The present invention relates to prescription medicines and, more particularly, to portable prescription medicine dispensing devices.
A prescription drug is a pharmaceutical preparation that legally requires a medical prescription to be dispensed to a patient. A prescription is a direction, usually written, by a physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy, which is required for a patient to purchase a prescription drug from a pharmacist. The use of prescription drugs has steadily increased since the 1960s. In the U.S., for example, nearly 90% of older adults 62-85 years of age use at least one prescription drug, while nearly 40% take at least five prescription medicines concurrently.
In the field of prescription drugs, medical adherence or patient compliance mean the adherence of a patient to a prescribed medicine routine, namely, the taking of a prescription drug at the right dose, at the right time, and in the right way and frequency. Non-adherence or patient non-compliance, the failure of a patient to take their medicine as prescribed, can cause chronic disease treatment failure and, in some instances, death. In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 20-30 percent of new prescriptions are never filled at a pharmacy, that medicine is not taken as prescribed approximately 50 percent of the time, that after six months the majority of patients prescribed medicines for chronic diseases take less medicine than prescribed or stop taking the medicine altogether, and that only about 50 percent of patients who take medicines for high blood pressure continue taking their medicine during long-term treatment.
There are many reasons that patients fail to take their medicines as prescribed. However, a significant reason for patient non-compliance related to prescription drugs is the inherent difficultly some patients experience managing multiple prescriptions. Accordingly, those having regard for the art will readily appreciate that there is a need for a cost-effective and practicable way for managing multiple prescriptions easily and efficiently and for enabling physicians and health care professionals to track and monitor patient compliance with multiple prescriptions.
According to the principle of the invention, a portable medicine dispensing apparatus includes a housing supporting a dispenser, a controller, and separate medicine storing and dispensing units, each of the units when activated is for automatically depositing a pill of medicine therefrom into the dispenser; and the controller for independently and automatically activating each of the units at pre-determined times. A lid is mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position for concurrently enclosing and disabling unauthorized access to the units and to medication deposited therein, and an open position for enabling authorized access to the units. A lock assembly is for locking the lid to the housing when the lid is in the closed position for disabling unauthorized movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position. A signal device is for issuing an alert when activated, and the controller is for activating the signal device proximate to each said predetermined time. The signal device is an aural signal device, and the alert is an audible alert. In another embodiment, the signal device is a visual signal device, and the alert is a visual alert. In yet another embodiment, the signal device is a vibrator, and the alarm comprises a vibratory alert. A sensor is for sensing a withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser; and the signal device automatically deactivates when the sensor senses the withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser. The controller is for issuing a notification to an individual subscriber unit proximate to each said predetermined time, the notification being a reminder to take medication.
According to the principle of the invention, a portable medicine dispensing apparatus includes a housing supporting a dispenser, a controller, and separate medicine storing and dispensing units. Each of the units includes a container including a bottom, a turntable in the container atop the bottom, the turntable mounted for rotation and includes a single pill-receiving aperture, the turntable and the bottom are downwardly inclined concurrently from an upper side of the container to a lower side of the container, the upper side of the container being elevated relative to the lower side of the container, the bottom includes a single discharge opening at the upper side of the container, the container for receiving identically sized and shaped pills of medicine atop the turntable and collecting the pills by gravity at the lower side of the container, the pill-receiving aperture sized and shaped corresponding to the size and the shape of each of the pills of medicine, a motor when activated automatically rotates the turntable from a loading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container to an unloading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the upper side of the container over and registered with the discharge opening, for conveying a pill of medicine received in the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container from the lower side of the container to the discharge opening for enabling the pill of medicine to pass through the discharge opening from the pill-receiving aperture from within the container to the dispenser, and back to the loading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container, and the turntable isolates the container from the discharge opening for disabling pills in the container atop the turntable from passing through the discharge opening from within the container to the dispenser when the turntable is not in the unloading position of the pill-receiving aperture. The controller is for independently and automatically activating each of the motors at pre-determined times. The pill-receiving apertures of the respective units are differently sized and shaped for corresponding the units to differently sized and shaped pills of medicine. A lid is mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position for concurrently enclosing and disabling unauthorized access to the units, and an open position for enabling authorized access to the units. A lock assembly is for locking the lid to the housing when the lid is in the closed position for disabling unauthorized movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position. A signal device is for issuing an alert when activated, and the controller for activating the signal device proximate to each said predetermined time. The signal device is an aural signal device, and the alert is an audible alert. In another embodiment, the signal device is a visual signal device, and the alert is a visual alert. In yet another embodiment, the signal device is a vibrator, and the alarm comprises a vibratory alert. A sensor is for sensing a withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser; and the signal device automatically deactivates when the sensor senses the withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser. The controller is for issuing a notification to an individual subscriber unit proximate to each said predetermined time, the notification being a reminder to take medication.
