Drug delivery regulator
First Claim
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1. A tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a tamper-resistant canister including at least one access compartment, at least one regulating unit having an entrance thereto, at least one variable insert that controls the amount of contents being dispensed from the at least one regulating unit by restricting or expanding the entrance to the at least one regulating unit, wherein the at least one variable insert is attached to an inner surface of the at least one access compartment, and a locking mechanism;
a controller operably in communication with the locking mechanism and the at least one regulating unit, the controller configured to at least control the locking mechanism and the at least one regulating unit; and
a communication component operably in communication with the controller, the communication component configured to receive one or more instructions from a device external to the tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus and automatically and without user interaction implement the one or more instructions according to a protocol governing operability of the apparatus, the protocol being configured to identify when drugs are to be dispensed by the apparatus, wherein implementing the one or more instructions causes the controller to dispense a drug at the at least one regulating unit.
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Abstract
An apparatus for receiving, dispensing, and regulating controlled substances is provided. Furthermore the apparatus may comprise a portable, handheld container which is tamper-resistant and can withstand severe physical manipulation. The apparatus may only permit the dispensing of medication according to a prescribed schedule and dosage.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a tamper-resistant canister including at least one access compartment, at least one regulating unit having an entrance thereto, at least one variable insert that controls the amount of contents being dispensed from the at least one regulating unit by restricting or expanding the entrance to the at least one regulating unit, wherein the at least one variable insert is attached to an inner surface of the at least one access compartment, and a locking mechanism; a controller operably in communication with the locking mechanism and the at least one regulating unit, the controller configured to at least control the locking mechanism and the at least one regulating unit; and a communication component operably in communication with the controller, the communication component configured to receive one or more instructions from a device external to the tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus and automatically and without user interaction implement the one or more instructions according to a protocol governing operability of the apparatus, the protocol being configured to identify when drugs are to be dispensed by the apparatus, wherein implementing the one or more instructions causes the controller to dispense a drug at the at least one regulating unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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12. A method for securing and controlling the dispensing of drugs contained in a tamper resistant apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a tamper-resistant apparatus having a removable cover, a controller, at least one regulating unit having an entrance thereto, at least one variable insert that controls the amount of contents being dispensed from the regulating unit by restricting or expanding the entrance to the regulating unit, wherein the at least one variable insert is attached to an inner surface of an access compartment, and an apparatus body, wherein a portion of the apparatus body is configured to receive and retain one or more drugs; engaging a locking mechanism to prevent the separation of the apparatus cover from the apparatus body; programming the controller with a security input to control the operation of the locking mechanism; programming the controller to dispense the one or more drugs within the portion of the apparatus body at a controlled rate; and communicating activity of the apparatus body to an external administrative user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for securely dispensing drugs at a controlled rate, the apparatus comprising:
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a tamper-resistant canister, wherein the tamper-resistant canister is comprised of at least two portions, the at least two portions being movable with respect to each other to facilitate access within the canister; a communications component, within the tamper-resistant canister, the communications component configured to receive one or more instructions from a source external to the tamper-resistant canister; a control unit, within the tamper-resistant canister, the control unit configured to process the one or more instructions received by the communications component and automatically and without user interaction implement one of more actions based on the processed one or more instructions according to a protocol governing operability of the apparatus, the protocol being configured to identify when drugs are to be dispensed by the apparatus; an access compartment configured to facilitate reception of one or more drugs within the tamper-resistant canister when the compartment is unlocked, thereby permitting controlled movement of the two movable portions of the tamper-resistant canister and access into the tamper-resistant canister; a regulating unit in operable communication with the access compartment and the control unit, the regulating unit configured to regulate a size or an amount of the one or more drugs to be dispensed; at least one variable insert that controls the amount of contents being dispensed from the regulating unit by restricting or expanding an entrance to the regulating unit, wherein the at least one variable insert is attached to an inner surface of the access compartment; and a dispensing unit configured to dispense the one or more drugs according to at least one of the one or more instructions provided by the source external to the tamper-resistant canister and processed by the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification