee: Silvergens Inc.
• Inventors: Garca, Csar Manuel, Wanders, Bart Jan, Alei, Philip Eugene, Diaz, Conrado Orlando
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US15/073,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20170270274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 221 2
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An automated medication adherence system. The automated medication adherence system may comprise: a housing, an electronic interface, a plurality of reservoirs, one or more sensors, and at least one pill delivery and lock-out module. The electronic interface is programmable to accept data relating to a medication, including at least one of a pill identify, a user identity, a dosage schedule, and a side effect. The electronic interface actuates rotation of a reservoir, which is configured to receive, store, and dispense pills, tablets, and capsules of various sizes accurately and precisely. The sensors monitor medication input and output, and alerts a user when medication has been dispensed and needs to be taken.

Claims

1. An automated medication adherence system, comprising:

a housing;

an electronic interface; and

one or more of sensors;

wherein said housing comprises a pill delivery and lock-out module;

wherein said housing is configured to contain a plurality of reservoirs;

wherein said plurality of reservoirs are configured for receiving, storing, and dispensing one or more medications;

wherein said housing comprises an access cover;

wherein said housing comprises a reservoir loading door;

wherein said access cover comprises a pill loading assembly;

wherein said pill loading assembly is configured to allow said one or more medications to be loaded into at least one of said plurality of reservoirs;

wherein said reservoir loading door comprises a reservoir loading assembly;

wherein said reservoir loading door is configured to allow said one or more reservoirs to be loaded and locked into a rotating carrier;

wherein said electronic interface comprises a computing component and at least one display component;

wherein said electronic interface is on an exterior portion of said housing;

wherein said electronic interface is programmable, such that said electronic interface accepts data relating to said one or more medications;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs is configured to receive, store and dispense a homogenous type of medication of said one or more medications;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises two successive stages, a first stage and a second stage;

wherein said two successive stages are configured to be stacked, such that said first stage is substantially above said second stage;

wherein each of said two successive stages comprises an opening, such that there are two openings, a first opening and a second opening;

wherein said first opening and said second opening are selectively openable and closable in response to said electronic interface;

wherein each of said two successive stages receive and dispense said one or more medications through said two openings;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises a central agitation stalk, an outer wall;

an inner wall; and

one or more actuators;

wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be substantially contained within said inner wall, and wherein said inner wall is configured to be substantially contained within said outer wall;

wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be rotatable within said inner wall;

wherein said central agitation stalk comprises a fin portion, a wave surface, and a ribbed cone surface;

wherein said fin portion comprises a plurality of fins that are configured to prevent said one or more medications from clumping together;

wherein said wave surface is a base of said first stage;

wherein said ribbed cone surface is a base of said second stage;

wherein said one or more medications are moved from said first stage to said second stage and then from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module;

wherein said one or more medications are a plurality of pills; and

wherein each of one or more sensors are connected with said computing component;

wherein said one or more sensors are configured to determine when a single pill of said plurality of pills passes through each of said two successive stages.

2. The automated medication adherence system of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotating carrier;

wherein said rotating carrier is configured to engage with said plurality of reservoirs, such that said plurality of reservoirs are configured to rotate within said housing.

3. The automated medication adherence system of claim 2, wherein said electronic interface rotates said plurality of reservoirs in response to said data relating to said one or more medications.

4. The automated medication adherence system of claim 1, wherein said data relating to said one or more medications is selected from the group of data consisting of:

a pill identity;

a user identity;

a dosage schedule;

a medication format;

a pill image;

a plurality of pharmaceutical indications for use;

instructions for use;

a physical description;

a chemical description;

a refill information; and

a plurality of side effect information.

5. The automated medication adherence system of claim 1, wherein said one or more actuators are configured to rotate and agitate said central agitation stalk and at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall.

6. The automated medication adherence system of claim 5, wherein said outer wall comprises one or more outer wall portholes and one or more chutes;

wherein said inner wall comprises one or more inner wall portholes;

wherein at least one of said one or more actuators is configured to rotate at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall, such that said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other;

wherein when said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other, said one or more outer wall portholes and said one or more inner wall portholes align to form said two openings;

wherein said computing component comprises one or more logic algorithms;

wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said one or more medications are transferred, one pill at a time, from said first stage to said second stage; and

wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said one or more medications are transferred, one pill at a time, from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module.