According to the principle of the invention, a portable medicine dispensing apparatus includes a housing supporting a dispenser, a controller, and separate medicine storing and dispensing units. Each of the units includes a container including a bottom, a turntable in the container atop the bottom, the turntable mounted for rotation and includes a single pill-receiving aperture, the turntable and the bottom are downwardly inclined concurrently from an upper side of the container to a lower side of the container, the upper side of the container being elevated relative to the lower side of the container, the bottom includes a single discharge opening at the upper side of the container to the dispenser, the container pre-filled with a prescription of identically sized and shaped pills of medicine, the pills of medicine being enclosed in the container atop the turntable, and collected by gravity at the lower side of the container, the pill-receiving aperture is sized and shaped corresponding to the size and the shape of each of the pills of medicine, a motor when activated automatically rotates the turntable from a loading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container to an unloading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the upper side of the container over and registered with the discharge opening, for conveying a pill of medicine received in the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container from the lower side of the container to the discharge opening for enabling the pill of medicine to pass through the discharge opening from the pill-receiving aperture from within the container to the dispenser, and back to the loading position of the pill-receiving aperture at the lower side of the container, and the turntable isolates the container from the discharge opening for disabling pills in the container atop the turntable from passing through the discharge opening from within the container to the dispenser when the turntable is not in the unloading position of the pill-receiving aperture. The controller is for independently and automatically activating each of the motors at pre-determined times, the pills of medicine of the respective prescriptions are differently sized and shaped, and the pill-receiving apertures of the respective units are differently sized and shaped corresponding the units to the differently sized and shaped pills of medicine of the respective prescriptions. A lid is mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position for concurrently enclosing and disabling unauthorized access to the units, and an open position for enabling authorized access to the units, the lid is in the closed position, and a lock assembly locks the lid to the housing in the closed position disabling unauthorized movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position. A signal device is for issuing an alert when activated, and the controller for activating the signal device proximate to each said predetermined time. The signal device is an aural signal device, and the alert is an audible alert. In another embodiment, the signal device is a visual signal device, and the alert is a visual alert. In yet another embodiment, the signal device is a vibrator, and the alarm comprises a vibratory alert. A sensor is for sensing a withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser; and the signal device automatically deactivates when the sensor senses the withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from the dispenser. The controller is for issuing a notification to an individual subscriber unit proximate to each said predetermined time, the notification being a reminder to take medication.
Referring to the drawings:
Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to
As is known and customary in the art of pills of medicine, for differentiation and identification purposes pills of different medicine conventionally provided in different shapes, standard industry shapes being round, oblong, oval, square, rectangular, diamond, 3-sided, 5-sided, 6-sided, 7-sided, and 8-sided, etc., and in different corresponding sizes. Apparatus 50 is specifically configured to correspond to the inherently different shapes and sizes of pills of medicine of different prescriptions, and to automatically dispense pills of medicine of different prescriptions at the prescribed times and in the prescribed amounts for enabling patients to effortlessly and easily take their medicine according to the prescription directives of the various prescriptions.
Housing 51 and the containers and the caps of the various units 52 are formed of a material or a combination of materials having the properties of strength, rigidity, resilience, and resistance to heat, such as aluminum, steel, a metal composite, thermosetting plastic, or the like. Housing 51 is fashioned of a plurality of parts joined together with an adhesive, welding, heat bonding, or other joinery according to known assembly techniques. Referencing
In
Referring to
A pill-conveyance turntable 120, made of the same material or combination of materials as container 100 and cap 101, is located in volume 115, and is positioned atop upper surface 66A of top 66. A collar 122 of a rotary motor 121 is affixed in an opening 123 through bottom 116 from within container 110 to within housing 51, namely, from volume 115 of container 100 to volume 75 of housing 51. Motor 121 is affixed to collar 122, and depends downwardly from collar 122 from against the undersurface 66B of top 66 of housing 51 that defines bottom 116 of container 100 and into volume 75. Motor 121 is operatively coupled to turntable 120 with a drive shaft 124 coupled between motor 121 and turntable 120. Drive shaft 124 extends through collar 122 from motor 121 to turntable 120, and is rigidly attached to the geometric center of turntable 120 thereby operatively coupling motor 121 to turntable 120, in which rotation of drive shaft 124 by motor 121 imparts corresponding rotation to turntable 120. Motor 121 imparts corresponding rotation turntable 120 via drive shaft 124 rotating turntable 120 in a counterclockwise direction as generally indicated by the arcuate arrowed lines A in
Referring to
Turntable 120 has a single pill-receiving aperture 134 formed therethrough, being without a plurality of pill-receiving apertures therethrough. Aperture 134 is adjacent to and slightly inboard of perimeter edge 132 between perimeter edge 132 and the geometric center of turntable 120, and extends through the thickness of turntable 120 from upper surface 130 to lower surface 131. Turntable 120 and bottom 116 of container 100, upper surface 66A of top 66 in this example, are parallel relative to each other and are, therefore, concurrently downwardly inclined concurrently from upper side 118 of container 100 to lower side 119 of container 100. The bottom of container 100 includes a single discharge opening 135 at upper side 118 of container 100 to dispenser 80, namely, to within housing 51 from within container 100, namely, to within volume 75 of housing 51 from within volume 115 of container 100 and, thus, to dispenser 80. Discharge opening 135 extends through bottom 116 of container 100, namely, through top 66 of housing 51 from upper surface 66A of top 66 to lower or undersurface 66B of top 66 facing volume 75. There is only one discharge opening for container 100.
