Computerized oral prescription administration devices and associated systems and methods

• US 9,981,116 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berkshire Biomedical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Berkshire Biomedical, LLC
• Inventors: Rouse, Thomas M., Owen, Susan B., Corey, Christy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Application Number:
  US15/708,045
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/609 Biometric patient identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Computerized oral prescription administration (COPA) devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a substance dispensing apparatus, comprising a mouthpiece having a recess customized to match with an intended user'"'"'s unique dentition; a user verification mechanism configured to determine whether the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition is positioned within the recess; and an actuator coupled to the mouthpiece and in communication with the user verification mechanism, the actuator configured to dispense a substance from a reservoir coupled to the mouthpiece in response to the user verification mechanism determining that the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition is positioned within the recess.

Claims

1. A substance dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a mouthpiece having a recess customized to match with an intended user'"'"'s unique dentition;

a user verification mechanism configured to determine whether the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition is positioned within the recess; and

an actuator coupled to the mouthpiece and in communication with the user verification mechanism, the actuator configured to dispense a substance from a reservoir coupled to the mouthpiece in response to the user verification mechanism determining that the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition is positioned within the recess.

2. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user verification mechanism includes a sensing element coupled to the mouthpiece.

3. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing element includes a sensor embedded within the mouthpiece.

4. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing element includes a plurality of sensors embedded within the mouthpiece along the recess.

5. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of sensors are coupled to at least one filament embedded within the mouthpiece along the recess.

6. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one filament is coupled between two and twenty sensors of the plurality of sensors.

7. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one filament comprises a flexible material.

8. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of sensors are coupled to a mesh structure.

9. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mesh structure is embedded within the mouthpiece adjacent to the recess.

10. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing element includes at least one pressure sensing element.

11. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing element includes at least one position sensing element.

12. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second user verification mechanism configured to verify the intended user based on a biological marker of the intended user.

13. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the biological marker is a fingerprint; and

the second user verification mechanism is configured to verify the intended user based on a fingerprint scan.

14. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the biological marker is a retina; and

the second user verification mechanism is configured to verify the intended user based on a retina scan.

15. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the biological marker is an iris; and

the second user verification mechanism is configured to verify the intended user based on an iris scan.

16. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the biological marker is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); and

the second user verification mechanism is configured to verify the intended user based on a DNA scan.

17. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the biological marker is a voice; and

the second user verification mechanism is configured to verify the intended user based on voice recognition.

18. The substance dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user verification mechanism is configured to determine whether the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition is positioned within the recess by comparing a current dentition profile to a pre-determined dentition profile associated with the intended user'"'"'s unique dentition.