7. The automated medication adherence system of claim 6, wherein said electronic interface alerts a user when said one or more medications are dispensed, such that a dispensed medication is created.

8. The automated medication adherence system of claim 7, wherein said electronic interface alerts one or more of said user, one or more authorized individuals, and one or more health care providers when said user has not removed said dispensed medication from said pill delivery and lock-out module in accordance with said data relating to said one or more medications.

9. The automated medication adherence system of claim 8, wherein said pill delivery and lock-out module comprises a holding tray, a dispensing tray, and a lock-out module;

wherein said lock-out module opens and accepts said dispensed medication not removed from said pill delivery and lock-out module or dispensed medication that was incorrectly dispensed;

wherein said access cover is configured to have closed and opened positions; and

wherein said plurality of reservoirs are accessible when said access cover is in said opened position for purposes of maintenance.

10. An automated medication adherence system, comprising:

a housing;

an electronic interface;

a rotating carrier;

wherein said housing comprises a pill delivery and lock-out module;

wherein said housing is configured to contain a plurality of reservoirs;

wherein said plurality of reservoirs are configured for receiving, storing, and dispensing one or more medications;

wherein said rotating carrier is configured to engage with said plurality of reservoirs, such that said plurality of reservoirs are configured to rotate within said housing;

wherein said housing comprises an access cover;

wherein said housing comprises a reservoir loading door;

wherein said access cover is configured to have closed and opened positions;

wherein said plurality of reservoirs are accessible when said access cover is in said opened position;

wherein said access cover comprises a pill loading assembly;

wherein said pill loading assembly is configured to allow said one or more medications to be loaded into at least one of said plurality of reservoirs;

wherein said reservoir loading door comprises a reservoir loading assembly;

wherein said reservoir loading door is configured to allow said one or more reservoirs to be loaded and locked into a rotating carrier;

wherein said electronic interface comprises a computing component and at least one display component;

wherein said electronic interface is on an exterior portion of said housing;

wherein said electronic interface is programmable, such that said electronic interface accepts data relating to said one or more medications;

wherein said data relating to said one or more medications is selected from the group of data consisting of;

a pill identity;

a user identity;

a dosage schedule;

a medication format;

a pill image;

a plurality of pharmaceutical indications for use;

instructions for use;

a physical description;

a chemical description;

a refill information; and

a plurality of side effect information;

wherein said electronic interface rotates said plurality of reservoirs in response to said data relating to said one or more medications;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs is configured to receive, store and dispense a homogenous type of said medication;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises one or more sensors and two successive stages, a first stage and a second stage;

wherein said medication is moved from said first stage to said second stage and then from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module;

wherein said two successive stages are configured to be stacked, such that said first stage is substantially above said second stage;

wherein each of said two successive stages comprises an opening, such that there are two openings, a first opening and a second opening;

wherein said first opening and said second opening are selectively openable and closable in response to said electronic interface;

wherein each of said two successive stages receives and dispenses said medication through said two openings;

wherein said medication is a plurality of pills;

wherein said one or more sensors are configured to determine when a single pill of said plurality of pills passes through each of said two openings;

wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises a central agitation stalk, an outer wall, an inner wall, and one or more actuators;

wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be substantially contained within said inner wall, and wherein said inner wall is configured to be substantially contained within said outer wall;

wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be rotatable within said inner wall;

wherein said central agitation stalk comprises a fin portion, a wave surface, and a ribbed cone surface;

wherein said fin portion comprises a plurality of fins that are configured to prevent said medication from clumping together;

wherein said wave surface is a base of said first stage;

wherein said ribbed cone surface is a base of said second stage;

wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to engage with at least one of said one or more actuators in order to be rotated;

wherein said central agitation stalk comprises a plurality of gear teeth, which are configured to be engaged with at least one of said one or more actuators;

wherein said one or more actuators are configured to rotate said central agitation stalk and at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall;

wherein said one or more actuators are configured to agitate said central agitation stalk and at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall;

wherein said outer wall comprises one or more outer wall portholes and one or more chutes;

wherein said inner wall comprises one or more inner wall portholes;

wherein at least one of said one or more actuators are configured to rotate at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall, such that said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other;

wherein when said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other, said one or more outer wall portholes and said one or more inner wall portholes align to form said two openings;

wherein said computing component comprises one or more logic algorithms;

wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said medication is transferred, a set number of pills at a time, from said first stage to said second stage; and

wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said medication is transferred, one pill at a time, from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module.