In
Pills 141 are identically shaped, oblong in this example, and sized, and each has an inherent weight. The chosen number of pills 141 constitutes prescription 140 of pills 141 of medicine for a predetermined patient, i.e. an authorized user. Container 100 is specifically configured to relate to the size and shape of each pill 141, in which discharge opening 135 and pill-receiving aperture 134 each has a size and a shape, oblong in this example, which correspond to the size and the shape of each of pills 141 of medicine of prescription 140. Pill-receiving aperture 134 and discharge opening 135 are identically sized and shaped and are just slightly larger in size compared to the size of each of pills 141 for enabling only one pill 141 at a time to be received therein and to pass therethrough. This characterizes how pill-receiving aperture 134 and discharge opening 135 are each sufficiently sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of each pill 141, while at the same enabling each pill 141 to pass therethrough, one after the other, according to the invention.
Pill-receiving aperture 134 is movable via the rotation of turntable 120 between a loading position and an unloading position. Pill-receiving aperture 134 is at lower side 119 of container 110, when pill-receiving aperture 134 is in its loading position indicated by the dotted line position of pill-receiving aperture 134 in
In the operation of unit 52A, turntable 120 is initially set to the loading position of pill-receiving aperture 134 at the dotted line position of pill-receiving aperture 134 in
In
With the exception of the size and shape of the pill-receiving aperture 134 and the discharge opening 135, units 52B-52E are identical in every respect to unit 52A and function identically to unit 52A, and the foregoing discussion of unit 52 applies in every respect to units 52B-52E and the same reference characters of unit 52A are also used with units 52B-52B as needed throughout the balance of this disclosure. Units 52 are specifically configured to receive and dispense different respective prescriptions of different identically sized and shaped pills of medicine. As described above, unit 52A is for receiving and dispensing identically shaped and sized pills 141 of prescription 140, in which pill-receiving aperture 134, discharge opening 135, and each pill 141 of prescription 140 of unit 52A are oblong and sized correspondingly. The remaining units 52B-52E will now be discussed briefly in conjunction with their separate prescriptions.
In
In
Display 231, speaker 232, and light 233 are signal devices, which are each configured to issue alerts/signals each for notifying/alerting a patient when it is time to take a dosage of medicine dispensed to dispenser 80, according to the invention. Display 231 is a visual signal device which when activated emits visual signals being text/written messages that are capable of being seen and read. Display 231 is a conventional electronic display commonly found in home thermostats and the like and any suitable and well known electronic display can be used. Speaker 232 is a conventional aural device commonly found in cellular phones and the like that when activated emits audible stimuli, signals, or alarms capable of being heard. Light 233 is, like display 231, a type of visual signal device in the nature of a conventional light source operative to emit illumination when activated in the nature of visual signals, stimuli, or alarms capable of being seen, such as a constant illumination or flashing illumination. Light 233 is preferably at least one light-emitting diode (LED). Processor 221 is a conventional and well-known processor, and storage 223 is conventional electronic storage. Processor 221 is programmed with instructions stored in storage 223 which when executed by processor 221 cause processor 221 to perform the functions of controller 220 disclosed herein and to, according to the invention, record the operations of apparatus 50 in storage 223, which can be transmitted electronically via transmitter/receiver 22 from storage 223 to a remote computer in communication with controller 220 for storage into a patient's electronic medical record. The operations of apparatus 50 recorded in storage 233 document/record the patient's compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication of a prescription of apparatus 50, according to the invention. Controller 220 is programmed via the programming of processor 221, and operates according to the instructions/programming in storage 223 executed by processor 221. Data port 236 is conventional and can be connected to computer 237 (
ON/OFF switch 100, controller 220, display 231, speaker 232, light 233, sensor 238, and motors 121A-121E are electrically connected with conventional electronic circuitry/wiring. The conventional circuitry/wiring incorporated in apparatus 50 operatively couples processor 221 to transmitter/receiver 222 and storage 223, power source 239, sensor 238, display 231, speaker 232, light 233, and motor 121 of each of units 52A-52E. ON/OFF switch 230 is the main ON/OFF switch of apparatus 50, and is a conventional and readily available toggle switch movable between an ON position powering and activating controller 220, motors 121A-121E, display 231, speaker 232, light 233, and sensor 238, and an OFF position deactivating the described electrical components of apparatus 50. In the discussion of the operation of apparatus 50, ON/OFF switch 230 is enabled in the ON position.
