Method and apparatus for dispensing a customized pharamaceutical mixture

• US 20030010791A1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Egg Factory LLC
• Original Assignee: The Egg Factory LLC
• Inventors: Skiles, Jeffrey F., Banko, Heidi, Elliott, A. Blair, Zelikovich, Mikhail, Gentiluomo, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/194,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/002 Compounding apparatus specially for enteral or parenteral nutritive solutions bottling liquids B67C
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture. In an embodiment of a method of the present invention, health information particular to a user of the mixture may be received interactively from the user, amounts of the components of the mixture to be dispensed may be determined based on the health information, and the amounts may be automatically mixed to produce the mixture. In an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus may include a plurality of containers, that contain multiple pharmaceutical substances, and a controller that selects the containers containing the substances that make up the mixture, adjusts the amounts of the substances to be dispensed, and controls the amounts dispensed to produce the mixture. The apparatus dispenses these amounts based on health information particular to a user of the mixture. Accordingly, the user receives a customized pharmaceutical mixture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

a plurality of containers containing multiple pharmaceutical substances; and

a controller in communication with the containers, the controller configured to select at least one of the containers, adjust amounts of the substances to be dispensed from the selected containers, and control the amounts dispensed to produce the customized pharmaceutical mixture,

wherein the amounts dispensed are determined based on particular health information of a user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are identified by mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or optical indicators on the containers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substances in the containers correlate to mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or optical indicators on the containers to ensure correct selection by the controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a support member,

wherein the containers are detachably connected to the support member and are replaceable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive interactively the health information from the user of the pharmaceutical mixture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive software updates regarding the pharmaceutical mixture.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store health information of a plurality of users and to retrieve the stored health information of a particular user when the particular user wants the pharmaceutical mixture.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to remind the user to take or that the user has taken the pharmaceutical mixture.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixture includes at least one of vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbals, health foods, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

11. An apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

a support member;

a plurality of containers detachably connected to the support member, the containers containing multiple pharmaceutical substances;

a user interface configured to receive input interactively from a user of the pharmaceutical mixture, the input including particular health information of the user; and

a processor in communication with the user interface and the containers, the processor configured to determine adjustments to amounts of the substances dispensed from the containers to produce the pharmaceutical mixture based on the input.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the containers are replaceable.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to store health information of a plurality of users and to retrieve the stored health information of a particular user when the particular user wants the pharmaceutical mixture.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the health information is input through passive identification of the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the health information is input from a diagnostic device, the device determining the health information from a physical sample from the user.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mixture includes at least one of vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbals, health foods, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive interactively particular health information from a user of the pharmaceutical mixture,

wherein the health information is input through passive identification of the user or from a diagnostic device, the device determining the health information from a physical sample from the user, and

wherein the health information is used to adjust the amounts of the substances dispensed.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the updates include information about new pharmaceutical substances and recommended daily allowance amounts,

wherein the updates are sent to the controller via a network or a disk and are sent from a pharmacy, a doctor, or a manufacturer.

17. An apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

a plurality of containers containing multiple pharmaceutical substances; and

a programmable controller in communication with the containers, the controller configured to receive program updates regarding the pharmaceutical substances and to adjust amounts of the substances dispensed to produce the pharmaceutical mixture based on the updates.

20. An apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

a support member;

a plurality of containers detachably connected to the support member, the containers containing multiple pharmaceutical substances, wherein each container is keyed into a particular location of the support member;

a user interface accessible by a plurality of users, the user interface configured to receive input interactively from one of the users of the pharmaceutical mixture, the input including particular health information of the user;

a processor in communication with the containers and the user interface, the processor configured to select at least one of the containers, determine adjustments to amounts of the substances to be dispensed from the selected containers, and control the amounts dispensed based on the input;

a mixer configured to mix the amounts of the substances from the selected containers to produce the pharmaceutical mixture; and

a collection area configured to receive the pharmaceutical mixture.

21. A method for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

receiving particular health information interactively from a user of the pharmaceutical mixture;

determining amounts of components of the pharmaceutical mixture to be dispensed based on the health information; and

automatically mixing the components to produce the mixture.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the components include vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbals, health foods, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the components include combinations or alterations of vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbals, health foods, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the health information is input through passive identification of the user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the health information is input from a diagnostic device, the device determining the health information from a physical sample from the user.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

reporting to the user an analysis of the health information; and

reporting to the user a diagnosis based on the health information.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

recognizing when a component is depleted;

notifying the user that the depleted component needs to be replenished; and

automatically ordering the depleted component via a network.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing health information of a plurality of users; and

retrieving the stored health information for one of the users when the one user wants the pharmaceutical mixture.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

reminding the user to consume or that the user has already consumed the pharmaceutical substance.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the mixture is dispensed in the form of a liquid, a solid, a powder, or a gas.

31. A method for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

determining amounts of components of the pharmaceutical mixture to be dispensed based on particular health information of a user;

selecting at least one of a plurality of containers which contain the components; and

dispensing the determined amounts from the selected containers to produce the mixture.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving the health information interactively from the user of the pharmaceutical mixture,

wherein the health information is input through passive identification of the user or from a diagnostic device, the device determining the health information from a physical sample from the user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the containers are identified by mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or optical indicators on the containers.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the components in the containers correlate to mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or optical indicators on the containers to ensure correct selection.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

notifying the user when a component in a container is depleted,

wherein the container is replaceable.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the user includes a single individual or a single household with multiple individuals.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the liquid supply includes water.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving the health information interactively from the user of the pharmaceutical mixture,

wherein the health information is input through passive identification of the user.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the components include vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbals, health foods, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

mixing a flavoring component to the mixture to augment the flavor of the mixture.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the components of the mixture are dispensed in liquid, solid, powder, or gaseous form.

36. A method for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

determining the nature of the pharmaceutical mixture based on particular health information of a user of the mixture;

determining components of the mixture based on the determined nature;

measuring amounts of the determined components;

dispensing the measured amounts from a plurality of containers, each container containing one of the determined components;

mixing the dispensed amounts together to form the mixture; and

dispensing the mixture to the user.

37. A machine readable medium containing program instructions for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture which, when the instructions are executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine the nature of the pharmaceutical mixture based on particular health information of a user of the mixture;

determine components of the mixture based on the determined nature;

select containers, each container containing one of the determined components; and

control dispensing of the determined components to produce the mixture.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

means for separately containing different pharmaceutical substances;

means for inputting particular health information of a user; and

means for adjusting amounts of the substances dispensed from the containing means based on the health information.

39. A method for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture, comprising:

selecting amounts of components of the pharmaceutical mixture to be dispensed;

mixing the components together into a liquid supply to produce the mixture; and

dispensing the liquid mixture to the user.