Controlled dosage form-dispensing system

• US 10,456,332 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P.C.O.A. Devices Ltd.
• Original Assignee: P.C.O.A. Devices Ltd.
• Inventors: Paz, Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/321,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20170135907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

This invention provides a controlled dosage form-dispensing device, comprising a multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit, wherein said unit is provided with a plurality of individual dosage form-containing storage chambers with respective delivery ports; and a personal medication dispenser comprising a fixed dosage form extracting station comprising a dosage form receiving and extracting mechanism; wherein the medication dispenser is provided with a controller which moves the bulk medicine storage and distribution unit sequentially bringing a respective delivery port of a predetermined chamber into register with the fixed dosage form extracting station such that the dosage form receiving and extracting mechanism extracts and receives only one dosage form at a time. The dispensing device is further provided with at least one portable dosage form-dispensing cassette having a plurality of compartments and a first delivery controller for delivery of a predetermined dosage form from a predetermined compartment of the portable dosage form-dispensing cassette, the at least one portable cassette being releasably attachable to a personal medication dispenser; and a second delivery controller for the controlled delivery of predetermined dosage forms from the multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit to the portable dosage form-dispensing cassette via a conduit in the personal medication dispenser.

Claims

1. A controlled dosage form-dispensing device, comprising:

a. a multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit, wherein said unit is provided with a plurality of individual dosage form-containing storage chambers with respective delivery ports;

a personal medication dispenser comprising;

a fixed dosage form extracting station comprising a dosage form receiving and extracting mechanism; and

a pair of chutes to receive and deliver the dosage form to either at least one portable dosage form-dispensing cassette or to a dispensing receptacle, said chutes being selectively opened and closed by a pivoting hatch;

wherein said personal medication dispenser is provided with a controller which moves said bulk medicine storage and distribution unit sequentially bringing said respective delivery port of a predetermined chamber into register with said fixed dosage form extracting station such that said dosage form receiving and extracting mechanism extracts and receives only one dosage form at a time;

c. the at least one portable dosage form-dispensing cassette having a plurality of compartments and a first delivery controller for delivery of a predetermined dosage form from a predetermined compartment of said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette, said at least one portable dosage form-dispensing cassette being releasably attachable to the personal medication dispenser; and

d. a second delivery controller for the controlled delivery of predetermined dosage forms from said multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit to said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette via one of said chutes.

2. A controlled dosage form-dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein each chamber is sized to receive and engage individual drug distributor issued, pre-packaged dosage form storage containers.

3. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 2, wherein said individual drug distributor issued, prepackaged dosage form storage containers are locked once filled, and are unlockable only within said personal medication dispenser.

4. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said device is provided with a portable pocket dispensing unit into which said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette is inserted.

5. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 4, wherein said portable pocket dispensing unit is in wireless communication with a network.

6. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said device dispenses drugs and provides any one of an audio, visual and radio communication signal to a user according to the information received from a RFID tag.

7. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette is disposable.

8. A controlled dosage form dispending device of claim 1, wherein said personal medication dispenser comprises a rotator which rotates said multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit.

9. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein each chamber accommodates or contains a multiplicity of a single type of dosage form.

10. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit is removable from said personal medication dispenser for external prepackaging of drug distributor issued dosage forms.

11. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said personal medication dispenser comprises a conduit for the controlled delivery of predetermined dosage forms from said multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit to a dispensing receptacle for receiving a pill from said channel and dispensing the same.

12. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said personal medication dispenser is in communication with said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette, said portable dosage form-dispensing cassette having an RFID tag for storing information related to the cassette contents.

13. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said multi-chamber, bulk medicine storage and distribution unit is removable and disposable.

14. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said individual chambers are disposable.

15. A controlled dosage form dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said personal medication dispenser is in wireless communication with a network.