The electrical components of apparatus 50 described herein operate in a DC-powered environment, and power source 239 is an onboard DC power source consisting of one or more conventional rechargeable batteries which can be periodically recharged by connecting plug 235 to a dedicated power source via a power cord. The conventional electric circuitry/wiring enables apparatus 50 to run off the power of a dedicated power source when plug 235 is electrically connected to a dedicated power source via a power cord, while at the same time enabling the recharging of the apparatus 50 onboard power source 239. Those having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that any suitable form of battery power source, including any desired or suitable number of batteries, including one or more rechargeable batteries, may be provided and utilized for the power source onboard apparatus 50. If desired, apparatus 50 can be furnished with a power indicator light that illuminates in the ON position of switch 230 to provide a visual indication that control apparatus 50 is activated or otherwise powered up, and that deactivates in the OFF position of switch 230 to provide a visual indication that apparatus 50 is deactivated or otherwise powered down.
Processor 221 is preprogrammed with instructions maintained in storage 223 that when executed by processor 221 enables controller 220 to operate units 52A-52E, display 231, speaker 232, light 233, and to function in concert sensor 238 operatively connected to processor 221 according to the following discussion of the apparatus 50 functions. The operation of units 52A-52B by the controller 220 processor 221 is identical. Accordingly, the operation of unit 52A by the controller 220 will now be discussed, with the understanding that the ensuing discussion of unit 52A applies equally to each of the remaining units 52B-52E.
In the operation of unit 52A, container 100 is opened, charged/filled with prescription 140 of a predetermined number of pills 141 of medicine in
To program storage 223 in one embodiment, apparatus 50 is turned ON by moving switch 239 from its OFF position to its ON position, data port 236 is connected to a computer 237 in
In use, apparatus 50 is turned ON by moving switch 239 from its OFF position to its ON position and a small cup 249 is placed into dispenser 80 atop sensor 238 in
When the pill 141 deposits into cup 249, sensor 238, which is a conventional load cell, automatically senses the arrival of pill 141 when it senses the inherent weight of pill 141 and, in response, automatically generates a first signal, an “arrival” signal, that is received by processor 221 via the operative coupling between sensor 238 to processor 221. In response to receiving this first/arrival signal from sensor 238, i.e. in response to sensor 238 sensing the arrival of pill 141 in dispenser 80, processor 221 is responsive and automatically deactivates motor 121, and at the same time automatically transmits a signal, a “dispensed” signal. The signal devices operatively coupled to controller 220 automatically activate in response to the dispensed signal to notify or otherwise alert a patient, via the respective notifications/alarms/alerts, prescribed the medicine of prescription 140 that a dosage in the form of pill 141 is in dispenser 80 and that it is time to take the pill 141 in cup 249 in dispenser 80, according to the invention. When processor 221 deactivates motor 121, motor 121 continuous to rotate until pill-receiving aperture 134 reaches its starting loading position at lower side 119 of container 120. The rate of rotation of turntable 120 by motor 121 is chosen to be sufficiently slow to enable a pill that falls into housing 51 from discharge opening 135 to fall by gravity into dispenser 80 before turntable 120 rotates pill-receiving opening 135 back to its starting loading position. Furthermore, motor 121 will continue to rotate turntable 120 until a pill is dispensed to dispenser 80 and sensor 238 senses the arrival of a pill by dispenser 80.
In response to activation of display 231 by processor 221, display 231, a visual signal device, issues its notification, a visual alarm/alert being a “medication dispensed message,” a text message preprogrammed in storage 223 that is capable of being seen and read, such as “TIME TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE,” “PLEASE TAKE YOUR MEDICINE,” or other similar message intended to communicate that it is time to take a dosage of medicine, according to the invention. In response to activation of speaker 232 by processor 221, speaker 221, an aural signal device, issues its notification, an audible alarm/alert providing to the patient an audible signal or alarm alerting him that it is time to take his medicine. The audible alarm/alert is preferably a shrill, easily heard noise, serious of noises, or pattern of noises, and may also be a pre-recorded verbal message programmed in storage 223, such as “TIME TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE,” “PLEASE TAKE YOUR MEDICINE,” or the like, designed to communicate that it is time for the patient to take his medicine. Each such message for unit 52A and prescription 140 therein can include additional information identifying the patient prescribed the given medication, such as the name of the patent, i.e. “JOHN SMITH,” “EDWARD GIBBS,” “JANE CAMPBELL,” to prevent confusion and to ensure the patient knows the medication is for him/her. In response to activation of light 233 by processor 221, light 233, a visual signal device, illuminates to issue its notification being an illumination capable of being seen providing to a patient a visual notification/signal of the time to take his medicine. The illumination issued by light 233, a visual notification/alarm/alert, is bright and intended to be easily seen, and can be a blinking/flashing illumination, or a constant illumination as may be desired. In response to the alarms/alerts issued by the various signal devices, display 231, speaker 232, and light 233, the patient being alerted to the time to take his medicine will reach into dispenser 80 by hand and grab and withdraw cup 249, and pill 141 contained therein, outwardly from dispenser 80, as indicated by the dotted line position of cup 249 in
Processor 221 of controller 220 can be programmed with instructions maintained by storage 223 to activate and correspondingly deactivate one of the signal devices, two of the signal devices, or, as explained above, each of the signal devices depending on particular preferences. Furthermore, although apparatus 50 incorporates two visual signal devices, display 231 and light 233, and one aural signal device, speaker 232, apparatus 50 can be configured with just one of the signal devices or two of the three signal devices as may be desired. In an alternate embodiment, controller 220 is programmed via instructions/programming in storage 223 that when executed by processor 221 causes processor to activate one or more of the above-described signal devices proximate to each described predetermined time instead of being activated in response to sensor 238 sensing the arrival of medication, i.e. at least one pill, in dispenser 80. In this embodiment, controller 220 operates as before and deactivates one or more of the signal devices in response to sensor 238 sensing the withdrawal of medication, i.e. at least one pill, from dispenser 80.
Processor 221 of controller 220 can be programmed with instructions maintained by storage 223 to activate and correspondingly deactivate one of the signal devices, two of the signal devices, or, as explained above, each of the signal devices depending on particular preferences. Furthermore, although apparatus 50 incorporates two visual signal devices, display 231 and light 233, and one aural signal device, speaker 232, apparatus 50 can be configured with just one of the signal devices or two of the three signal devices as may be desired. Again, all the operations of apparatus 50 in connection with the dispensing of medication of prescription 140 are recorded in storage 233 and document/record the patient's compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication of prescription 140 of apparatus 50, according to the invention.
According to the invention, apparatus 50 is useful with individual subscriber units 242. Individual subscriber units 242 each consist of a wireless communications device capable of communicating through wireless networks, such as a wireless computer network or Internet, and a wireless telephonic network or cellular network. Individual subscriber units 240 may each include, for instance, a cellular phone or other cellular device, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a computer, a laptop computer, or other form of conventional or readily-available wireless communications device structured to communicate through a wireless computer network and also a wireless telephonic network. Each individual subscriber units 240 is conventionally assigned an address that is used by others to communicate with that individual subscriber unit, such as a telephone number used by others to issue calls to that individual subscriber unit, such as voice calls, text message calls or simply text messages, or an email address used by others to issue emails to that individual subscriber unit 242.
According to the invention, at each predetermined time to take a given dosage of medication, when processor 221 of controller 220 automatically transmits the “dispensed” signal as described above proximate to each predetermined time to take the given dosage of medication, controller 220 is response and automatically issues a message, a corresponding “dispensed” notification/alarm/alert, via transmitter/receiver 222 to individual subscriber unit 242A assigned to the patient. The issued message is the “medication dispensed message” stored in storage 223, as previously described being a reminder or notification to take medication dispensed to dispenser 80. Accordingly, the medication dispensed message from storage 223 is for notifying/alerting the intended recipient, the patient prescribed the medicine of prescription 140, that a dosage of medication in the form of pill 141 in this example is in dispenser 80 and that it is time to take the pill 141 in cup 249 in dispenser 80. The message to individual subscriber unit is an email in one embodiment, and is a text message in another embodiment. Providing notifications/alerts via individual subscriber unit 242A provide an additional level of notification for the patient.
In this embodiment of the invention, storage 223 is preprogrammed with one or more email addresses and one or more cellular phone numbers for sending emails and/or text messages and/or audio files not only to individual subscriber unit 242A of the patient but also individual subscriber units 242 of other chosen recipients, such as the patient's doctor, caregiver, spouse, significant other, etc., for enabling each of these other chosen recipients to, along with the patient, to receive the corresponding notifications and to follow up with the patient to ensure he is taking his medication in compliance with the prescription. Accordingly, apparatus 50 can be associated with multiple individual subscriber units 242 each assigned to different recipients, including the patient, the patient's doctor, pharmacist, caregiver, spouse, etc.
Each individual subscriber unit 242 is preferably configured with application 243, an application designed for an individual subscriber unit, designed to receive the medication dispensed messages in the form of conventional push notifications to alert the intended recipient of the time to take the medication via application 243. In addition to providing an alert or notification of the time to take a dosage of medication, each message can contain additional information unique to the given prescription and/or the patient, including a patient file reference, the name and contact information for the patient, information for the prescribing doctor, the pharmacy from which the medication was dispensed, etc., and/or other chosen information. According to the invention, each individual subscriber unit 242 is a form of a signal device operatively coupled to controller 220 for issuing an alert, i.e. a received text message from controller 220, a received email message from controller 220, and/a received application 243 push notification from controller 220.
Transmitter/receiver 221 enables remote communication between controller 220 and networked appliances, such as computer 240, for enabling the electronic transmission of instructions to storage 223 from computer 240 for unit 52A, for remotely controlling apparatus 50 from computer 240 or other networked device for controlling the operation of unit 52A, and for electronically transmitting data from storage 223 into electronic data file or record 241B at computer 240 for prescription 140 of unit 52A. Computer 240 maintains record 241B that is unique to prescription 140 of unit 52A and to the patient prescribed prescription 140. Record 241B is configured with the prescription information for prescription 140, the patient prescribed prescription 140, the patient's prescribing doctor, the patient's pharmacy, and the operations of apparatus 50 in conjunction with unit 52A. Record 241B is an electronic medical record related to prescription 140 and the dispensing of prescription via apparatus 50 documenting the patient's compliance or non-compliance related to taking the medication of prescription 140.
Processor 221 of controller 220 is automatically programmed, whether by processor 221 accessing computer 240 or computer 240 accessing processor 221. In one embodiment, computer 240 is configured to automatically initiate communication with controller 220 at predetermined times for transmitting prescription information to controller 220. In another embodiment, processor 221 of controller 220 is configured to automatically request/fetch prescription information from computer 240, by periodically pooling computer 240 for updates, such as once in every few days, hours, minutes, or seconds. Processor 221 of controller 220 is also configured to automatically electronically transmit information of the operation of apparatus 50 in conjunction with the operation of unit 52A with prescription 140 to computer 240 for storage in corresponding data file or record 241B in
When the prescription schedule/information at computer 240 changes or is updated, computer 240 can be configured to automatically connect to processor 221 of controller 220 and automatically electronically transmit the updated information via automatic updating enabling controller 220 to operate apparatus 50 accordingly. Furthermore, if instructions entered into computer 240 call for discontinuing medicine dispensing, such as if the information of the operation of apparatus 50 recorded in storage 233 indicates a patient's non-compliance in taking the medication of a prescription of apparatus 50, controller 220 will automatically deactivate medicine dispensing from unit 52A in response when the information is downloaded to processor 221 from computer 240. Any prescription-dispensing instructions uploaded into processor 221 is executed by processor 221 automatically and immediately in response to cause controller 220 to automatically operate apparatus 50 in conjunction with unit 52A and the prescription thereof accordingly.
Preferably, electronic access to record 241B is made via portal 241A, a gateway, at computer 240 to record 241B, via a chosen login procedure to enable record 241B information for unit 52A and its corresponding prescription to be accessed, to program apparatus 50 with prescription 140 instructions to operate unit 52A for dispensing prescription 140 according to a predetermined schedule, and to selectively re-program apparatus 50 with prescription instructions for a new prescription to be dispensed from unit 52A, according to the invention. Preferably, prescription information for prescription 140 of unit 52A of apparatus 50 is entered into record 241B via portal 241A, and transmitted electronically therefrom in response to storage 223. The login procedure can incorporate biometric, RFID, or other selected credenetials to enable access to record 241B via portal 241. Individual subscriber units 242 configured with application 243 can also access record 241B via portal 241A using a chosen and customary login procedure. The login procedure can be different for different users, for enabling certain authorized parties, such as doctors, pharmacists, and the like, to access change/update the information in record 241B for programming apparatus 50, and for enabling other authorized users, such as the patient, caregiver, spouse, etc., to access record 241B only for viewing.
According to the invention, the prescription instructions for prescription 140 include the number of pills in prescription, such as 10 pills, 20 pills, 25 pills, 30 pills, or other number of pills. Part of the prescription instructions programmed into storage 223 is to keep track of the number of pills 141 of prescription 140 dispensed. When the number of pills 141 dispensed is reaching the end of the prescription 140, such as when there is one, two, three, four, five, or other chosen number of pills 141 remaining in prescription, processor 221 is responsive and issues one or more notifications/alerts, such as email alerts or text message alerts, to one or more designated recipients, such as the patient, a designed caregiver, a spouse, the prescribing doctor, pharmacist, etc., to notify/alert the one or more intended recipients that prescription 140 in apparatus 50 is running low and in need of refilling to enable the recipient to follow up with the patient and/or the patient to take any necessary steps to renew the prescription. When a prescription is renewed, apparatus 50 is charged with a refill prescription as before and apparatus 50 is put to use as before for dispensing the given medication according to this disclosure.
Controller 220 automatically and independently operates each of units 52A-52E in this way as described in connection with unit 52A. When multiple pills of medicine are dispensed from two or more of units 52 at or approximately at the same time, sensor 238 senses medication arrival an dissues the second signal in response and the process continues as described above. Portal 241A described above can relate to one prescription of one of units 52A-52E, unit 52A in the above example, or to two or more prescriptions of two or more of units 52A-52E for the same patient. Accordingly, portal 241A can be unique to one prescription for one patient and a corresponding one of units 52A-52E, or to two or more prescriptions and a corresponding number of units 52A-52E for the same patient.
Apparatus 50 can be used with one prescription of a prescription drug, or a plurality of prescriptions of different prescription drugs, whether for the same patient or different patients. When apparatus 50 is used with one prescription of a prescription drug, processor 221 is programmed with instructions housed in storage 223 for operating a corresponding one of the units 52 charged with the chosen prescription drug. When apparatus 50 is used with two, three, four, or five prescriptions of different prescription drugs, processor 221 is programmed with instructions housed in storage 223 for operating each one of units 52 charged with the chosen prescription drug as described above. Furthermore, controller 220 can be programmed to activate light 233 to issue a first signal, such as the color blue, when there is no medicine in dispenser 80, a second different signal, such as the color green, when there is medicine in dispenser 80 as sensed by sensor 238, and a different third signal, such as the color red, when there is medicine in dispenser 80 as sensed by sensor 238 exceeding a predetermined period of time, such as five minutes, ten minutes, or other selected duration of time from when the medicine is deposited into dispenser 80.
When apparatus 50 houses medicines for multiple patients, processor 221 of controller 220 can be programmed with multiple patient profiles and a user interface, such as a touchscreen or the like, of apparatus 50 operatively connected to processor 221 can be accessed and used to select different patient profiles of apparatus 50. After a particular profile is selected, processor 221, preprogrammed with the multiple user profile information, will cause controller 220 to automatically activate apparatus 50 according to the chosen profile. In the alternative, the patient can select a dispense button on apparatus 50 that will cause processor 221 of controller 220 to automatically activate apparatus 50 to automatically issue on or more medicines to dispenser 80 in response.
Referring to
Continuous sidewall 251 includes opposed side walls 270 and 271 that extend between opposed front and back walls 272 and 273. Eye coupling 280 projects radially outward from outer surface 252 of front wall 272 proximate to lower edge 255 at an intermediate location between side walls 270 and 271, and a corresponding eye coupling 281 projects outward from outer surface 61 of front 73 of continuous sidewall 60 of housing 51 between sides 71 and 72 of housing 51.
Lid 250 is mounted rotatably to housing 51 for rotation with hinge 300 in
Those having regard for the art will readily appreciate that an exemplary portable medicine dispensing apparatus 50 is disclosed, which includes housing 51 supporting dispenser 80, controller 220, and separate medicine storing and dispensing units 52, each of units 52 when activated is for automatically depositing a pill of medicine therefrom into dispenser 80, and controller 220 for independently and automatically activating each of units 52 at pre-determined times. Each of units 52 includes container 100 including bottom 116, turntable 120 in container 100 atop bottom 116, turntable 120 mounted for rotation and includes single pill-receiving aperture 134, an opening through turntable 120, turntable 120 and bottom 116 are concurrently downwardly inclined at the same angle of inclination from upper side 118 of container 100 to lower side 119 of container 10, upper side 118 of container 100 being elevated relative to lower side 119 of container 100, bottom 116 includes single discharge opening 135 at upper side 118 of container 100, container 100 for receiving identically sized and shaped pills of medicine atop turntable 120 and collecting the pills by gravity at lower side 119 of container 100, pill-receiving aperture 134 sized and shaped corresponding to the size and the shape of each of the pills of medicine, motor 121 when activated automatically rotates turntable 120 from the loading position of pill-receiving aperture 134 at lower side 119 of container 100 to the unloading position of pill-receiving aperture 134 at upper side 118 of container 100 over and registered with discharge opening 135, for conveying a pill of medicine received in pill-receiving aperture 134 at lower side 119 of container 100 from lower side 119 of container 100 to discharge opening 135 for enabling the pill of medicine to pass through discharge opening 135 from pill-receiving aperture 134 from within container 100 to dispenser 80, and back to the loading position of pill-receiving aperture 134 at lower side 119 of container 100, and turntable 130 isolates container 100 from discharge opening 135 for disabling pills in container 100 atop turntable 120 from passing through discharge opening 135 from within container 100 to dispenser 80 when turntable 120 is not in the unloading position of pill-receiving aperture 134. Controller 220 is for independently and automatically activating each of motors 121 at pre-determined times. Pill-receiving apertures 134 of the respective units 52 are differently sized and shaped for corresponding units 52 to differently sized and shaped pills of medicine. Lid 250 is mounted to housing 51 for movement between a closed position for concurrently enclosing and disabling unauthorized access to units 52, and an open position for enabling authorized access to units 52. A lock assembly is for locking lid 250 to housing when lid 250 is in the closed position for disabling unauthorized movement of lid 250 from the closed position to the open position. A signal device is for issuing a notification/alarm/alert when activated, and controller 220 for activating the signal device proximate to each said predetermined time. The signal device is aural signal device 232, and the alert is an audible alert. In another embodiment, the signal device is visual signal device 231/234, and the alert is a visual alert. In yet another embodiment, the signal device is vibrator 311, and the alert is a vibratory alert. Sensor 238 is for sensing a withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from dispenser 80, and the signal device automatically deactivates when sensor 238 senses the withdrawal of at least one pill of medicine from dispenser 80. Controller 220 is for issuing a notification to one or more individual subscriber units 242 proximate to each said predetermined time, the notification being a reminder to take medication.
Apparatus 50 is portable, being easily carried anywhere by hand. In an exemplary embodiment, apparatus 50 is filled with medicine, defining an exemplary embodiment a filled apparatus 50, whether one of units 52 being filled with a prescription of pills of medicine, a selected plurality of units 52 being filled with different prescriptions of pills of medicine, or all of units 52 being filled with different prescriptions of pills of medicine, and controller 220 is preprogrammed with related one or more prescription instructions for execution by controller 220 for automatically, independently and selectively activating one of units 52, a plurality of units 52, or all of units 52 depending on the number of prescriptions apparatus 50 is filled with. Accordingly, apparatus 50 is useful filled with one prescription of pills of medicine using one of units 52 with controller 220 programmed with corresponding prescription instructions for automatically and independently activating the filled unit 52, apparatus 50 is useful filled with a plurality of different prescriptions of pills of medicine using a plurality of units 52 with controller 220 programmed with corresponding prescription instructions for automatically and independently activating the various filled units 52, and apparatus 50 is useful filled with different prescriptions of pills of medicine using all of units 52 with controller 220 programmed with corresponding prescription instructions for automatically and independently activating all of units 52, in which each of the filled conditions of apparatus 50 defines an exemplary embodiment. Apparatus 50 disclosed herein is formed with five units 52 having a maximum capacity of being filled with five different prescriptions of pills of medicine, and an apparatus 50 constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention can include less than five units 52 or more than five units 52 as desired.
The present invention is described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. For instance, the signal devices, display 231, speaker 232, and light 233, are carried by apparatus 50. In an alternate embodiment, these signal devices are formed with a remote device 310 capable of being carried about by the patient. In this embodiment, remote device 310 is a wearable, a battery-powered wearable in the form of a bracelet wearable on the wrist, configured with the previously-described signal devices 231, 232, and 233 described above. When sensor 238 generates the first signal or “arrival” signal and processor 221 automatically transmits the “dispensed” signal, transmitter/receiver 222, remotely coupled to signal devices 231, 232, and 233 of remote device 310, automatically issues a corresponding “dispensed” signal to remote device 310 activating signal devices 231, 232, and 233, which issue the corresponding alerts as described above. When sensor 238 generates the second or “withdrawal” signal and controller 220 processor 221 automatically transmits the resulting “withdraw” signal, transmitter/receiver 222 automatically issues a corresponding “withdraw” signal to remote device 30 deactivating signal devices 231, 232, and 233. In this embodiment, remote device 310 is also configured with an additional signal device, namely, a vibrator 311 that issues a vibratory alert when activated, which is useful for people that are visually and/or hearing impaired. Each patient that uses apparatus 50 can be provided a remote device 310. Any form of wearable or carriable device can be used as desired, such as a wearable designed to be clipped to a belt, a glove, an arm band, etc. Various further changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16041702 | Jul 2018 | US |
Child | 17142897 | US |